Headline News

12, November 2016

2 Nigerians arrested at Istanbul airport in possession of drugs concealed in their stomachs ⁰

Two Nigerians were arrested on Friday at Istanbul airport in possession of nearly 3 kg of drugs carefully concealed in their stomachs. The two Nigerian nationals were intercepted at Istanbul’s Atatürk airport. The Nigerian traffickers, aged 22 and 47, went so far as to swallow about 3 kilos of cocaine and heroin concealed in condoms.

According to the Dogan news agency, police officers from the drug trafficking brigade did not find anything during the initial search and decided to accompany the two men to a hospital for submission to an X-ray and that was where the Turkish police made their big catch.

One of them had swallowed 1,290 kg of liquid cocaine and the second, 700 grams of heroin, according to Dogan. All buried meticulously in condoms inserted in their digestive tract.

By Chi Prudence Asong

12, November 2016

Yaounde: CPDM government seeking an increase in the 2017 budget ⁰

It has been revealed that the CPM government is seeking an increase in the 2017 budget. According to the draft tabled during this current session devoted to examine the budget which started on Thursday the 10^th of October, the government expects a budget of 4378.8 billion FCFA in 2017.

Cameroon Concord News understands if the budget is adopted by parliament, it will witness an increase of CFAF 139.1 billion compared to the 2016 budget. Our chief economic correspondent noted that it will record a more than 3% increase in relative value. 70% of the Finance Act will be devoted to the operating budget, as in previous years.

By Rita Akana

11, November 2016

2 million Americans have signed a petition calling on the Electoral College to grant presidency to Clinton ⁰

Over two million people in the United States have signed a petition, calling on the members of the Electoral College to vote for US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton when they meet in December. The petition was published on Thursday and its signatories demanded that the Electoral College grant the US presidency to Clinton, who leads President-elect Donald Trump in popular votes by about 300,000 votes.

“We are calling on the Electors to ignore their states’ votes and cast their ballots for Secretary Clinton,” the petition read. “Mr. Trump is unfit to serve. His scapegoating of so many Americans, and his impulsivity, bullying, lying, admitted history of sexual assault and utter lack of experience make him a danger to the Republic,” it noted.

“Secretary Clinton WON THE POPULAR VOTE and should be President,” the petition noted.

All the 538 electors across the US will meet on December 19 to officially cast their ballots for the presidential election despite a traditional vote they cast on November 8 along the lines of the states they represent. Technically, the so-called faithless electors can buck tradition and support the candidate who lost their state, overturning the “results” of the election.

US President-elect Donald Trump gives a thumbs up to the crowd during his acceptance speech at his election night event in New York City in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

On Tuesday, Trump stunned the world by defeating heavily favored Clinton in the presidential election, sending the United States on a new, uncertain path. Trump rode a wave of anger toward the elite US establishment to win the White House race against Clinton, a longtime Washington insider. The New York businessman garnered 290 electoral votes in the 2016 US election, while his rival and the former secretary of state received 232 votes despite winning the popular vote.

On Wednesday, thousands of people rallied in cities across the US to protest against Trump’s presidential election victory, condemning his controversial campaign rhetoric against Muslims, immigrants, women and other groups. This is while Trump said in his victory speech he would be president for all Americans. “It is time for us to come together as one united people,” he said.

Trump, who at 70 will be the oldest first-term US president, defeated his Democratic rival after a bitter and divisive campaign. During the campaign, Trump was the target of sharp disapproval, not just from Democrats but from many in his own party.

Thousands of demonstrators protest outside of the Trump Tower in Chicago, Illinois, on November 9, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

The real estate mogul’s election campaign had been marred by his disparaging remarks against minorities in the US. His comments include a call to ban all Muslims from coming to America as well as stopping Mexican migrants by building a long wall along the US-Mexico border.

He has also sought for a database to track Muslims across the United States and said that the US would have “absolutely no choice” but to close down mosques.

Trump’s proposal was widely condemned by Muslim and human rights groups as well as his Democratic rivals and many of his Republican proponents who describe the proposal as divisive, counterproductive and contrary to American values.

Culled from Presstv

11, November 2016

Kah Walla denounces the deployment of state violence against Common Law Lawyers ⁰

Kah Walla, the national president of the Cameroon People’s Party (CPP) has declared her party’s support for the Cameroon Anglophone lawyers. The new generation opposition leader expressed displeasure over the attack by government forces against a peaceful demonstration organized by lawyers in Bamenda on the 8^th of November.

The CPP leadership denounced the deployment of state violence against nonviolent protesters. As earlier reported by the Cameroon Concord News Group, the lawyers’ peaceful protest in Bamenda was greeted with tear gas and police violence that almost claimed the life of Barrister Elvis Leuma.

Cameroonians from what was previously known as British Southern Cameroons are so frustrated that many are now considering the solution of secession. Kah Walla stated that “The growth of this secessionist movement is the direct result of bad governance.”

The Cameroon Common Law Lawyers’ movement registered another massive demonstration in Buea in the Southwest region. The city witnessed a heavy deployment of security forces and troops from the gendarmerie. Our face book team received disturbing images of repression of the demonstrators.

By Sama Ernest

11, November 2016

South Africa: Zuma survives 3rd no-confidence vote in less than a year ⁰

South African President Jacob Zuma has survived a no-confidence vote, the third in less than a year, over what the opposition called “reckless leadership.” “I think the no’s have it,” Deputy Speaker of Parliament Lechesa Tsenoli ruled on Thursday, after lawmakers of Zuma’s African National Congress (ANC), which controls almost two-thirds of the assembly, voted against the motion.

After a heated debate, 214 lawmakers voted against the motion and 126 voted in favor. The vote came despite opposition parties calling on ruling ANC lawmakers to remove Zuma. Earlier on Thursday, Mmusi Maimane, leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), urged Zuma to quit power and called on ANC lawmakers to vote him out of office. “To put it plainly, we can choose Jacob Zuma, or we can choose South Africa,” Maimane told parliament, adding, “Many of you have been speaking out against him in recent weeks … I know that there are men and women in these ANC benches who want to do the right thing.”

The no-confidence motion was tabled by the DA, which argued that Zuma had wreaked havoc on South Africa’s “infant democracy” by being involved in various corruption and influence-peddling scandals. Zuma had managed to weather two previous no-confidence votes. The 74-year-old, who has been in office since 2009, enjoys strong loyalty among ANC lawmakers and many party activists, particularly in rural areas.

The vote came days after South Africa’s top watchdog issued a report, detailing the president’s relationship with the Guptas, an Indian business family accused of wielding undue political influence. The report raised fresh allegations of misconduct in Zuma’s administration.

Zuma is already gripped in a series of corruption scandals. He was found guilty by South Africa’s highest court in March, after he refused to repay taxpayers’ money used to refurbish his private rural house. A court has also ruled that Zuma should face almost 800 corruption charges over a multi-billion dollar arms deal in the 1990s. Zuma has appealed the ruling.

Presstv

11, November 2016

Massive demo against Donald Trump’s victory in the US ¹

Demonstrators have again taken to the streets in cities across the United States to protest against Republican nominee Donald Trump’s victory in the November 8 presidential election, voicing concerns that he will strike a blow against civil rights.

In the state of California, hundreds of high school and university students on Thursday walked out of classes to join other protesters who held demonstrations in the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Police arrested dozens of protesters in both cities. Similar rallies were held in Minneapolis, New York, Washington, DC, and Texas.

A number of demonstrators marched from the White House, where Trump held his first transition meeting with President Barack Obama on Thursday, to the Trump International Hotel some blocks away. The protesters were carrying signs against racism and in favor of unity. They were also chanting “love Trumps hate.”

Police shout at anti-Trump protesters on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles on Wednesday. (Photo by The Los Angeles Times)

“This generation deserves better than Donald Trump,” said Lily Morton, 17, who joined classmates from the Georgetown Day School. “The queer people, colored people, women, girls, everyone that is going to be affected by this, we need to protest to help them.”

Tens of thousands of protesters, including school and college students, held demonstrations in more than a dozen major US cities, including in New York, Los Angeles and Oakland, California on Wednesday. The protesters slammed Trump’s controversial campaign rhetoric about undocumented immigrants, Muslims and other groups. They expressed their anger and sadness at the shocking victory of Trump by putting his effigies on fire in California, Philadelphia, Boston and Portland, Oregon, and Washington.

Trump took to twitter late on Thursday to hit back at protesters, calling them “professionals incited by the media.” Trump supporters say the protesters are not respecting the democratic process. This tweet also comes after The New York Times reported his aides took control of his Twitter account during his presidential campaign hoping to tame his controversial Internet presence.

Anti-Trump protesters flood the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles on Thursday. (Photo by The Los Angeles Times)

Trump stunned the world on Wednesday by defeating heavily favored Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in Tuesday’s presidential election, sending the United States on a new, uncertain path.

Trump’s election campaign had been marred by his disparaging remarks against minorities in the US. His comments include a call to ban all Muslims from coming to America as well as stopping Mexican migrants by building a long wall along the US-Mexico border.

He has also sought for a database to track Muslims across the United States and said that the US would have “absolutely no choice” but to close down mosques.

Dozens of anti-Donald Trump protesters stand along 5th Avenue in front of Trump Tower as New Yorkers react for a second night to the election of Trump as president of the United States on November 10, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by AFP)

Culled from Presstv

11, November 2016

The declining state of public hygiene under the CPDM regime ⁰

The Minister for Youths and Civic Education was in Kribi recently to launch a national initiative which seeks to generalize good civic practices in the country. Many see it as a last-ditch effort to improve on the declining state of public hygiene, especially as the Africa Nations Cup competition draws nearer and nearer. Many have criticized the state of public hygiene in the country and the authorities were beginning to fear that we were going to be caught pants down when the numerous visitors coming into the country for the AFCON if they met the situation uncorrected. Some have rightly called it a national disease. On the major streets of Yaoundé, it is not unusual to find passengers throwing out banana peelings or used Kleenex paper from car windows and quite often this is even done by those in vehicles no one would ever have suspected simply by the quality of their occupants!

Once upon a time, the cities of Yaoundé and Douala had some of the best public telephone booths; but all were gone within months of their installation because hoodlums broke them up and shattered them in the hope of extracting the coins put in to obtain communication lines. Across the country, entire communities have been cut off from electricity by thieves in search of such lines to sell out for use in the manufacture of other lucrative uses. Many Mayors and other authorities have been making appeals for better manners as the countdown for the beginning of AFCON comes closer. The appeals were prompted by the need to address some disturbing actions around newly constructed structures in the country where citizens have not given them the care they require. Within these structures and where toilets and other facilities exist, people would rather urinate just about anywhere.

One must however blame the public authorities for the rise in these condemnable acts because all too often essential services such as toilets and other hospitality services are not provided for when public buildings are conceived. It is possible to go for several kilometers in our major cities with seeing a refuse disposal basket or a public toilet. In such a situation, where does one expect even the most willing person faced with the need to urinate do? Or where does one throw a used piece of Kleenex? It takes both a campaign such as the one being organized by the public authorities but, above all, by the provision of facilities to expect a radical turnaround in the poor habits experienced today. It will take only that to expect to instill a culture of public hygiene and the need to respect common-use facilities in the minds of Cameroonian citizens.

Culled from Cameroon Tribune

10, November 2016

A busy Thursday for the Cameroonian dictator ⁰

President Paul BIYA, has received Letters of Credence from Gilles Thibault, Ambassador of France to Cameroon, and Mahamat Ahmat Karambal of the Republic of Chad. The ceremony held at the Unity Palace on Thursday, 10 November 2016.

Ambassador Gilles Thibault’s predecessor was Christine Robichon who spent three and a half years in Cameroon. Before his arrival in Cameroon Gilles Thibault was the French Ambassador to Burkina Faso and the West African Economic and Monetary Union.

The Head of State and the French diplomat seized the opportunity to make an overview of bilateral ties. A long-standing, dense, and multifaceted cooperation exists between Cameroon and France. This fruitful friendship has touched areas like governance, health, education, infrastructure, rural development, environment, higher education, research and culture.

Economically, Cameroon is the first trade partner of France in Central Africa and the second largest supplier of certain products like cash crops, aluminium, wood, etc.

Both countries have longstanding defence agreements. As the first partner of France, Cameroon plays a special role in the preservation of peace and security in Central Africa. Thus, Paris supports Yaounde with equipment and the training of defence forces engaged in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The second diplomat to hand letters of credence to President Paul BIYA was Ahmat Mahamat Karambal of Chad. Prior to his appointment in Cameroon, he was the Governor of the Moyen Chari region of Chad.

Bilateral relations between Cameroon and Chad are ongoing and have been diversified under the visionary leadership of Presidents Paul BIYA and Idriss DEBY ITNO. The Chadian leader paid a condolence visit to Cameroon last month after the Eseka train derailment.

Both countries are actively engaged in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorist group. Economically, studies and the sourcing of funds have been accelerated lately to realise projects like: the bridge over the Logone River between Yagoua (Cameroon) and Bongor (Chad); the extension of the railway from Ngaoundere (Cameroon) to Ndjamena (Chad); and the Ngaoundere-Touboro-Moundou road.

Culled from the Presidency of the Republic

10, November 2016

Donald Trump’s victory: Why Cameroonians are so disappointed ⁰

Some knew Donald Trump would win and many had shared that view, unfortunately many in our Cameroonian Diaspora were so carried away by the Hillary Clinton euphoria to the extent that they failed to see reality. A road trip to the USA from Canada that took our contributing editor Dr. Joachim Arrey to six USA States informed us that Hillary did not stand a chance. Whereas elections in Cameroon are regularly won on CRTV, in the US elections don’t get won on CNN and Fox. They are won in the field.

Most American networks don’t cover rural areas. The rural areas of this country are totally white and very populated and these people constitute about forty percent of the voting population. They love Trump and everything he says. Of vital importance is the fact that the coalition President Obama put together in 2008 was for his own election and not for Hillary Clinton. Many Cameroonian-Americans failed to see that.

Many Americans hate monarchies and the issue of household names-the Bush family, the Clintons, the Kennedys etc To be sure, the founding fathers of that nation were people who detested the idea of royal families. Democrats did not see that and we are sure they now know. If Hillary had won, we would have been expecting a Michelle Obama ticket in the coming years. Democrats have to think and rethink things.

Besides, those demonstrations in California make no sense to sound minded people. Democracy indicates that when you lose, you lick your wounds and plan for the next event. Never underestimate anybody and don’t think your mind’s desires will always come true. Up to 90% of our dreams hardly become reality. Demonstrating simply implies that Clinton’s supporters are unfortunately not democratic enough. Donald Trump and his people have accepted the results and so too must Hillary’s supporters.

If they disagree, they can use the prescription they have all along been given to other nations which is the courts as the Trump team did when voting was going on. The will of the people must be respected. Trump has achieved his goals in life – being the USA president and retiring the Clintons once and for all.

Many more people are also on their way out of the political system following Mr. Trump’s feat. Let’s wait and see if he will drain the swamp as he said. However, we are already seeing many mechanical diggers heading to Washington. And the ban on Muslims might be on as the astute salesman is already pursuing them all over the place.

For Mexicans, they should start raising funds to finance the building of that wall. It’s surely going to start going up soon. The real estate mogul is already negotiating with contractors. If you are an African living in the States without papers, then know you have no business being there. Africa is your home. Donald Trump is already constituting a new force to rid that country of illegal immigrants. His word is his bond.

Cameroon Intelligence Report

10, November 2016

Minister Philip Ngole Ngwese suspends 23 timber companies ⁰

Philip Ngole Ngwese, the Minister of Forests has suspended for a period of 6 months 23 companies and 2 ICG (inter Community Groups) operating in the forest sector.

Philip Ngole Ngwese signed the ministerial order on Wednesday and added that the decision shall take effect immediately. The suspended parties are accused of non-compliance with standards related to sustainable environmental management and illegal logging, in accordance with applicable laws.

Cameroon Concord News Yaoundé city reporter hinted at the time of filing this report that Minister Ngole Ngwese has also threatened to withdraw the licenses issued to the companies if they do not comply with the law.

It is estimated that Cameroon loses more than 2 billion CFA francs related to illegal logging in a sector contributing up to 10% to the GDP.

By Sama Ernest