Monthly Archives: January 2018

Boko Haram: Nigeria, Cameroon military operation ongoing in North-East

13, January 2018

Boko Haram: Nigeria, Cameroon military operation ongoing in North-East 0

A joint military operation involving the armed forces of Nigeria and those of the Republic of Cameroon  is currently going on in the North-East, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali ,has said.

Dan-Ali made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen after the Juma’at service at the National Mosque, Abuja, to mark the 2018 Armed Forces Day.

He said that the joint operation was aimed at flushing out remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists.

“In the North-East, I can say we have made great success. As I am talking to you, there is an operation going on between Nigeria and Cameroon,’’ the minister said.

He called on other neighbouring countries to collaborate with Nigeria in routing the insurgents.

The minister pledged the readiness of the military to continue to defend the territorial boundary of the country and in addressing internal security challenges.

Also, the Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, said that government had put in place structures to address internal security challenges and was “re-enforcing those structures.’’

Earlier in a sermon, the Deputy Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Dr Mohammed Kabir, called for continued prayers and support for the military.

Kabir noted that the military had made sacrifices to defend the nation. He also said that while Jan. 15 was observed annually to remember the fallen heroes, serving members of the armed forces should be supported to ensure the security, peace and unity of the nation.

“They sacrifice their lives for this nation, it is our duty to show kindness to their families, it is our duty to support them; it is our duty to make sure that they live normal lives,’’ he said.

 

www.punchng.com


African countries condemn Trump’s vulgar comments, urge him to apologize

13, January 2018

African countries condemn Trump’s vulgar comments, urge him to apologize 0

All African member states of the United Nations have blasted US President Donald Trump’s “outrageous” and “xenophobic” remarks about immigrants, calling on him to apologize for the vulgar comments.

In a statement issued on Friday, a group of 55 African countries demanded a “retraction and an apology” from Trump after the US president referred to countries such as El Salvador, Haiti and certain African nations as “shithole” countries.

The American head of state further urged lawmakers at a White House meeting to make efforts to stop immigrants from those countries entering the US, and instead accept immigrants from wealthy and overwhelmingly white countries such as Norway.

The African Group of UN ambassadors further said in the statement that it was “extremely appalled at, and strongly condemns the outrageous, racist and xenophobic remarks by the president of the United States of America as widely reported by the media.”

The group also stressed that it was “concerned at the continuing and growing trend from the US administration toward Africa and people of African descent to denigrate the continent and people of color.”

Angered by Trump’s comments, Jessie Duarte, the deputy secretary general of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress said, “Ours is not a shithole country and neither is Haiti or any other country in distress.”

“We would not deign to make comments as derogatory as that about any country that has any kind of socio-economic or other difficulties,” he said, adding that much like their African counterparts, millions of US citizens were affected by problems such as unemployment.

The United Nations also denounced the remarks made by the US president as “shocking,” “shameful,” and racist.”

In a tweet on Friday, the US president admitted to using “tough” language while commenting on immigrants during a private meeting with US senators.

During the 2016 presidential race, Trump campaigned for “a total and complete shutdown” of US borders on those he deemed as undesirable.

Last week, the Trump administration ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 260,000 immigrants from El Salvador, forcing them to gradually leave the US.

The US president also angered Muslims worldwide by imposing travel ban on citizens of six Muslim-majority nations.


Boko Haram militants shoot dead 20 loggers in Nigeria

13, January 2018

Boko Haram militants shoot dead 20 loggers in Nigeria 0

At least 20 loggers have been killed in northeast Nigeria after Boko Haram Takfiri terrorists opened fire on them in the militants’ latest attack against civilians.

Residents and anti-Boko Haram militia said on Friday that gunmen on motorbikes opened fire on a group of loggers while they were collecting firewood at Kaje village, near the capital of Borno State, Maiduguri, on Monday.

“They (Boko Haram) killed 20 people in the attack. Fifteen others are missing and presumed kidnapped by the attackers,” said civilian militia leader Ibrahim Liman.

Details of the attack have been slow to emerge because of limited communications infrastructure after years of fighting in the remote region.

Shuaibu Sidi, a resident of Kaje, confirmed Liman’s account and said his brother was among the victims.

More than 20,000 people have been killed since Boko Haram started its deadly campaign in northeast Nigeria in 2009. The violence has claimed many lives in neighboring countries of Chad, Niger, and Cameroon as well.

Boko Haram has been largely pushed out of its main strongholds in northern Nigeria, according to the country’s military and government. The group, however, is still active in its Sambisa Forest enclave in Borno and launches sporadic attacks on civilians and security forces from there.

A woman stands in a pool of rain water in Rann in northeast of Nigeria close to the Cameroonian border on July 29, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

 

The United Nations has warned that areas affected by Boko Haram face a humanitarian crisis.

Liman said they believe that the perpetrators of the Monday’s attack are “the same gunmen” behind the murder of 25 loggers at Maiwa village, which is three kilometers (nearly two miles) from Kaje, back on December 30.

He noted that the assailants were believed to have come from the terrorist group’s main enclave in the Sambisa Forest area.

Loggers have been increasingly targeted by Boko Haram, which accuses them of spying for the military and the civilian militia, which assists troops with security.

At least 31 loggers have gone missing since January 2 and are believed to have been kidnapped near the town of Gamboru, on the border with Cameroon.

 

Source: Presstv


Trump admits to calling some immigrants’ countries shithole

13, January 2018

Trump admits to calling some immigrants’ countries shithole 0

US President Donald Trump has admitted to using “tough” language while commenting on immigrants during a private meeting with lawmakers on Thursday.

During the meeting, in which he rejected a bipartisan deal on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, he reportedly asked why “people from shithole countries come to” the United States.

His contemptuous comments, which were about immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti and African countries, have provoked sever criticism in the US and abroad.

However, in a series of Friday morning tweets, Trump said that “the language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used.”

“What was really tough was the outlandish proposal made – a big setback for DACA.”

He also denied saying that Haitians must be removed from negotiations about protected status for people from certain countries.

“Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said ‘take them out.’ Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings – unfortunately, no trust!”

However, Senator Dick Durbin, the only Democrat in the room disputed the president’s account.

“He said these hate-filled things and he said them repeatedly,” Durbin said. “When the question was asked about Haitians … he said, ‘Haitians? Do we need more Haitians?’”

Also, Arizona Senator Jeff Flake tweeted that “the words used by the President, as related to me directly following the meeting by those in attendance, were not ‘tough,’ they were abhorrent and repulsive.”

“I think it was stupid and irresponsible and childish,” said Republican Mike Simpson. “He’s president of the United States. That’s not how a president behaves.”

African countries expressed disbelief and disgust at the president’s remarks. The United Nations human rights office also denounced as “racist” Trump’s remarks.

During the 2016 presidential race, Trump campaigned for “a total and complete shutdown” of US borders on those he deemed as undesirable.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 260,000 immigrants from El Salvador, forcing them to gradually leave the US.

 

Source: Presstv



US ambassador to Panama resigns, says he cannot serve Trump

13, January 2018

US ambassador to Panama resigns, says he cannot serve Trump 0

US Ambassador to Panama John Feeley has resigned, saying he no longer felt able to work for President Donald Trump.

Feeley, a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, had informed the US State Department about his departure on December 27, US officials said.

His resignation was not a response to Trump’s alleged use of the word “shithole” to describe Haiti and African countries at a meeting on Thursday, reports said.

Feeley, among the State Department’s most senior officers and a Latin America specialists, said his decision was clearly prompted by differences with the Trump administration.

“As a junior foreign service officer, I signed an oath to serve faithfully the president and his administration in an apolitical fashion, even when I might not agree with certain policies,” Feeley said, according to an excerpt of a resignation letter.

“My instructors made clear that if I believed I could not do that, I would be honor bound to resign. That time has come.”

A State Department spokeswoman confirmed Feeley’s departure, saying he will retire on March 9 of this year.

Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein said the ambassador was leaving for “personal reasons” and was not related to Trump’s alleged use of the vulgar term.

“Everyone has a line that they will not cross,” Goldstein told reporters at the State Department. “If the ambassador feels that he can no longer serve … then he has made the right decision for himself and we respect that.”

Much of Feeley’s long career was spent working on Latin American issues. Some of Trump’s policies have been widely regarded within the region as hostile to Central and South America.

The Trump administration has taken a tougher stance on immigration from Latin America, most notably with moves to expel hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador.

During the meeting at the White House on Thursday, Trump reportedly asked why “people from shithole countries come to” the United States.

His contemptuous comments, which were about immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti and African countries, have provoked sever criticism in the US and abroad.

The administration has been rocked by a series of high-profile exits — including Sean Spicer as press secretary, James Comey as FBI director, Anthony Scaramucci as communications director and Steve Bannon as chief strategist— since Trump took office.

Source: Presstv


Ten arrested Ambazonian leaders at risk of unfair trial and torture if deported from Nigeria

13, January 2018

Ten arrested Ambazonian leaders at risk of unfair trial and torture if deported from Nigeria 0

Ten leaders of the independence movement in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon could be at risk of torture and unfair trials if extradited from Nigeria, where they have been arrested and detained in secret for one week, Amnesty International said today.

On 5 January, armed men in plain clothes stormed a hotel in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja where the pro- independence activists were meeting, and arrested them without presenting a warrant or providing an explanation. They are being held incommunicado, without any access to a lawyer, in contravention of Nigerian law which demands they must be seen by a judge within 48 hours. Human rights lawyers in Nigeria have said that an extradition request has been made by the Cameroonian government, but no details have been made public.

“Efforts to tackle the Anglophone crisis should always respect the law, and avoid restricting freedom of expression. Authorities in Nigeria should immediately disclose the activists’ whereabouts, allow them access to a lawyer, and unless they have sufficient evidence to charge them with a recognizable crime, release them immediately”.

The pro-independence activists said that they were meeting in Nigeria to discuss the influx of thousands of asylum seekers following protests in October, in which more than 20 civilians were killed by security forces. In recent months, more than 10 members of security forces have also been killed by more radical pro-independence groups. They have always claimed to pursue their aim of independence for the Anglophone regions through peaceful means.

All those arrested were legally living in Nigeria, and some had been granted political asylum. Under Nigerian law, it would be illegal to extradite the activists for political crimes, or if they faced the risk of torture or an unfair trial.

In Cameroon, those charged with crimes related to national security are prosecuted by military courts without respect for due process, and Amnesty International has documented a widespread pattern of torture by security forces and intelligence agencies. In July 2017 the organization published a report documenting more than 100 cases of torture of people accused without evidence of supporting Boko Haram.

www.amnesty.org


Ambazonia Crisis: Arrest is a blessing in disguise

12, January 2018

Ambazonia Crisis: Arrest is a blessing in disguise 0

When news broke out that the President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, Julius Ayuk Tabe, and his cabinet had been arrested in Nigeria, many people thought that was the end of the struggle. A feeling of frustration and despondency swept across the English-speaking regions of Cameroon, especially in Manyu Division, Mr. Julius Ayuk Tabe’s place of birth. The Yaounde government had already planned a huge party, with many journalists waiting at the airport in Yaounde to take a peek at the fallen Ambazonian leaders. The struggle was being discredited in many quarters in Francophone Cameroon, but the party was not going to last. The government had organized a party that might never be.

Milan Atam, the new Southern Cameroonian hero, had cut the party short. His late arrival at the meeting venue where Mr. Julius Ayuk Tabe and his comrades were holding a meeting on refugee management turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Milan Atam had witnessed flight delays and this happened to be God’s plan. He quickly turned off the Yaounde music that had been blaring to the dismay of Southern Cameroonians. The Southern Cameroonian struggle seems to have received the blessing of the Almighty and Mr. Atam did all the right things. He immediately put the information on social media and informed the network of lawyers that sprang into immediate action. This helped to puncture the move by the Biya regime to cut off the neck of the struggle. Today, the African Bar Association is up in arms against the federal government which it accuses of abduction.

The Nigerian Secret Services has been left with a hot potato on its hands. It has been tricked by the corrupt government in Yaounde to join a mission that was doomed to failure right from the beginning. Poor planning and early celebrations speak to the quality of investment that had been put into the event. Millions of dollars are alleged to have been spent on this failed mission. Rene Sadi, Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, was in Abuja on the day the drama was playing out and a Cameroonian military jet was seen at the Abuja international airport ready to pick up Mr. Ayuk Tabe and his cabinet to Yaounde where they would have been ridiculed and maybe sent to an early grave.

But this may never happen. The road ahead is long. Cameroon has ended up with a huge embarrassment on its hands. It has to explain to the Buhari government how it had to corrupt members of its secret service just to abduct Southern Cameroonians who are being considered in Nigeria as freedom fighters.

The Southern Cameroons crisis that had started cooling off has been thrust back to the global arena and the entire world is now aware of the Machiavellian plan the Yaounde government has been hatching while pretending to preach dialogue and unity. The road ahead is long and bumpy. The only chance the Yaounde government now has is to try an extradition application. But as things stand, Cameroon and Nigeria have no extradition treaty and some of those arrested are refugees recognized by the United Nations, while others hold American and European passports.

This might have caused the Nigerian government to panic. It has promptly declared that it had not arrested the group of freedom fighters, but from every indication, not many people are buying into what Nigerian authorities are selling. Besides, Mr. Ayuk Tabe is well connected in Nigeria. He was granted the presidency of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia because of his ability to carry the Southern Cameroonian crisis to the right places. His tentacles reach the highest levels of the Nigerian government.

For now, a few big Nigerian guns have come out to throw a few jabs at the Cameroon government for its recklessness and abuse of human rights. Speaking on the BBC Focus on Africa on Thursday, January 11, 2018, Nigeria’s former president,Olusegun Obasanjo, called on the government of Cameroon to treat its citizens with dignity. But the most vocal calls have come from the Governor of Cross River State. He has been throwing lots of punches and striking the right places. He has chided the federal government for doing nothing to ensure that the Southern Cameroons problem is properly addressed so as to stem the flow of refugees into his state.

By chasing Southern Cameroonians out of their homes in Manyu Division, the government of Cameroon has unfortunately internationalized the Southern Cameroons crisis. If care is not taken, the fighting in Manyu Division and the abduction of Ambazonian leaders could finally drag Nigeria into the mess. The mess is spreading and very fast too. Everyone is expecting to see the Yaounde government submit its extradition application which will be examined in a Nigerian court.

A tough battle lies ahead since as a rule of international law, extradition is not automatic. According to Dr. Mbeli Valentine Tebi, a holder of a Ph.D in law from a NigerianUniversity and the current dean of the faculty of law in a Ugandan university, “there is no obligation on states to extradite suspects or offenders to other sovereign states. Extradition is largely regulated by conventional international law through the instrument of treaties. This rule however operates subject to an exception.Even where there exists an extradition treaty allowing a sovereign state to arrest and deliver a fugitive to another state to stand trial or serve a punishment, there is an explicit legal procedure that must be followed. This procedure is espoused in the relevant statutory instruments. Extradition is not simply an arrest and handover process. It has to go through the rigorous process of court adjudication where an application to that effect may either be granted or rejected. A decision not favourable to any party to an extradition suit may equally be appealed through the relevant appellate channels to the Court of Appeal and eventually to the Supreme Court.”

He adds that “It is trite law that an extradition order will not been granted where it is aimed at prosecuting or punishing the fugitive on account of the fugitive’s race, religion, nationality or political opinions.” He points to Section 3(2) (a) of the Extradition Act, adding that political offences are clearly not extraditable.

According to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Country Office in Nigeria, these offences are “acts or conducts that are directed against governments or sovereign authorities of state without elements of common crime. These crimes violate the State and not any individual person.” “Examples of political offences have been given by Kenelly J.J. to include treason, sedition, espionage and, to a large extent, disagreement with state ideology. The crimes alleged to have been committed by the Ambazonian leaders by all descriptions fit the notion of political crimes which as earlier indicated, are not extraditable,” he stressed.

The arrest of the leaders seems to be delivering some good fortunes. While the leaders sit quietly in their luxurious villa in Abuja and are enjoying their VIP treatment, many observers are already arguing that this is time for the government of Cameroon to meet Southern Cameroonians halfway. The Yaounde government is clearly running out of options. Its bullying and intimidation have only gone a long way in radicalizing Southern Cameroonians. Its military action in Manyu Division has only sent many young military men to an early grave and this is causing the Francophone majority to start asking questions about the usefulness of an expensive and poorly thought out military adventure.

It should be recalled that Mr. Ayuk Tabe had once clearly stated that Nigeria would be a huge player in any negotiations with the Yaounde government and this might turn out to be the case. Though Cameroon’s minister of communication, Issa Tchiroma, had declared last Saturday that his government had nothing to do with the abduction of Ambazonian leaders, it is obvious that the Yaounde government has been given food-for-thought by this action that has once more exposed it as an iron fist in a velvet glove.

The Southern Cameroons crisis will never be addressed through brinkmanship. The Cameroon government will have to swallow its pride and go over to Abuja to talk about the new republic whose time has come. While in captivity, Ambazonian leaders may be asked to tone down their rhetoric and walk away from their gospel of separation. They will also be called upon to embrace a new philosophy – federalism – which will bring more power to the regions and transform Yaounde into an empty shell. Abuja will certainly require a median path. Secession will not be in its interest and given the failure of the unitary state, it might have to breathe down the neck of the Yaounde government for it to accept the lesser of two evils – federalism. Yaounde just like Ambazonia must come to the realization that their chances are greater at the negotiating table than in the Manyu jungle where many young men have been sent to an early grave.  Many political analysts and observers are already seeing a silver lining on this political and military cloud that has been hanging over the country for more than a year like the Sword of Damocles. It is time to talk and both parties must swallow their egos to face the truth.

By Betek Kingley in Abuja


Family of the abducted Ambazonia leader plead for his safety and urgent return

12, January 2018

Family of the abducted Ambazonia leader plead for his safety and urgent return 0

The family of the abducted President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia H.E. Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe from Abuja tearfully pleads with the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the international community to contact them and let them know that their husband and father is alive and safe.

“All we want is him to come back to us,” the abducted President’s wife said. “Sisiku, if you are out there listening, pick up the phone.”

Family members last heard from the President on January 5 at around 2:00 pm local time when they talked on phone. Since then, he is unreachable via his phone and he has not reached out to any family member.

According to eye witness accounts, the Ambazonia President and nine of his top aides were arrested by Nigerian security agents.

Below are the names and professional and legal information of those arrested.

1 / – Wilfred Tassang

Recently granted Asylum Status in Nigeria

2/ – Doctor Nfor Ngala Nfor

Political Asylum; – UN Refugee status;

3 / – Professor Awasom

US citizen; Teachers at a US University;

4 / – Doctor Cornelius Kwanga:  PhD. Economics, Professor of Economics and Management

Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, Nigeria.

Nigerian Permanent Resident’s Status,

5/ – Doctor Henry Kimeng: PhD, Civil Engineering,  Associate Professor of Civil Engineering

Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria Nigerian Permanent Resident Status  6 / – Lawyer Elias Eyambe: Granted Asylum status In Nigeria,  Member African Bar Association;

7 / – Lawyer Nalova Bih: Recently Granted asylum Status in Nigeria, Member, African Bar Association

8/ – Doctor Ojong Okongo: Former professor at a Nigerian University,  Nigerian Citizen Now Works as a business owner in Nigeria.

9 / – Julius Ayuk Tabe: Computer Engineer

Nigerian Permanent Resident’s Status

10 /- Dr. Fidelis Nde Che

PhD. in Electronics and Electrical Engineering,  Professor at the American University of Nigeria in Yola

Adamawa State, Nigeria. Nigerian Permanent Resident

 

The President including nine of his aides were arrested at Nera Hotel in Abuja at around 8:00 pm during a crisis meeting to map out a strategy to provide support and improve living conditions of over 40,000 Southern Cameroonians who have fled to neighbouring Nigeria from military repression in across Ambazonia territory since October 2016 when independence sentiments started. In particular, President Paul Biya declared war on Manyu county residents on November 30, 2017.

Biya declaration was emphasized by a decree signed by his appointed Senior Divisional Officer in Manyu that ordered all residents in more than 27 villages to vacate the county within 24 hours. Barely 3 hours into the order, armed soldiers and paramilitary forces in war vehicles and helicopters were already in Manyu. Since then, there is ongoing targeted killing, arbitrary arrest, burning of homes and destruction of farms and businesses that contributes to mass migration.

President Ayuk Tabe and his government have been providing moral, spiritual, material and financial support to the refugees and he often visits them. Since his arrest, refugees are afraid Cameroon government officials will follow them into Nigeria and kill them all.

One week after the arrest of their leaders, the people of Ambazonia worldwide do not know yet what led to their President and aides arrest and are treating the case as a plan by La Republique du Cameroun government to derail the independence restoration movement. The current atmosphere across Ambazonia is tense and ripe with anger as youths and parents are waiting instructions from Ambazonia leadership to explode.

In the coming days, the insecurity and instability across Ambazonia and La Republique du Cameroun territories might escalate as more radical groups and the largely angry populations burst into sporadic and uncontrollable activities in respond to the arrest of President Seseku Julius Ayuk Tabe and his nine aides.

By Fru James in Abuja, Nigeria

NB: Fru James is a Cameroonian freelancer


AFCON 2019: Former French Cameroun international says La Republique will be ready to host

12, January 2018

AFCON 2019: Former French Cameroun international says La Republique will be ready to host 0

Former international Joseph-Antoine Bell says Cameroon will be ready to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, ahead of an inspection visit by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

Caf is set to tour the various host cities from Friday onwards, amidst long-standing concerns about the country’s preparations.

“Being on track is definitely the truth – Cameroon is on track,” Bell told BBC Sport.

Caf president Ahmad has repeatedly said that an alternative host will be found if Cameroon is not ready on time.

In August, the Malagasy said Cameroon would ‘have to work to convince Caf’ of its ability to host the finals, which expanded from 16 to 24 teams in July.

“I’m not convinced Ahmad wants any problem with anybody,” added the former goalkeeper, who has worked on occasions with the Caf president since his election last March.

“He said Cameroon wasn’t ready but this is because Cameroonian people – especially the press – were leaking such bad news.

“But remember Cameroon hosted the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and they succeeded like nobody before, so why not trust them to do something wonderful.”

Cameroon hosted the Women’s Nations Cup in 2016 to widespread acclaim as vast numbers of spectators turned out for matches in the eight-team tournament.

Cameroon's players celebrate winning the Africa Cup of Nations
Cameroon are the reigning African champions, having triumphed in Gabon last year

The inspection visit, which will be carried out by independent business consultancy Roland Berger, will start in Yaounde on 12 January before trips to Garoua, Bafoussam, Douala and either Limbe or Buea.

It will end with a visit to the Caf Centre of Excellence in Mbankomo on 23 January.

“People are behaving like this will be the first and the last inspection,” said Bell, who won two African crowns with Cameroon (in 1984 and 1988).

“This is just the first inspection and it’s coming to see step-by-step how far you are in the preparation of the Nations Cup.

“So it’s not like tomorrow morning they will tell us they will take away the organisation from Cameroon. I know people have talked about this before but it doesn’t work like that.”

“They do not have to be ready now, they have to be ready in at least March 2019. I’m totally convinced Cameroon will be ready.”

The 2019 tournament will take place in June and July after Caf moved the timing of the tournament from January and February.

Morocco, which will host this month’s African Nations Championship, has said it will step in as host should Cameroon be unable to stage Africa’s most prestigious sporting event.

 

Source: BBC


Ambazonian farmers abandon cocoa plantations amid crackdown

12, January 2018

Ambazonian farmers abandon cocoa plantations amid crackdown 0

Thousands of cocoa farmers have fled violence between separatists and security forces in Cameroon’s Southwest Region, which grows more than 100,000 tonnes of beans, nearly half of the country’s output, farmers and buyers told Reuters.

They said the clashes could put a dent in output from the world’s fifth largest cocoa producer, which is already seeing production dip compared to last season due to poor weather.

The crisis in Francophone-dominated Cameroon’s minority English-speaking Southwest and Northwest regions has worsened over the past year in reaction to a violent government crackdown on demonstrations by the Anglophones.

The government ordered residents of 16 villages in the region to leave their homes early last month as it launched a military operation against the separatists.

Others have fled on their own, often to larger towns. More than 15,000 have fled to Nigeria, the United Nations refugee agency and Nigerian government officials said on Thursday.

The repression has breathed new life into a once-fringe separatist movement that in October unilaterally declared independence for a breakaway state known as Ambazonia.

“In the beginning, I thought the situation would calm down. But the shooting continued. I abandoned two hectares of cocoa and I fled,” said Peter, a farmer from the village of Kembong who declined to give his surname out of fear of reprisals.

Peter fled Kembong, a stronghold of the independence movement hours after separatists killed four paramilitary gendarmes there last month.

He spoke to Reuters in Mamfe, one of the main towns in the area, where he had sought refuge.

“I’d already dried nine sacks of cocoa. I left everything to flee, even the cocoa pods are still on my plantation,” John Mfor, another farmer, told Reuters.

The Southwest Region is home to Cameroon’s most productive growing zones, producing just under half of the Central African nation’s 230,000 tonnes a year output.

Four farmers, an upcountry buyer and an exporter told Reuters that output from areas affected by the violence had dropped, but gave no figures.

Total cocoa arrivals at the port of Douala, Cameroon’s main export point, were down around 20 percent by mid-December compared to last season, exporters said.

While they said poor weather conditions were largely to blame, they also pointed to the separatist unrest as likely compounding the shortfall.

“Since the start of the crisis, the buyers are afraid to come here. The farmers have fled,” said Etienne Tanyi, an Olam purchasing agent based in the village of Omogoko.

“The cocoa is rotting in the bush.”

 

Source: Reuters


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