Headline News

9, May 2017

International Criminal Court wants to investigate refugee-related crimes in Libya ⁰

The International Criminal Court (ICC) says it is weighing an investigation into human trafficking and refugee-related crimes in Libya, where the UN says they are being traded in so-called slave markets. Thousands of asylum seekers, including women and children, are being held in detention centers across Libya where “crimes, including killings, rapes and torture, are alleged to be commonplace,” Fatou Bensouda, ICC’s chief prosecutor revealed Monday.

She said that her office was gathering evidence of crimes allegedly committed against the refugees attempting to transit through Libya. I was “dismayed by credible accounts that Libya has become a marketplace for the trafficking of human beings,” Bensouda added.

The Gambian lawyer also said the ICC prosecution is examining the possibility of opening an investigation into refugee-related crimes in Libya provided that they fall under the court’s jurisdiction. Refugees commonly use the western coast of Libya to embark on a risky journey through the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe.

In April, the UN raised alarm over a climbing number of refugees passing through Libya. Refugees are typically traded for as little as $200 to $500, and are held for an average of two to three months and subject to malnutrition and sexual abuses, said the head of the UN migration agency’s Libya mission, Othman Belbeisi.

Source: Presstv

9, May 2017

Biya family’s Greek gift to Bamenda Food Market Traders ⁰

The Presidential couple has made available an envelope of FCFA 73 million to victims of the 14th March 2017 fire incident at the Bamenda Food Market. The package was handed over to the victims on 5th May 2017 by the Governor of the North West Region,Adolphe Lele Lafrique.

During the CPDM ceremony, the sum of FCFA 73,000,700 was distributed to 91 victims’ owners of 111 open sheds that were consumed by fire. Six of the victims whose shops were closed and 12 owners of tables with food stuffs received FCFA 20 million.

Shop owners were each entitled to FCFA 495,000 and FCFA 100,000 per burnt table. The Governor said the offer is an eloquent proof of the presidential couple’s resolve to stand against sinister Cameroonians. The March 14, fire incident left most of the victims very desperate reason why the assistance from the President and wife was saluted and considered a great relief.

Culled from CRTV

9, May 2017

Buea: Francophone Governor makes a mockery of South West Chiefs ⁰

The Francophone governor of the Buea province of Southern Cameroons, Bernard Okalia Bilai has attacked the traditional institutions of the South West people. The Biya appointee during a meeting with the visiting Francophone Minister of Secondary Education in Buea observed that traditional rulers in the region are fond of intimidating administrators with masquerades from sacred society groups but cannot use them to fight against insecurity prevailing in the region.

Governor Bernard Okalia and the the Minster of Secondary education reportedly embarked on a working visit in the region to evaluate what the Yaounde regime painted as the level of preparedness of the Cameroon GCE Board to organize the 2017 session of the examinations. Jean Ernest Massena Ngale Bibehe began his mission in the South west region and is expected to brave the bad roads to Bamenda.

The minister held a scantily attended meeting at the Mountain Hotel in Buea in which each principal of the different secondary schools gave a comprehensive report on school effectiveness. The Principal of Bilingual Grammar School, BGS Molyko, Hannah Mbua Etonde was frank, candid and thoughtful when she told the Minister that most students have not been coming to school.

However ghost town welcomed Minister Ngale Bibehe in Buea with several shops remaining permanently closed in Molyko, Mile 17 and other areas. The Biya Francophone regime has insisted that the GCE practical examinations will begin next Monday May 15, 2017 while the written part shall commence on June 5, 2017.

By Rita Akana with files from Cameroun Info.Net

8, May 2017

UN says 4,600 people flee homes in DR Congo daily ⁰

An average of 4,600 people flee their homes every day in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN says, warning of a dramatically deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country. A full 3.7 million people were displaced within DR Congo by the end of March – more than double the 1.6 million at the start of 2016, the United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA said. “This is a massive, massive deterioration,” Rein Paulsen, who heads OCHA’s country office in DR Congo, told reporters in Geneva.

The situation is particularly dire in the central Kasai region, where spiraling violence between government troops and tribal militias has forced 1.27 million people from their homes since last September, he said. “That’s an increase of 100,000 in the last week,” Paulsen said, describing the numbers as “shocking and dramatic.”

The fighting in Kasai erupted after government troops last August killed tribal chief Jean Pierre Mpandi, also known as Kamwina Nsapu, who had launched an uprising against President Joseph Kabila. Violence in the region has left at least 400 people dead since September. The UN has meanwhile reported finding 40 mass graves, while two UN researchers – Michael Sharp, an American, and Zaida Catalan, a dual Swedish-Chilean national – investigating the violence were abducted and shot dead. One of the victims was also beheaded.

Source: AFP

8, May 2017

Yaounde: Son-in-law to the Speaker of National Assembly in police drag net ⁰

Oumate Goygoy, son-in-law of National Assembly Speaker, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril was arrested on the 5^th of May by elements of the gendarmerie brigade at Efoulan district in Yaoundé. In addition to being the son-in-law of the President of the National Assembly, Oumate Goygoy is a Chief of Service in the National Assembly.

Cameroon Concord News gathered that he was arrested in possession of a large quantity of cocaine. Security sources say apart from trading in the illicit drug, the highly placed Francophone official also consumes it.

Cavaye Yeguie Djibril who is presently in Paris was informed of the current situation and it is said he instructed his director of cabinet, Mr. Boukar, and his secretary Mr. Sani to do everything to stifle the scandal while waiting for his return to Cameroon scheduled for today Monday, May 8, 2017.

Correspondingly, Boukar and Sani reportedly mobilized the sum of 3 million FCFA to secure the release of Oumate Goygoy. However, the son-in-law of the National Assembly Speaker is still in detention in the gendarmerie brigade.

By Sonne Peter

8, May 2017

Samuel Eto’o makes generous donation to Laquintinie Hospital ⁰

The pavilion Samuel Eto’o, constructed in the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala in the economic metropolis, will be received today Monday by André Mama Fouda, the Francophone Minister of Public Health. Cameroon Concord News learnt that the building is a goodwill donation from Samuel Eto’o Foundation.

The new pavilion, “Samuel Eto’o”, whose construction lasted some ten years, was equipped by the foundation and will be used for emergency and pediatric resuscitation. The former veteran of the indomitable lions recently thanked all who have supported him in the realization of the project which should contribute to the development of health services in French Cameroun.

By Fru James

8, May 2017

France: President elect Macron vows to serve with humility, strength ⁰

Newly-elected president Emmanuel Macron has vowed to protect France against threats and unify the country. Early on Monday, the French Interior Ministry announced that Macron had been officially elected president after winning 66.06 percent of valid votes in the run-off. It also announced that 11.5 percent of the votes had been either blank or spoiled, while just over 25 percent of the country’s registered voters had abstained.

“We will not give into fear, we will not give into division,” said Macron during his victory speech late on Sunday after projected results showed he had defeated Marine Le Pen. “I will serve you with humility, with strength. I will serve you by remaining true to the Republic’s principles of ‘Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’. I will serve you to be loyal to the trust you showed me. I will serve you with love. Long live the Republic, long live France!,” said the 39-year-old centrist who is set to become the country’s youngest leader ever in six weeks.

“Our task is huge. It will require us to build, from tomorrow onwards, a real majority, a strong majority. This majority to carry out change is what the country is hoping for and what the country deserves,” he noted.

He further reached out to those who had voted for Le Pen, vowing to bring them back from the “extremes.” “They voted out of anger, distress and sometimes conviction. I respect them…will do everything I can over the next five years to ensure that people no longer have any reason to vote for extremes,” he said.

After her defeat was announced, Le Pen gave a speech to her supporters in which she wished Macron success in dealing with the “huge challenges” ahead of him. She also noted that her National Front party must renew itself and vowed that she would begin the “deep transformation of our movement.”

US President Donald Trump wrote an early congratulation to the French President elect. “Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his big win today as the next President of France. I look very much forward to working with him!,” he said via twitter.

“We congratulate President-elect Macron and the people of France on their successful presidential election. We look forward to working with the new President and continuing our close cooperation with the French government,” read a statement released by the White House.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hailed Macron’s victory, stressing that he looked forward “to working closely with President-elect Macron in the years ahead.” “Canada and France share a warm and historic relationship, rooted in our common history, deep cultural ties, people-to-people connections, and strong economic partnership,” he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff congratulated Macron, tweeting in French “Vive la France, Vive L’Europe!” or “Long live France, long live Europe!” Merkel also spoke to the president elect over the phone, and praised him for his support of a “united and open European Union.”

A Downing Street spokesman announced that UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she looks forward to working with Macron. “The Prime Minister warmly congratulates President-elect Macron on his election success. France is one of our closest allies and we look forward to working with the new President on a wide range of shared priorities,” said a statement.

Source: Presstv

8, May 2017

Nigerian aviation college takes delivery of Diamond DA-42 trainers ⁰

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) has taken delivery of the first of 20 new Diamond trainer aircraft ordered from Austrian aircraft manufacturer Diamond Aircraft in 2013 to replace an obsolete fleet. The deal, estimated at $20 million in 2013, was secured through local company Interjet Nigerian Limited, the official West African business representative for Diamond Aircraft.

The first DA-42NG was handed over to Nigerian Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Serika by Interjet Nigeria Limited manager Seun Peters on 24 April. Serika said the government decided to replace the ageing 29 trainer aircraft operated by the NCAT Zaria campus because the majority were obsolete, while the airworthy few were too expensive to maintain.

NACT Rector Abdulsalam Mohammed said the new trainer aircraft would reduce operating costs. “Today, we are taking delivery of the first DA-42 twin-engine aircraft. NCAT is acquiring a total of 20 of these aircraft, specifically five twin-engine DA-42 and 15 single-engine DA-40 trainers. The new aircraft will significantly improve our cost efficiency.

“Besides, they are also equipped with a glass cockpit and Garmin 1000 system, which will make it easier for our graduate pilots to transition to various types of new-generation commercial aircraft,” Mohammed said. The DA 42 is powered by two Austro Engine AE300 diesel engines, which produce 168 hp each to propel the aircraft to a maximum cruise speed of 328 km/h. Delivery has been delayed by more than a year due to bureaucratic delays in releasing the funds. According to the procurement contract signed between Interjet and the Nigerian government in 2013, five aircraft were supposed to be delivered every five months.

Due to the Nigerian government’s failure to pay, Diamond Aircraft has been forced to sell at least seven aircraft that were initially manufactured for the Nigerian contract to other buyers to offset maintenance and storage costs. NCAT operates 29 trainer aircraft including ageing Socata Trinidad TB-20GT and Beech Baron 58s which were purchased as second hand equipment more than 15 years ago. Meanwhile, Peters said Diamond Aircraft and Interjet Nigeria have agreed to set up the first DA-series Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centre in Abuja.

“In partnership with Diamond Aircraft of Austria, we are working towards building a state-of-the-art maintenance facility in Abuja to service Nigeria and aircraft operators in other West African countries.” The MRO will service the growing number of West African operators of Diamond aircraft. These include the air forces of Ghana, Niger and Nigeria, which together operate between 7 and 12 DA-42 MPP (Multi-Purpose Platform)’Guardian’ maritime surveillance aircraft.

Culled from Defenseweb

7, May 2017

Philemon Yang in Bamenda like a thief in the night ⁰

The so-called May 20th National Day has never been so threatened as this year following the Anglophone uprising. Correspondingly, Prime Minister Philemon Yang reportedly fighting for his political identity and survival is in the Bamenda province of Southern Cameroons. The Head of Government of La Republique du Cameroun traveled to Bamenda like a thief in the night and has been working tirelessly to counter the announced boycott of the national day celebration.

Our senior political commentator opined that this is going to be Philemon Yang’s last journey to Southern Cameroons. The boycott action was launched by the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium backed by a majority of Southern Cameroonians who have denounced for seven months, the marginalization of West Cameroon by the Francophone political elites headed by the 84 year old dictator, Paul Biya.

Philemon Yang has been dishing out hush money to the leadership of the ruling CPDM crime syndicate to massively participate during 20 May 2017 celebrations. During a meeting with local leaders of the ruling party from the seven divisions in the Bamenda province, Yang accompanied by MPs, mayors, North West cabinet ministers and traditional authorities admitted that the goal of this mobilization was to make every effort to ensure the success of the national day.

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium has stressed that ghost town operations will continue tomorrow Monday the 8^th of May 2017. The Consortium has also called on Southern Cameroonians to completely boycott the 20^th May festivities.

By Sama Ernest

Cameroon Concord News

7, May 2017

Macron elected French president ⁰

France’s centrist candidate, Emmanuel Macron, has won the country’s presidential election by a resoundingly margin over far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen.

Initial estimates showed Macron winning between 65.5 percent and 66.1 percent of ballots ahead of Le Pen, who is expected to win between 33.9 percent and 34.5 percent.

In an interview with AFP, Macron said his election victory represented “hope” and a “new chapter” for France. “A new chapter in our long history begins tonight. I want it to be one of hope and renewed confidence,” he added.

Defeated candidate, Marine Le Pen, claimed a “historic, massive result” for her far-right National Front (FN) in Sunday’s presidential run-off, AFP reported.

Macron’s supporters celebrate in front of the Pyramid at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, on May 7, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Le Pen made a short statement, saying she had called Macron to wish him “success” in tackling the “huge challenges” he faced. Le Pen also announced that she would lead the FN into June’s legislative elections.

People in France started to cast their ballots in the presidential run-off earlier on Sunday after polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time (0600 GMT). Some 47 million people were eligible to vote at 66,546 polling stations across the European countries.

Figures from the Interior Ministry said 65.30 percent of voters had turned out by 5 p.m. (1500 GMT), which was lower than in any of the past four presidential elections at the same stage of the day, Reuters reported.

Supporters of Emmanuel Macron celebrate near the Louvre Museum after results were announced in the second round vote of the 2017 French presidential elections, in Paris, France, May 7, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Pollsters’ estimates based on these figures put the final turnout at 73-75 percent, down from around 80 percent or more in those past four elections. Macron and Le Pen won the first round of voting in France’s presidential election on April 23. Macron finished first with 24 percent, ahead of Le Pen with 21.3 percent.

The populist far-right candidate has portrayed herself as anti-EU, anti-NATO, and anti-immigration. Macron is seen as a centrist who aims to continue the policies of outgoing President Francois Hollande by deregulating the economy and deepening integration with the European Union.

Source: Presstv