Headline News

29, July 2016

President Putin merges the Crimean Peninsula into Russia’s Southern region ⁰

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree merging the Crimean Peninsula, which separated from Ukraine and rejoined Russia two years ago, into the mainland’s southern region. “Reorganize the Southern Federal District and the Crimean Federal District into the Southern Federal District,” read the decree published on the Kremlin’s website on Thursday. The Russian leader also appointed Vladimir Vasilyavich Ustinov as the presidential commissioner to the Southern Federal District in the decree.

Putin further submitted corresponding legislation amendments to the State Duma. The decree angered Ukraine, with its UN Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko rejecting the order as “null and void as any other decision taken by Crimea so far.” He asked the UN Security Council to issue a statement in response to Putin’s decree.

The ambassador circulated a draft statement calling on the 15-member council, to express its “deep concern” over Putin’s decision and to assert its “full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.” Yelchenko however said he expected Russia, one of the five countries with veto power on the council, to block the statement. Diplomatic sources have already confirmed that it was rejected by Moscow.

Presstv

29, July 2016

University of Bamenda launches consortium to guarantee financial autonomy ⁰

The preparedness of the University of Bamenda, UBa, to meet future development challenges has been restated with the launch of UBa Consult to guarantee viability, financial autonomy and sustainable development. North West Governor, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, launched the venture on July, 12, 2016, stressing that the platform aligns with the vision of the government and other stakeholders to see the university emerge into a leading national institution.

The Governor lauded management for the initiative, which is a partnership with the renowned Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune, India. It was a moment for the Governor to salute the new momentum and dynamism brought to the University of Bamenda by the new leadership. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nkuo Theresia Akenji, said UBa Consult was not only an Information Technology Consortium, but a multi-dimensional and multi-purpose business venture that encourages individuals, groups, institutions and viable communities.

She added that the initiative was inspired by the commitment to promote sustainable development, enhance transformational research and outreach to significantly contribute to Vision 2035. The evolving digital world drove the university to start off the business venture, it was disclosed. Present at the event was Prof. Siddharth Jabade and Prof. Yuvraj Lahoti of the Vishwakarma Institute of Technology. They presented lectures on “Socially-responsible Revolution” and “Stakeholders in the progress of the region.”

Cameron Tribune

28, July 2016

Former Minister of Agriculture wanted by the Special Criminal Court ¹

The Special Criminal Court has invited the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Essimi Menye, to appear before that body on the 1^st of August. Local media reports say his lawyers have been served with the convocation and the former CPDM baron is expected to meet prosecutors at the Special Criminal Court next Monday.

Cameroon Concord News understands the former minister is currently in the US for health concerns. However, cat calls had greeted his evacuation as he was already at the heart of some financial scandals. He was reportedly interrogated for approximately three hours by state prosecutors in the presence of Justice Minister, Laurent Esso.

The Special Criminal Court will question Essimi Menye in relation to the diversion of 9.025 billion FCFA for the restructuring of Amity Bank Cameroon when he was finance minister. Another issue hanging on his head is that of the Cameroon Tobacco Company. As Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in December 2011, he authorized the liquidator of the Cameroon Tobacco Company to sell it for a token fee of 50 million CFA francs.

Sacked from the Yang Philemon government for disrespecting the Prime Minister and Head of Government alongside Ama Tutu Muna in October 2015, Essimi Menye took ill and was then admitted at the National Social Insurance Fund hospital in Yaounde. After three weeks at the intensive unit, he left Cameroon in December “under the instructions of the head of state.

Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Concord News)

28, July 2016

UN voices concern about alarming conditions in the Lake Chad region ⁰

The United Nations (UN) has voiced concern about alarming conditions in the Lake Chad region, where it says more than nine million people are in dire need of food aid due to militancy by a Takfiri terrorist group. UN humanitarian aid chief Stephen O’Brien said on Wednesday that militant activities by the Takfiri Boko Haram group has left over nine million people in need of urgent food aid in the region. Seven million of them, he said, are in Nigeria.

The four countries of Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria are located in the Lake Chad region. He said more than 2.8 million people have been displaced in northeastern Nigeria and parts of Cameroon, Chad and Niger, following attacks by Boko Haram, which is based in Nigeria. “If we do not act now, the human suffering will only get more extreme,” O’Brien said, adding that, “We have to stop this — we can with will, money, urgency and coordination.”

The UN humanitarian aid chief said that the violent campaign by the Takfiri group “is as much or now even more a humanitarian catastrophe as it is a security priority.” Boko Haram has coerced more than 50 children to carry out suicide bombings from January to June of this year, O’Brien said.

Boko Haram started its campaign of militancy in 2009 with the aim of toppling the central government in Nigeria. The terrorist group has expanded its attacks into neighboring countries, notably Cameroon and Chad, in a conflict estimated to have claimed a total of 17,000 lives and forced over 2.6 million others from their homes. The group has pledged allegiance to Daesh, another Takfiri terrorist group mainly operating in Syria and Iraq.

Presstv

28, July 2016

Professional Football League of Cameroon: General Pierre Semengue reigns supreme ⁰

The list headed by Retired General Semengue Pierre emerged victorious in the League 1 elections that held at the Yaounde Mansel Hotel today Thursday July the 28. The former Joint chief of army staff and president of Tonnere Kalala club scored 26 votes against 7 for the ill prepared Franck Happi.

The Elective General Assembly of the Professional Football League of Cameroon (LFPC) has now given the football man the mandate he needed to turn things around for Cameroon’s local league. The electorate college consisted of 18 League 1 clubs and 17 clubs in League 2.

Pierre Semengue, aged 81, has become the first elected president of the LFPC. Like any other association with CPDM links, Semengue was at the head of the League since its inception five years ago.

Ebong Kingsley (Cameroon Concord News)

28, July 2016

Mother of late Cameroonian musician says her son was a victim of sexual abuse ⁰

The mother of the late Cameroonian artist, Achallé has made a shocking revelation on the life of the young Cameroonian musician and winner of the Star2Demain in 2006. In a video, the young woman accused the Cameroonian society for making her only child, a “sex slave.” “Achalle was a victim of sexual abuse” she declared. She revealed that her son confided in her how he was sodomized in his youth and forced to become homosexual.

In the video, she noted that the networks operating in Cameroon led her son to believe that homosexuality was the only way forward. She added that Cameroon is in complete darkness with children being abused in schools, in churches and elsewhere. Achalle, who was 30, died Wednesday in the South West region from liver cancer.

Rita Akana (Cameroon Concord News Group)

28, July 2016

Obama says Hillary Clinton more qualified to be president ⁰

US President Barack Obama has strongly endorsed Hillary Clinton as his successor, saying she is more qualified to be president of the United States than Bill Clinton or himself. The former secretary of state is a “leader with real plans to break down barriers, blast through glass ceilings, and widen the circle of opportunity to every single American, the next president of the United States, Hillary Clinton,” Obama said in a speech at the packed Democratic National Convention center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Wednesday night.

“That’s the Hillary I know. That’s the Hillary I’ve come to admire. And that’s why I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman — not me, not Bill, nobody — more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America,” he added. He said “nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office, but Hillary’s been in the room.”

“I know Hillary won’t relent until ISIL is destroyed. She’ll finish the job – and she’ll do it without resorting to torture, or banning entire religions from entering our country. She is fit to be the next commander in chief,” he said, referring to the Daesh terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.

Obama went on to say that “we’re going to carry Hillary to victory this fall, because that’s what the moment demands.” “This year, in this election, I’m asking you to join me — to reject cynicism, reject fear, to summon what’s best in us, to elect Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States,” Obama said in his concluding remarks.

Obama addresses the Democratic National Convention. (AFP photo)

Hillary Clinton arrives on stage on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 27, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AFP photo)

Barack Obama stands on stage with Hillary Clinton on Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 27, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AFP photo)

Earlier commenting on Clinton’s choice for vice president, Tim Kaine, Obama said, “He will be a great vice president. And he’ll make Hillary a better president, just like my dear friend and brother Joe Biden has made me a better president.”

Obama also denounced Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, saying “America is already great. America is already strong. And I promise you, our strength, our greatness, does not depend on Donald Trump.”

“Our power doesn’t come from some self-declared savior promising that he alone can restore order as long as we do things his way. We don’t look to be ruled,” he stated.

“Ronald Reagan called America a shining city on a hill,” Obama recalled. “Donald Trump calls it a divided crime scene that only he can fix.”

Presstv

27, July 2016

Mbalmayo: 15 years old boy kills an engineer ⁰

A fifteen years old boy fatally stabbed a man in Mbalmayo, some few miles from Yaoundé on Wednesday. The crime took place at the New Town neighborhood precisely at the mango crossroads, between 10 and 10:40 am.

After a sharp but brief fight, the youth violently left his victim with multiple wounds who died on the spot. The deceased, an engineer leaves a wife and three children all in their infancy. The alleged murderer, a resident of Sakafom district, fled.

Ebong Kingsley (Cameroon Concord News)

27, July 2016

Huge police presence at the Autonomous Port of Douala head office ⁰

A large number of police officers have secured the Autonomous Port of Douala after the death of its CEO; Emmanuel Etoundi Oyono was made public recently.

No access without being identified is now allowed in the area. Heavy police presence has been established at the entrance to the offices of the Autonomous Port. Employees have been reportedly going in and out of the building but the general atmosphere has been cold.

Emmanuel Etondi Oyono traveled to the land of his ancestors at the age of 65. A native of Nyong et So’o, he was a graduate from National School of Administration and Magistracy and the International Institute of Public Administration, Paris.

Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News)

27, July 2016

Yaounde lacking behind in leisure facilities for kids, CPDM government won’t talk!!! ⁰

Distraction is very important for children, especially during holidays. However, there exists few leisure facilities for children in Yaounde. Perhaps, the only ones are the merry-go-rounds at the Yaounde Conference Centre and in the premises of the Mahima Supermarket at Elig-Essono. Certainly, these are not enough to enable the city’s little children to have fun.

Moreover, getting to them and being attended to is not often easy, given the regular traffic jams in the city and the huge number of kids always waiting for their turn to enjoy themselves. In these centres, there are games like “Toboggan,” “slider,” “sand houses” and even swimming pools. There is also foodstuff like popcorn, ice-cream and drinks, especially those children prefer. The leisure centre at Elig-Essono is open from Mondays to Sundays, but children prefer going at weekends, making it always full.

Surey Kumar Singh, the man in charge of the Elig-Essono Mahima Leisure Centre, told Cameroon Tribune on July 26, 2016: “Even though there are few children around today, the little ones who come have real fun with the different games provided for them. The entrance fee is 1,000 FCFA and they are able to enjoy Toboggan and slider. For those who climb on to the merry-go-round, there is an additional 500 FCFA to pay because it needs electricity.”

In order to enable little children have real fun, music is provided for dancing. “So, when going home, they are very happy because they enjoyed their stay,” Surey Kumar Singh noted. As a result of the paucity of children’s leisure places in Yaounde, some parents prefer to get their kids engaged in other activities like sports, music and dance classes and outings in order to have fun and distraction these holidays.

Cameroon Tribune