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26, July 2019

16 US Marines arrested for involvement in ‘illegal activities’ ⁰

Sixteen US Marines were arrested on Thursday for their alleged involvement in illegal activities including human smuggling and drug-related offenses, the US military said.

In a press release, the Marine Corps said that the Marines were arrested at Camp Pendleton in California based on information gained from a previous human smuggling investigation.

The statement added that in addition to the Marines arrested, eight others were questioned for unrelated alleged drug offenses.

The Marine Corps said none of those arrested or detained were serving in support of the military’s mission along the border with Mexico.

The arrest comes a day after the military said a Navy SEAL team was sent back from Iraq because of discipline issues. An official said it was because, in part, they had been drinking alcohol, something that is prohibited.

(Source: Reuters)

25, July 2019

Southern Cameroons houses razed by Francophone soldiers meant to stifle the Amba Resistance ⁰

The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, Comrade Dabney Yerima has said that the continues burning of Southern Cameroons homes by French Cameroun troops is a Biya regime’s policy to stifle the Southern Cameroons resistance and quest for independence.

The Ambazonia VP in a telephone conversation with our senior international correspondent, Chi Prudence Asong added that, “There are some Southern Cameroonians who are helping the French Cameroun regime to create problems deep inside Southern Cameroons to distract Ambazonians from the greatest danger posed by the occupying forces.”

Comrade Dabney Yerima assured Southern Cameroonians in Ground Zero that the international community has not turned a blind eye to their sufferings. The VP who is expected to decree a lockdown in support of Southern Cameroons detainees this weekend, further observed that the destruction of Southern Cameroons towns and villages by French Cameroun army soldiers is a policy that undermines the prospect for a just and lasting resolution of the three year-long conflict between British Southern Cameroons and La Republique du Cameroun.

The Ambazonia Communications Secretary, Hon. Milton Taka recently condemned the killings of innocent Southern Cameroons civilians in the Akwaya sub constituency in the Manyu County and French Cameroun military atrocities in Menchum and called on the international community to push the International Criminal Court (ICC) into opening an immediate investigation into the French Cameroun army actions in Southern Cameroons.

The US administration and the Swiss government have not only failed to stop the genocidal campaign going on in Southern Cameroons that have forced thousands to flee, but also failed to hold the Biya regime accountable for its crimes.

Vice President Dabney Yerima’s remarks came after he received images of the charred ruins of some 70 homes dot the streets of Alatchu village in Cameroon. The houses were razed by French Cameroun government troops after violent clashes with Ambazonia Restoration Forces.

By Asu Isong in London

25, July 2019

Former Cameroon Assistant Coach Kluivert is Barcelona Director of Youth Football ⁰

Former Cameroon assistant coach Patrick Kluivert has returned to Barcelona after agreeing to become their Director of Youth Football until June 2021.

The agreement was formalized in the presence of two directors who are responsible for youth football at Barcelona, Silvio Elias, and Xavier Vilajoana.

The Dutchman played for the club from 1998 to 2004, scoring 145 goals in 308 games, making him one the highest goalscorers of all time in a Barcelona shirt.

A LaLiga Santander winner in 1998/99, Kluivert has gone to work in several roles as a coach and technical secretary, most recently as assistant to Clarence Seedorfat the helm of the Cameroon national team.

“I am very happy to be back home and looking forward to this new era, with the challenge of keeping Barcelona among the top teams in the world,” said Kluivert.

“I grew up at the Ajax academy, which is very similar to La Masia, and I think I can do a lot for the development of Barcelona’s young players.”

Source: Brila.com

25, July 2019

Sebastien Bassong signs for Greek Side Volos NFC ⁰

Cameroon international Sebastien Bassong has signed a one-year deal with Greek Side Volos NFC.

The 33-year-old defender joins the outfit that recently gained promotion to the Greek Super League after finishing champions of the country’s second tier league last season.

The former Norwich captain moves to Greece after a one-year spell with English League One side Peterborough United where he made just one appearance.

The Cameroon international spent a decade plying his trade in England for Newcastle, Tottenham, Wolves, Norwich, Watford and Peterborough.

While at Newcastle United, he was named player of the season for 2008-2009 after an impressive performance for the Magpies.

Thé former Metz centre-back spent five seasons with Norwich City, picking up the club’s player of the season for 2012-2013 before going on to skipper the Canaries.

The 33-year-old made 15 appearances for Cameroon, featuring in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where he played two games against Japan and Denmark.

Source: BBC

25, July 2019

UN nuclear agency appoints Romanian diplomat Feruta as interim chief ⁰

Romanian diplomat Cornel Feruta will head the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) until member states agree on who will permanently succeed deceased Director General Yukiya Amano.

The IAEA announced on Monday that chief Yukiya Amano had died, leaving the agency with a leadership vacuum at a time of tensions between Iran and the West following Washington’s decision last year to quit a 2015 international deal that curbed Tehran’s nuclear program in return for an easing of economic sanctions.

“The Board of Governors has decided to designate Mr. Cornel Feruta as acting Director General, until a Director General assumes office,” the United Nations nuclear agency said on Thursday.

Last week, the agency said that Amano’s health problems had forced him to plan an early end to his term, which was originally set to expire in December 2021.

PressTV-UN nuclear agency chief Yukiya Amano passes away

The Japanese diplomat held the position of IAEA director general since 2009 when he took over from Mohamed ElBaradei and began steering the international body through a period of intense diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear program.

Amano, on several occasions, reaffirmed Iran’s compliance with its nuclear-related commitments under the 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). US President Donald Trump, however, pulled his country out of the JCPOA in May 2018 and re-imposed harsh sanctions against the Islamic Republic in defiance of global criticisms.

Sources: (news agencies)

25, July 2019

Tunisia’s president Beji Caid Essebsi dies aged 92 ⁰

Tunisia’s 92-year-old president, Beji Caid Essebsi, who helped guide the North African country’s transition to democracy after a 2011 revolution, has died.

A leading figure in the country’s fortunes since 2011, Essebsi was hospitalized late last month and spent a week in hospital after suffering what authorities described as a severe health crisis.

“On Thursday morning, the President of the Republic died at the military hospital in Tunis … The burial ceremony will be announced later,” the presidency said in a statement.

According to the constitution, the speaker of parliament will temporarily serve as president.

Essebsi has been a prominent politician in Tunisia since the overthrow of former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, which was followed by uprisings against Arab monarchies across the Middle East, including in nearby Libya and Egypt.

Drafted in as prime minister in 2011 after Ben Ali was toppled, Essebsi was elected president three years later, becoming the country’s first directly elected head of state after its uprising.

Parliamentary elections are expected to be held on October 6 with a presidential vote following on November 17. They will be the third set of polls in which Tunisians have been able to vote freely following the 2011 revolution.

The presidency further called on Tunisians to unite and safeguard their country’s present and future.

“After the revolution, the president led the people to avoid confrontation and led the democratic transition and was keen to build and complete the constitutional institutions,” said the presidency.

The North African country has been hailed for its relatively smooth democratic transition with a new constitution, free elections and a coalition government, but it is still experiencing economic and political turbulence.

Source: (Reuters)

25, July 2019

Ambazonia: “Sako Ikome and Chris Anu were corrupt and negligent” ⁰

A senior adviser in the Ambazonia Interim Government has expressed anger at the state of negligence and corruption that the Southern Cameroons revolution suffered under disgraced former Acting President Sako Ikome and Chris Anu accusing both men of living in luxury abroad instead of helping Ambazonia Restoration Forces in Ground Zero.

James Ndikum Tanifor said that 18 months after Dr Sako and Chris Anu took over the day-to-day running of the Southern Cameroons Interim Government; Ambazonians found themselves facing dictatorship, corruption and a policy of disregard for Ambazonians in Ground Zero.

Comrade Ndikum who hails from the Menchum County accused Sako and his gang of ceasing to follow the Interim Government’s system and tradition, citing as an example the violation committed against the Restoration Council and the humiliating way in which appointments were made in defiance to all Southern Cameroons democratic standards and laws, rules and regulations.

He observed that Dr Ikome Sako and Chris Anu spent the entire period they had in the Interim Government plotting against the Ambazonia leader, President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe.

“It is about time that we rise up together so that the Southern Cameroons state will become a reality and the Interim Government’s institutions will be established, a permanent constitution will be drafted and a Southern Cameroons parliament will be elected to represent Ambazonia people everywhere” he said.

He called on Vice President Dabney Yerima to establish a clear and comprehensive political platform and an international partnership that does not exclude or marginalize any Southern Cameroons faction on political or personal-interests grounds.

Ndikum appealed for funding of Ground Zero fighters “before it is too late”.

By Sama Ernest in Wum

25, July 2019

Londoners protest against Prime Minister Boris Johnson ⁰

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in central London on Wednesday, July 24, to protest against Britain’s newly appointed Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The demonstrators took part in a planned street party in central London before marching to Downing Street. Describing his appointment as “dangerous”, some protesters said he could not be trusted and should not be prime minister.

Police put the prime minister’s residence into lockdown as the gates were blockaded by around 100 officers and dozens of riot vans. No arrests were made and the demonstration passed off peacefully. A second protest is planned for September 20.

Johnson took over from Theresa May on Wednesday after an audience with Queen Elizabeth, a moment that put an avowed Brexiteer in control of Britain’s exit from the European Union for the first time since the shock 2016 referendum.

He promised in his first speech as prime minister to lead Britain out of the European Union on Oct. 31 with “no ifs or buts” and warned that if the bloc refused to negotiate then there would be a no-deal Brexit.

(Source: Reuters)

25, July 2019

Biya regime blames opposition, Ambazonians for live-streamed prison riot ⁰

The Cameroon government officially responded to the “digital” riot that rocked the main prison facility in the capital Yaounde on July 22. The protests also led to a fire incident in the Kondengui Maximum Security Prisons.

A Ministry of Communication release dated July 23, 2019, said a group of detainees of the Anglophone crisis were at the heart of the chaos which was live-streamed on Facebook.

According to the release the detainees were authorised to organise a meeting to discuss the prevailing situation in the restive North West and South West Regions, “but the move later became violent.”

The release signed by Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi, said no life was lost, that injuries were reported and no live bullets were used. Reports by rights groups however said there were injuries arising from heavy shooting at a point.

The government also confirmed a mass transfer of 77 inmates of the Kondengui Maximum prison to police and gendarmerie units in Yaounde for questioning.

Meanwhile the BBC Africa LIVE page is reporting that another government official who visited the facility was laying the blame at the doorstep of the main opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, who remains in jail over a treason charge.

Jean Claude Tilla, claimed supporters of Kamto’s party, Cameroon Renaissance Movement, CRM, were the key architects of the violence.

“We know that they are hiding behind the Anglophone problem to foment such trouble,” he told journalists.

Hundreds of pro-Kamto supporters are being held in the aftermath of disputed elections which incumbent Paul Biya won to secure a seventh term in office.

Kamto, a former Biya appointee, came a distant second in the vote but rejected the outcome, his poll petition was also thrown out by the Constitutional Court.

The Anglophone crisis in western Cameroon has snowballed into a call for independence by the English-speaking part of the country.

A government crackdown on protests against marginalization birthed a so-called independent Ambazonia republic, whose fighters continue to engage with state actors in the two regions.

Source: Africa News