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25, July 2019

Nigeria anti-graft body seizes properties of ex-governor, family, cronies ⁰

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, announced on Wednesday that it had began probing a two-time governor of the southern Imo State.

Rochas Okorocha, a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is currently serving as a Senator. The EFCC said its operatives had so far marked properties in his name as well as that of family members and cronies.

“It was the outcome of painstaking investigation, and as a result of the failure of those to whom they were traced to, to honour the EFCC’s invitation for interrogation. Operatives neither “raided” nor “harassed” anyone in the course of the action.

“They include: Dews of Hope Hospital traced to Dr. Paschal Obi, ex-Principal Secretary to Okorocha; Market Square Supermarket; All in One Shop, and premises belonging to Imo State Broadcasting Corporation now hosting Rochas Foundation College owned by Senator Okorocha,” an EFCC statement read.

“Others include: East High Academy and East High College, owned by Okorocha’s daughter, Uloma Okorocha-Nwosu; Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartment, a 16 block cum 96 flats and eight bungalow multi-million Naira estate traced to Okorocha’s wife,” it added.

State governors are powerful political voices across Nigeria, most of them have serially been accused of high-level corruption but they are shielded by immunity whiles in office.

A former governor of Ekiti Stae, Peter Ayodele Fayose, is currently being probed by the EFCC. In the north central Kano State, the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, is the subject of a dollar bribe saga.

The ex-governor during his tenure which ended in March 2019 is no stranger to controversy. He justified and built a number of statues with over $1m of tax payers money.

He constructed Imo’s infamous statue avenue which has honoured among others, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and South Africa’s Jacob Zuma. President Buhari also has one of the larger-than-life statues in Imo State.

In 2017, then governor Okorocha appointed a Commissioner for Happiness and Couples’ Fulfillment. He handed the portfolio to his sister Ogechi Ololo.

She had previously held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff and special adviser on domestic matters. The decision received flak on social media with many Twitter users asking whether there is really the need for the post.

Source: Africa News

24, July 2019

Trump Administration has decided to overthrow President Biya ⁰

US President Donald Trump after very intensive and productive discussions with officials at the US State Department has decided to oust President Paul Biya from power, Cameroon Intelligence Report has learned. Our contacts deep within the African Desk at the US State Department revealed that the White House will be ordering the CIA, the Pentagon and other agencies to devise a combination of economic, diplomatic and covert steps to achieve that goal.

We understand the Trump administration is not planning any military strike, but top officials at the US State Department have told President Trump that the 86 year old Cameroonian dictator is now a threat to the security of the Gulf of Guinea and must be removed, even if France refuses to consent to the mission.

A US military official serving with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) was heard murmuring privately that it is no longer an argument about whether to get rid of Biya. That discussion is over. The White House decision is expected to launch the Trump Campaign on a course that will help secure the African America votes in the 2020 presidential elections.

People in the know have opined that any US led campaign against the Biya regime would be very swift and virtually free of casualties. Nevertheless, experts in the CEMAC region who are monitoring the deteriorating situation in Cameroon have all expressed the feeling that by jolting its military cooperation with Yaoundé and pushing the Germans to do same, a decision has already been made to force Biya out of office and what is remaining now is the how and when.

President Trump reportedly has not been too enthusiastic as he is now focused on former U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller who is testifying to Congress today Wednesday at a pair of televised hearings that carry high stakes for President Donald Trump and Democrats who are split between impeaching him or concentrating on the 2020 election.

Mueller, whose inquiry detailed extensive contacts between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia at a time when Moscow was interfering in the 2016 election with hacking and propaganda, is set to appear beginning at 8:30 a.m. (1230 GMT) in separate hearings before the House of Representatives Judiciary and Intelligence committees.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai in Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany

24, July 2019

US: Mueller to testify at televised hearing with high stakes for Trump ⁰

Former U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller testifies to Congress Wednesday at a pair of televised hearings that carry high stakes for President Donald Trump and Democrats who are split between impeaching him or concentrating on the 2020 election.

Democrats, who control the House, hope his testimony will rally public support behind their own ongoing investigations of the Republican president and his administration, even as they struggle with whether to launch the impeachment process set out in the U.S. Constitution for removing a president from office for “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Mueller is not expected to deliver any new bombshells, according to Democratic aides, but rather stick to the contents of his 448-page investigation report about the 22-month-long probe of Russian election meddling. Mueller plans to deliver an opening statement before taking questions.

Democrats hope the 74-year-old former FBI director will give the American public a compelling account of Russia’s sweeping interference, the Trump campaign’s readiness to accept help from Moscow and Trump’s efforts to impede the Russia probe that Mueller investigated as potential obstruction of justice.

Trump, running for re-election in 2020, is hoping to move past the entire Russia issue.

“Seeing is believing in America. That report was voluminous. But most Americans didn’t read it. So they’ll see Mueller lay out the case,” said Representative Eric Swalwell, who sits on both the Judiciary and Intelligence panels.

Mueller’s appearance could also be a turning point for Democrats on the question of impeachment.

Many liberal Democrats are pushing for an impeachment inquiry against Trump, whose recent incendiary rhetoric about four congresswomen from racial minorities also has ignited a political firestorm. Eighty-nine House Democrats, about 38 percent of them, now want an impeachment inquiry against Trump, according to a Reuters survey.

That is well short of the 218 votes needed to adopt articles of impeachment in the House, which would trigger a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump. But the number backing impeachment could swell if Mueller’s testimony proves to be compelling.

“We hope Mueller’s testimony will be a watershed,” said Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Judiciary panel member.

The impeachment question has divided Democrats, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposing such a move as politically risky for moderate Democrats on whose future the House Democratic majority depends. Some Democrats prefer to remove Trump from office the ordinary way: defeating him in next year’s election.

Mueller, who had expressed reluctance to testify, agreed only after being subpoenaed. Mueller, a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Marine Corps officer, is also known for favoring one-word answers at hearings and could prove too taciturn to satisfy Democrats’ hopes of a forceful narrative.

“Let us listen, let us see where the facts will take us,” Pelosi said of the hearings. “We’ll see what happens after that.”

‘Going to be disappointed’

Republicans in Congress are predicting chagrin for the Democrats.

“I think they’re going to be disappointed, just as they were when the Mueller report came out,” said Republican Representative Tom Cole.

Mueller’s report said the investigation found insufficient evidence to prove that Trump and his campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy with Russia. The report also did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump committed the crime of obstruction of justice but pointedly did not exonerate him. Attorney General William Barr, a Trump appointee, subsequently cleared the president of obstruction of justice.

“It is so important for him to say that the investigation did not exonerate the president,” said Representative Val Demings, another Democrat who sits on both panels.

Republicans are expected to raise questions with Mueller about the integrity of the origins of the Russia probe in the FBI during Democrat Barack Obama’s administration and the political leanings of the special counsel’s staff members. Trump has sought to portray the probe as an attempted coup.

The Justice Department on Monday sent a letter telling Mueller to limit his testimony to merely discussing the public report, a directive that the Judiciary Committee chairman rejected as out of line.

But even if Mueller’s testimony proves disappointing enough to deflate impeachment chances, Democrats expect their continuing investigations to produce revelations that could damage Trump’s re-election prospects.

The heart of the Democratic strategy is to focus Mueller’s testimony on several examples of potential obstruction by Trump, including his repeated efforts to get former White House Counsel Don McGahn to remove Mueller and then deny that he had been directed to do so.

Lawmakers will also emphasize attempts by Trump to his fired former Attorney General Jeff Sessions to redirect the Russia probe away from his 2016 campaign, and possible witness tampering in public statements seen to discourage his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen from cooperating with federal investigations.

Democrats have said the report includes shocking evidence of misconduct that would result in criminal charges against any other American. The Justice Department has a longstanding policy against bringing criminal charges against a sitting president.

(REUTERS)

24, July 2019

Chelsea beat Barcelona 2-1 in friendly ⁰

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea have overcome Barcelona 2-1 at the Saitama Stadium in Japan.

Kevin Abraham took advantage of Barca’s sloppy defense to put Chelsea in front in the 34th minute after rounding Marc-André ter Stegen.

The London Blues made it 2-nil with nine minutes on the clock through Ross Barkley, whose curling shot found its way into the back of the net.

The Catalan Giants, who did not have Lionel Messi on the pitch, scored a consolation in stoppage time as Ivan Rakitic’s super shot rippled the net.

24, July 2019

Kondengui Riot: Former Prime Minister Inoni Ephraim, ex-minister Olenguena injured ⁰

Cameroon’s security forces put down a riot by prisoners who ransacked and burnt a jail in the capital Yaounde overnight, witnesses told AFP on Tuesday.

The rioters, many of them government opponents or supporters of an English-speaking separatist movement in the country’s west, filmed their protest and posted elements to Facebook.

Several inmates were injured, prison sources said, including former prime minister Inoni Ephraim and ex-minister Urbain Olenguena Awono who were targeted by other prisoners.

Ephraim, who was jailed for 20 years after being convicted on corruption charges in 2016, was hospitalised.

“There were shots all night. It was like fireworks,” as the security forces fought the uprising, a resident told AFP.

Local media reported that no-one was killed, and no prisoners escaped.

Amnesty International on Tuesday called on authorities to avoid “excessive force” and to conduct an investigation into the use of “firearms and live ammunition”.

In a statement, the government said “no live fire was used during the operation” at the prison.

Calm appeared to have returned to the prison by Tuesday, an AFP journalist observed, with police and soldiers erecting a cordon around the jail.

On social media, the inmates demanded their liberation and better food.

Overcrowded jail

The over-populated central prison of Yaounde, known as Kondengui, was built to accommodate 1,500 inmates but is estimated to house more than double.

It hosts numerous people arrested since an anglophone separatist uprising started in 2016. Several are serving long prison sentences, others are awaiting trial.

“The crises are accumulating. More and more prisoners in an already overcrowded jail,” said Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, executive director of rights group REDHAC.

Cameroon is in the midst of a security crisis that has pitted separatist English-speaking regions in the west against the French-speaking population elsewhere.

In the north, the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram also stages regular armed attacks.

The country is also facing political ructions, after the head of the opposition Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC), Maurice Kamto, and about 100 of the party’s supporters were arrested in January and remain in detention.

President Paul Biya has been in power for 36 years.

MRC secretary general Christopher Ndong told AFP that security forces had taken several prominent members of the separatist movement — those seen as the leaders of the revolt — from the prison to an unknown destination on Tuesday.

More than one in six people in Cameroon — 4.3 million — need humanitarian aid, an increase of 30 percent from 2018, according to UN aid officials.

Source: AFP

24, July 2019

French Cameroun Crisis: Christians escape as Boko Haram militants step up attacks in the Far North ⁰

About 200 families escaped with their lives when Boko Haram Islamist militants ransacked a mainly-Christian village in the Far North Region of Cameroon on 10 July.

Following several previous Boko Haram raids in the area, the families were sleeping in the bush to avoid further attacks when the armed gang stormed Roum village, in the Tourou area, setting fire to homes, killing livestock and plundering food stores and possessions.

Boy returns to burnt out home in Christian village ransacked by Boko Haram

A Barnabas contact said the villagers had lost everything and are now taking refuge at a local school. He estimated around 1,120 families in the area were “living in distress” following the attack on Roum, and Boko Haram’s destructive onslaughts on other villages including Goldavi on 5 July, Zeleved on 10 July and Amchide on 11 July.

He said, “The populations have all lost food stocks, clothing, sleeping sets and many other material goods and animals. These attacks led to great fear, psychosis, trauma and panic among the populations.”

The contact reported there had been a resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram since January 2019. He added that the impact of the onslaught is especially devastating because July, August and September are the lean months between harvests in Cameroon. It is also the rainy season when many roads turn to mud, and the security forces are less mobile.

More than 1,100 Christian families are “living in distress” in northern Cameroon following Boko Haram attacks on villages destroying homes, possessions and livestock

Christian villages in the far north of Cameroon are subject to attacks by Boko Haram militias attempting to establish an Islamic caliphate from north-eastern Nigeria all the way to northern Cameroon, which is predominantly Christian. The UN estimates that more than 170,000 Cameroonians, mainly Christians, have been forced to flee their homes by Boko Haram.

Source: Barnabas Fund

23, July 2019

“Yes I am still the President” Sisiku Ayuk Tabe tells Mutations ⁰

Who is Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Julius, also known as the President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia?

Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Julius is the President of the Federal Republique of Ambazonia. The former British Southern Cameroons.He is an ICT Engineer by training.He was the 1^stVice President of American University of Nigeria (AUN)Yola, Adamawa state, Nigeria. He was one of the Sub Directors of CISCO and one of CISCO’S regional Directors in Africa, coordinating over 23 countries. He worked in AES Sonel in various senior portfolios. He had his Primary, Secondary and High School Education in Manyu and then proceeded to the UK where he obtained a first degree in computer science mathematics and second degree in control engineering.

We understand you are “Sisiku” an honourary title in Manyu Division. How did you get this title and when was it bestowed on you?

Yes, I am Sisiku an Ekpe traditional title in Manyu. This title was bestowed on me in 2015 as a result of my good work as a philanthropist. The title represents a mark of responsibility as a member of the traditional /Authority in Manyu.

It is known that you have been detained in Yaoundé alongside some of your compatriots since January 20I8. What are your daily routine activities in prison?

I am a political Detainee in Kondengui Prison Principale with nine other members of my government, Barr Shufai Blaise SEVIDZEM BERINYUY, Prof CHEH Augustine AWASUM, Dr KIMENG Henry, Dr NDE CHE Fidelis, Dr NJIKIMBI Cornelius KWANGA, Dr EGBE OGORK, NFOR NGALA NFOR, TASSANG Wilfred FOMBANG and Barr EYAMBE Elias EBAI as well as other Ambazonians. We were brought here on the November 22, 2018 from SED. Routinely, the cell doors are opened at about 7.00 am and closed at about 6.30 pm. We, the Ambazonians have morning meditation as a community, share breakfast, sports and then we spend time in reading the few material acquired, we chat, play a few scrabble, chess and draught games, reflections as groups or individuals on nation building and we share dinner in the early hours of the evening.

How are you being treated in prison?

We have a fairly good relationship with the Prison Administration. However, there are some Prison officials who are highhanded. It should be noted that we are solely being fed by family and friends. I must state it here that occasionally we are starved because the military State Counsel, Thaddeus Engono rarely approves communication permits for our family and friends. In fact, there was a time we threatened to go on hunger strike before a few visitors’ permits were signed for our people. The situation has not improved and we are holding our peace.

How is your health situation?

My health conditions before being transferred to this Prison, on November 22, 2018 from SED had seriously degenerated from the point of abduction.This is because in SED we were in total solitary confinement devoid of sunlight and fresh air for over six months, which further compromised our health conditions.

While in this Prison, we have the opportunity to breathe fresh air and be attended to in the infirmary but the conditions are really squalid. The health challenges here are: Overcrowding, poor sanitary conditions, severe infestation by pests and rodents in the environment and cells, poor lighting and intermittent supply of water.

In summary, my health situation can only be fully assessed, when I have success to specialized health services.

We understand that before being detained in Prison Principale Yaoundé, you had passed a certain period in the detention facility of “Secretariat d’Etat a la defense” (SED). We also understand the conditions in SED were more difficult. Can you kindly recount your experience while in detention in SED?

I and my team were detained in SED for 11 months. SED is the worst environment for human habitat. In SED we were under absolute confinement with grossly inadequate ventilation with no windows, and with doors almost sealed with only 35 x45 cm² air space. The cell rooms are accessed through tiny tubed corridors. The water quality was poor, even with the sand filters provided to us. The environment was infested with rodents and pests and occupationally spread with insecticides with detainees in confinement. There was structural re-enforcement like concreting of the walls and pungent smelling paint. We were psychologically,mentally and physically abused. For example, we were constantly being told that we were on “bon voyage” told that we were less than slaves, that we would be killed, we had guns pointed at us at all times, not allowed to pray, not allowed to discuss with roommate; blindfolded handcuffed late at mid-night and taken through rough paths for interrogations in the absence of legal counsel. During room search, detainees were physically traumatized by pressing or palpating their testicles and molested under the guise of full cavity search. We were exposed to wailing sounds from other Ambazonian detainees being brutalized and tortured by the gendarmes, during the days and nights. We had no access to specialized medical care. We were denied access to families and lawyers for over six (06) months. In fact, this was the most inhuman treatment I have ever experienced in life and I will not wish my worst enemy to go through the same.

You were arrested in a hotel in Nigeria on 5^th January 2018 and extradited on 25^th January 2018 to Cameroun alongside 46 of your compatriots. Can you give us some details?

At about 5.00 pm on January 5, 2018 we congregated at Nera Hotel Abuja Nigeria to celebrate the New Year upon my return from the United States of America. While discussing issues generally and the Ambazonian refugee crisis in Nigeria, a group of about 20 armed men approached us violently, forced us unto the ground face down then handcuffed, hooded and ferried us in buses to an unknown destination where we were detained in cubicles without any reason for our abduction; there we underwent some interrogation three days after without being told the reasons for our kidnap. On the 18^thJanuary, 2018 we were handcuffed, blindfolded and taken to a conference room where we met UNHCR officials. It was then we realised that we were in a military detention facility referred to as the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The UNHCR officials informed us that our arrest was in relation the Ambazonian crisis, but guaranteed us that for no reason whatsoever shall will be extradited because we were under UNHCR protection, as refugees and Asylum seekers.

However at 6.00 pm on Thursday the 25^th of January we were blindfolded and ferried to the military wing of the Nnambi Azikiwe International Airport, and later on were handcuffed and loaded into a military cargo carrier air bond for Yaoundé without seats and seat belts. On arrival, we were hooded then pushed into a thirty seater bus, heavily guarded and in a military convoy, we were ferried to SED. May I state it here that in Abuja 12 of us were abducted, in Taraba 37 were abducted and in Cross River State 11 persons including a child of 1 year six months were abducted, all under different circumstances.

What do you think about the situation in the North West and South West, given that the situation is really bad-Refugees in Nigeria, displaced persons to many parts of Cameroun?

The description of what is going on in Ambazonia is nothing short of genocide, based on International definition. Our people are being killed not for what they have done but for who they are, considering that our people have been described as rats and dogs, by members of the Cameroun’s government.There are calls to exterminate Ambazonians with the justification that President Biya has the right to kill everyone on the pretext of national unity. Our reports show that over 10 000 people have been killed over 120 000 refugees in Nigeria and other countries, over 1 million internally displaced persons, over 3000 prisoners of war, unknown large numbers of persons who have disappeared and over 250 villages burnt down by Camerouns military, under the policy of ethnic cleansing. By the way your appellation of North West and South West regions is wrong because they are the Northern and Southern zones of Ambazonia.

What do you think can be done to end the crisis?

The solution to this crisis is rooted in International law, history and culture. The root cause of the crisis, which is the result of a botched decolonization process, must be addressed before a lasting solution can be found. International law gives Southern Cameroons the right to self-determination. Historically,LaRepublique du Cameroun got its independence on January 1, 1960 and the South Cameroons got its independence on 1^st October 1961; and there is no union treaty between these two distinct entities as required by International law, specifically by Article 102 of the UN charter. With respect to culture there are few success stories of cohabitation between the Anglo-Saxon and Francophone systems. The initial experiment based on the 1916 Anglo French Compendium was an abject failure.

Are you disposed to dialogue with the Government of Cameroun? If yes, what are your conditions?

Since 2017, we have always called for and stated our readiness for dialogue; to resolve the political issues. However, for meaningful dialogue to take place the following confidence building measures must be taken;

i.There must be a declaration of Ceasefire or cessation of violence by the Cameroun military since they declared war and invaded our territory without justification.

Withdrawal of Cameroun military from our territory

iii. Unconditional release of all persons arrested on account of this cause.

Iv- A Serene and neutral environment

v-The presence of an impartial an independent mediator (See our document on this)

It is said that at one moment you were talking with the Cameroun Government. What do you say about this? And what was it all about?

We have always been open to any possible approach by the government of la Republique du Cameroun towards resolving the crisis. So far, we had a visit from the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms led by Dr CHEMUTA Divine BANDA himself and we made our position crystal clear. We believe they are a representative of the government. We have also reached out to news media with a document we titled “Proposal for talks …

This document also clearly states our position. We hope the government of la Republique du Cameroun takes cognizance of these.

What do you think about the announced Swiss mediation?

Any mediation and intervention by any independent and neutral third party is welcome. However, any mediation must be mutually accepted by both parties and with the UNO as umpire.

What do you say about an eventual meeting between President Paul Biya and Secessionist Leaders in Switzerland?

May I make this correction. We are restorationists not secessionist. You can’t secede from what does not exist. To answer your question now, we are for a true, frank and open dialogue between Ambazonia and la Republique du Cameroun, in the presence of the UN and other important stakeholders. Whoever, represents la Republique du Cameroun, is left for them to decide. Mind you our problem is not with President Paul Biya but with our occupiers.

What is your relationship with the other Secessionist Leaders?

We have a common goal with all other frontline movements of our struggle. The restoration of our nation. Our approaches may vary. This is common in all democracies.

What do you say about the confusion observed within your defense counsel?

The legal team for our case is steadfast and focused on defending us in spite the illegality of our abduction in Nigeria and non-respect of the national and international laws by the Cameroun judiciary.

Barrister John FruNsoh who was Lead Counsel was kept aside by the other counsel. What are your comments on this reality? And what exactly happened?

Barr John FruNsoh was our Lead Counsel, but by his unethical utterances and behavior here cused himself.

Is Barrister John FruNsoh still your Lead Counsel? If not, who is the Lead Counsel now?

By his utterances and behavior, he recused himself. The Assistant Lead Counsel Barr. Patrick Fanyong has stepped up to play that role. Batonier emeritus Eta Besong Jr is most senior Counsel in the defense team and according to English Common law traditions leads the defense!

Can we know why you dissolved the Interim Government of Ambazonia while in Prison?

The Interim Government of Ambazonia was never dissolved rather the Cabinet that existed as at 5^th January 2018 was re-instated. This was done to refocus the efforts to restore our statehood.

Are you still the President of the Republic of Ambazonia, because it is said that you are no longer the President?

Yes I am still the President

What is the Republic of Ambazonia all about?

Our goal is to restore the Independence of the Southern Cameroons,which was granted in 1961 by the UN General Assembly Resolution 1608 XV of 21^st April 1961 and article 102 of UN Charter, which were to guide our union with la Republique du Cameroun but which unfortunately were not implemented. This implies that the Southern Cameroons have never been part of La Republique du Cameroun. Our present struggle is aimed at restoring our Independence.

Can you say a word on your trial proceedings?

Our proceedings in the Yaoundé Military Tribunal are marred by gross injustice, disregard and abuse of national and international laws, conventions. Infact our rights to fair trial are being violated at every instance.Consequently we do not expect to have justice in Cameroun.

Only 9 of the 46 of your companions with whom you were arrested and extradited to Cameroun are concerned with the procedures in the Military Tribunal in Yaoundé. Can we know where the others are? And who are they?

For your information there were a total of 58 Ambazonians abducted from Nigeria and illegally transferred to Cameroun. We were 10 in my team abducted from Abuja, 37 from Taraba State and 11 from Cross River State including an eighteen months old child. Most of these persons, were legally residing in Nigeria as refugees and Asylum seekers. 10 of us have been going to court for long now. The others to the best of our knowledge are in Kondengui central prison and we do not know why they have not been to court all this while. However as we said, we do not also expect justice too for them given the trend of injustice on us.

SisikuAyukTabe Julius is of which Nationality?

We have made it abundantly clear that we are Ambazonians.

23, July 2019

Kondengui Riot: Amnesty International Says Gunshots must be investigated ⁰

Following the security forces’ use of firearms to quell a riot yesterday evening in Cameroon’s largest prison, Kondengui in the capital Yaoundé, Marie-Evelyne Petrus Barry, Amnesty International West and Central Africa Director said:

“Authorities in Cameroon must refrain from using excessive force against prisoners, and independently and effectively investigate the use of firearms and live ammunition reported during yesterday’s riot.

Marie-Evelyne Petrus Barry, Amnesty International West and Central Africa Director

“Prison conditions are absolutely dire in Kondengui, an overcrowded prison where many prisoners are waiting to be brought before a judge. Until this situation is remedied there is a real risk of further violence.

“Authorities should work to improve the grim conditions prisoners are crammed into, release anyone detained only for exercising their right to peaceful protest and ensure that all the people detained past the legal period of pre-trial detention are immediately presented to a judge or released.”

Background

Yesterday a riot was reported in Kondengui prison in Yaoundé the Cameroonian capital. According to reports, detained armed separatists from the Anglophone regions and opposition members took possession of the prison yard to denounce overcrowding, judicial delays and deplorable conditions. Security forces later stormed the prison and fired gunshots. Part of the prison was reportedly burnt. It is not yet known if there were injuries or fatalities.

In 2017 Amnesty International highlighted the overcrowded detention facilities following mass arbitrary arrests in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon.

Culled from Amnesty International

23, July 2019

Can President Biya travel to Switzerland? THE AGBAW-EBAI DEBATE ⁰

After the international embarrassment and national disgrace, the rogue Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime has been desperate for the Swiss ambassador to publicly declare that Biya was not deported even though the Swiss foreign minister stated the contrary on the day Biya was whisked out of Geneva.

Ambassador Pietro Lazzeri pictured here drinking champagne with some members of his new money club- the Consortium of CPDM Crime Syndicate, recently said

“We have about 65 Heads of States coming to Switzerland every year. We don;t chase heads of states. When we have disturbances of law and order; problems, we keep order, so we don;t chase presidents in Switzerland. I am not in a position to decide where the head of state can travel or will travel or will not travel. I am not working for the presidency of Cameroon; neither do I work for the Federal Executive Council in Switzerland. It is not for me to decide…”

CRTV and pro Biya media houses have read the above quotation and are claiming the ambassador said Biya was never deported.

Let your voice be heard!! Can Biya travel again to Switzerland?

23, July 2019

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Military burns bikes in Ossing ⁰

Cameroon’s forces of law(lessness) and (dis)order descended on the village of Ossing on the weekend and several innocent civilians were killed.

The marauders also burnt hundreds of bikes owned by responsible and hardworking citizens of the village.

The reckless soldiers also stole personal effects worth millions of CFAF.

This action, by the irresponsible government whose objective since 1982 is to make the ordinary citizen desperate, will surely send hundreds of Ossing citizens into the waiting arms of the Ambazonian fighters, making it hard for any real dialogue to take place.

More on this irresponsible action by the military will be yours in the Cameroon Concord News Group