10, January 2017
24 Anglophone detainees released: Reports 0
Unconfirmed report say the CPDM government has released 24 of the Anglophone detainees arrested in Bamenda in 2016.
Headline News
10, January 2017
FIFA expands World Cup to 48 countries 0
FIFA has unanimously decided the World Cup will be expanded to feature 48 countries from 2026. The football body’s ruling council said on Tuesday the tournament would see 16 groups of three nations.
Approval for the increase from 32 teams meets President Gianni Infantino’s election pledge to expand the World Cup and could help fund extra money for FIFA’s 211 members.
It will mean the current tournament format of 64 matches increasing to 80, which FIFA has forecast will equate to $1bn (£823m) of extra income from broadcasting and sponsorship deals as well as ticket sales. The 2018 World Cup in Russia is expected to generate $5.5bn (£4.5bn) in income.
FIFA’s six confederations will find out in May how many extra places they will get for the competition. UEFA has said it wants 16 European teams in the 2026 tournament, which will likely be held in North America.
The CONCACAF region – which also includes Canada and Central America – has not hosted the World Cup since it was held in the US in 1994. Football bodies from the US, Canada and Mexico have held initial talks about co-hosting a bid for 2026.
Africa and Asia could also benefit from the expansion, with up to nine places each. Africa had five and Asia only four at the 2014 World Cup.
But FIFA has admitted it expects the standard of the tournament to drop with an additional 16 teams. In a research document sent out to members last month, it said the “absolute quality” of play – defined by high-ranked teams facing each other most often – is achieved by 32 teams.
Three-team groups mean one country will be left idle for the final group matches, and concerns have been raised over collusion between the two remaining teams. FIFA has said it could guard against result rigging by introducing penalty shootouts if group games end in draws.
Culled from Sky Sports News
10, January 2017
Gambia: Communication Minister resigns, escapes to neighboring Senegal 0
Gambian Communication Minister Sheriif Bojang has left his post in protest at President Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to concede defeat in last month’s election. Bojang’s resignation is the first high-profile cabinet defection since Jammeh refused to accept the outcome of the presidential election held in December 2016. In a statement, Bojang said Jammeh’s defiance was an attempt to subvert the will of the Gambian people, adding that the voters’ decision had to be respected.
Bojang has fled The Gambia to neighboring Senegal. Jammeh, who has been in power for 22 years, lost last month’s vote to the opposition coalition’s candidate Adama Barrow by a thin margin. The veteran leader initially conceded, but later changed his mind and called for a new vote, saying he would challenge the result in the Supreme Court. Barrow has nevertheless asserted that his inauguration will go ahead regardless of the court case.
Back in October, Bojang announced that The Gambia had decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, calling the body the “International Caucasian Court” and accusing it of racism and bias against Africa. The news made headlines as The Gambia was following in the footsteps of South Africa and Burundi. Several officials have already either fled the country or resigned fearing a crackdown by Jammah who is notorious for stifling his opponents. Early in January, the electoral commission’s chairman fled the country after he received threats for declaring Jammeh as the loser of the election. Foreign minister Neneh Macdouall Gaye also resigned in December.
On Wednesday, three leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, will visit The Gambia to mediate a solution to the country’s political impasse. This is going to be the second visit by ECOWAS leaders to The Gambia in less than a month. West African leaders have repeatedly pursued mediation to ensure a peaceful transfer of power in The Gambia. Last month, after a visit to the country, they declared that ECOWAS did not yet intend to deploy its standby military force and sought a peaceful transfer of power.
Nevertheless, if Jammeh refuses to step down by January 18, when his term expires, ECOWAS may use military intervention. Jammah has already dismissed ECOWAS mediation efforts and accused the body of declaring a war against his country. The Gambia’s army announced loyalty to Jammah last week, going back on its initial pledge of allegiance to President-elect Adama Barrow.
Presstv
10, January 2017
Anglophone Problem: Former Governor David Abouèm à Tchoyi sounds a note of caution to Biya 1
The former governor of the South West and North West region, David Abouèm à Tchoyi has sounded a note of caution to President Biya and his Beti Ewondo gang, that the Anglophone crisis may become a more dangerous version of Boko Haram. The respected former civil administrator who served as governor of the two Anglophone regions noted recently that “One can remain deaf to appeals, close one’s eyes to the obvious, clash in denial, or even think like the first Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Cameroon who, answering this question in 1964, had this memorable phrase: “There is no Anglophone problem; All Anglophones learn French very quickly “. But it is all of us who, very quickly, will be able to be caught up by the realities, warned the experienced administrator.
David Abouèm à Tchoyi pointed out that the Anglophone problem is not about vain threats and rhetoric that Cameroon is one and indivisible. The former governor observed that it is not a problem of living together. He revealed that Southern Cameroons as a nation welcomed thousands of French Cameroonians who escaped indigenous and forced labor from the French colonialists and other French Cameroonians who were involved in the UPC struggle for independence including thousands of men and women from African countries who lived and prospered there in harmony.
So, what’s the problem? How does it arise? Why these recurring eruptions in these two regions? David Abouèm à Tchoyi said there is obviously, an Anglophone problem in Cameroon. “This is not a problem between Anglophones and Francophones: there has never been a conflict between compatriots on both shores of the Mungo, on the basis of linguistic differences. It is not the rejection of what comes from Francophone Cameroon: no community in the North West or South West has ever opposed the practice in its territory of Bassa, Beti, Bamileke, Peuhl, Sawa … or other communities of the former East Cameroon.
David Abouèm à Tchoyi indicated that six facets come to mind:
1- Criticism of the centralized state.
2- The transfer of the decision-making centers to Yaoundé, far from the populations and their problems.
3- Failure to respect commitments to equitably take into account the institutional, legal and administrative cultures and traditions inherited from the former administering powers.
4- Non-compliance with the solemn promises made during the referendum campaign.
5- The change of the name of the State: replacement of “the United Republic of Cameroon” by “the Republic of Cameroon”.
6- Non-respect of bilingualism in the public sector, although the Constitution makes French and English two official languages of equal value.
The former has been making public a better understanding of the Anglophone problem to his French audience.
By Rita Akana with files from CIN
10, January 2017
Southern Cameroons Civil Disobedience: THIS IS WHAT OUR CHILDREN SHOULD LEARN 0
Let’s teach the children that today’s act of civil disobedience is the ultimate expression of their power over the dictator Biya and his coterie of corrupt ministers.
Let’s tell our children, that this act of civic education- of boycotting school, to demand accountability from an insensitive government is what developed countries have done to become developed.
Let’s teach our children that true education is an outgrowth of the needs of society, and that even the best education in a society where one is treated as a second-class citizen only diminishes one’s self-esteem.
Let’s teach our children that the ultimate purpose of education is to mould a free individual, who can think critically, and that having the best education and remaining under bondage is a negation of that education.
Let’s teach our children that the best education is the attainment of self-government where we can decide how far we want to go, and not forced to live in a system where we can only aspire to play second fiddle.
Let’s give our children historical examples where students stayed away from school for a year, and gained the right to earn a substantively richer education, through the use of cutting edge technology that is available in more open societies.
Let’s take advantage of this teachable moment empower our children to aspire to a genuine education that no despotism can enslave.
By Larry Eyong
9, January 2017
Ivory Coast: Prime Minister resigns along with his cabinet 0
Ivory Coast Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan has resigned along with his cabinet amid political tensions in the West African country. “I have tendered my resignation and that of the government,” Duncan said Monday, two days later than he was expected to step down based on the standard procedure for changing the government in the country.
Duncan made the resignation announcement after a meeting with President Alassane Ouattara, who kept hold of his majority in the December 18 parliamentary elections. However, the government was expected to resign by Saturday to give leeway to a new government which could allow the implementation of measures contained in a new constitution, signed by Ouattara in November.
Ivory Coast’s presidency announced that Ouattara had accepted Duncan’s resignation. The two-day delay in the announcement of the government’s resignation came after a group of dissident army soldiers took over army bases in cities across Ivory Coast, demanding bonus payments. The government then reached an agreement with the army for the revolt to end. Reports said former premier and current Parliament Speaker Guillaume Soro was behind the mutiny as he is believed to be seeking the post of premiership or vice presidency. Some also said that the revolt could have been masterminded by Ouattara.
State employees also began a five-day strike on Monday, demanding that the government scrap pension cuts and another plan to increase the retirement age from 55 to 60. Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa producer, is West Africa’s largest and most prosperous economy.The French-speaking country emerged from nearly a decade of short wars and a protracted crisis in 2011. However, the factionalized, ill-disciplined military and increasing political divisions have sparked fresh concerns about the state of security in the country and how the government could continue to realize its economic objectives in the future.
Presstv
9, January 2017
Consortium suspends Ghost town, strikes to continue 0
The civil disobedience campaign launched by The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium was widely followed this Monday by the populations of the Northwest and Southwest regions. The Consortium had called for a ghost town operation and a pacific resistance without a protest march or street demonstration for Monday, January 9, 2017
The Francophone Yaounde regime had hope for an effective back to school in the Anglophone section of the country. The authorities went further and launched a dubious offensive to sensitize Southern Cameroons parents to send their children to school. However, the streets remained deserted. No public transport, buses or motorcycle taxis were seen in the streets of Bamenda, Bali, Batibo, Kumbo, Mamfe, Kumba, Menji, Akawaya, Tiko, Mutengene, Muea, Muyuka and Buea, for fear of reprisals.
The shops and markets remained closed and some barricades were erected on the public road by some individuals in Buea. The Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime that recently announced the recruitment of 1000 new teachers is now considering suspending the salaries of the striking teachers.
The authorities have been consistently inconsistent in their handling of the situation. Yaounde opened a dialogue on the main demands of the striking teachers and lawyers and later on denounced the protesters as “extremist”. The CPDM government further opined that the Anglophone leaders were being manipulated by individuals with a hidden agenda from abroad.
President Biya (83) reaffirmed that Cameroon remains “ONE” and “Indivisible”. Today’s event will surely give the Cameroonian dictator a rare opportunity to think and rethink things. The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium has announced a suspension of the ghost town operations. But maintained that all strike actions by the teachers and lawyers will continue until the Francophone government provides acceptable solutions to the Anglophone problem. Correspondingly, all schools and law firms will remain close indefinitely.
By Rita Akana
9, January 2017
Bakossi Chiefs, Ministers Philip Ngwese and Elung Paul: No longer an item 2
Bakossi chiefs say they are not spare wheels for Minister Philip Ngwese and Co, who only run to them when their jobs are at stake. The chiefs collected their share of the Yaounde money but refused to implement their instructions. The CPDM barons from Kupe Manenguba in the South West Region were in their home constituency over the weekend, desperately calling on parents, teachers and students to ignore the civil disobedience campaign and get back to school.
The men called the ministers used money to lure the traditional authorities to attend their meetings, dishing out Cameroonian tax payers money that their Colonial Master General allocated them for this purpose. The Bakossi people did not refuse the payments made by the agents of La Republique. The Chiefs and the local political elites attended the meetings, collected what ever amount was available and promised the two main Francophone surrogates that they would do as the CPDM government has requested. Ministers Philip Ngwese and Elung Paul are reportedly hiding after Kupe Muanenguba recorded a huge participation in today’s ghost town operation.
“We cannot send our children to die because of small chicken change. These people only leave Yaounde and come to see us when they feel that their interests are threatened. When we send them letters about our local worries, they never act. They refuse to respect their engagements towards us. When they called us to attend the meeting, they motivated us financially, and since we needed the money we took it, but we cannot do what they asked us to do. They promised that if our children go to school, they will give us more. But of what use will education be to our children if they go to school, have certificates and come back to stay in our houses?”. One of the chiefs who collected the money noted to this reporter.
Minister Ngwese had already boasted to the press that schools were not interrupted in the Kupe Manengouba Division during the first term and assured the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime that things will continue like that.
Culled from HenrietteLounge.com
9, January 2017
Anglophone Crisis: French experts helping Biya 0
An anonymous source inside the presidency of the republic has hinted CIR that France has secretly sent some top advisers on African Affairs to help the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime handle the Anglophone crisis.
Our informant revealed that the decision to release the Southern Cameroons detainees came after a meeting the French think tank held with the 83 year old Cameroonian dictator. The French have also given the Yaoundé regime assurances that the French government will quickly develop a strategies to down grade the current Anglophone uprising.
This news item is still developing
Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report
10, January 2017
Panic in Yaounde as Southern Cameroon engineers release photo of Made in Bamenda AK47 4
Southern Cameroon engineers will begin mass production of the largest AK47 rifle ever. The demand for the made in Bamenda weapon has been alarming following the atrocities committed recently in Southern Cameroons by the Francophone army. A senior Southern Cameroons commander announced the decision on Tuesday, adding that Anglophones are also building a strategy of self defense if talks between the Consortium and the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime fail.
The commander further pointed out that Southern Cameroonians who have served in the US, French and British militaries abroad have been contacted to start the process of building a Southern Cameroons army. One of the foot soldiers of the last riots in Kumba told Cameroon Intelligence Report that the Southern Cameroons military will be a a strategic force with the power and capabilities of playing a very influential role in protecting British Southern Cameroons interests both at home and abroad.
Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report