Headline News

4, November 2016

Trump gaining ground in states that were leaning towards Hillary Clinton ⁰

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has gained ground in several states that were leaning toward Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton as Election Day draws closer, a new poll has revealed. According to the Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project released on Friday, Trump and Clinton are now tied in Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio with the November 8 presidential election just four days away. In Michigan, Clinton’s lead over her Republican rival has decreased so much that the state is now too close to call.

Trump’s support has increased in 24 states and decreased in 11 over the past week. In comparison, the former secretary of state’s support has grown in 13 states and lessened in 22. The States of the Nation project surveys some 15,000 likely voters every week in all 50 American states and Washington, DC. The Democratic nominee, according to the poll, still has about a 90 percent chance of winning the 270 electoral votes which are necessary to win the presidency, but Trump now also has a plausible route to victory, especially if there is a sharp fall in turnout among African-American voters.

Trump has to prevail in both Florida and North Carolina to have a good chance of winning the November 8 election, but Clinton could lose both states and still clinch the White House. The tightening of the polls comes after FBI Director James Comey dropped a bombshell on the Clinton campaign last week by announcing the revival of the investigation into thousands of new emails sent by Clinton as secretary of state.

Following the FBI’s announcement, Clinton’s unpopularity among American voters has reached a new high, according to polls, putting her on par with her Republican rival Trump. On Sunday, the FBI obtained a search warrant to begin reviewing the emails, reportedly numbering 650,000 and found on the laptop of Anthony Weiner, estranged husband of top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin. According to the final pre-election New York Times/CBS News Poll released on Thursday, an overwhelming majority of American voters are disgusted by the state of US politics, and most view Trump and Clinton as dishonest. More than 80 percent of voters say the presidential campaign has left them repulsed rather than excited, the poll found.

Presstv

4, November 2016

Biya and the CPDM: Justifying successful failure in leadership ¹

The ruling CPDM party has attempted an explanation on the failure to hold a congress this year. The national chairman and members of the political bureau met in Yaoundé and agreed that the Eseka train tragedy, the economic and financial crisis in the country and the fight against the Nigerian Islamic sect, Boko Haram have made it impossible for the party to hold a national congress in 2016 as demanded by the rules and regulations governing the party.

Elected in 2011 for a five-year term as Chairman of the Cameroon People Democratic Movement, CPDM, Paul Biya’s mandate expired in September 2016 including those of the political bureau, members of the Central Committee and the National Offices of the women and young wings of the party.

For some two months now, the ruling party and all its activities have been illegal. It was to end this illegal situation that the National Chairman of the CPDM summoned on Thursday a meeting of the political bureau of the party. Since there has never been any distinction between the party and the state, the meeting held at the Presidential Palace in Yaoundé.

Of the 23 members of the Politburo, four were conspicuously absent for various reasons including former Minister Marafa Hamidou Yaya charged for corruption by the regime. Four resolutions were adopted authorizing the extension for an indefinite period the different mandates of highly placed members of the party under Article 18 of the Basic Laws of the CPDM. They included:

– The resolution extending the period for holding of the CPDM National Congress;

– A resolution extending the mandate of the National President, until the holding of the next Congress of the CPDM;

– The resolution extending the mandate of the members of the Central Committee and Political Bureau, until the holding of the next Congress of the CPDM;

– The resolution extending the mandates of members of the National Office of the WCPDM and YCPDM until the holding of the next national congress.

The reasons for the postponement were noted as follows:

– The Congress Hall with the capacity to host such forum is now under construction;

– The fight against Boko Haram is still financially and humanly demanding despite the tangible results achieved so far;

– Political activities are not necessary at a time when Cameroonians are still reeling from the Eseka train disaster;

– The upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations this November will require the Cameroonian youth many of whom are CPDM militants to inject a lot of energy to make this event a resounding success;

– The current austerity measures taken by the nation needs rigor in the management of available resources;

– The Sub Saharan region is in peril and needs Cameroon vigilance at all times.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai with files from Cameroon-info.net

4, November 2016

Geremi Njitap takes command as head of SYNAFOC ⁰

Geremi Sorel Njitap, has been elected president of the National Union of Cameroon footballers. The former Cameroonian international was the only candidate for the race to head the association known as Synafoc.

He was acclaimed at the end of the general assembly that held on Thursday in Douala. Geremi Njitap takes over from the late David Mayebi, who died some five months ago, after more than 20 years as head of the Union of Cameroonian footballers.

By Rita Akana

3, November 2016

President Uhuru Kenyatta accuses the UN of covering up failures in South Sudan ⁰

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has accused the United Nations of covering up its failure to establish peace in South Sudan by blaming a Kenyan commander in charge of the UN forces in the conflict-stricken country. Kenyatta said on Thursday that the UN was “scapegoating” Kenyan forces deployed to South Sudan for the failings of its mission in the country, known as UNMISS.

“We know that the people of this region want peace in South Sudan. But we also know that peace will not come to South Sudan by blaming a Kenyan commander for the wider failings of the mission to South Sudan,” said Kenyatta.

The harsh criticism came two days after the UN sacked Lieutenant General Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki as the head of UNMISS, saying the results of a probe into his response to the fighting in South Sudan in July were “chaotic and ineffective”. The UN said soldiers killed civilians, looted warehouses and raped women, including foreign aid workers, during the escalated wave of violence in the capital, Juba.

Kenyatta, however, rejected the findings and said that Kenya would pull out its troops from South Sudan in protest at the UN statements. “We will no longer contribute to a mission that has failed to meet its mandate, and which has now resorted to scapegoating Kenyans,” Kenyatta said, adding, “Serving does not come at the expense of the country’s dignity.”

Kenyatta’s angry remarks followed a Wednesday statement by the Kenyan Foreign Ministry which announced Ondieki’s dismissal but said soldiers would be withdrawn and Kenya would disengage from its mediator role in the peace process for South Sudan.

Kenya has more than 1,000 troops in South Sudan. The troops are part of the 13,000-strong force of UN Mission in South Sudan. It had also agreed to contribute to a proposed 4,000-strong “regional protection force” intended to bolster UNMISS.

Presstv

3, November 2016

Yaounde-Douala Highway: Accident claims 6 lives, injures dozens ⁰

A truck transporting agro industrial products has killed six people on the Yaoundé-Douala highway today Thursday, November the 3^rd 2016, Cameroon-info.net reports. Residents say the vehicle was en route to Yaoundé from Douala when it left the motorway and crushed six of the many people who were standing on the edge of the road.

The accident reportedly occurred at Omog, a village located about 5 km from Boumnyebel. The truck driver lost control as he was dodging the pot holes on the road. Apart from those killed, other victims with injuries were transported to the Puma hospital and the death toll is expected to rise.

By Rita Akana with files from CIN

3, November 2016

Chantal Biya: Cameroon’s next head of state? ¹

Senior Cameroon government officials, traditional rulers, political scientists, lawyers, economists, sociologists, and other prominent academics recently participated in a scientific symposium on the charity works of Chantal Biya, the wife of the President of the Republic of Cameroon.

Cameroon Concord News reporters were prevented from covering the conference that held at that Soa campus of the University of Yaoundé 2. Renowned Francophone Beti-Ewondo academics reportedly struggled for 3 days to have a thoughtful key to understanding the charity works of the first lady of Cameroon, Chantal Biya.

Cat calls from the civil society greeted the conference but it had to go ahead as the husband to the lady in question firmly holds the bar and controls all state apparatus in a country whose predominantly young population aspire to nothing.

Minister Fame Ndongo and a sea of pro Chantal Biya comedians moved that an honorary doctorate be given to the wife of the 83 year old dictator, President Paul Biya, the so-called “father of the nation.” The scientific symposium spent the sum of 65 million CFA francs collected from the public treasury in Yaoundé.

On the second day of the symposium, the participants announced the birth of a new philosophical doctrine in Cameroon called le “Chantalisme Biyayiste”. Our editorial board invoked the power of Google translate but could not still get the meaning of what the Yaoundes are saying within this new CPDM discourse of the Chantalisme Biyayiste.

Our senior political commentator observed that it was the birth of a new personality cult that will drive the nation to a civil war. Schools and colleges in Cameroon will henceforth by studying “Chantalistes Biyayistes”.

At the end of the panel discussions, the “intellectuals” agreed to propose to the Cameroon government to design a legal status for the first lady. If the recommendation is adopted, the proposal will then be sent to parliament for a constitutional amendment. So, Chantal Biya is definitely Cameroon’s next head of state.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

3, November 2016

3 Cameroonian referees for the 2016 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations ⁰

The Confederation of African Football, CAF has made public a list of 11 referees and 14 assistant referees who will oversee the matches of the upcoming 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2016 in Cameroon. The list of 25 includes three Cameroonians:

Referees

Maria Packuita Cynquela Rivet – Mauritius
Salma Mukansanga – Rwanda
Gladys Lengwe – Zambia
Lidya Tafesse – Ethiopia
Akhona Zennith Makalima – South Africa
Jeanne Ekoumou – Cameroon
Aissata Ameyo Amegee – Togo
Suavis Iratunga – Burundi
Carolyne Wanjala – Kenya
Jonesia Rukyaa Kabakama – Tanzania

Reserve Referee

Letticia Antonella Viana – Swaziland

Assistant Referees

Queency Victoire – Mauritius
Rahma Alouini – Tunisia
Bernadettar Asimenye Kwimbira – Malawi
Mimisen Agatha Iyorhe – Nigeria
Bielignin Elodie Sophie Some – Burkina Faso
Josiane Mbakop Nfongan – Cameroon
Atezambong Fomo Carine – Cameroon
Botsalo Mosimanewatlala – Botswana
Mary Njoroge – Kenya
Idrissa Fanta Kone – Mali
Lidwine Rakotozafinoro – Madagascar
Souad Oulhaj – Morocco
Kossonoux Denise Akoua – Cote d’Ivoire
Adia Isseu Cisse – Senegal

Culled from CRTV

3, November 2016

EU: Irish Prime Minister warns of a vicious approach in negotiations over Brexit ⁰

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has warned of a “vicious” approach by the EU in negotiations over Britain’s exit from the bloc. Speaking among politicians, business leaders, trade unionists and community organizations in the capital Dublin on Wednesday, the premier further assured the nation that Brexit would not limit movement between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland by setting a “hard border.”

He said he had been assured by British Prime Minister Theresa May that there would be “no return to the borders of the past” after Brexit. The prime minister also urged leaders of the European Union not to be “obsessed” with the UK’s gains and losses in Brexit negotiations, asserting that “The other side of this argument may well get quite vicious after a while, because there are those around the European table who take a very poor view of the fact that Britain decided to leave.”

Ireland’s foreign minister, Charlie Flanagan, who also attended the Dublin conference along with all leaders of the nationalist political parties on the island, said London was being pushed over maintaining the “invisible” border after Brexit.

“It is vitally important in the context of the [Brexit] negotiations next year that the matter of the invisibility of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland is not only featured but is both preserved and maintained,” Flanagan said. On June 23, nearly 52 percent of Britons voted in a referendum to end their country’s 42-year membership in the EU. Nearly 56 percent of the voters in Northern Ireland voted in favor of remaining an EU member.

Presstv

2, November 2016

Kenya to withdraw from UN South Sudan peacekeeping mission ⁰

Kenya says it will withdraw from the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon dismissed the Kenyan commander of the mission over its failure to protect civilians. The Kenyan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the country would “withdraw, immediately” its forces from South Sudan in reaction to Ban’s decision.

On Tuesday, the UN secretary general dismissed and called for the immediate replacement of Lieutenant General Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki in reaction to a damning report that showed the failure of the mission to protect civilians and the UN staff during the deadly violence that erupted in the capital Juba in July.

The ministry said it had been informed “with dismay” of Ban’s decision, adding, “The continued deployment of (Kenya’s) troops in South Sudan is no longer tenable and is inimical to their safety and well-being.” It also accused the UN of failing to address the shortcomings of the peacekeeping mission, known as UNMISS. An independent UN inquiry released on Tuesday found that UNMISS had failed to respond to repeated pleas for help from aid workers under attack just a few minutes’ drive away.

A peacekeeper from Nepal deployed by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) patrols outside the premises of the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Juba, South Sudan, October 4, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

According to the summary of the report, General Ondieki lacked the proper leadership of the mission that “culminated in a chaotic and ineffective response to the violence.” Kenya rebuked the dismissal as lacking transparency and consultation.

“This action is not only wrong but also insulates the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) from the hard questions it needs to answer, and the responsibility it must shoulder to facilitate the proper management of UNMISS,” the Kenyan Foreign Ministry said.

Kenya contributed about 1,000 troops to UNMISS, which is composed of nearly 16,000 soldiers. The ministry added that Kenya would also “discontinue plans to contribute to the Regional Protection Force, and … disengage from the South Sudan peace process.”

South Sudan gained independence in July 2011, but descended into war in December 2013, after President Salva Kiir accused the former vice president, Riek Machar, of plotting a coup to usurp power. Numerous international attempts to reach a truce between the warring sides have failed.

Presstv

2, November 2016

Biya meets commander of United States Africa Command ⁰

President Paul BIYA received the new Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Thomas D. WALDHAUSER at the Unity Palace on Wednesday 2 November 2016 for discussions on a wide range of security matters of concern to the two countries.

It was a get to know each other audience with the new Africom Commander, U.S. Marine Corps General Thomas D. WALDHAUSER, who assumed duties in July 2016. This was in company of the U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon, Michael Stephen HOZA.

Speaking to the press after the audience, General WALDHAUSER underlined the important role Cameroon plays in the security of Africa. He said they reviewed a wide range of security issues especially the way forward in the cooperation between the two countries in military matters.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Michael Stephen HOZA, revealed some of the matters of utmost concern, such as the fight against terrorism, the ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. The Americans will continue to stand by Cameroon, especially with the training of Cameroonian military staff and the supply of high end equipment.

President Paul BIYA and General WALDHAUSER exchanged souvenir gifts during the audience, a mark of the intimate friendship that underlies cooperation ties between Cameroon and the United States of America.