18, May 2019
Southern Cameroons Crisis: The government is under enormous pressure 0
The Yaounde government is coming under enormous pressure. The regime that once said the form of the state was non-negotiable, is today contemplating building a federal system for the country.
The country’s Prime Minister recently indicated that the president wanted to dialogue, but would not dialogue with separatists. This position is gradually changing as the international community mounts more pressure.
The government is gradually cracking and Americans are not relenting. The government dissolving resolve can be clearing noticed as government ministers keep on contradicting each other.
Speaking on Friday, May 17 on France 24, the country’s territorial administration minister, Atanga Nji, an ex-convict, said that the president was ready and willing to dialogue with separatists. A significant shift in the government’s rhetoric.
A shift that is being welcome across the world, though many observers are still skeptical about the regime. They hold that the government must put forth a clear agenda, adding that there must be a mediator and the genuine inclusive dialogue must be held out of the country for the Diaspora and civil society to fully participate.
But before this happens, the Biya regime must change its ways. The Yaounde government must submit itself to international scrutiny.
Stopping human rights groups from coming into the country does not give the nation a good name. The International Crisis Group has been banned in Cameroon as the rights group has been very critical of the dictatorial regime.
A Human Rights Watch representative was recently refused entry into the country. Amnesty International is not given free and unfettered access to the two English-speaking regions of the country for it to document atrocities.
The government must understand that these organizations have the resources and means to conduct open source investigation to obtain the facts they need. What is the government hiding that it does not want the international community to know?
The government’s dishonesty and refusal to hold a truly genuine dialogue on the Southern Cameroons crisis has put the country in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
The Southern Cameroons Diaspora has done a good job at courting the international community and the fruits are there. Americans have embraced the cause and they are doing all they can to rally other countries to the cause.
The Americans and Canadians are pouring enormous pressure on the government. America does not want to break up the country, but it is clear when it comes to what it wants.
The US wants a federal system for Cameroon and Tibor Nagy, the American undersecretary for African Affairs, is promoting this idea and the American society has bought the idea hook, line and sinker.
This has also been the Canadian idea since the conflict started some three years ago and the Canadian government is not wavering on this.
It has the experience of dealing with minorities and can help Cameroon build a solid federal system that will make the Central African nation one of the best countries in the world.
Southern Cameroonians might have lost loved ones and homes, but they must work with the Americans to address those issues that have triggered this unfortunate situation.
Extremism in this case will be foolish. America and Canada are great allies. Do not alienate them. The Diaspora that has so far done a great job can now start sensitizing the fighters on the ground regarding the American, Canadian and UN positions.
The real work has just started and all Southern Cameroonians must make their contribution.
Dr Arrey Joachim
19, May 2019
Man Utd ‘rejected in bid for Ajax’s £35m-rated keeper Andre Onana’ 0
MANCHESTER UNITED have failed in a bid for Ajax keeper Andre Onana, it has been claimed.
United are said to have seen an offer of £35million knocked back by the Dutch giants for the Cameroon international.
The Daily Record claims the Old Trafford club made their move amid ongoing concerns over the future of David De Gea at the club.
And it remains to be seen if they will return with an improved bid as the major overhaul at United starts to begin kicking into gear.
Onana, 25, has been an impressive performer for club and country over the past few years, leading to him catching the eye of Red Devils scouts.
But the fact the club have gone as far as making an offer suggests there is huge doubt over the long-term prospects for De Gea.
The Spanish international is about to enter the final year of his existing deal with the club who are desperate for him to commit his future there.
STALLED
But talks over a new £350,000-a-week deal have stalled in recent months, at the same time De Gea lost his form and made a series of high-profile mistakes.
There were even calls for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to drop the 28-year-old as his errors played a part in the exit from the Champions League and then the fall down to sixth in the Premier League.
United only qualifying for the Europa League next season, and Solskjaer admitting the club need a miracle to be challenging for the title next year, will also have been noted by De Gea who wants to be playing at the top level now he is in the peak years of his career.
Paris Saint-Germain have been monitoring his progress closely and United know they face a decision over whether to sell him this summer while they can still command a fee of risk losing him on a free transfer in 12 months.
Onana is regarded as a top class keeper who has been watched by a number of sides across Europe, and crucially he is still relatively young and has plenty of his best years ahead of him.
That means he fits the mould of the type of player Solskjaer and the United board want to sign as they try to build a new-look side of young players with promise.
Source: The Sun UK