Monthly Archives: June 2019

27, June 2019

Bundes: Merkel suffers new trembling spell on eve of G20 ⁰

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday suffered another episode of uncontrolled trembling, a week after a similar incident that sparked questions about her health.

The latest lapse came hours before Merkel was due to board a plane for the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.

The German leader began to tremble as she stood next to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was giving a speech at a ceremony to formally appoint a new justice minister.

The shaking went on for two minutes, according to a DPA photographer who was present at the event.

Merkel folded her arms visibly in a bid to stop the trembling.

She only finally brought it under control once she was able to take a few steps.

She was offered a glass of water but turned it down.

Her previous bout of shaking last Tuesday had been blamed on dehydration on a hot summer’s day.

Despite the latest incident, a German government spokesman said Merkel would not be cancelling any appointments on Thursday and Friday.

“The chancellor is well,” he said, adding that she will be flying as planned to Osaka for the G20 summit.

Merkel, frequently called the European Union’s most influential leader and the most powerful woman in the world, turns 65 next month.

She has said she will leave politics at the end of her term, in 2021.

There were brief concerns about her health in 2014 when she was taken ill during a television interview. The broadcast was briefly interrupted when she experienced a drop in blood pressure.

Her spokesman Steffen Seibert explained at the time the leader did not feel well for a moment, then ate and drank something and continued the interview.

AFP

27, June 2019

FIFA opens formal investigation against Cameroon ⁰

Global football governing body FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Cameroon over their behaviour in Sunday’s Women’s World Cup last-16 match against England.

On two occasions during the contest in Valenciennes, which England won 3-0, Cameroon remonstrated with the officials at length and looked as if they may not play on after VARdecisions went against them.

What are the charges?

‘‘We can confirm that proceedings have now been opened by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee against the Cameroonian Football Association for alleged breaches related to article 52 (team misconduct) and article 57 (offensive behaviour and fair play) of the FIFADisciplinary Code,’‘ a FIFA spokesperson said on Wednesday.

“As proceedings are now ongoing, please understand that no further comment can be made at this stage. Further updates will be provided in due course.”

The two moments of fierce protest from Cameroon where it appeared play might not be able to continue came just before half-time, when the decision to rule out Ellen White’s finish for offside was overturned via VAR to make it 2-0, and just after the break, once again involving an offside call, as Ajara Nchout’s strike was disallowed following a review.

The ill-tempered game at the Stade du Hainaut also saw yellow cards issued to Cameroon’s Yvonne Leuko after catching Nikita Parris in the face with an elbow, and Alexandra Takounda for a poor challenge on Steph Houghton.

There was also an incident in which England’s Toni Duggan had her arm spat on by Augustine Ejangue.

After the match England boss Phil Neville said “it didn’t feel like football” and spoke of feeling “completely and utterly ashamed of the behaviour” of Cameroon.

Neville’s counterpart Alain Djeumfa said there had been a “miscarriage of justice” and that “the referee made a lot of mistakes”.

AFP

27, June 2019

Cameroon’s battle against drug abuse and trafficking ⁰

After a prison sentence for crimes he committed while stoned, Eric Ndem, a drug user in Cameroon’s economic capital Douala, said he wanted to end such a way of life.

Ndem, 38, a homeless person, is among many drug users in Douala, which is believed to be a center of illegal narcotics activities.

According to estimates by Cameroon’s national anti-drug committee (CNLD) in 2018, 21 percent of the country’s population have already tried hard drugs.

In many ways, the Cameroonian government is coming to Ndem’s rescue by putting in place various programs and structures to check the abuse of illicit drugs.

Owona Noah, an addictionologist and public health expert, works in a government-sponsored drug prevention center named “La vie” (meaning “life” in French) in the capital Yaounde.

His job is to change the behavior of drug addicts and help them reintegrate into the society as “responsible people.”

“We receive a patient who is suffering from a psychological or psychiatric problem (because of drug consumption)… But once the patient goes back to his community, home, or job side, he is likely to start facing the same stressful situations that caused the psychological trauma again,” Owona said.

“That’s where we intervene to facilitate the socio-professional integration of the patient so that he can participate again in the development of his community,” he added.

According to Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, such centers have been created in all the 10 regions of the country since 2015.

“In five or 10 years if things continue to evolve in the right way, we will have very few mental disorder patients caused by drugs in the community,” Owona said.

According to him, about 60 patients have visited his center in April and May, and “a good number” of drug addicts have already stopped abusing drugs after consultation.

As part of the measures to battle against drug abuse and trafficking, the Cameroonian government has also established a health care control brigade in the Ministry of Public Health.

“We conduct sensitization campaigns against drug abuse not only in colleges but also universities. We work in collaboration with forces of law and order,” said Joseph Ekoum, who heads the brigade in the Littoral region with Douala as its regional capital.

“We also act as what we called health police. This means that we have control posts at the various entries of the city frontiers. We have two control posts, at the airport and seaport. These are two places where the illicit products can easily enter,” he added.

Ekoum is proud that such tactics and collaboration with government forces has produced “outstanding” results.

From 2010 to 2014, this collaboration has led to the seizure of 320 kg of cocaine and 30 kg of heroine, according to figures from the Ministry of Public Health. Recent statistics are unavailable.

The local civil society is also working closely with the government to enhance anti-drug sensitization campaign among the youth, primary victim of narcotics, according to CNLD’s finding.

Dadjio Emilienne teaches philosophy in a high school in Yaounde. At the same time, she is a member of a local non-governmental organization (NGO) whose mission is to educate young Cameroonians about the harmful effects of drugs.

“As we now know that drug abuse is causing havoc in school milieu, we think it is important to meet young people and tell them about the consequences of consuming drugs,” Dadjio said.

During the field campaigns, Dadjio urged young people to never start the drug, “because it is a road of no return.”

Source: Xinhuanet

27, June 2019

Cameroon request to replace striker with possible heart defect rejected ⁰

Holders Cameroon have had their request to replace forward Joel Tagueu, ruled out of the Africa Cup of Nations because of a possible heart defect, rejected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

However, coach Clarence Seedorf said they would look to appeal the decision, which CAF have not revealed themselves.

“We are not satisfied with the decision. We need to go for it again, we hope there will be a change of position,” he told reporters.

“We did everything we had to do, we made our request 24 hours before the match and we still remain hopeful. It is only fair for CAF to allow us replace the player.”

Tagueu was withdrawn after a medical examination revealed a possible life-threatening heart defect.

The 25-year-old, who plays for Portuguese club Maritimo, had an “anomaly in his coronary artery detected by team doctor William Ngatchou, which risks his life if he were to play,” the Cameroon Football Federation said on Monday.

“On the advice of the doctor, the coach has decided not to risk the player, who is leaving the tournament.”

The doctor first detected the issue when Cameroon held a pre-tournament training camp in Qatar and subsequent examinations confirmed his suspicion.

Africa Cup of Nations regulations state that a player can be replaced up to 24 hours before the first game of the team concerned.

“A player on the final list cannot be replaced unless seriously injured at the latest 24 hours at least before the beginning of the first match of his team,” it says.

Cameroon got the defence of their title underway on Tuesday with a 2-0 win over Guinea Bissau in Ismailia.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

27, June 2019

Protests mar Biya’s visit to Geneva ⁰

Some 40 protestors entered a five-star Geneva hotel this week where Cameroon’s president was staying and scuffled with his security staff in the lobby, according to police and Swiss media reports.

Geneva police were called to the luxury Intercontinental Hotel shortly after noon (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday, after around 40 protesters had “penetrated into the lobby”, spokesman Jean-Philippe Brandt said.
“They were demonstrating against the current government in Cameroon,” he said, adding that it had taken about 30 minutes to “re-establish the peace”.
According to the Tribune de Geneve daily, the demonstrators were Cameroonian opposition figures living in exile who had come to protest the country’s long-time president Paul Biya who was a guest at the hotel.

It said the 86-year-old, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, had been staying at the hotel since Sunday.
The paper reported that there had been a “fight” between the demonstrators and the president’s security personnel, but Brandt said he could not confirm that information.
When contacted, the hotel refused to confirm Biya’s presence in the establishment or that the unauthorised demonstration that had taken place there.

Biya’s office did tweet on Sunday that the president and his wife had left the country “for a short private stay in Europe.”
The Cameroonian embassy in Bern meanwhile voiced concern in a statement over what it said was a planned “violent” demonstration in Geneva next Saturday by Cameroonian nationals living in various European countries “to protest against the presence of the Head of State, His Excellence Paul Biya, in Switzerland.”

“The embassy calls on the Cameroonian community in Switzerland and in neighbouring countries to turn their back on such demonstrations, which for some time have been an expression of hatred, violence and tribalism, which are all contrary to patriotism and love of Cameroon.”

Source: AFP

26, June 2019

Ambazonians were busy with the war and turned a blind eye to corruption under Sako and Chris Anu ⁰

Mama Mukake of Small Soppo Buea was incredulous. “You call Sako Ikome and Chris Anu leaders?” She asked. “I call them mafia pastors.”

For the 72 -year-old Ambazonian resident in the Fako County, the former Acting President Samuel Ikome and the disgraced former Secretary of Communications, Chris Anu have for 18 months headed a corrupt Southern Cameroons Interim Government that benefited only a few in the United States of America.

“Sako and Chris Anu have enjoyed the best time in their lives with Ambazonia money, they have travelled all over the US paid for by Southern Cameroonians. They don’t care about people in Ground Zero.”

Mama Mukake is far from alone. According to a recent finding by the Cameroon Concord News Group, 99 percent of Southern Cameroonians are no longer interested in the activities of Dr Ikome Sako and Chris Anu including the members of the so called Restoration Council.

The leaked audio and the political and financial malpractice of Mr Sako and Chris Anu and their diabolic harsh ploy to neutralize President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe have severely eroded public’s trust in the Southern Cameroons Interim Government.

Ikome Sako and his gang neglected the Ambazonian people in Ground Zero and this is why trust plummeted making matters intractable for the newly appointed Vice President Dabney Yerima. The leaked audio two weeks ago following the so-called impeachment of the Ambazonian leader, President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe has only confirmed this view for many Southern Cameroonians. Sako and Chris Anu’s latest moves are widely viewed as a means to further consolidate power in the hands of corrupt leaders who are only interested in Ambazonia financial donations.

Created in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Southern Cameroons Interim Government was intended to serve as a transitional governing body for the English speaking people of Cameroon until the establishment of a fully fledged Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

Three years later, Southern Cameroonians are much closer to obtaining that state and Sako and Chris Anu have pushed the Ambazonia Interim Government to morph into a fake bureaucratic giant many now feel is more concerned with maintaining its relevance than advocating for the independence of Southern Cameroons.

Interim President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe appointed the first ever Ambazonian cabinet based on merit and commitment. But political corruption manifested itself under Sako’s leadership. This was followed by the creation of positions out of thin air and the appointment of officials based on loyalty or nepotism rather than merit.

The French Cameroun army enters, arrest, issue curfews, and so on in Southern Cameroons in a way that demonstrates the Ambazonia Interim Government doesn’t even have total control of the area that is called the Federal Republic of Ambazonia. But Sako and Chris are busy sharing audios of Southern Cameroonians addressing them as “His Excellency and Communications Secretary”.

After the appointment of Vice President Dabney Yerima and the spate of violence in Southern Cameroons, Sako and Chris Anu are under pressure to stay relevant. But the truth is both Sako and Chris Anu have no relevance in the Southern Cameroons struggle.

The continued military actions in Southern Cameroons and the imprisonment of hundreds of Southern Cameroonians by French Cameroun authorities have undermined the credibility and effectiveness of the Ambazonian Interim Government. This is the context in which Vice President Yerima is governing and it is a difficult situation.

Southern Cameroonians were busy with the war and turned a blind eye to corruption under Sako and Chris Anu. Now is the time for Southern Cameroonians to move forward with Vice President Dabney Yerima.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai and Besong Esther Agbor

26, June 2019

Rouhani warns of ‘decisive’ response if Iran space violated again ⁰

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran is not after war with Washington, but will give the United States a “decisive” response if it once again violates Iran’s territorial space.

Rouhani made the remarks in a telephone conversation with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on Tuesday, stressing that Iran did not want war with the United States but would confront any aggression.

“If the Americans want to violate the waters or airspace of Iran again, Iran’s armed forces have a duty to confront them and they will give a decisive response,” Rouhani said.

The Iranian president also emphasized that Tehran has been always committed to providing the region with security and stability.

Macron, for his part, said that tensions in the region will not be useful for any country and called for avoiding a “dangerous escalation” in the region.

PressTV-NATO urges US-Iran talks amid growing tensions

Tensions have been running high between the two countries since Washington’s decision in May last year to abandon the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on Tehran as part of a “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at forcing it to renegotiate a new deal that addresses its ballistic missile program and regional influence as well.

The US has also sent warships, bombers and additional troops to the region in the wake of suspicious tanker attacks in the Sea of Oman, which it has blamed on Iran without providing evidence.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran hit a new high after Iran shot down a US surveillance drone on Thursday following its violation of Iranian airspace. However Washington insists that the aircraft was flying above international waters.

PressTV-Iran’s IRGC shoots down intruding US spy drone

Iran not to ‘renegotiate’ nuclear deal

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani pointed to Trump’s abrupt decision last year to withdraw the US from a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and said Tehran will not “renegotiate” the landmark accord.

“Under no circumstances are we going to renegotiate a deal that was struck after two years of marathon negotiations,” Iran’s president said. “In violation of international principles, the Americans proved through the imposition and intensification of sanctions against the Iranian nation that they are no way after the settlement of disputes.”

During the phone call, Macron denounced as “remorseful” the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the imposition of sanctions against Tehran, saying France has made every effort to maintain the landmark accord and convince the parties involved in the nuclear talks, the US in particular.

PressTV-‘Europeans lack resolve to implement JCPOA commitments’

Last year, US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled his country out of a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal with Iran, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and unleashed the “toughest ever” sanctions against Tehran, notably targeting its energy sector.

Since its withdrawal from the JCPOA, Washington has been trying to coerce other countries into joining its anti-Iran pressure campaign.

In April, the White House terminated sanctions waivers for major buyers of crude from the Islamic Republic in an attempt to bring Iran’s oil exports to “zero.”

Bowing to Washington’s pressure, Europe has been throwing only verbal support behind the agreement, refusing to guarantee the Islamic Republic’s business interests in the face of American bans despite being contractually obliged to do so.

Source: Presstv

26, June 2019

Bonus payment rows rock AFCON 2019 ⁰

Nigeria’s national team at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2019) became the latest to stage a strike over unpaid bonuses, when it refused to train ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Guinea.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons who represented the country at the Women’s World Cup in France also staged a sit-in strike at a hotel, while Cameroon and Zimbabwe have also come to AFCON 2019 with unresolved payment issues.

In this article, we look at the prevailing bonus payment disputes, and how they have been managed.

Nigeria’s teams

The Super Eagles of Nigeria who had been striking over over unpaid bonuses at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations underway in Egypt, eventually suspended their strike on Tuesday.

The players had reportedly not received a $10,000 match bonus that they had each been promised.

The team finally agreed to train in Alexandria ahead of their game against Guinea in Alexandria, after the Nigerian Football Federation promised to pay a win bonus from their 1-0 victory over Burundi on Saturday.

Nigerian Football Association spokesman Ademola Alajire said the matter had been resolved, conceding that funds for the tournament had arrived late.

The Nigerian under-20 team and the women’s team, whose world cups are ongoing in Poland and France respectively, also went on strike over unpaid bonuses.

Cameroon’s late arrival at AFCON

Cameroon’s arrival at the tournament in Egypt was delayed by 24 hours when the squad refused to board their plane in Yaounde while they haggled over increased appearance fees and bonus monies.

They eventually boarded after negotiations with government officials and coach Clarence Seedorf suggested on Sunday that the experience might well turn out to be a positive.

“All teams in the world at some point in their history experience such troubles,” said the former Netherlands international and four-time Champions League winner, “but it will not affect our morale or our preparations.”

“Actually the bonus crisis has reinforced the team spirit and the determination within the squad to perform well. There was some tension but the players have behaved maturely and they’ve decided to be here to fight for Cameroon.

Cameroon won their tournament opener against Guinea Bissau at Ismailia on Tuesday, and are top of Group F after Benin and Ghana settled for a 2-2 draw in the other Group F game.

Zimbabwe’s AFCON uncertainty

While Zimbabwe’s football federation denied allegations that the national team threatened to boycott AFCON 2019 over a pay dispute, the team’s striker Khama Billiat said he was happy with his country’s performance against Egypt ‘under the circumstances’.

‘‘I think the guys are really professional, if credit to them for that, that we put everything away in the space of a few hours, and shifted our focus to the game,’‘ Billiat said after Zimbabwe’s 0-1 loss to hosts Egypt.

“ZIFA and Warriors have signed a contract and both parties will honour and respect all contractual obligations,’‘ the football association had reiterated before the tournament opener.

Source: Africa News

26, June 2019

Human Rights Watch accuses Ambazonia Self Defense Forces of torture ⁰

Separatist groups active in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon have been accused of torture and abuses against civilians.

These allegations were made by Human Rights Watch NGO on Monday criticizing the acts in a statement.

The organization claims to have watched a video, filmed in mid-May, showing “armed separatists torturing a man in an abandoned school in the north-western region of Cameroon”.

According to the NGO, dozens of other people have been tortured.

Since the beginning of the crisis in 2016, most schools have been closed due to the blockade imposed by the separatists.

Today, these regions are the scene of armed conflict that has continued to grow and in which civilians are caught in between.

Elements of the armed forces are also regularly accused of committing acts of violence against civilians.

This crisis has already pushed more than 530,000 people out of their homes, according to UN figures. In twenty months, the conflict has killed 1,850 people, according to the International Crisis Group, a centre for geopolitical analysis.

Source: Africa News

25, June 2019

AFCON 2019: Mali thrash Mauritania, Angola and Tunisia draw, Ivory Coast off to winning start ⁰

Mali produced three stunning goals as they thumped Africa Cup of Nations debutants Mauritania 4-1 on Monday, handing their neighbours a harsh lesson in their first ever match at the finals.

Abdoulaye Diaby blasted Mali in front and Moussa Marega converted a penalty to put them 2-0 ahead by halftime.

Adama Traore added a third before substituted by his namesake Adama Traore who then scored the fourth, both from outside the penalty area.

In between, El Hacen El Id made history by converting a penalty for Mauritania’s first ever goal at the tournament.ADVERTISING

Mali, playing at their seventh successive finals, became the first team to score more than two goals in a match at the tournament and also produced arguably the best performance so far.

Mauritania began brightly but were let down by too many elementary mistakes. They completely messed up one free kick around 30 metres from goal, gifting possession to their opponents, and their first touches were often heavy.

Mali took a while to get going but, with a young team of players based mainly in France and Portugal, were impressive once they got into full flight.

Diaby broke the deadlock after collecting a pass around 30 metres from goal, shuffling past two defenders and firing a rising shot into the net from just outside the area.

The powerful Moussa Marega was a constant threat for Mali, and after being denied several times, finally got on the scoresheet with a penalty in the 45th minute after Hamari Traore was tripped by Mauritania goalkeeper Brahim Souleimane.

Mali continued to dominate after halftime and, 10 minutes after the re-start, Adama Traore slipped past a couple of defenders and beat Souleimane with a low shot from outside the area.

Mauritania kept pressing forward and were rewarded with a penalty which El Hacen El Id converted, prompting delirious celebrations amid the players and officials.

Those were cut short, however, when substitute Adama Traore curled in from 25 metres to complete the scoring in style.

Angola snatch draw

In Group E’s other encounter Monday, Angola salvaged a surprise but deserved 1-1 draw against an uninspired Tunisia after Djalma Campos cancelled out a Youssef Msakni penalty.

In a generally disappointing game, Tunisia went ahead against the run of play in the 34th minute but failed to build on the lead and paid the price when Djalma snapped a rebound in the 73rd minute.

The game was played in hot conditions, although a sea breeze made the temperature more bearable and it did not seem to unduly affect the players. The stadium was barely one quarter full with spectators scattered around the arena.

“It was a very difficult and demanding game … I think we played the best African team,” said Angola coach Srđjan Vasiljevic. “We had enormous difficulties in the preparation period but we faced a strong rival and got a good result.”

There was a lot of probing by both sides early on but Angola were more positive and Wilson Eduardo went close with a looping shot across the face of the goal.

Tunisia went ahead with a penalty as Msakni found Sliti Naim who cut inside Salomao Paizo and was brought down by the Angolan’s clumsy lunge. There were few complaints from Angola and Msakni fired the spot kick into the roof of the net.

The North Africans, the second highest African team in the FIFA rankings, sat on their lead and Angola, back at the tournament after missing the previous two, took advantage.

Tunisia goalkeeper Farouk Ben Musthapha spilled a shot by Matheus and Djalma turned in the rebound.

Tunisia twice came close to a stoppage time winner as Wahbi Khazri prodded the ball wide after a free kick and Msakni sent a free shot wide of the post from the edge of the penalty area.

Two-time champions Ivory Coast off to winning start

Earlier Monday, striker Jonathan Kodjia struck 26 minutes from time to hand Ivory Coast a 1-0 win over South Africa as the two former champions kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Kodjia squandered several earlier chances before finally breaking the deadlock in the 64th minute of the Group D match at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo.

The goal was scored at the end of a swift move out of defence by the Ivorians.

It took just two passes to find the forward, who was goalside of the defence and had only the keeper to beat.

Kodjia had been in a similar position in the first half but instead of placing the ball, he blasted it to allow South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to come up with a brilliant close-range stop in the 32nd minute.

The Aston Villa striker was also twice set up with goal scoring chances in the opening 11 minutes, but both times failed to get a touch.

The Ivorians also struck the woodwork just after the half hour mark as Nicolas Pepe curled a left-footed effort on the crossbar.

Pepe had another set piece chance two minutes from time but Williams made a finger-tip stop to deny the Ivorians a second.

With the temperature in the stadium touching 36 degrees Celsius, it stifled the tempo of what was a largely scrappy affair.

South Africa, who won their only Cup of Nations title in 1996, were unable to get their short passing game going and only had one half chance which captain Thulani Hlatshwayo headed wide of goal.

Two-time winners Ivory Coast join Morocco, who edged Namibia with a last gasp goal on Sunday, at the top of the group standings.

(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)