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12, November 2023

Pope Francis dismisses US bishop who was prominent critic ⁰

Pope Francis on Saturday dismissed US bishop Joseph Strickland, a prominent conservative who has repeatedly criticised his papacy, following concerns over his leadership and governance.

The Vatican did not explain the move, a rare sacking in the Catholic Church where troublesome senior clerics are normally encouraged — or told — to resign.

But a US cardinal said it was linked to an inquiry ordered by Francis into “all aspects of governance and leadership” of Strickland’s Tyler diocese in Texas.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, also of Texas, said the so-called apostolic visitation in June reported back that it was “not feasible” that the bishop stay in office.

He revealed that Strickland, 65, had been asked on Thursday to resign, but refused — prompting Francis to step in.

“The Holy Father has relieved from the pastoral governance of the diocese of Tyler (US) Joseph E. Strickland,” the Vatican said in a statement.

It said the bishop of Austin, Joe Vasquez, had been named as apostolic administrator of the diocese, but gave no further details.

‘Reactionary attitude’

Strickland was appointed by Benedict XVI in 2012, and became one of the most prominent critics of his successor, Pope Francis.

The Argentine pope, 86, has sought since taking office 10 years ago to forge a more compassionate Church, open to different views.

But he has faced intense opposition from critics — particularly in the United States — who accuse him of causing confusion and failing to uphold key Catholic beliefs.

In a message earlier this year on X, formerly Twitter, Strickland said that while he recognised Francis as the pope, “I reject his programme of undermining the deposit of faith”.

Many of Francis’ critics complain he is not outspoken enough on abortion and too compassionate towards homosexuals and divorcees.

He in turn lamented earlier this year the “strong reactionary attitude” of some Catholics in the US, who he said do not understand the “evolution in the understanding of matters of faith and morals”.

‘Speak His truth’

The Vatican has not commented on its inquiry into the Texas diocese, but Strickland previously said that two US bishops spent a week conducting interviews — including with him — about the situation there.

In a blog post in September, he addressed rumours that he would be asked to leave voluntarily.

“I cannot resign as bishop of Tyler because that would be me abandoning the flock” under his care, he wrote.

“I have also said that I will respect the authority of Pope Francis if he removes me from office as Bishop of Tyler.”

He added that he loved Jesus Christ and the Church, and “my only desire is to speak His truth and live God’s will to the best of my ability.”

Commentators say it is extremely rare for a bishop to be directly relieved of their position — but not unprecedented.

Francis dismissed a bishop in Puerto Rico, Daniel Fernandez Torres, in similar fashion in March 2022, with the Vatican again giving no reason.

Torres claimed he had been told he had not been “obedient” to the pope and did not have sufficiently good relationships with fellow bishops.

Media reports at the time noted he had supported those who refused compulsory coronavirus vaccinations.

In a statement published on Saturday, Cardinal DiNardo, who is also Archbishop of Galveston-Houston in Texas, explained the process with Strickland.

After the visit to the Tyler diocese, “the recommendation was made to the Holy Father that the continuation in office of Bishop Strickland was not feasible”, he said.

The decision to ask Strickland to resign — and ultimately dismiss him — followed “months of careful consideration”, he added.

There are more than 120,000 Catholics in the diocese of Tyler, out of a total population of more than 1.4 million people, according to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Source: AFP

11, November 2023

Esther Njomo Omam wins 2023 Global Pluralism Award ⁰

Esther Omam, a Cameroonian human rights defender is among three winners who have been selected as the 2023 Global Pluralism Award recipients. The winners receive Sh5.5 million each to continue their work towards pluralism.

Build Up, a Kenyan organization that works with peacebuilding institutions and a network of peace innovators to tackle polarization and make peacebuilding processes more inclusive of diverse voices and perspectives with a specific focus on digital technologies, was shortlisted in this year’s awards. The organization is among the seven others that got honourable mentions.

Esther, a peacebuilder, mediator and human rights defender mobilizing women and young people from across Cameroon to advocate for an end to conflict is joined by Red de Intérpretes y Promotores Interculturales Asociación Civil, an indigenous youth collective in Mexico providing otherwise unavailable indigenous language interpretation to those involved in legal proceedings in Mexico and the United States and Reform: The Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development, a non-governmental organization building solidarity between groups in Palestine by empowering them to get involved in social life and influence decision-making, in the honours.

“The Award winners’ work has enormous value in the world today. Pluralism is not embedded in every society or every country in the world. Those who work for pluralism, those who truly believe that diversity is a source of strength and not weakness, need to be acknowledged and celebrated,” said Dr. Marwan Muasher, Award jury chair and Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The Global Pluralism Award, which is presented every two years, celebrates the inspiring and brave work that is helping to build more inclusive societies where diversity is valued and protected. The award recipients will be recognized at a ceremony to be held this month in Ottawa, Canada. Each winner will receive $50,000 (CAD) to further their work in support of pluralism.

An independent, international jury of experts selected the three winners and seven honourable mention recipients from among 200 submissions across 60 countries.

Source: Standard Media.Co.Ke

11, November 2023

Cameroon receives US$ 6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund ⁰

The Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC), Martin Griffiths, approved the allocation of US$6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support the humanitarian response to the needs of the most vulnerable population in Cameroon.

“Underfunding of humanitarian aid is depriving hundreds of thousands of people, already facing violence, displacement, disasters and epidemics, of lifesaving assistance and protection services,” the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim, Mr. Siaka Coulibaly said. As of 10 November 2023, only 27 per cent of the Humanitarian response Plan 2023 has been funded.

“It is a cruel reality that in many humanitarian operations, aid agencies are scraping along with very little funding right at a time when people’s needs compel them to scale up. Thanks to the generosity of a vast range of donors, we can count on CERF to fill some of the gaps. Lives are saved as a result. […] This is a fund by all and for all”, Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said.

The crises in Cameroon affect 4.7 million people, including internally displaced persons, returnees, refugees and asylum seekers. This allocation will support the most vulnerable people in hard-to-reach areas in the Far North, North-West, and South-West regions. These populations will benefit from nutrition, shelter/non-food items, water, hygiene, and sanitation assistance and protection, including gender-based violence and child protection services.

In order to strengthen timely access to vulnerable populations and sustainability of humanitarian assistance, the allocation will have a strong focus on the work of and collaboration with national NGOs in affected areas.

Source: reliefweb

10, November 2023

Cameroon’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review ⁰

Cameroon’s human rights record will be examined by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group for the fourth time on Tuesday, 14 November 2023, in a meeting in Geneva that will be webcast live.

Cameroon is one of 14 States to be reviewed by the UPR Working Group during its upcoming session from 6 to 17 November 2023. Cameroon’s first, second and third UPR reviews took place in February 2009, May 2013, and May 2018, respectively.

The UPR Working Group is comprised of the 47 Member States of the Human Rights Council. However, each of the 193 UN Member States can participate in a country review.

The documents on which the reviews are based are: 1) national report – information provided by the State under review; 2) information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the Special Procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities; 3) information provided by other stakeholders including national human rights institutions, regional organizations, and civil society groups.

The UPR is a peer review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. Since its first meeting was held in April 2008, all 193 UN Member States have been reviewed thrice. During the fourth UPR cycle, States are again expected to spell out steps they have taken to implement recommendations posed during their previous reviews which they committed to follow up on and highlight recent human rights developments in the country.

The delegation of Cameroon will be led by Mr. Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The three country representatives serving as rapporteurs (“troika”) for the review of Cameroon are Côte d’Ivoire, Czechia and Finland.

Culled from the United Nations

10, November 2023

Yaoundé: Biya bids Ambassador Bashkin of Russia farewell ⁰

The 90-year-old Cameroonian dictator met the outgoing Russian ambassador at the so-called Unity Palace.

Ambassador Anatoly Bashkin made a review of the latter’s 6-year mission to Cameroon with a particular focus on Biya’s participation at the recent second Russia-Africa Summit.

Mr Bashkin reminded Biya of the issues President Vladimir Putin raised in Saint Petersburg and acknowledged the expansion of bilateral ties and to boost economic cooperation.

The Russian Diplomat announced preparations for the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Yaounde and Moscow next year.

By Rita Akana in Yaoundé

9, November 2023

Biya sets up committee to fight money laundering, terrorist financing ⁰

President Paul Biya on Monday night signed a decree for establishing a committee against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The committee has a mandate to formulate and coordinate the implementation of policies and activities aimed at combating the criminal activities nationwide, Biya said in the decree.

“(The committee) shall make proposals for the drafting of appropriate regulations for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in accordance with international guidelines … and conduct risk assessments and formulate the national strategy for combating (the vices),” Biya said.

Officials said that the establishment of the committee could uncover underground banking crimes lawfully, dismantle criminal organizations and gangs, block illicit fund channels, and stop the proliferation of weapons in the country’s Northwest, Southwest and Far North regions, which are experiencing prolonged armed conflict.

Source: Xinhuanet

9, November 2023

Manyu CPDM Leadership: Sheep leading giants ⁰

Any meeting intended to mobilize people to celebrate a disastrous leader in a failed state in the middle of a war and a cost-of-living crisis is likely to provoke strong emotions and should never be considered. Such meetings won’t be contemplated in any country where decent values and uprightness are second nature. CPDM political meetings around Southern Cameroons have been considered controversial, provocative and banned for over six years. The last CPDM assembly in Mamfe on Monday, 6th November, moved from controversial to pitiful. The meeting was held a few hours after the cruel massacre of over 25 innocent and defenseless people in Egbekaw village. The purpose of the meeting was for the leaders of the CPDM crime syndicate in Manyu to celebrate 41 years of Paul Biya on Cameroon’s throne.

It offered the Manyu CPDM criminals a rare opportunity to send photographic evidence to the CPDM central committee in Yaoundé that they were still loyal to the country’s Supreme leader, Paul Biya. After the Egbekaw massacre, the overwhelming majority of people in Mamfe thought that the assembly should have been cancelled. The people of Mamfe wanted a peaceful march around the city to express solidarity and demonstrate empathy and sympathy with the families of those who lost their lives in tragic and inhuman circumstances. However, the so-called Manyu CPDM elites were not in the mood for compassion. They had come to Mamfe under the protection of armoured vehicles designed for the streets of Ukraine and nothing would stop them—not even the worst massacre in Manyu in over 18 months.

And so, the celebration went ahead under a pathetic spectacle. Chief Tabetando of Bachou Ntai village looked every inch as frail as his boss, Niat Njifenji, the senate president. The Chief could hardly stand without the aid of his walking stick. Minister Mengot Arrey Nkongho appeared reddish in complexion, a considerable worry for a man who prides himself on his looks. The minister must have sat in an uncomfortable position for hours, squeezed inside the armoured tank that transported them from Muea to Mamfe. The minister looked apprehensive, shaken and wore the look of a man with a running stomach. The sight of the day belonged to Chief Prof Teddy Ako of the Chiefdom of Ossing. Cameroon Concord News has reliable information that Chief Ako is a decent man dragged reluctantly into CPDM politics by the other gang members. Chief Ako’s CPDM shirt was four sizes too large for him. It looked on him like a carpenter stitched it. Then, there was the former Mayor of Mamfe, one Mr Ayuk Takunchong, notorious for always hugging the corridors of power in search of leftovers.

The meeting went ahead with these clowns taking turns to read messages of support to Mr Biya. A sorrowful sight indeed! As people cried in Egbekaw and the hospital mortuary, these thugs sat down, ate, drank and celebrated forty-one years of misery. It was scandalous and criminal.

The quality of Manyu leaders today is a considerable worry. They are political comics pretending to lead a people desperate for strong and upright leadership. Pa Enow Tanjong, the late Chief ET Egbe including the late Hon Effiom, and Chief Michael Tambong Kima will be turning in their graves with fury as they watch these delinquents and petty criminals making a mockery of the art of leadership.

These are complex times for Cameroon and Manyu when intellectual and political giants are required to lead, but unfortunately, clowns have the levers of power. The CPDM does not welcome brave and gifted visionaries; therefore, the future of Manyu and Cameroon is in serious trouble.

By Agbor Paul Enow in Mamfe

9, November 2023

France: ex-president Sarkozy appeals 2012 campaign fraud conviction ⁰

A Paris court on Wednesday began hearing former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s appeal against his conviction for illegal campaign financing in a failed 2012 re-election bid.

The 68-year-old former French head of state appeared relaxed as he appeared for the hearing in a grey suit, speaking with people in the public gallery before proceedings began.

Conservative Sarkozy has faced a litany of legal problems since his one term in office from 2007 until 2012, and has been charged separately with corruption, bribery, influence-peddling, and breaking campaign financing laws.

In the so-called “Bygmalion affair”, the former head of state was sentenced to one year in prison in September 2021 on charges that his right-wing party, then known as the UMP, worked with a public relations firm to hide the true cost of his 2012 re-election bid.

France sets strict limits on campaign spending.

Prosecutors said that the firm, Bygmalion, invoiced the UMP rather than the campaign. They said Sarkozy spent nearly 43 million euros on his 2012 campaign, almost double the permitted amount of 22.5 million euros.

Thirteen other people — including members of the UMP party, accountants and Bygmalion executives — were found guilty of various charges, ranging from forgery and fraud to complicity in illegal campaign financing.

In the original trial, only four defendants, including the deputy head of the campaign, Jerome Lavrilleux, admitted any responsibility.

Sarkozy denied all wrongdoing, insisting that while there had indeed been “false invoices and fictitious agreements… the money had not gone into (his) campaign”.

The appeal trial is scheduled to last nearly five weeks, with Sarkozy slated to testify on November 23.

Contacted by AFP, Sarkozy’s lawyers declined to issue any statements prior to the hearing.

Sarkozy, who was criticised by the prosecution in the original trial for only turning up for the day of his actual hearing and deeming himself to be “above the fray”, is expected to attend some of the most important sessions this time around.

He was charged last month in a separate witness tampering case relating to alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential win.

Sarkozy also faces a separate probe into possible potential influence-peddling after he received a payment by Russian insurance firm Reso-Garantia of three million euros in 2019 while working as a consultant.

Despite his legal troubles, Sarkozy remains a hugely influential figure on the French right, courted by politicians and writing regular books that are major publishing events.

Source: AFP

7, November 2023

Bishop Abangalo condemns killing of dozens in Egbekaw village attack ⁰

The Catholic Bishop of Mamfe Diocese in Cameroon has “vehemently condemned” the killing of innocent civilians following an attack at the new Layout Egbekaw, a locality within his Episcopal See.

On November 6, unidentified gunmen reportedly opened fire on people as they slept in Egbekaw leaving at least 20 dead, many others injured and houses burnt down.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa Monday, November 6, Bishop Aloysius Fondong Abangalo provided details about the attack in his Episcopal See.

“On the early hours of Monday 6th of November 2023, several persons were killed, others gravely injured and a good number of houses burned down by unidentified Gunmen at Egbekaw village in Mamfe Central Subdivision. Up till this moment, we cannot find any reasons to justify this heinous act,” Bishop Abangalo recounted.

He added, “We vehemently condemn the atrocious act that brought about the destruction of the lives of so many innocent men, women, and children.”

“The massacre of human beings is an intrinsically evil act because it violates the fifth commandment of the Decalogue: You shall not kill,” the Cameroonian Bishop said.

He noted that the Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly explains the reason why the killing of a human being is inadmissible: “Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.”

The 50-year-old Cameroonian Bishop who started his Episcopal Ministry in May 2022 further said, “We equally use this medium to extend our sincere condolences to the bereaved families and to assure them of our closeness and prayers during this moment of pain and sorrow.”

“We have decided that Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Saint Joseph’s Cathedral Church, Mamfe, on Tuesday 7th November, 2023, at 8.00 a.m., for the eternal repose of the souls of those murdered; for the quick recovery of those gravely injured; and, for the conversion of those who perpetrated the heinous act,” Bishop Abangalo said.

Cameroon’s English-speaking regions plunged into conflict in 2016 after a protest by lawyers and teachers turned violent. An armed movement of separatists claiming independence for the so-called republic of Ambazonia emerged following the government’s crackdown on protesters.

Source: aciAfrica

7, November 2023

Biya’s 41 Years in Power: The scorecard is dismal! ⁰

Today marks forty-one years since Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, took over from the country’s first President, Amadou Ahidjo, who resigned supposedly for health reasons. Ahidjo, the man who had made Cameroon the purpose of his being, had always dreamed of transforming the country into an earthly paradise.

He had designed the educational system to enable Cameroonians compete favorably at the international level. The quality of education was good and this helped the country to make giant strides towards sustainable development. Though the country was bereft of massive financial resources, the country’s first president made up for this shortage of financial resources with discipline and determination.

Due to the lack of resources, the country did not have a good road network, but from 1977 when oil was discovered, the country’s fortunes changed for the better. Many infrastructure development projects were lined up and their implementation was marked by rigor and discipline.

But this changed in 1982 when Mr. Biya succeeded Ahidjo. Though he had served as the country’s Prime Minister under Ahidjo, he had not learned that discipline was a key ingredient in the implementation of national policies and projects. No initiative succeeds without discipline!

By 1985, the country’s economy and politics were already showing signs of chaos. Discipline which characterized the Ahidjo regime had taken French leave of the Biya regime. Mr. Biya, unlike Ahidjo, had prioritized loyalty over competence and this has cost the country a huge fortune. He brought his tribesmen into government without conducting the proper background checks and there are lots of crooks and dishonest people in the system.

Though the Centre and South regions of Cameroon account for less than 10% of the country’s population, Mr. Biya tribesmen make for more than 70% of appointed government officials, with many not having the appropriate experience and qualifications to drive major operations and policies!

Today, the country has one of the worst road networks on the continent. Each day, thousands of Cameroonians die of road accidents and, for decades, the government has not found it necessary to develop road infrastructure which will reduce both travel times and death toll on the country’s roads. Times have changed but the Biya regime is frozen in time.

Regarding the economy, things are not looking good for the country. Unemployment is high; many young Cameroonians are looking outward. Government policy regarding employment in the civil service has left many from other tribes desperate. Loyalty trumps over qualification and in certain cases, many people have been caught with fake certificates, especially people from the president’s tribe.

Universities which are supposed to serve as centers of excellence have been transformed into brothels as the culture of sex-for-marks has been fully entrenched and this is happening with the tacit approval of the country’s authorities. The country’s higher education minister, Fame Ndongo, has been presiding over this mess as he himself has been at the centre of massive sex scandals in the ministry he leads.

Mr. Biya and his ruling CPDM may be celebrating today, but they know they have brought untold hardship on Cameroonians. Most young Cameroonians want to leave the country and even retirees are relocating to countries like the U.S and Canada because their retirement incomes leave much to be desired.

The country is amongst the dirtiest on the continent with its towns and cities not going through any form of town planning. The government does not seem to have an inkling of structured existence as slums are popping up all over the nation.

Regarding security, the government is struggling. Crime rate has increased significantly, with soldiers and police officers even renting out their weapons to criminals for a fee. Even when the population reports a crime, the police hardly act. It is always a waste of time for police officers to be called to the crime scene as they will never make it.

Either there is no fuel in the car for them to use, or when there is a car, there is no fuel. Sometimes, security forces even seek to know the type of weapons the criminals are carrying. This is to ensure that they do not get into a fierce fight with heavily armed criminals. Kind police officers will even tell the frightened victims to call neighbors to help them. That is the country Mr. Biya will be leaving for future generations.

Mr. Biya has been a master at divide-and-rule. He has succeeded to pit tribes against tribe, and there is evidence that the day he exits, there will be bloodshed in the country. Currently, there are killings going on in Southern Cameroons where a fierce rebellion against the Yaoundé government has sent some ten thousand Cameroonians to an early grave and things could get worse if Mr. Biya suddenly dies.

For the public service, it is the worst the continent has. Corruption is rife and Cameroonians have to pay millions of francs to get admission into professional schools. Every sector of the public service has come up with a scheme to exploit the ordinary citizen and the country’s authorities have decided to look the other way while government officials exploit their fellow citizens.

Cameroon under Mr. Biya has been a living hell. Many Cameroonians prefer to look outwards as the government has failed to create opportunities for its citizens. 41 years in power have rolled the country back into grinding poverty and, in development terms, the country has been taken back by at least 100 years. Today’s celebrations could be described as a celebration of failure, inefficiency, greed, corruption and dishonesty. This is the legacy Mr. Biya will be leaving behind.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai