Headline News

7, January 2017

US President-elect calls on all US ambassadors to resign before January 20th ⁰

US President-elect Donald Trump has called on all US ambassadors to hand in their resignations before he is sworn in on January 20, according to some diplomats. The envoys were notified of the incoming president’s decision through an abrupt State Department cable, which was issued on December 23 and called on all US missions in over 180 countries to return “without exception,” according to diplomats who saw it in person.

Trump’s move marked an unprecedented break from the tradition of extending the ambassadors’ stay for some time, giving them enough time to make the required arrangements. Previous administrations of both parties have usually given envoys enough time until at least the end of their children’s school year. Calling back all of President Barack Obama’s appointed envoys abroad risks leaving the US without proper representation in key countries like Britain, Germany and Canada for months.

Within two weeks of his inauguration, Trump has only named Zionist hardliner David Friedman as ambassador to Israel and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad as his ambassador to China. Some of the envoys are reportedly planning to appeal the decision with Trump’s designated Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. They think it is unfair that their personal lives have been disrupted while First-Lady-in-waiting Melania Trump is allowed to remain at Trump Tower until her son’s school is over.

The move is in line with Trump’s other unorthodox steps in destroying Obama’s legacy, specially his foreign policy. However, a senior member of the New York businessman’s transition team told the New York Times that there was no “ill will” in the decision. According to the American Foreign Service Association, a union representing diplomats, there are 188 US ambassadors worldwide.

Many of America’s key ambassadorships go to political appointees, i.e. senior members of the president’s party or the people who supported his campaign through major donations. In Obama’s case, such sinecures were granted to Jane Hartley, a Democratic fundraiser who served as ambassador to France, and former President John F. Kennedy’s daughter Caroline Kennedy, to Japan. For Israel, the outgoing president chose former Democratic congressional aide and adviser Daniel Shapiro.

Presstv

7, January 2017

Florida airport shooting: FBI not ruling out terrorism as motive ⁰

Federal investigators have not ruled out terrorism as a possible motive in a shooting rampage that killed five people and wounded eight others at an airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Esteban Santiago, a 26 year-old resident of Anchorage, Alaska, was taken into custody immediately following the shooting on Friday and questioned at length, according to officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

FBI agent George L. Piro, who is in charge of the Miami field office, said Santiago would be facing federal charges and will appear in federal court in Broward County on Monday.

People on the airport ramp area near terminals 1 and 2 are seen following the shooting incident at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, January 6, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Authorities said Santiago, an Iraq war veteran, suffered from psychological problems and had complained that the US government was controlling his mind. Santiago retrieved a semi-automatic handgun from his checked luggage and began firing indiscriminately after arriving in Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport from Alaska.

“After he claimed his bag, he went into the bathroom and loaded the gun and started shooting,” Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca said.

Esteban Santiago, an Iraq War veteran, was identified as the gunman who opened fire Friday in the Fort Lauderdale International Airport.

One witness said the attacker kept shooting until he ran out of ammunition for his handgun. The airport remains closed and planes scheduled to land there have been diverted to other airports in Florida.

“This is a senseless act of evil,” Florida Governor Rick Scott told reporters. A White House spokesman said President Barack Obama had spoken to Scott and other state officials. Obama said such tragedies had happened too often during his eight-year-term in office.

Passengers take cover as first responders secure the area outside the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airport after a shooting took place near the baggage claim on January 6, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Incoming President Donald Trump said that it is a “disgraceful situation that’s happening in our country and throughout the world” and that it was too soon to say whether it was a terrorist attack. Santiago was sent to Iraq in 2010 and spent a year there as a combat engineer while serving the Puerto Rico National Guard. He later joined the Alaska National Guard.

His family members said he had been receiving treatment for mental problems which began after he returned from Iraq. Maria Luisa Ruiz, Santiago’s aunt from Union City, New Jersey, said, “He lost his mind. He said he saw things.”

A federal law enforcement official said Santiago had entered into an FBI office in Anchorage in November and was behaving erratically and was turned over to local police, who took him to a mental facility for evaluation.

During that visit, he told FBI agents that his mind was being controlled by a US intelligence agency, which was ordering him to watch videos by the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group.

Presstv

6, January 2017

Ivory Coast: Demobilized soldiers have taken control of the city of Bouake ⁰

Former soldiers in the Ivory Coast have taken control of the city of Bouake, causing a shutdown in the West African country’s second-largest metropolitan city. “The city is under the control of former soldiers,” said an unidentified army officer, media reported on Friday.

The demobilized soldiers, who had seized weapons from at least two police stations, took up positions at entry points into the city, according to reports. “It’s a mutiny by former fighters integrated into the army, who are demanding bonuses of five million CFA francs (8,000 dollars) each plus a house,” a soldier who asked to remain anonymous told media.

Residents reported heavy shooting at around 2 am (0200 GMT). Sporadic gunfire continued later into the morning. “There are many of them at the north and south entrances to the city. We are on alert and await instructions from the hierarchy,” said another source from Bouake.

Residents stayed inside and businesses in the city remained closed on Friday morning. “The city is deserted. Men in balaclavas are patrolling the city on motorcycles or in cars. They aren’t attacking residents… They told us to stay at home,” said Ami Soro, a teacher living in Bouake.

An officer speaking from the commercial capital, Abidjan, said reinforcements had been sent to Bouake. The city was the seat of a rebellion that resulted in the seizure of the northern half of the world’s top cocoa grower from 2002 until Ivory Coast was reunited following a civil war in 2011.

Meanwhile, gunfire was heard at a military camp in Daloa, another town in Ivory Coast, on Friday. “There is gunfire at the Second Battalion in Daloa. It’s young demobilized soldiers,” said a resident, speaking by telephone from a cocoa processing factory near the army camp.

Presstv

6, January 2017

Are Southern Cameroonians Fighting for “Secession” or “Separation”? ³

In this present struggle for our freedom and independence, we should be very careful and articulate in the way we use legal words and concepts in order not to create the wrong impression. I say so because I have heard and read many write-ups on Facebook where Southern Cameroonians are voicing that they want “Secession” from La Republique du Cameroun. In reality, do we really want “secession” or “separation”? In normal discourse these words are used synonymously. However in politico-legal discourse, there are different with different implication and application. Which of these concepts is applicable in the Southern Cameroons situation? The aim of this short write-up is to explain these two concepts, secession and separation, and determine the one which is applicable in our context.

Contextually, what Southern Cameroonians are asking for is a mere Separation from L R.C, not Secession! As a matter of fact, secession does not in any way apply here and if we keep forcing the word into our context, it might create a negative impression which could be counter-productive to our struggle. In this guise, most Southern Cameroonians are separatists and not secessionists – even our SCNC brothers. In international law, secession is the detachment of a territory that was part of another at the date of independence. For example, what the Biafrans were trying to do in Nigeria was secession because at the time Nigeria had her independence on October 1, 1960 the territory of Biafra was an integral part of Nigeria. The most recent example is Southern Sudan which seceded from Sudan

Contrariwise, separation is the detachment of a territory that was not part of a country at the time the country had her independence. In this case, Southern Cameroons was never a part of French Cameroun when the latter granted independence on January 1, 1960. Consequently, the detachment of Southern Cameroons from La Republique du Cameroun is not “secession” but a mere act of separation. If we keep using the word secession in our context, it will create the impression that we were once part of French Cameroun at the time it had independence in 1960 – an idea which is historically untrue and misleading!

Interestingly, the act of separation is permissible under the African Union Constitutive Act (Charter) of which La Republique du Cameroun is a signatory. The A.U. Charter accepts separation because no people can consciously form a union with another country to assume the status of slaves or sub-humans. In international law and diplomacy, nations form unions in order to better their conditions of existence. If what brings two or more nations together cannot longer sustain them, they have the right to either re-negotiate the terms of their union or separate indefinitely – which is different from secession. They came together willingly; so they can separate willingly!

In the case of Southern Cameroons, our fore-fathers voted overwhelmingly on February 11th, 1961 to have their independence by joining French Cameroon under the guise of forming a federal association with the latter. In fact in June 1960, President Ahidjo reiterated that French Cameroon had no intention to annex British Southern Cameroons. In his interview in “Agence Press Camerounaise” he said: “I have said and repeated, in the name of the Government [of Republique du Cameroun], that we do not have any annexationist design”. In July, the same year, he stated more firmly in the same press that “For us, there can be no question of annexation of the Southern Cameroons. We have envisaged a flexible form of union, a federal form.”

Conclusively, it was on the basis of Ahidjo’s assurance that he will not annex Southern Cameroons that we formed a federal union with French Cameroun on the 1st of October, 1961 although no union treaty was signed to this effect. Truly, what brought us into this union was a federation and since it was destroyed in 1972 under the pretext of an illegal referendum, La Republique du Cameroun has no locus standi to force Southern Cameroons to stay in the association since what brought them together is no longer in force. Southern Cameroonians, therefore, have the legal right to separate from La Republique du Cameroun as per the A.U Charter which permits the separation of countries and also the U.N. Resolution 1541 of 15th of December, 1960. We shall overcome because he who is with us is great than him who is in them!

Dr. Zuhmboshi Eric

6, January 2017

Nigeria: Challenges of Conflict De-escalation in Recession ¹

Increased divergence in researches on insurgency in the 21st century has reflected in the plethora of definitions and descriptions for this common security conundrum. I defer to the British Military’s doctrine, (a credible authority, given decades of experience suppressing series of insurrection in Ireland) hence position that Insurgency is an organized movement designed to through armed resistance and subversive activities overthrow a constituted government in any state (UK Min. Of Defence 2004: 4). Contention with insurgency has become part of state security since the beginning of societal governance by groups supposedly striving for better governance on behalf of the general public. Tendencies for anti-state elements to challenge authority of ruling elites have been a major form of conflict in world history.

Biblical and other historical evidences chronicled the Roman Empire’s struggle against several insurgencies and coups. Jewish leaders led several putsches towards liberating Palestine from Roman rule in the period before and after Christ. In Africa, fight against colonialism between 1940 and 1965 set the pace for current ‘classical insurgencies’ designed to liberate Africa nations from an European imposed state system since independence. The central theme for African classical insurgency could be traced to the Marxist revolutionsts’ “propagating a better system of governance than currently obtainable”.

Insurgencies are premised and driven on the belief in the idea for change from status quo. Given that people are always curious and willing to sacrifice current status towards embracing a newer concept, the human fixation on “change”, even sometimes grievous and harmful has been the root of all anti-state conflicts. Experts agrees that the success of any rebellion is based on tactic popular supports. People drives and maintains insurgencies. Insurgents, like any animal, always adapt and adopt existing forest for cover and sustenance. Wining popular supports through covert and overt spread of “new idea” has been consistent in most rebellions, hence the term “peoples’ revolution”.

The MI6 maintained in its Journals that; “every program; paramilitary, policing, military, political, intelligence gathering, legal, psychological, civil and media, employed by the state towards eliminating insurgency is termed ‘counterinsurgency’”. If this is true, then the Nigerian state strategy needed to be reevaluated. There exists need for the established institutions to develop and provide properly articulated response giving clear roles to all arms of government and the media in fighting rebellions and insurgencies. Countering insurgencies should become a more robust operation which should take full cognizance of the socio-political environment and other distinctive factors enhancing radicalization in the area. Mere deployment of the military with high morale is never enough in guerrilla warfare. Over 15 years fruitless yet relentless engagement of the Taliban in Afghanistan by the mighty US Forces; the deplorable security situation in the failing Somalia despite years of combined military operation in Mogadishu; and, the Boko Haram unending engagement with Nigerian Military has revealed the inability of military might in counterterrorism operations.

Historical evidence according to the researches have revealed that military actions in countering insurgencies constitutes less than 10 percent of the efforts needed to eliminate an idea oriented movement. Records shows that policing and other political actions employed in the right proportion have been successful in ending insurgencies in conflicts like the IRA against the British government. Challenges of proper foundations for most African states creation has been blamed on the growth of anti-state elements agitating for self-determination and ethnic nationals’ independence. Nigeria conflict patterns since advent of independence has been tailored to reflect agitations of minority ethnic groups’ self-determination struggles. The Niger Delta and Biafran Struggle which has been a common index in Nigerian state conflicts since 1966 has festered through the Civil War of 1967 to 1970 through apparent lack of proper means of interaction between state and constituent units in Nigeria.

Honorable Steve Gamey, former Ghanaian Minister for Labour and a major teacher of conflict management maintains that the level of violence in Africa today is driven by lack of conflict management institutions in the continent. He postulate that states without conflict management plan, like Nigeria will only have plans for counterinsurgency. The Niger Delta conflict escalation since the eighties afforded the Nigerian state the opportunity to build and strengthen institutions to handle public agitations. Unfortunately, the state chosed an elite securitization model, the use of instrument of blunt force to protect the elite The Niger Delta conflict escalation since the eighties afforded the Nigerian state the opportunity to build and strengthen institutions to handle public agitations. Unfortunately, the state chosed an elite securitization model, the use of instrument of blunt force to protect the elite while alienating the people in the process.

The Nigeria Armed Forces were deployed to stem popular oppositions in Choba, Port Harcourt, arrest and killing of Ken-Saro Wiwa and the Ogoni Eight, the Odi Massascre and other attacks on dissenting forces termed “anti-state elements” laid the foundations for growth of classical conflicts in the Niger Delta by the end of the twentieth century. Classical insurgency was given a huge boast by the Nigerian government as the Nigeria law enforcement structure was practically taken over by a new military class robbing the state of the much needed resources for developmentof policing, judicial processes and criminal jurisprudence. The use of military expeditionary forces in mediating conflicts became common feature after the Lt. Gideon Orkar Coup of 22nd July 1990 and by 2005, the Nigerian Army has operations in over 26 states of the 36 state federations.

While the militarization of internal security operations grew and expanded, the Nigeria Police Force roles were further depleted by the mutation of internal security functions in Nigeria. The misguided state instead of concentrated efforts and resources at strengthening a policing force, plethora of bodies were created. Creating newer policing roles for other organizations without proper equipment and installed capabilities to perform such roles. Changing roles for the Nigerian military by the state further expanded the national security imbroglio. Unfortunately, Ill-equipped and untrained in civil conflict mediation, the Nigerian Army adaptation to its new roles were challenged in all theater of operations due to traditional hatred for security forces honed from the public mistrust of the colonialists establishment of the Hausa Regiment in Lagos in the late nineteen century by Col. Lugard to form the bulk head of fight against pro-independent movements in the regions.

Regrettably, these operations have succeeded in creating more opposition to the state than solving the militancy problem. From only 3 main militant groups in Bayelsa and Delta states in 1999, over 60 different camps were discovered at point of National Amnesty Programme introduction nine years later. Equally, crude oil illegal bunkering rose from a few hundred barrels per day in 1999 to a major economic drain of over 150,000bpd or a revenue loss of over $6 billion in 2015. The failure of military operations in Nigeria was hyped by the state’s introduction of a Niger Delta Amnesty Programme to mediate worsening security issues in the Delta and attacks on the state major revenue earner, oil

While the state bob and weave among several conflicts from Jos, Saki-Biam, Southwest and Southeast regions, challenges on all state institutions multiplied, straining already battered and ill-prepared public law enforcement institutions to limit. The apparent result was the failure of these institutions as challenges and demands on them grew in leaps and bounds while budgetary allocations remained fixed.

The growth of the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009, fall in international oil prices, an import dependent mono-product economy, a burgeoning youth population, double digits youth unemployment rate and a highly corrupt elites were a recipe for a falling state. Nigerian state institutions integrity unexpectedly fell and public trust plummeted in public domains at the turn of the century, radicalism equally grew as the youth demands a change from the old order. As the economic situation worsens, the seam that holds the nation together continued to fail, ethnic nationalities switches to group protection mode. Ethnic self-determination became the new challenge on state authority as ethnic militias like the Biafran and Niger Delta autonomy calls become national issues again since preindependence minority rights issues conference, threatening the now weakened.

Regrettably, as the state economy worsen in a balkanized, ethnocentric nation, groups’ rebellions could expand as each tries to regain and preserve its own identity and champion personal goals irrespective of national needs. As Nigeria prepares for worse economic scenario predicted for 2017, there are needs for proper prioritization of real need for security in Nigeria to face the growth in public agitations that are expected to follow the expected growth in hardship. The time to expand policing security capabilities through recruitment and training is now. The state must be ready to accommodate and manage public agitations instead of aggravating violent response. The army roles in civil engagement needed to be reanalyzed and realigned according to the 1999 constitution and deployment of forces properly checked. The state could ill afford costs resulting from several conflicts; hence there are needs for mustering all factors that might aggravate the already volatile situation.

Tolerance of the state institutions of security to be peacekeepers and not elite securitization organs with higher mandate than protecting the people could be discouraged. Security forces may be retrained to understand their roles in civil domains. Trigger happy security operatives have caused more national harms than good in recent past. A review of the current “Rules of Engagement” could be done by the legislature to reflect international standard and the deployment of security forces should be done with proper legislative supervision at all time.

All round policing and law enforcement system overhaul is required urgently in Nigeria, state internal security should and must be managed by policing institutions and not by the armed forces. The people always feels less threatened at police authority operations than when faced by the armed forces. Increasing internal security capacities can only be attained when the civil security operatives are allowed unfettered access to perform their duties. Domiciling local security operations in the army always weakens the national defense as it creates a military that is soft and not battle ready when called to action.

Policing private residences and hotels gates shouldn’t be the duties of an efficient military system. The deployment of military personnel in these points clearly shows the level of professionalism in Nigerian military and demeans the soldiers in the eyes of the public. All resources outlaid on military operations in conflict areas in Nigeria since the 1990’s cannot be counted as contributing to the development of internal security hence a colossal waste. These resources would have afforded the policing authorities the abilities to recruit, train and develop proper security operatives for the theater of operations as appropriate. Lack of proper policies on security of homeland and defense of territorial integrity of Nigeria has become cloudy. The line between internal security and Nigerian defense are now blurred regardless of national constitutional provisions.

Mediatisation of security operations has equally created a security class eager to discuss security issues in public domains without respect for confidentiality of investigation and personality of suspects. The hunger for public accolades has revealed barrage of information in public domain in Nigeria that not only increases perception of insecurity but aggravates the level of trust in the capacity of the security forces to provide adequate security. To ward against Nigeria devolution into a failed state, managing local conflict, establishing proper law enforcement system and a review of current Rules of engagement of security operations should be priorities of the state.

By Don Michael Adeniji

Contributing Editor

Cameroon Concord News Group

6, January 2017

Yang Philemon leads: But is anyone really following? ⁰

Teachers Trade Unionists have maintained that the strike action must continue unless government grants their request. Wilfred Tassang of the Cameroon Teachers Trade Union says it is a good thing that the eight members requested to be added to the ad hoc committee for teachers were finally included in the list but that they will only sit to negotiate when all the youths arrested in Bamenda and Kumba are released. He said while observing Monday ghost town in the two regions, they are ready for dialogue if those conditions are fulfilled.

Prime Minister Philemon Yang in a press release on Friday called on parents to send their children to school beginning Monday the 9^th of January 2017 .In a typical Francophone-CPDM pattern, Philemon Yang invited the education family to put hands together for the smooth start of the second term in the two Anglophone regions despite ongoing strike action by teachers. The Head of Government assured parents that security measures for the kick off have been taken.

Philemon Yang who reportedly now takes instructions from Higher Education Minister, Fama Ndongo also said government is ready to partake in meaningful dialogue with trade Unionists to arrive a consensus to improve on English sub system of education. The Prime Minister concluded his communiqué with the usual CPDM rhetoric observing that “the issues have been identified and that solutions are underway.” However, Southern Cameroonians seems not to be listening anymore to officials from La Republique du Cameroun.

The North West region based Cameroon Parents Association, CAPA, has given its unflinching support to striking teachers assuring them that they will observe the ghost town on Monday and even beyond. A release signed by eight representatives partially reads, “We unanimously and unilaterally support the ongoing teachers and lawyers strike, declare a ghost town across North West and South West as from Monday January 9,2017.” The Parents also said dialogue can only be sincere if youths ‘abducted’ in Bamenda and Kumba are released. They also decry the divide and rule system of North West and South West people implored by the government.

In another latest development, Fons in Ndu sub division, Donga Mantung Division have reportedly refused to cede to demands of Divisional Officer of the area to lure parents send their children to school come Monday. They told the DO that it is the place of teachers and lawyers to tell the students and not traditional rulers. On his part, the Fon of Tabeken, Ngwayi Polycarp has called on his subjects especially pupils and students to avoid market places and crowded areas, though he did not come out clear on his stance ,it is rumored that he is trying not to victimize himself but supporting the struggle.

Culled from CIR

6, January 2017

Ghost Town: CPDM bribery scheme sweeps mercenary journalists in Bamenda ⁰

A group of hungry so-called journalists grouped under a yet-to-be known federation of Anglophone Journalist Association were caught sharing money at Ayaba Hotel in Bamenda recently. The gang were also demanding the news reporters to sell their message that students must return to school on Monday the 9th of January, 2017.

The information was made public by John Mbah Akuroh, a senior political news reporter and president of the Cameroon Anglophone Publishers Association, CANPA. Mbah Akuroh added that the said traitors, led by one Dotta Ezekiel who runs The Watchdog newspaper, specialized in dishing out awards to gullible politicians, posed as representing all Anglophone journalists in Cameroon.

The President of the Cameroon Anglophone Publishers’ Association, CANPA and Secretary General of the Commonwealth Journalists Association – CJA- Cameroon, declared late last night to local and international pressmen that media gurus in the North West region support the strikes and stand by the demands made.

John Mbah Akuroh further pointed out that his union backs the calls for schools shutdown and ghost town until the demands presented are met.”

6, January 2017

Anglophone soldiers in the Far North region to begin strike action ⁰

The National Telegraph, a home based Anglophone tabloid is reporting that Anglophone soldiers have given President. Biya one condition to look into their worries else they will be forced to follow the footsteps of the Common Law Lawyers and Anglophone teachers in the wake of what has now become known as the Anglophone struggle. The sister publication observed that Anglophone Soldiers of the 2015 batch in the Far North have given the Presidency an ultimatum to solve a bulk of their problems otherwise they would begin a strike action.

Cameroon Intelligence Report is yet to confirm the correctness of this developing story. However, some media sources say the Anglophone soldiers of that batch are being discriminated upon and wouldn’t take any further discrimination from the government. According to National Telegraph sources, since the soldiers stepped foot into Far North, life has been extremely difficult with little or no government attention towards their well being.

“Every day, we are traumatized by the enemy with attacks which one can hardly count. Many of our friends die, we bear all the heart aches, and we spent a year knowing that we will be replaced by others in order to rest for a while even if we have to come back, yet government completely relegates us to the background. September 2016 was programmed to replace people but we were shocked to hear that only the ”ancients”, mostly Francophones were replaced and we were left behind to continue with the new people entering”, an Anglophone soldier confided in National Telegraph.

National Telegraph further stipulated that the Ministry of Defense has a duty and obligation to replace soldiers sent to the Far North one year from date of deployment. National Telegraph revealed that Francophones are mostly taken away from the Far North while Anglophones remain in the same spot. The soldiers have also complained that the individual guns they are using always fail to shoot during attacks because it’s second-rate thereby leading to the deaths of many which is usually not reported by the government. We have very little weapons while the enemy is well armed. We need to know if really we are sent to defend the country or we are sacrificial lambs.

National Telegraph insider quizzed. Furthermore, the health of these soldiers is worrisome; National Telegraph reported that, when they are sick or injured, treatment depends on the individual based on the feeding allowance that is given to them usually on the 7th, 8th or 9th of each month. It’s with that same money and so-called risk allowance that the soldiers can buy drugs by the road side to treat themselves. How can we lack medical care as soldiers defending the nation? one of the soldiers lamented.

According to the National Telegraph, even the 20 permission days which is by right has been suspended and they have spent months going nowhere. The soldiers according to National Telegraph have tabled their problems to the President and have stated in clear terms that should they not be replaced by January 28, 2017, and their bonuses paid all at once, they will begin a strike action. National Telegraph Editorial further writes: “The announcement by Anglophone soldiers is coming at a time when two meetings in Bamenda and Yaoundé between government and representatives of the teachers and lawyers respectively ended in deadlock. The Lawyers and Teachers have been on a peaceful demonstration for months. Schools have virtually shut down in the two English-speaking regions of the North West and South West while courts have completely gone paralyzed. The lawyers have been condemning the infringement on the Common Law system amongst other things while the teachers have decried the erosion of the Anglo-Saxon system of education amongst others.

The general Anglophone community, mostly youths have now joined the struggle demanding for Federalism. Since the strike, tempers have flared and there have been clashes between civilians and security forces. In Buea, several University students were arrested and detained arbitrarily. Others were raped, beaten and looted by security forces sent to maintain peace and order. In Bamenda and Kumba, casualties were recorded with at least five protesters killed by police. Several others were injured while others still remain in detention. Businesses have been slowed down and travelling in some cases made difficult.

In the Bamenda and Yaounde meetings, Teachers and Lawyers demanded for the immediate release of all those held in detention. Meanwhile, all Anglophone Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church have written to the President pointing the need for dialogue. As at the date of this publication, President Biya who has been accused for being in power for too long is yet to make any official statement on the matter….”

Culled from CIR

6, January 2017

Governors, SDO’s and DO’s are running around West Cameroon: Too little, too late ¹

The people of West Cameroon have no reason before God and man to resume schools following the continuous brutal repression and oppression that has always resulted in the killing, rape, torture, and imprisonment of our innocent children by the same government that now suddenly pretends to care.

At this time in our history, we as a people, must stand up and face our oppressors. If this government were interested in our plight, our children’s’ schools and classrooms would not be filled by theirs and their teachers who forcefully un-teach them in a language they do not understand. When a system like ours wants to subjugate and enslave us, it comes for our children. They have gone too far. We must stop them now. The schools are ours! The children are ours! We are determined! They will stay home!

Bravo to our Teachers’ Unions and our Common Law Lawyers for standing up firm against these and other injustices against our people. We must now stand by them from Ndian in the South to Donga –Mantung in the North, and ensure that by sacrificing a school year, we will collectively cease back our freedom and dignity that have been trampled upon for over 55 years.

THE TIME IS NOW! WE MUST MAKE IT HAPPEN!

THIS IS THE CORE OF OUR RESISTANCE TO BLATANT, DECEITFUL, PROVOCATIVE AND INHUMANE OPPRESSION.

Has this government ever really cared about the fate of our children? Can a government that cares for its children send soldiers to rape, torture and kill them? Our people of West Cameroon, when did the union between TWO EQUAL PARTNERS become that between master and slave?

The Governors, the SDO’s and the DO’s are running around West Cameroon in circles. WHY THE PANIC? Is the master just frustrated that the slave has risen? Is the government just frightened that for 55 years, “the few cubes of sugar” have stubbornly refused to melt?

DIGNIFIED PEOPLE OF WEST CAMEROON, THE RESISTANCE HAS COME TO STAY…UNTIL… WE gain our Independence.

5, January 2017

Biya cancels New Year Wishes ceremony ²

President Paul Biya is said to be under considerable pressure and panic in Yaoundé after it was revealed that his New Year Day speech was leaked to the public hours before his televised presentation on the 31^st of December. A well-placed source at the Presidency told Cameroon Intelligence Report that close aides to Biya are urging him to order the arrest of many of his collaborators.

The situation became more complicated yesterdays during a press conference by the minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Hon. Zacharie Perevette who Contradicted President Biya’s end of year speech when he observed that the head of state was wrong when Biya said in 2016, 320,000 jobs were Created instead of 400,000 .

Insiders say it was because Jacques Fame Ndongo, the Minister of Higher Education who is responsible for writing the Head of State’s speech, did not consult other cabinet ministers before preparing the document. Jacques Fame Ndongo was in the South West region pushing the Consortium to call off the strike action and the ghost town operation to begin on Monday the 9^th 2017.

In France, the president is reportedly being urged by his French mentors to quit the leadership of the CPDM an opinion which has been shared by some senior Francophone Beti Ewondo politicians. The many scandals that have rocked Etoudi including news that some prominent Anglophone political elites are threatening to join the Southern Cameroons Struggle has prompted Biya to cancel the presentation of New Year wishes at State House scheduled for today Thursday 5th Jan.2017.

Our Yaoundé informant hinted that the ceremony has been rescheduled on Friday the 6^th of January 2017. CPDM insiders are now arguing that Biya having succeeded in defusing political tension that was generated by Fru Ndi and the SDF, should very much consider retiring at the end of his current seven-year term.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report