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8, November 2024

Paul Biya at 100 years old: it is Swiss life expectancy that counts ⁰

Paul Biya’s faithful supporters celebrated his 42 years in power in Cameroon this week. An official statement praised both his record and his discreet style of leadership, while also hinting at a potential candidacy for the 2025 presidential election.

With 91 years on this planet, 42 of which have now been spent in Etoudi Palace, the world’s oldest sitting elected leader continues to celebrate the anniversary of the day he took office – on 6 November 1982 – after the resignation of Ahmadou Ahidjo.

Born Paul Barthélemy Biya’a bi Mvondo, Cameroon‘s head of state is both elusive and anything but elusive.

In terms of longevity, he has certainly built a lengthy tenure that almost rivals that of his Equatorial Guinean counterpart, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, whose reign has lasted over 45 years. But unlike Obiang, Paul Biya operates under the radar, like a stealth aircraft, hard to track and difficult to find.

This political trademark may well explain Biya’s long political life. According to an editorial in Cameroon Tribune on 4 November, the “Biya Code” is defined by “absence, distance and silence.” While the lack of images of the president – between the China-Africa summit in early September and 21 October – had sparked much speculation, Paul Biya’s return has been as well publicised as the anniversary of his reign.

A low-profile workaholic?

While international media often refer to the president as the “lazy king”, the deputy secretary of the Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais (RDPC) interviewed this past weekend instead described him as a leader who “works tirelessly for his country” and “knows the issues well”.

It is a narrative that continues to unfold during this anniversary period. A letter from the ruling party praises a “fantastic record” as a guarantee of “stability and progress”; a documentary screened in the provinces is titled “Paul Biya, a great statesman with a remarkable destiny”; and the latest edition of Temps des Opportunités, the magazine published by the presidential civil cabinet, speaks of “intense” diplomatic activity with “Paul Biya as a metronome”.

Even the most robust cannot escape the wear and tear of time, and the burning question is: What happens next? Although the name of his son Franck was at one point circulating as a potential successor to the presidency, the issue remains taboo. Meanwhile the symphony of praise is not without calls urging Biya to run for an eighth term in the 2025 presidential election.

A motion signed by dozens of activists and supporters invites “all Cameroonians, regardless of their political views, to join us in our call for the candidacy of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.”

When mentioning the President’s 92nd birthday in 2025, the RDPC letter responds that the Cameroonian people are “a people of respect for age and elders” and that they must “continue under the leadership” of the head of state. If he were to stand as a candidate and be re-elected, Paul Biya would be expected to complete his next term in his 100th year.

Culled from The Africa Report

8, November 2024

3 Boko Haram militants killed in Cameroon military offensive ⁰

At least three members of the Boko Haram terror group have been killed in Cameroon’s Far North region, security sources said Thursday.

They were killed in a military offensive against the terror group in the region’s Walassa locality Wednesday night, a senior military official in the region said.

“They (Boko Haram) tried to fight back when our troops attacked, but they were overcome. Several of them escaped with wounds. Our forces will continue to secure the region and protect civilians against the terrorists,” the official, who asked not to be named, said.

Boko Haram has been operating in Cameroon’s Far North region since 2014.

Source: Xinhuanet

8, November 2024

Biya regime, Société Générale, Allianz lose CFA5 Billion in YUP mobile money collapse ⁰

Shareholders in YUP Cameroon, a mobile payment subsidiary of Société Générale, have lost nearly $8 million (around CFA4.8 billion) as the company shut down in 2022, according to a liquidation notice disclosed by Africa Intelligence. Société Générale Cameroon held over 80% of the company, while other shareholders included the State of Cameroon and Allianz Cameroon, though their stakes weren’t specified.

On March 1, 2022, Nicolas Pichou, CEO of Société Générale Cameroon, informed employees of YUP’s closure. Launched in 2017 across seven African countries Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea, Ghana, and Madagascar—the platform struggled to maintain profitability despite its reach. Pichou explained that despite efforts to expand market share and enhance customer experience, YUP could not create a viable model, and market conditions made its continuation unsustainable.

Following the announcement, YUP set a three-month deadline from March 15, 2022, to reimburse customer deposits. During an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on December 29, 2023, in Douala, YUP entered liquidation, with financial expert Manfred Penda appointed as liquidator.

YUP’s Mobile Market Struggle: 96% of Accounts Remained Inactive

Despite five years of effort in Cameroon’s dynamic mobile money market, YUP’s offering failed to achieve profitability. The dominant positions of established operators, MTN and Orange, posed a significant challenge. These two companies, having entered the market nearly a decade before YUP, established extensive networks with their MTN Mobile Money and Orange Money services, leaving little room for new players.

A 2022 report from the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) highlights the scale of YUP’s struggle. By the time it shut down in March 2022, YUP Cameroon had attracted 689,071 mobile money customers,pale in comparison to the more than 21 million accounts registered in Cameroon that year. Even more telling, only 22,332 of YUP’s accounts were active, meaning that over 96% of accounts saw little to no use after their initial setup.

Meanwhile, Orange and MTN continue to vie for dominance. In 2021, Orange Cameroon claimed 70% of the mobile money market with 10 million accounts and over 100,000 business partners. However, MTN Cameroon’s CEO, Mitwa Ng’ambi, countered this, stating that MTN’s Mobile Money Corporation now boasts the country’s largest active user base, solidifying its leadership in mobile financial services.

Source: Business in Cameroon

8, November 2024

Biya regime borrows CFA1 trillion in foreign currency in first nine months of 2024 ⁰

Cameroon’s public debt rose significantly in the first nine months of 2024. According to data from Cameroon’s debt management agency, the national sinking fund (CAA), the country’s Treasury borrowed CFA1.079 trillion from international lenders between January and September. Ten new loans were signed with various financial institutions to support development projects and help accelerate domestic debt payments.

Breaking down the figures, the largest borrowing occurred in July 2024 when Cameroon secured CFA323.8 billion from American bank Citi Group. These funds aimed to speed up the payment of overdue domestic bills that had been pending at the Treasury for over three months, in line with Cameroon’s economic program with the IMF.

Besides the international bond from Citi Group, Cameroon also signed project loans totaling CFA775.4 billion in the first three quarters. These project loans represent almost 72% of the total foreign borrowings so far, achieving 79.5% of the annual target set in the 2024 revised budget law, which capped project loans at CFA950 billion.

Higher Interest Rates

The CAA report highlighted that 60.1% of these loans were at non-concessional, market-level interest rates, amounting to CFA446.5 billion. In contrast, 39.9% were concessional loans, totaling CFA308.8 billion, which typically carry lower rates. This reliance on higher-interest loans means Cameroon is now borrowing more from commercial banks like Standard Chartered, Exim Bank USA, and Citi Group, which generally don’t offer reduced rates like multilateral institutions such as the World Bank or IMF.

This shift towards non-concessional loans increases Cameroon’s interest obligations, further straining public finances. For example, in just the first nine months of 2024, Cameroon’s Treasury paid CFA250 billion in interest to international lenders. To put this in perspective, this amount could fund projects like the construction of Douala’s second bridge over the Wouri River (estimated at CFA140 billion) and cover the CFA100 billion needed to rehabilitate the Lagdo Dam (72 MW) in northern Cameroon, which remains critical for electricity supply in the region.

Source: Business in Cameroon

8, November 2024

Football: Kylian Mbappé left out of France squad for Israel and Italy games ⁰

Kylian Mbappé has been left out of the France squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Italy, with coach Didier Deschamps insisting the absence of the Real Madrid superstar “is for the best”.

It is the second successive France squad from which the national team captain has been absent after he also missed the October double-header against Israel and Belgium.

“I have spoken with him and I have made the decision for this get-together because I think it is for the best,” Deschamps told reporters at a press conference in Paris.

The 25-year-old Mbappé was rested for last month’s matches in order to help him recover from a minor thigh injury suffered playing for Real.

However, that quickly became a source of controversy when he returned to action for Real days later, before France had even played.

Mbappé was absent for France’s 4-1 win over Israel in a game played in Budapest and a 2-1 win in Belgium, and instead travelled to Stockholm for a short break with members of his entourage.

It was following that trip that Swedish media reported he was being investigated for an alleged rape. Mbappé himself said those reports were “fake news” while his lawyer said the player would take action for libel.

A Swedish prosecutor confirmed that an investigation had been opened, without naming Mbappé.

“I am not going to set out my argument, but I can say two things. The first is that Kylian wanted to come,” Deschamps added.

“The second is that it is not to do with the off-field problems because the presumption of innocence exists.”

Since last month’s controversy, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain forward has made four appearances for his club, scoring one goal. However, he remains short of his explosive best form.

“I don’t want to say any more about it. I stand by my decision,” Deschamps added.

France are second in Group A2 of the Nations League, one point behind leaders Italy, ahead of their final two fixtures.

They host Israel at the Stade de France next Thursday, November 14, and then play Italy in Milan three days later.

France are five points clear of Belgium in third place and the top two teams will qualify for the quarter-finals, which will take place over two legs next March.

The semi-finals and final will be played next June.

Veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante, of Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, returns to the squad along with Adrien Rabiot of Marseille.

Meanwhile, there is a first call-up for highly-rated Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who takes the place of West Ham United’s Alphonse Areola in the squad.

Source: AFP

6, November 2024

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Norway extends detention of Ayaba Cho Lucas ⁰

The Oslo District Court in Norway has extended the preventive detention of Ayaba Cho Lucas, leader of the Ambazonia Defence Force, for an additional four weeks. According to the decision, the separatist leader will remain under detention until November 19, 2024. The extension aims to prevent tampering with evidence. The court has also imposed restrictions on the defendant’s mail and visitation.

Born Cho Lucas Ayaba on August 11, 1972, the separatist leader was arrested by Norwegian police on September 25 in Oslo, where he resides. His arrest followed a complaint filed by Cameroonian-born US lawyer Emmanuel Nsahlai. Ayaba Cho and other separatist leaders command armed groups in these regions, fighting for the creation of an independent state named “Ambazonia.”

Ayaba Cho faces charges of incitement to crimes against humanity under the Norwegian Penal Code. The court found reasonable grounds for suspicion, citing his public statements that allegedly encourage attacks on those perceived as opponents of the Ambazonian independence movement.

Ayaba Cho’s statements are viewed as incitement to a “widespread or systematic attack” against civilians, including acts of murder, kidnapping, and persecution. The Norwegian judiciary referenced reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch documenting attacks on civilians, teachers, and students by separatist groups.

Under the Norwegian Penal Code, Ayaba Cho could face severe penalties, including long-term imprisonment. According to Article 108 of the Penal Code, penalties for incitement to crimes against humanity can reach up to 21 years in prison.

Source: Sbbc

6, November 2024

US: Donald Trump declares victory as he addresses jubilant supporters ⁰

Donald Trump declares victory in the US election as he addresses jubilant supporters in Florida

“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he says to cheering crowds

The Republican has picked up the battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, leaving Kamala Harris with only a narrow path to victory

Just before Trump began speaking, Fox News projected that he had won the election; other US TV networks are yet to do so

A return to the White House would be an extraordinary comeback for Trump after he lost to Joe Biden in 2020

Harris says she won’t speak today, as dejected supporters left her watch party earlier

Meanwhile, Republicans are projected to have taken back the Senate.

Source: BBC

5, November 2024

Dschang: three killed in landslide at La Falaise ⁰

At least three people were killed in a landslide in West region on Tuesday, according to Governor Augustine Fonka Awa.

Heavy rains triggered a landslide at a steep hill at La Falaise locality in Dschang town of the region, blocking road access. The authorities deployed excavators to reopen the closed roads, but a subsequent landslide buried emergency workers and vehicles that were waiting for the road to be cleared, Awa told reporters Tuesday evening.

“Three passenger buses, motorcycles and vehicles that were working on the site were buried in the debris. At the moment three corpses have been extracted. Rescue workers are still searching for missing people in the rubble,” Awa said.

The highway which links the commercial hub of Douala to the West region is temporarily closed.

Source: Xinhaunet

5, November 2024

Archbishop Kleda urges Biya, other ageing leaders to step aside for a new generation ⁰

Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala has urged Cameroon’s ageing rulers to resign and let a new generation emerge as leaders of the country.

Speaking with local news channel RTVC, the archbishop also spoke out against bad governance, electoral malpractices, corruption and the disconnect between Cameroon’s natural resources, and the crushing poverty under which Cameroonians now live.

“When we get to a certain age, we no longer have certain abilities, whether it is intellectual or physical,” he said.

That physical and intellectual frailty, according to Kleda, means “we are no longer able to get up in the morning or at night to work and to control what is done…we are no longer able to do the work we did when we were younger.”

Kleda didn’t call out any names, but there is no doubt that he was referring to the current leadership of Cameroon, beginning with President Paul Biya.

On November 6 this year, the Cameroonian leader clocks exactly 42 years in power, and he will be 92 on February 13 next year: The same year another presidential election will take place in Cameroon.

Supporters of the aging president have continued to call on him to run for re-election, but there are increasing concerns that he is already too advanced in years to be able to effectively govern.

During the 2019 Paris Peace Forum, Biya struggled to answer questions from Mo Ibrahim, which raised concerns about his cognitive abilities.

At one point, he appeared unable to identify his audience, further fueling speculation about his health, although no official reports about the president’s health situation have been published. In fact, journalists in Cameroon have been formally barred from reporting about Biya’s health, with the excuse it poses “significant security risks.”

The Douala archbishop offered his views on the situation in the country.

“When we reach this level, [of physical and mental decline] we have to simply purely withdraw. What is the point of saying ‘I must die in power?’ If we no longer have this [mental and physical] capacity in principle, we must leave room for others. Those who are in this situation must resign,” Kleda said.

The Catholic archbishop said the incapacity to effectively govern means that development has been stalled, and the dreams and aspirations of large swathes of the Cameroon youth cannot be met. He said the failure to provide the environment for young people to create jobs has triggered the exodus of the youths abroad – a reality that in future will further fragilize the country’s already ailing economic fabric.

“We lose young people, the active people who are capable of working for the transformation of our country,” the archbishop said.

“What do we lack in Cameroon?” Kleda asked.

“We have everything in Cameroon, we have fertile land, we have minerals, such as gold and diamond … we have everything,” he said and explained that the problem in Cameroon isn’t about poverty but about leadership.

“The problem is how to put in place policies to be able to transform our country-how to transform all these riches and put them at the service of all the populations,” he continued.

The archbishop said the absence of effective leadership has also led to a lack of investment in critical infrastructure such as roads.

“Today in Cameroon, if you want to move, you must first think carefully how you are going to move, what means you are going to take because all the roads in Cameroon today are in a bad state, very bad state and what we observe is that nothing is being done to build these roads,” Kleda said.

He said the roads have become so bad that one has to spend a whole day travelling from the town of Ngaoundere to Garoua-a distance of just 170 miles.

The archbishop said the bad roads affect nearly every other sector of the economy. Farmers, for instance, have to charge higher for farm products because they pay more to transport the produce to the market.

“It is extremely serious and our authorities, when they see all these, what are they thinking?” Kleda said.

He said the lack of development and the near absence of democratic governance have led to widening inequalities, where the rich continue to get richer while the poor get poorer.

The archbishop said it means “more people are living in misery.”

“It means the purchasing power has continued to decline, and yet, those who hold public office in the country live in opulence,” he said.

“They have everything, but the rest of the population does not. We have reached the level where the country has been divided into two classes: those who are rich and those who are poor. There are many people who have nothing to eat,” Kleda added.

Despite these challenges, Cameroonians are expected to go to the polls next year to elect a president, and Biya is still expected to stand.

Kleda has urged Cameroonians to register and vote, because each vote could just be the source change.

Source: Crux

4, November 2024

Williams Mbue Bisong is not the traditional ruler of Manyemen ⁰

The heads of the five families that make up Manyemen village, Upper Balong in Nguti Subdivision have rejected the dubious selection of a non-native of their village Mr Williams Mbue Bisong, as traditional ruler of Manyemen a year ago by the Senior Divisional Officer for Kupe-Muanenguba.

On November 2nd, they or their representatives, led a delegation of villagers to meet the DO of Nguti, Etengeneng Kevin Oben and express their disapproval of the malicious shortcut procedure followed by the Kupe-Muanenguba SDO, Ekema William Mungambo to choose Bisong as chief of Manyemen following the death in 2022 of Chief Jacob Eben.

“As far as we are concerned, our village does not yet have a new chief,” said Manyemen family heads in a petition to the SDO of Kupe-Muanenguba dated October 7th.

The family heads explained: “(1.) No family designated Mr Williams Mbue Bisong for the throne. By the practice under our customs and traditions, the family designates a son as chief and presents him to village kingmakers for vetting before he is presented to the administration. Those steps were bypassed. (2.) Those you admitted as Kingmakers to enable the selection of Mr Williams Mbue Bisong as chief of Manyemen are not the kingmakers we chose to represent our families. Kingmakers cannot be self-declared nor chosen in any haphazard manner by whosoever except by us. (3.) Conducting the selection of the chief of Manyemen in your office in far away Bangem, outside our village was a traditional sacrilege as we can only choose our chief in the sacred forest which we call “Ntem”. (4.) Mr Williams Mbue Bisong is not a native of Manyemen. He is the son of a known man from another village, whose parents — duly married — were both not natives of our village. His father’s father was from a neighbouring village. He, therefore, cannot, under whatever condition, be the chief of Manyemen. (5.) The questionable process followed in selecting Mr Williams Mbue Bisong as chief of Manyemen has left a bitter taste in the mouth of our people and triggered widespread anger among villagers and elites. (6.) Your recognition of Mr Williams Mbue Bisong has apparently emboldened him to disregard both our tradition and even administrative orders, apparently sure that even you can do nothing to stop him, as if he is above the law. On Sunday, 11th August 2024, in violation of an order by the Divisional Officer of Nguti postponing all public manifestations, including Mr Williams Mbue Bisong’s announced coronation, Mr Williams Mbue Bisong went ahead and staged a so-called coronation, filmed by a TV crew and broadcast over television viewed all over Cameroon and the world. To do so, he again violated our traditional practices by causing the village patriarch (the oldest man in the village or Tanyie) to crown him, a highly sacred act reserved only for the village Chief of Tiger.”

In the petition signed by the family heads of Bafene, Nsuk ô Mbi, Njet, Ndong and a representative of Ntimbuk, the Manyemen family heads tell the Kupe-Muanenguba SDO, “Manyemen is a renowned and respected village with worthy sons we can place on our throne through our established traditional procedures. We shall not accept any process that disregards, violates and mocks our customs and traditions.”

They call on the SDO “to review your decision of 23rd November 2023 and allow us to choose our traditional ruler in accordance with our established traditional procedure.”

The delegation of the five families at the meeting with the DO of Nguti was led by Francis Ebenson for Ntimbuk, Stephen Chu Tabi for Bafene, Franklin Sone Bayen for Nsuk ô Mbi, Lawrence Diffang Tabi for Njet and Ashu Moses Mcmoi Ndi for Ndong.