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22, August 2019

Sentencing of Ambazonia leaders and the reaction of the international community: Silence of the lamb ⁰

When Switzerland offered that they wanted to mediate in the crisis in Southern Cameroons, some of our leaders and comrades jumped up with excitement. They called the initiative credible and said it was an opportunity for us to sit down with La Republique du Cameroun

The initiative was immediately endorsed by the international community. Many found and still find the Swiss initiative as a hoax. The endorsement of the initiative by the international community to many is a conspiracy. Southern Cameroonians do not understand why certain individuals think that because an initiative has been endorsed by the international community, the initiative is good and must be embraced. This same international community endorsed the ousting of Gaddafi including the war in Syria against Assad.

Now, Southern Cameroons leaders have been given life sentence. How many of them have spoken against the sentence? We know all those who quickly hailed the Swiss initiative and endorsed it. How many of these so-called international community guys have now stepped forward to condemn the regime? Has Switzerland done so? Has the UK done so? What has the AU said about it? Faki, the AU Chairman was quick to endorse the Swiss initiative. Now he is taking too long to finish his prayers to Allah because he doesn’t want to say anything. Harriett Baldwin MP former UK Minister for Africa who endorsed the Swiss nonsense can’t even make a comment. The UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab has his mouth shut up. The UK Minister for the Commonwealth, Baron Ahmad who hailed the Swiss dialogue has gone mute. Stephenson MP, new British Minister for Africa is busy drinking tea. Patricia Scotland of the Commonwealth too is drinking her champagne in the Caribbean’s.

If you want Southern Cameroonians to consider the endorsement of the Swiss initiative by the international community as credible, what then does the international community have to say about their indifference now? President Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe and his top aides have been condemned and the international community is not condemning it. Yes. Cohen condemned it but he ended up talking of federation that seems to miss.

In the midst of “Dialogue” you are sentencing the Ambazonia leaders to life imprisonment and expecting Southern Cameroonians to believe that you are willing to dialogue or negotiate with them! Well, there are others who strongly believe in Yaounde’s willingness to dialogue.

Source: Anonymous

22, August 2019

Biya regime providing protection, support to militias in Southern Cameroons ⁰

Vice President Dabney Yerima has said that the massive deployment of French Cameroun soldiers in civilian dressing to Kumba and Bamenda is a move that clearly shows the Biya Francophone regime is offering generous support to militias operating deep inside the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

Speaking to Cameroon Concord News immediately after the Yaounde Military Tribunal slammed Ambazonia leaders with a life sentence on Tuesday the 19^th of August 2019; Comrade Yerima said the recent development indicates that there will be tough days ahead.

He added that contrary to the lock down some former members of the Ambazonia Interim Government announced on social media, he and his team are consulting with Ground Zero commanders in order to provide a crushing response to Yaoundé.

Dabney Yerima stressed that the continues deployment of French Cameroun troops to Ambazonia is prove of the determination of the Ambazonia nation and its restoration forces to continue fighting French Cameroun terrorism until Southern Cameroonians get to Buea.

Vice President Yerima expressed confidence that the new strategy being planned in consultation with commanders in Ground Zero will eventually manage to restore the independence of Southern Cameroons including its security and stability.

Dabney Yerima further pointed out that Southern Cameroons Self-Defense Forces will keep hunting the French Cameroun terrorists’ army soldiers everywhere in Ambazonia.

By Chi Prudence Asong

21, August 2019

Messi ‘made me better player’ Cristiano Ronaldo ⁰

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted on Wednesday his long-time rivalry with Lionel Messi has made him “a better player” and that he enjoys a “healthy” rivalry with the Argentine great.

However, Portuguese star Ronaldo, whose influence at Real Madrid mirrored that of Messi at Barcelona before he left for Juventus, admitted that the pair have never socialised together.

“I really admire the career he has had and from his side, he has already talked of the disappointment when I left Spain because it was a rivalry that he appreciated,” Ronaldo told TVI in Portugal.

“It’s a good rivalry but it’s not unique — Michael Jordan had rivalries in basketball, there was Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in Formula 1. The thing they all had in common is that they were healthy rivalries.”

Ronaldo and Messi have won the coveted Ballon d’Or five times each, a factor that helps each player flourish.

“I have no doubt that Messi has made me a better player and vice-versa. When I am winning trophies it must sting him and it’s the same for me when he wins,” he said.

“I have an excellent professional relationship because we have been sharing the same moments for 15 years.

He added: “We’ve never had dinner together but I don’t see why we can’t in the future. I don’t see a problem with that.”

Source: AFP

21, August 2019

Life sentences for Ambazonia leaders fuels tension in Southern Cameroons ⁰

A series of deadly attacks and shootings all over the major towns and cities of Southern Cameroons has claimed at least 12 civilians in the two days since the Ambazonia leader President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and his top aides were sentenced to life in prison by the Yaoundé Military Tribunal, raising insecurity to a new intensity.

Southern Cameroons Restoration Forces have issued very serious warnings that have prompted hundreds of Ambazonian civilians to be heading out of Bamenda the chief city in the Northern Zone. The separatist fighters have declared tough days ahead following the life sentence slammed on the Southern Cameroons leadership.

Cameroon Concord News understands Nigeria army soldiers have closed the borders with Cameroon at Ekok in the Manyu County. The grisly spectacle by the Yaoundé Military Tribunal verdict has generated fresh anxiety and an upsurge in violence.

Ambazonia Self Defense Forces have also announced that attacks on French Cameroun army positions and administrative officers who work with the Biya regime will dramatically increased. The Francophone army commanders have also said they are expecting a rise in indiscriminate attacks throughout Southern Cameroons.

The ten victims, who were in Nigeria under the protection of international law, were abducted from a hotel in Abuja Nigeria in a coordinated operation carried out by Nigeria and Cameroun intelligence and paramilitary operatives. A Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria has since decided that the abduction and rendition of these victims was illegal and violated the Nigerian constitution and international law and ordered the return to Nigeria of the abductees; a decision, the Nigerian government has so far ignored.

Some witnesses reported seeing French Cameroun soldiers invading the Eyumojock sub constituency in Manyu in an attempt to secure the area for the late General James Tataw’s funeral rites. The Government Delegate to the Bamenda City Council, Vincent Ndumu has fled into French Cameroun due to ongoing security concerns.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai with files from Sama Ernest, Rita Akana and Chief Charles A. Taku

21, August 2019

Chad declares emergency after dozens die in ethnic violence ⁰

Chad President Idriss Deby declared a state of emergency in two eastern provinces on Sunday after violent intercommunal clashes left dozens dead earlier this month.

The state of emergency will run for three months in Sila and Ouaddai regions where 50 people have died since August 9 in fighting between cattle herders and settled farmers, the president’s office said.

“From now, we will deploy military forces who are going to ensure the security of the population in the region,” Deby said while on a trip to Sila.

“We must disarm all the civilians who have weapons in their hands,” he said.

Eastern Chad is in the grip of a cycle of violence between nomadic camel herders — many from the Zaghawa ethnic group from which Deby hails — and sedentary farmers from the Ouaddian community.

Drought and population growth have aggravated the conflict while an influx of weapons from conflict-stricken neighbors have made it even more deadly.

Deby in particular blamed the unrest in Sudan, describing it as the “principal cause” of the ethnic violence.

Speaking earlier this month, the president had described the violence as a “national concern,” adding: “We are witnessing a terrible phenomenon.”

“Those with guns are not hesitating to shoot the police. We must wage a total war against those who carry weapons and are killing people,” he said at the time. Legislative elections in Chad are scheduled to take place by the end of the year.

They have been postponed several times since 2015 as Deby, who grabbed power in 1990, looks to maintain his hold on the country.

(Source: AFP)

21, August 2019

US: President Trump cancels Denmark visit after rebuff over Greenland ⁰

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called off a visit to Denmark scheduled for early September after the country’s prime minister rebuffed his idea of purchasing Greenland.

“Denmark is a very special country with incredible people, but based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time,” Trump said in a post on Twitter.

“The Prime Minister was able to save a great deal of expense and effort for both the United States and Denmark by being so direct. I thank her for that and look forward to rescheduling sometime in the future!”

A White House official said Trump had dropped the Sept. 2-3 stop in Denmark, a NATO ally. Trump had been due to discuss the Arctic in meetings in Copenhagen with Frederiksen, who took office in June, and Prime Minister Kim Kielsen of Greenland.

He is due to visit Poland on August 31.

Frederiksen said on Sunday the idea of selling Greenland to the United States was absurd after an economic adviser to Trump confirmed US interest in buying the world’s largest island.

“Greenland is not for sale. Greenland is not Danish. Greenland belongs to Greenland. I strongly hope that this is not meant seriously,” Frederiksen told the newspaper Sermitsiaq during a visit to Greenland.

Trump confirmed to reporters on Sunday that he had recently discussed the possibility of buying Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, although he said such a move was not an immediate priority.

“The concept came up and … strategically it’s interesting,” Trump told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey.

A defense treaty between Denmark and the United States dating back to 1951 gives the US military rights over the Thule Air Base in northern Greenland.

Trump’s interest in buying Greenland has been met with incredulity and humor. Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who recently stepped down as Danish prime minister, tweeted last week: “It must be an April Fool’s Day joke.”

On Monday, Trump retweeted an image of a golden Trump tower looming over a cluster of houses on the Arctic island, and wrote: “I promise not to do this to Greenland!”

(Source: Reuters)

21, August 2019

Cameroonian Njoya to battle Messi for FIFA Puskas Award ⁰

FIFA on Monday announced its shortlist for this year’s Puskas Award.

Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend and Brazilian Matheus Cunha, who plays as a winger for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig will vie with Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Townsend’s stunning volley against Manchester City at the Etihad last term is one of the 10 contenders announced by world football’s governing body.

Townsend’s effort was the Premier League goal of the season in 2018-19, as awarded by Match of the Day.

The Cameroonian Ajara Nchout Njoya who plays for Norwegian club Vålerenga will also battle Zlatan and Messi courtesy of her strike on international duty against New Zealand on 20 June 2019.

She also scored a superb goal against Avaldsnes in a 2-2 draw in the Norwegian League.

Njoya dribbled past three defenders before firing her effort to the top corner of the net. The goal was adjudged the best goal in the Norwegian top-flight.

Barcelona superstar Messi registered his name on the list with his stunning chip against Real Betis in La Liga back in March.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s acrobatic volley for LA Galaxy against Toronto last September is also included, as is a remarkable mid-air backheel by Sampdoria’s Fabio Quagliarella, similarly notched last September.

Liverpool’s Mo Salah won the award last year for his virtuoso goal against Everton in the Premier League.

The list released by FIFA for this year’s Puskas Award contained the following names:

Matheus Cunha: Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig (6 April 2019)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Toronto FC vs LA Galaxy (September 15, 2018)

Lionel Messi: Real Betis vs FC Barcelona (17 March 2019)

Ajara Nchout Njoya: Cameroon vs New Zealand (20 June 2019)

Fabio Quagliarella: Sampdoria vs Napoli (2 September 2018)

Juan Fernando Quintero: River Plate vs Racing Club (10 February 2019)

Amy Rodriguez: Utah Royals vs Sky Blue FC (16 June 2019)

Andros Townsend: Manchester City vs Crystal Palace (22 December 2018)

Source: Pmnewsnigeria

21, August 2019

Critics Condemn Life Sentences for Southern Cameroons Leaders ⁰

A military tribunal in Cameroon has sentenced 10 leaders of the country’s Anglophone separatist movement to life in prison, which critics say will hurt efforts to end the separatist crisis through dialogue.

Julius Ayuk Tabe, president of the self-declared Republic of Ambazonia, and nine of his collaborators were sentenced Tuesday by Colonel Misse Njone Jacques after a heated court session in Yaounde that was boycotted by defense lawyers.

Jacques found the defendants guilty of secession, terrorism and hostility against the state of Cameroon, and ordered them to pay a $50 million fine.

Immediately, observers voiced concern the ruling will derail efforts to end the crisis in the North West and South West regions. Armed groups in the two mostly English-speaking regions want to break away from Cameroon’s French-speaking majority and form a separate nation.

Nelson Tawe, a computer engineer, says the sentences could ruin plans to send children back to school after three years of unrest.

“At a time when we are preaching back to school, at a time when we are preaching unity, at a time we are preaching reconciliation, I think it is stupid for the prison to sentence them to life imprisonment. The government should rethink its strategy,” Tawe said.

Prince Ekosso, chairman of the opposition United Socialist Democratic Party, believes the sentences will lead to more violence.

“It is actually a disgrace to democracy,” he said. “This decision would intensify tension in the North West and the South West. It would intensify killings and it would intensify the destruction of properties.”

Defense counsel Edwin Fongo says the judge was biased and behaved as though he received instructions from the military. In a telephone interview with VOA, he called the sentencing scandalous, and said lawyers will file an appeal.

“They have denied justice to those people,” Fongo said. “We are going to take necessary steps to make sure we go on appeal. You do not judge people in such circumstances without a lawyer. All the lawyers withdrew from the court, they went ahead and passed a judgment.”

However, government lawyer Emmanuel Essim says the prison sentences do not stop any talks to solve the crisis. In addition, he says it is not the duty of the military tribunal to grant mercy to people who defied state authority and who carry weapons against their own people.

The 10 defendants were arrested in Nigeria and extradited to Cameroon in January 2018.

Along with Tabe, they include Cornelius Kwanga, Egbe Orock, Eyambe Ebai, Fidelis Nde Che, Kimeng Henry, Nfor Ngala Nfor, Augustine Awasum, Shufai Blaise and Tassang Wilfred.

Source: VOA

21, August 2019

French Cameroun: A dozen passengers kidnapped in Far North region ⁰

Unknown gunmen kidnapped a dozen passengers Tuesday afternoon in Cameroon’s Far North region, according to security sources.

Local officials said they were abducted along a highway in Dabanga, a locality in Logone and Chari division of the region.

The Cameroon army is conducting a rescue mission to secure the safe release of the passengers, according to local police.

No armed group has claimed responsibility for the abduction but terror group Boko Haram and highway robbers are known to be operating in the region regularly.

Source: Xinhuanet

20, August 2019

Ambazonia-Yaounde Military Tribunal gate: Irrelevant Parody of Justice ⁰

The politically motivated life sentences slammed on Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and nine Ambazonian leaders by a Court-martial in Cameroun with the complicity of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is one more unfortunate example of the militarization of justice, civil and political rights in African through inter-state terror. The ten victims, who were in Nigeria under the protection of international law, were abducted from a hotel in Abuja Nigeria in a coordinated operation carried out by Nigeria and Cameroun intelligence and paramilitary operatives. A Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria has since decided that the abduction and rendition of these victims was illegal and violated the Nigerian constitution and international law and ordered the return to Nigeria of the abductees; a decision, the Nigerian government has so far ignored.

The entire operation leading to this Cameroun staged night judicial terror is a slur on the rule of law credentials and constitutional governance of Nigeria and Cameroun. It provides cattle fodder for the validation of the criticism made by an increasing number of observers that the two countries may be paying lip-service to the supposed fight against Boko Haram in which the international community has deployed extensive resources. Going by the interstate abduction and court-martial of these victims in a night judicial ritual, a method allegedly used by Boko Haram in its operations, could this hydra-headed monster so-called Boko Haram not be but a stealth interstate ruse used to create instability to justify political brigandage and the corrupt externalization of political power relying on international resources and support? Why will supposed sovereign nations prefer interstate terror to the international rule of law in the conduct of international relations?

This irrelevant parody of justice against Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and Southern Cameroons leaders is about ten individuals. It is about the consequences in Nigeria, La Republique du Cameroun and Africa of the legitimization of abduction and state terror as alternatives to the international rule of law. The international community must make a strong statement condemning this travesty and judicial brigandage and seek the unconditional release of these victims. Its indifference may unfortunately be construed as a tacit validation of impunity in an explosive region where violence is not a rare commodity.

No one should be under the illusion, that the impugned court-martial process and its outcome is a victory for French Cameroun or Nigeria that collaborated in it. It is an international symbol of shame for the two countries and a validation of the just claims of the Southern Cameroons to sovereignty and freedom. The ten did not present the case of the independence of the Southern Cameroons by violent means. At their abduction, they were merely articulating the claims which the Southern Cameroons have strenuously presented for the past fifty-seven years, at the United Nations, at home and worldwide. Rather than seek dialogue to resolve the conflict, Cameroun declared war with impunity, hoping to subdue the aggrieved people of the Southern Cameroons through genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Nigeria government which Africa and the world relied on to mediate in this and other African disputes, decided to throw its support to the government of French Cameroun in the mistaken belief that the abduction of these victims would end the crisis! By its own miscalculation, Nigeria, lost an opportunity to oversee a peaceful solution to a potentially protracted conflict in its own backyard.

Ambazonia is an albatross on the neck of the Republic of Cameroun which will loosen its grip only when Ambazonia is fully liberated. The life sentences only extend the duration and complexity of the conflict which neither the present leaders of Cameroun or Nigeria will be around to see how it plays out. May be only their progeny, may as fate often does, have the chance to have glimpses of these victims when they will be liberated to partake in the celebration of an independent and free neighbouring Ambazonia. The night justice of shame will not define the cause they stand for. The sustained resistance, self-defense and the unbreakable will and resolve of a people who have craved for justice with peace plants, memoranda to the UN and the international community, their precious blood and the eternal conscience of humanity will determine the outcome of this conflict and not conspiratorial carnage, terror and the arrogance of ephemeral power of a frail failing dictatorship. For this reason, by imposing the so-called life sentences and other coercive conditions of life on Southern Cameroons captives, they might in this occasion, have put their own poisoned portions on their own lips and that of their nation.

By Chief Charles A.Taku