Monthly Archives: June 2021

Southern Cameroons Crisis: President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe’s Lawyer arrested

1, June 2021

Southern Cameroons Crisis: President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe’s Lawyer arrested 0

The Francophone dominated Security Service arrested Amungwa Nicodemus, the lawyer representing jailed Southern Cameroons leader President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, on Monday in what critics argued is the most recent example of La Republique du Cameroun extensive efforts to muzzle the Ambazonia uprising.

Barrister Amungwa Nicodemus is currently being held at the Secretariat of State for Defense in Yaoundé with the Biya regime alleging the arrest was due to Amungwa divulging classified details of President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe case to the news media.

Cameroon Intelligence Report understands that after a chaotic cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dion Ngute, the hardliners secretly agreed to arrest Barrister Amungwa on lame and ridiculous reason of further fuelling the agitation for the Federal Republic of Ambazonia

The Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime is also alleging that Amungwa Nicodemus, aside being a lawyer, is also a member of the Southern Cameroons Interim Government.

For the time being, the Francophone authorities have not yet communicated on this subject.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Kidnapped Catholic priest freed

1, June 2021

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Kidnapped Catholic priest freed 0

Father Christopher Eboka who was taken away by unknown gunmen on Friday, May 21, 2021 has been released. Rev Father Eboka’s kidnapping reportedly underscored the need for all the factions involved in the Southern Cameroons conflict to seek ways of reaching a peaceful resolution.

The kidnapping sparked outrage and anger both in French and Southern Cameroons.

Southern Cameroons exiled Vice President Dabney Yerima issued a statement condemning the act while thousands of Ambazonians prayed for his release and against an epidemic of kidnappings sweeping the entire Ambazonian territory.

What we know

The Ambazonia Interim Government announced the release in a statement, saying the priest was unharmed.

The Dabney Yerima statement did not provide information on whether a ransom was paid to the kidnappers.

On May 21, Rev Father Eboka and his rider were abducted while traveling on a road between Mamfe and Eshobi. The kidnappers are suspected members of a criminal gang run by the disgraced Southern Cameroons front line leader Dr Samuel Ikome Sako.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

The 26 African players who have won the UEFA Champions League

1, June 2021

The 26 African players who have won the UEFA Champions League 0

Aside the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League (UCL) is by far the most prestigious football competition across the world – by virtue of its popularity and reach.

The pool of players participating means that an there is always a medley of playesr from across all continents represented on the field.

This adds to the UCL vibe as people across the world support nationals from their country who play in the league.

On May 29, 2021, the final of the 2020 / 2021 edition of the UCL took place in Porto with Manchester City facing Chelsea.

The African interests were squarely in Algeria (Riyad Mahrez of City) and Senegal and Morocco (Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech respectively of Chelsea).

In the end, Mendy in the Chelsea goal kept out Mahrez and all of City’s attacking power to ensure that Thomas Tuchel’s side emerged victorious – winning their second UCL. Ziyech on the other hand played a less prominent role in the win.

Below is a list of winners (countries, clubs and season)

26 – Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) : Chelsea FC, 2020 – 2021

25 – Edouard Mendy (Senegal) : Chelsea FC, 2020 – 2021

24 – Naby Keita (Guinea) : Liverpool FC, 2018 – 2019

23 – Mohamed Salah (Egypt) : Liverpool FC, 2018 – 2019

22 – Sadio Mane (Senegal) : Liverpool FC, 2018 – 2019

21 – Joel Matip (Cameroon) : Liverpool FC, 2018 – 2019

20 – Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) : Real Madrid FC, 2017-2018

19 – Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) : Chelsea FC, 2011-2012

18 – Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast) : Chelsea FC, 2011-2012

17 – Michael Essien (Ghana) : Chelsea FC, 2011-2012

16 – John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) : Chelsea FC, 2011-2012

15 – McDonald Mariga (Kenya) : Inter Milan 2009 – 2010

14 – Sulley Muntari (Ghana) : Inter Milan, 2009-2010

13 – Seydou Keita (Mali) : FC Barcelona, 2008-2009, 2010-2011

12 – Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire) : FC Barcelona, 2008-2009

11 – Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) – FC Barcelona, 2005-2006, 2008-2009, Inter Milan, 2009-2010

10 – Djimi Traoré (Mali) : Liverpool FC, 2004-2005

9 – Benni McCarthy (South Africa) : FC Porto, 2003-2004

8 – Samuel Kuffour (Ghana) : FC Bayern Munich 2000-2001

7 – Geremi Njitap (Cameroon) – Real madrid, 1999 -2000, 2001 -2002

6 – Ibrahim Tanko (Ghana) : Borussia Dortmund 1996-1997

5 – Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria) : Ajax, 1994-1995

4 – Finidi George (Nigeria) : Ajax, 1994-1995

3 – Abedi Pelé (Ghana) : Olympique de Marseille, 1992-1993

2 – Rabah Madjer (Algeria) : FC Porto, 1986-1987

1 – Bruce Grobbelaar (Zimbabwe) : Liverpool FC, 1983-1984

Culled from Ghanaweb

Special Criminal Court: French lawyers say case against former CRTV GM Amadou Vamoulké baseless

1, June 2021

Special Criminal Court: French lawyers say case against former CRTV GM Amadou Vamoulké baseless 0

Two French lawyers presented evidence to a court in Cameroon yesterday which they said showed the charges against Amadou Vamoulké, the jailed former head of the state-owned national radio and TV broadcaster CRTV, were unfounded and should be dropped.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the authorities to end the judicial conspiracy against the 71-year-old journalist and release him.

The case has become bogged down in procedure. Amadou Vamoulké has been held for almost five years without trial and this was the 67th hearing, unheard of for a Cameroonian journalist.

French lawyers Benjamin Chouai and Fabrice Epstein, who joined the defence team, presented the Yaoundé court with rulings by four French courts against the accountant selected to audit the accounts of CRTV under Vamoulké’s leadership between 2015 and 2016. The documents disclosed that his French company had been wound up and cast doubt on his legitimacy and eligibility to audit one of the country’s biggest state enterprises.

Up to now, his report has formed the basis for much of the case against Vamoulké, who is accused of misappropriating millions of euros in public funds for the benefit of CRTV.

“These factors show once again that the charges against this journalist are a sham,” Arnaud Froger, the head of RSF’s Africa desk said. “It is further confirmation that the legal aspects of this case are a smokescreen designed to silence the head of a large television station whose independence of mind and professionalism are seen as a threat to some government interests.

Source: RSF

Covidgate: CPDM Crime Syndicate investigates missing $335 million in coronavirus funds

1, June 2021

Covidgate: CPDM Crime Syndicate investigates missing $335 million in coronavirus funds 0

Cameroon rights groups, opposition parties and local media are asking the government to publish its findings after most of a $335 million loan from the IMF could not be accounted for.  At least 15 officials have appeared before commissions of investigation.

 A government statement read on Cameroon state media Monday calls on civilians to remain calm as investigations on missing funds continue.  The statement from government spokesperson Rene Emmanuel Sadi states that justice will take its course.

 The statement comes after Cameroon rights groups and opposition asked the government to explain what happened to about $335 million loaned by the International Monetary Fund to fight COVID-19.

Cameroon says within the past week, 15 ministers have appeared at the audit bench of the Supreme Court and a special criminal tribunal to account for the funds.

Joseph Lavoisier Tsapy is legal adviser to the opposition Social Democratic Front Party and a member of the Cameroon Human Rights League.

Tsapy says the Cameroon Special Criminal Tribunal should have ordered their arrest after the audit bench of the Supreme Court found out that some ministers stole COVID-19 funds. He says the money should have been invested to save lives and assist suffering people. He says he wants to make it clear that government ministers in Cameroon do not have immunity like lawmakers.

In June 2020, SDF lawmakers complained that the awarding of COVID-19 contracts did not respect procurement procedures and gave room for massive corruption. 

Local media like Equinox Radio and TV, Roya FM reported gross cases of embezzlement.

 In one case, the Ministry of Scientific Research received $9 million to produce the drug chloroquine. The ministry instead bought chloroquine amounting to 30 percent of the funds from China.

Other cases involve overbilling and failure to render services or provide supplies after payment.

André Luther Meka speaks for the ruling CPDM party, to which all of the ministers called up for questioning belong.

Meka says Cameroonians should stop asking for ministers to either be punished or to refund COVID-19 funds. He says Cameroon considers all suspects innocent until found guilty by the law courts. He says Cameroon President Paul Biya has a strong political will to punish everyone who has either mismanaged, embezzled or siphoned state money.

Angelbert Lebong is a member of the Cameroon Civil Society. He says President Biya should explain to the Cameroonian people how his government has managed the COVID-19 funds.

He says Biya should for once speak out against embezzlement and publicly condemn his collaborators who have stolen COVID-19 funds. He says Cameroon has more serious life-threatening issues to handle than the heavily publicized receptions Biya gives diplomats in his office.

Last month, Human Rights Watch urged the IMF to ask Cameroon to ensure independent and credible enquiry on the management of COVID-19 funds before approving a third loan.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon in March 2020, the IMF has approved two emergency loans to the central African state totaling $382 million.

Source: VOA

Father Christopher Eboka: Ambazonia Interim Gov’t says violence by criminal gangs is now unprecedented

1, June 2021

Father Christopher Eboka: Ambazonia Interim Gov’t says violence by criminal gangs is now unprecedented 0

Kidnap of Father Christopher Eboka in the Diocese of Mamfe

Fellow Ambazonians,

On Friday, 21 May 2021, unknown criminals abducted Father Christopher Eboka, a Priest in the Catholic Diocese of Mamfe. The perpetrators have since made contact, demanding a ransom of CFA 10 Million from the Catholic Church. The Interim Government of Ambazonia robustly condemns this reckless and ridiculous act and calls for those involved to release Father Christopher Eboka immediately without preconditions. The Interim Government has been briefed that the population of Mamfe has made a financial proposal to the kidnappers, but the criminals are holding out for more money. The Interim Government takes a strong view against paying ransoms to criminals.

After ten days of intense intelligence gathering and evaluation by Ambazonia Intelligence Services, the Interim Government of Ambazonia can confirm that the perpetrators of this dreadful crime are not associated with any legitimate self-defence group loyal to the Ambazonia cause. Instead, these criminals are profiting from the security vacuum currently in our country. The kidnapping of members of the clergy is unfortunate and unacceptable, which underscores the need for all the factions involved in the conflict to seek ways of reaching a peaceful resolution. Those who kidnap men of God are crossing a dangerous red line, and all God-fearing Southern Cameroonians must condemn this unreservedly.

The clergy in Southern Cameroon has played a significant role since the war in Ambazonia started in November 2017. We must not make enemies from our allies and sympathizers. All those fighting for the freedom of Ambazonia must commit to alleviating the suffering of our people, not organize activities that bring misery upon our communities. Religious institutions are indispensable parts of the Southern Cameroon structure, and any attack on their members and workers is an attack on Ambazonia.

The Interim Government of Ambazonia is committed to confronting and defeating the evil of kidnappings in Ambazonia. All self-defence groups are called upon to collaborate with the Interim Government to root out all rogue elements operating in our country. Our quest for self-determination will succeed if we do the right things. Unfortunately, kidnapping is not consistent with our state values.

Sincerely,

Dabney Yerima,

Vice President,

The Federal Republic of Ambazonia

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