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25, October 2024

Archbishop Andrew Nkea re-elected to the Ordinary Council of the Synod of Bishops in Rome ⁰

Synod delegates have elected new members of the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.

At the 15th General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops on Wednesday, delegates elected the new members of the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod.

Pope Francis made a modification to the current Instruction governing the Assembly’s work, increasing the total number of members to 17, according to a statement released by the Synod Secretariat.

Of these, twelve were elected in the afternoon from among the diocesan/eparchial bishops or equivalents who are part of the Assembly: 1 from the Eastern Catholic Churches, 1 from Oceania, and 2 each from North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

In addition to these, the Pope will appoint 4 members, as well as, in due course, the head of the Dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for the theme of the next Synod.

As stated in the Apostolic Constitution Episcopalis Communio (n. 24, 1-3), the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat is responsible for preparing and implementing the Ordinary General Assembly.

Members of the Ordinary Council begin their term at the end of the Ordinary General Assembly that elected them, they are members of the next Ordinary General Assembly, and their mandate concludes when that Assembly is dissolved.

Chaired by the Holy Father, the Council is an essential part of the General Secretariat.

The new Ordinary Council will play a key role both in implementing this synodal process on synodality and in preparing for the next Synod.

Cardinal Mario Grech, in wishing the newly elected members well in their work, also expressed gratitude to the outgoing members for their valuable collaboration in bringing the current synodal process to fruition.

The elected members are:

From the EASTERN CATHOLIC CHURCHES

His Beatitude Youssef ABSI, Patriarch of Antioch of the Greek Melkites, Head of the Synod of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church

From OCEANIA

His Excellency Most Rev. Msgr. Timothy John COSTELLOE, S.D.B., Archbishop of Perth (Australia)

From NORTH AMERICA

His Excellency Most Rev. Msgr. Daniel Ernest FLORES, Bishop of Brownsville (United States of America)

His Excellency Most Rev. Msgr. Alain FAUBERT, Bishop of Valleyfield (Canada)

From LATIN AMERICA

His Eminence Most Rev. Card. Luis José RUEDA APARICIO, Archbishop of Bogotá (Colombia)

His Excellency Most Rev. Msgr. José Luis AZUAJE AYALA, Archbishop of Maracaibo (Venezuela)

From EUROPE

His Eminence Cardinal Jean-Marc AVELINE, Archbishop of Marseille (France)

His Excellency Msgr Gintaras GRUŠAS, Archbishop of Vilnius (Lithuania)

From AFRICA

Cardinal Dieudonné NZAPALAINGA, C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Bangui (Central African Republic)

H.E. Msgr. Andrew FUANYA NKEA, Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon)

From ASIA

His Eminence Cardinal Filipe Neri António Sebastião DO ROSÁRIO FERRÃO, Archbishop of Goa and Damão (India)

His Excellency Msgr. Pablo Virgilio S. DAVID, Bishop of Kalookan (Philippines)

To this list, Pope Francis will appoint 4 other members.

Source: Vatican News

24, October 2024

Longue Longue torture video sparks nationwide outrage ⁰

A video purportedly showing popular Cameroonian singer Simon Longkana Agno, widely known as Longue Longue, being tortured has led to widespread outrage in the country.

The artist, renowned for making hits about bad governance, colonialism and other social ills, said the video was taken after he was arrested in 2019, but this is the first time it has been seen by the public.

Longue Longue shared it himself, but it is unclear why it is only coming out now or how he obtained it.

The Cameroonian authorities said in a statement they have opened an investigation into the “unfortunate incident”.

In the video, Longue Longue’s hands are cuffed behind his back, and he is sitting on the floor in his underwear as the soles of his bare feet are beaten with a flat machete.

Despite his desperate pleas for the beating to stop, the men, alleged by Longue Longue to be security agents, continue.

The BBC has been unable to verify the video. We have tried to contact the singer without success.

On his Facebook page, he said he was arrested for his “freedom of thought”, and promised to file legal complaints in both Cameroon and France.

Longue Longue sitting on the floor in his underpants underneath a chair. A leg is standing on his knee — [Longue Longue]

He was arrested in 2019 after posting a video saying that long-time President Paul Biya had rigged the 2018 election.

The artist said opposition leader, Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM), was the rightful winner of the polls.

At the time, the Constitutional Council rejected Kamto’s demand for a re-run because of alleged rigging.

The opposition leader is among those to have denounced the apparent torture and called for an investigation into the incident.

“The CRM strongly condemns this state barbarity and demands the urgent opening of an enquiry to arrest and immediately bring before the courts the perpetrators of these inhuman acts,” Kamto said in a statement on X.

He added that the video was “reminiscent of the horrific treatment” opposition activists faced during the crackdown in 2019 when hundreds of his supporters were detained.

Renowned Cameroonian human rights lawyer Akere Muna said Longue Longue’s treatment was a “stark reminder of the depths of depravity to which humanity can descend”.

Rights groups have criticised the government for creating an atmosphere of impunity for members of the country’s security forces.

They have also accused the authorities of cracking down on dissent ahead of next year’s presidential election.

Source: BBC

24, October 2024

Biya orders dismissal of absentee state employees after 2018 census ⁰

Cameroonian President Paul Biya has directed the dismissal of all state employees who have been absent without justification or suspended from the payroll following the 2018 Physical Headcount of State Personnel (Coppe). This decision, outlined in a circular on October 23, is part of the preparations for the 2025 state budget.

In the circular, President Biya orders the completion of the contentious phase of the Coppe operation by 2025, which will involve permanently removing all identified personnel from the state payroll. These individuals have either been absent without justification, resigned without reporting it, or passed away without official notification. He also called for continued efforts to clean up the payroll system, including removing employees who have resigned and closing salary or pension accounts that were improperly collected.

The 2018 census exposed thousands of irregular cases within the public workforce. By the end of the operation, 8,766 state employees were found to be in violation of payroll rules. Despite multiple warnings and notifications from the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Public Service, only 601 of these employees responded to disciplinary hearings, according to a statement by Public Service Minister Joseph Lé on October 13, 2022.

As of early 2024, many employees still had not complied and remained suspended by their respective departments. Among them were 2,326 teachers who had been flagged for “irregular absence” following various reports, according to a January 17, 2024, statement by Secondary Education Minister Nalova Lyonga.

This latest directive from President Biya aims to finally resolve the issue by removing these non-compliant employees from the state payroll system.

Source: Business in Cameroon

24, October 2024

CPDM Crime Syndicate: Senate convenes November session despite president’s absence ⁰

Aboubakary Abdoulaye, the first vice-president of the Senate, signed a decree on October 23 calling for the Senate to meet in November. This is unusual, as it is typically the Senate president, Marcel Niat Njifenji, who signs such decrees.

“The president is once again getting medical treatment abroad,” a parliamentary source said.

The absence of the upper house president has sometimes affected how the Senate works. During the March session, the Senate’s leadership team couldn’t be renewed for several days because the outgoing president was away. Sources in the Senate said he was recovering abroad and could not run for reelection.

The decree signed by the first vice-president aims to prevent further delays. Aboubakary Abdoulaye, a senator appointed by the ruling party CPDM and the powerful lamido of Rey Bouba in the North region, has been leading Senate debates for several years. Marcel Niat Njifenji, also an appointed senator from the Western region, usually only oversees the opening sessions.

The November session is expected to focus mainly on reviewing and approving the 2025 budget proposal presented by the executive. It will feature a general policy speech by the Prime Minister, followed by oral questioning sessions for government members. This speech, a key moment of the November session, will provide an overview of the government’s socioeconomic and cultural actions over the past year and outline the main directions for the next fiscal year.

Source: Sbbc

24, October 2024

BEAC lowers liquidity offer to CFA300bn for Cemac Banks ⁰

On October 22, the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) launched a new liquidity injection operation for commercial banks. Unlike the previous two operations, where BEAC offered CFA340 billion, the offer on October 22 was reduced to CFA300 billion.

This reduction seems more in line with the current needs of the banks, based on recent results. Despite the gradual increase in liquidity offers by the central bank since resuming operations in June 2024, the volumes requested and actually taken up by the banks in the last two operations barely exceeded CFA270 billion. This is far from the CFA400-500 billion demands expressed by banks between June and September 2024.

The surge in liquidity needs during this period can be explained by the austerity imposed on credit institutions from late 2021 to May 2024 by the central bank. This period saw the implementation of measures aimed at draining banks’ coffers, including raising key interest rates, intensifying liquidity withdrawal operations, and suspending liquidity injections. These actions were officially intended to combat inflation by restricting access to credit.

BEAC notes that 20% of inflation in the Cemac region is of monetary origin. The central bank explains that injecting large volumes of liquidity into the economic system, particularly through bank financing, contributes to inflation, especially in Cemac countries where most goods and services are imported.

However, with the easing of inflationary pressures in Cemac markets since the start of 2024, BEAC has loosened its grip on bank liquidity. Consequently, the central bank resumed its liquidity injection operations in June 2024, after more than a year of suspension.

Source: Business in Cameroon

24, October 2024

France to increase student visas for Cameroonians ⁰

France plans to issue around 4,300 visas to Cameroonian students this year, a 10% increase compared to 2023. Thierry Marchand, France’s ambassador to Cameroon, called this “excellent news.”

“Issuing student visas is a very important part of the relationship between France and Cameroon,” he told the press last week.

The French diplomat also said France aims to issue even more visas in 2025. To help with this, embassy teams will be at the “Salon pour la promotion des études en France” (Sapef) event in Yaoundé and Douala this October. Marchand emphasized that Sapef is a chance to give Cameroonian students more information about how to apply for visas.

In addition, the French embassy has announced the opening of Campus France desks at several universities across the country. These desks allow students to start their immigration process right on campus, making it easier and saving them time.

Beyond student visas, Thierry Marchand also announced that the total number of visas issued in 2024 could increase by 30% compared to the previous year. This aligns with his goal, since he arrived in Cameroon at the end of 2022, to make the visa process easier. This task has been given to TLSContact, and he proudly noted that the wait for an appointment is now no longer than 15 days.

Source: Sbbc

23, October 2024

Martinez Zogo Murder: Prosecution dismisses defense objections ⁰

The military tribunal in Yaoundé on September 21, 2024, focused on arguments from government prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel Cerlin Belinga. He dismissed all objections raised by the defense in the case surrounding the January 2023 assassination of journalist Martinez Zogo.

Defense attorneys for the 17 defendants, including 12 agents from the Directorate General of External Research (DGRE), attempted to highlight procedural flaws to secure their clients’ release. However, the prosecutor argued that the defense had not raised legitimate objections but merely made “observations,” which he systematically dismissed.

On the issue of establishing a joint police and gendarmerie commission, the prosecutor defended his authority to do so, stating that the accused belonged to these services. He also justified the retroactive regularization of certain reports, asserting that it was his duty to ensure the compliance of actions carried out by judicial police officers under his supervision.

An additional point of contention emerged regarding the December 1, 2023, referral order, which granted release to two key defendants—former DGRE director Léopold Maxime Eko Eko and businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga. The prosecutor dismissed this as a “pointless debate,” noting that the investigating judge, Lieutenant Colonel Sikati II Kamwo, had “clearly disregarded” it.

Regarding allegations of illegal property seizures during searches, the lack of summons for the accused, and the non-compliance of certain procedures, the prosecutor rejected all these observations, ultimately urging the judges to receive and dismiss them.

These submissions sparked a strong reaction from the defense lawyers, who reiterated their appeal for the tribunal’s president, Colonel Misse Njonè, to rule strictly according to the law. The president has adjourned the case until November 11, when he will “rule on the exceptions.”

According to several defense lawyers present, if the judge were to accept their requests, the investigation into the assassination of the head journalist at Amplitude FM could restart from scratch, potentially leading to the release of many of the accused.

Source: Sbbc

23, October 2024

Bundes: police raid pizzeria serving side order of cocaine ⁰

Police have raided a pizzeria in western Germany which they alleged served customers a side of cocaine when they ordered item number 40 on the menu.

Authorities were tipped off about the scheme in March by food inspectors, and drug squad officers began watching the restaurant, criminal director Michael Graf von Moltke said on Monday.

When police went to detain the pizzeria manager at his apartment, the 36-year-old reportedly threw a bag of drugs out of the window, which “fell right into the arms of the police officers”, Düsseldorf police said.

Police found 1.6kg (3.5lb) of cocaine, 400g (14.1oz) of cannabis and €268,000 (£223,120) in cash in the apartment.

The restaurant manager was released by police a few days later, and he reopened his restaurant and continued to sell the drug and pizza combination.

Investigators used the opportunity to explore the drug supply chain to the pizzeria, leading them to bust a drug ring in western Germany weeks later.

Around 150 officers raided two cannabis plantations – one in Mönchengladbach, to the west of Düsseldorf where 300 plants were found, and another in Solingen, to the east of the city, where 60 plants were found.

The homes and businesses of 12 suspects were also raided, resulting in the arrests of three people, including a 22-year-old suspected of being the head of the drug operation.

Police also found weapons, money and expensive watches during the raids.

The pizzeria manager was rearrested while trying to leave the country and remains in custody.

“The number 40 was one of the best-selling pizzas,” Mr Moltke said.

Police have not released the name of others involved in the drug operation, or the price of the pizza and cocaine combination.

Source: BBC

23, October 2024

Putin says more than 30 countries want to join BRICS ⁰

More than 30 countries have expressed a desire to join BRICS, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting of the group on Wednesday.

Putin said the group would discuss its expansion at the meeting, while keeping in mind the need to maintain efficiency.

Earlier on Wednesday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived summit, his first visit to the country for more than two years that has drawn scorn from Ukraine.

The gathering is the largest diplomatic forum in Russia since launching its full-scale military offensive on Ukraine in 2022 and Putin wants to use it to demonstrate that attempts to isolate him on the world stage have failed.

Around 20 world leaders, including China, India, Turkey and Iran, are in the central city of Kazan, where they will address topics such as developing a BRICS-led international payment system and the conflict in the Middle East.

Moscow sees the platform as an alternative to Western-led international organisations like the G7 – a position supported by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In bilateral talks on Tuesday, including with Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin hailed Moscow’s close ties and “strategic partnerships” with its partners.

Xi, meanwhile, praised China’s “profound” ties with Russia in what he called a “chaotic” world.

Russia and China’s relations have “injected strong impetus into the development, revitalisation and modernisation of the two countries”, Xi said.

Putin said he saw relations between Beijing and China as a foundation of global “stability.”

“Russian-Chinese cooperation in world affairs acts as one of the stabilising factors in the global arena. We intend to further increase coordination in all multilateral platforms to ensure global security and a just world order,” he told Xi.

Source: AFP

22, October 2024

Paul Biya: The ultimate scammer! ⁰

Scamming did not start today. It is as old as man. In the Bible (Genesis 25: 19-34), Jacob scammed his brother, Esau, out of his blessings, of course, with the connivance of their mother. Jacob ended up in another town when his mother told him to skip town because his brother, Esau, was planning to kill him.

The scammer left town, holding that he had found happiness. Unfortunately for him, he too would be scammed by Leah’s father who tricked Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel, the woman he genuinely loved. He served as a worker to Leah’s father for seven years before he could marry, Rachel, the love of his life.

Since then, scamming has been part of human existence and Paul Biya, the Cameroonian president who prefers to live out of his country, has been scamming Cameroonians who are unfortunately gullible.

Yesterday, he scammed Cameroonians into believing that he was healthy and could still run the show even after having spent 49 days in a Swiss hospital.

Yesterday, Paul Biya was a bundle of steroids. He had been given high doses of steroids over the last week just for him to look good. A single dose of steroids can deliver over 5,000 calories and if 10 doses are taken by an old man who is not physically active, you get what Cameroonians got yesterday. He looked good but could not walk. He could not even move his legs. Does that not explain something to Cameroonians?

The lengthy empty speech to the Secretary General at the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, was Biya’s way of despising Cameroonians who in their overwhelming majority want Biya out of power. In their thinking, Biya is a wet blanket, a joy killer who has inflicted a lot of pain on his people.

Spending a long time saying nothing to Ngoh Ngoh was a huge concern to the first lady and the director of cabinet. Biya was not script-bound. Even coming down from the airplane was a whole drama. It took an hour for Biya to come out of the plane as make-up artists had to do their job, protocol officers had to ensure that things went on smoothly; the presidential motorcade had to go very close to the plane to avoid any embarrassment. Luckily for Biya, it is easy to deceive Cameroonians and that game plan of his worked well yesterday like a charm.

Chantal Biya and Ayolo were aware that Biya was acting on steroids and standing for a long time could expose their game plan to the public which was still trying to figure out why a 91-year-old man could look that strong. When he ended his empty speech, the relief on Chantal’s face was visible.

But Biya is not off the hook. He cannot take steroids for a long time. Steroids have the nasty habit of blowing up the hearts of those who abuse them. Biya is fragile and he cannot stay in the steroids zone for a long time. No one has ever succeeded to cheat nature.

The Biya drama is not new in Africa. This film has already been seen in the DRC, former Zaire, when Mobutu, the country’s dictator, died shortly after his own triumphant return to Kinshasa.

Like Mobutu, Biya returned to Yaoundé yesterday after an exceptionally long stay abroad due to health concerns. Mobutu, like Biya, was welcomed by chanting crowds which saw him as their savior. But shortly after, he was overwhelmed by events and illnesses, and had to die miserably in exile in Morocco after a prostate cancer treatment in France.

There are parallels between Mobutu and Biya. Both despised their people. Like Mobutu, Biya sees Cameroonians as stupid and not worthy of respect. Like Mobutu, Biya has ruined his country’s economy and holds that he is eternal. Unfortunately, with age, he knows his days are numbered and with health issues, he knows that anything can happen.

The fear of losing power has transformed Biya into a monster, killing and imprisoning his collaborators who have any ambitions of succeeding him.

Biya might be back, but he knows the fear of death inhabits his mind. Though he is the ultimate scammer who has scammed the country out of its resources, he lives in fear, scared of the military he has created and the diseases he has manufactured for himself due to his excessive love of power.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai