Headline News

20, August 2024

Yaoundé: UN demands increased protection for aid workers in Cameroon ⁰

Siaka Coulibaly, interim United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cameroon, urged better protection for humanitarian workers in the country on Friday, August 16, especially in crisis zones.

Speaking at a sports walk in Yaoundé ahead of World Humanitarian Day on August 19, Coulibaly said, “Humanitarians must be protected, especially in crisis areas. We must ensure they can fully intervene where needed, in support of the government’s efforts.”

The appeal comes as aid workers face increasing challenges in conflict-affected and disaster-prone regions. Coulibaly noted that humanitarian workers are primarily active in six of Cameroon’s ten regions: Far North, North, East, Adamawa, Northwest, and Southwest.

These areas grapple with climate change, natural disasters like floods, armed group activities, and an influx of refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad.

“These incidents have the potential to exacerbate the vulnerabilities of populations, especially in terms of access to food, housing, nutrition, water and sanitation, education, protection services, or healthcare in some cases,” Coulibaly explained. “It’s also important to note that certain types of crises increase the risks for humanitarian workers trying to provide safe, effective, and principled aid.”

Coulibaly reminded that World Humanitarian Day serves as a reminder of the risks faced by humanitarians in their mission. This year’s theme, “Acting for Humanity,” symbolizes the global humanitarian community’s call to leaders to ensure the protection of civilians and aid workers.

The sports walk was an opportunity to pay tribute to fallen humanitarian workers, reinforce solidarity among humanitarian actors, and demonstrate the UN’s continued support for the government’s efforts to aid vulnerable populations.

Cameroon currently faces three major humanitarian crises: the Boko Haram conflict in the Far North, the separatist conflict in the Northwest and Southwest, and the influx of Central African refugees in the East, North, and Adamawa regions.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates 3.4 million people will need humanitarian assistance in Cameroon in 2024.

A Humanitarian Response Plan, launched in April 2024 with a $371.4 million budget, aims to assist 2.3 million of the most vulnerable people, addressing urgent needs related to conflicts, epidemics, and climate shocks.

“The ongoing implementation of the Humanitarian Response Plan with the government is an important step in our support for vulnerable populations,” Coulibaly emphasized.

Source: Sbbc

19, August 2024

UK tycoon Mike Lynch, 18-year-old daughter, and chef among missing after yacht sinks ⁰

One man has died and six other people are missing after a British yacht sank off the coast of Sicily during bad weather

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, 59, is among those missing – sources say his wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued

Authorities in Sicily tell the BBC Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, is also missing, along with the boat’s chef

There were 22 people on board in total – 15 people were rescued including a one-year-old child

Authorities say the missing could still be in the yacht, which is more than 50 metres underwater: “We should have found something by now”

One English woman says she held her daughter “with all her strength” to stop her drowning.

Source: BBC

19, August 2024

Football: Thierry Henry resigns as coach of France’s under-21 squad ⁰

Former football star Thierry Henry has stepped down as head coach of France’s under-21 football team after his squad lost the final of the 2024 Paris Olympics to Spain. Henry cited ‘personal reasons’, according to the French Football Federation.

Thierry Henry has decided to step down from his role as coach of the France under-21 football team after guiding the side to a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced Monday.

The all-time leading goalscorer for Premier League giants Arsenal took over as coach of the French youth side last summer and was under contract until June 2025 but decided to step away for “personal reasons”, according to the FFF.

Earlier in July, former France international Henry oversaw Les Bleuets’ first run to the final of an Olympics men’s tournament since winning gold in the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

His young side eventually went down 5-3 after extra time against Spain to end a promising run that had started inauspiciously after Henry was obliged to make several changes to his squad pre-tournament due to the refusal of certain clubs to release their players for the Games.

“I would like to thank the FFF and President Philippe Diallo for giving me this incredible opportunity,” said Henry, 47, in an FFF statement.

“Winning an Olympic silver medal for my country will remain one of the proudest moments of my life. I’m incredibly grateful to the federation, the players, the staff and the fans for giving me this magical experience.”

Federation boss Diallo thanked the 1998 World Cup winner for “all the work he accomplished as coach of the Espoirs (under-21s) and Olympic sides”.

“We obviously regret this decision, as Thierry Henry was able to achieve the objectives set for him by winning a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris,” he added.

“Having followed him throughout this campaign, I witnessed first-hand his great professionalism, his rigour and his love for the blue jersey.”

Source: AFP

18, August 2024

Israeli military alarmed by Hezbollah drone filming Netanyahu’s home ⁰

A reconnaissance drone belonging to the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has infiltrated the northern part of the occupied territories, filming the private villa of the Israeli regime’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to the Israel Hayom daily newspaper, the Israeli regime’s defense systems issued a warning message on the presence of a drone near Netanyahu’s private residence in Caesarea, located 37 km south of Haifa on the Mediterranean coast, on Sunday.

The newspaper further speculated that the drone had been launched from Lebanon and had managed to take footage of Netanyahu’s place of residence.

Israeli fighter jets were dispatched to the area but were unable to detect the exact location of the suspected drone, it added.

The Israeli military claimed that the warning may have been a false alarm, adding that the radar and defense systems sometimes issue such warnings due to an error. However, it did not completely rule out the possibility of a small drone launched by Hezbollah.

Source: Presstv

18, August 2024

“I am not doing anybody’s bidding. I am doing Manyu’s bidding” Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai ⁰

Over the last few weeks, Manyu and its development issues have been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons and many people of Manyu descent have been asking if Manyu will ever know better days, especially as its divisional groupings such as MOHWA which are supposed to be development agencies have been collapsing. MOHWA had given the people of Manyu a lot of hope but in recent times, the organization has been caught up in scandals which have caused the organization to explode into multiple pieces with new organizations such as EYUMEMA and NYENE MAWN popping up. The Cameroon Concord News has been a committed spectator of the MOHWA drama and its Group Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai, has focused on MOHWA’s unfortunate downward spiral. To let the readers of Cameroon Concord News gain a better understanding of the issue, our staff man, Alain Agbor Ebot, reached out to Mr. Agbaw-Ebai who shed more light on those issues which have put MOHWA in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons and he had this to say.

Cameroon Concord News: Mr. Chairman, you are always passionate about Manyu development and you hold that only the people of Manyu can engineer their own development. How do you think such development could be brought about?

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai: Thank you for granting me the opportunity to share my thoughts with our readers. I am used to asking questions but this time around, I am bound to answer questions from another journalist. As you may know, Manyu Division is blessed with fine intellectual and academic minds but despite the availability of these resources, the Division is not making giant strides forward in terms of development. In many parts of the world, educated human resources represent a huge development of assets but in Manyu Division, education has unfortunately become a huge liability which is hurting the Division in a big and bad way. It is hard for people of Manyu descent to actually pool their resources to achieve something meaningful in their division. It is one Division in Cameroon wherein almost everyone thinks he is more intelligent than the other and this makes it hard for our people to work together. This unfortunate situation has really gotten worse over the years as a bunch of Ph.D holders and those with traditional titles like Seseskou have become a bane on the Division. Having a title in Manyu Division unfortunately implies that the title holder is the most intelligent. This is not true and the people of Manyu must change this mindset if they have to engineer real development in their own part of the world. Groupings like EYUMEMA, NYENE MAWN, MOHWA and others must step up to the plate to play their development roles. They need selfless and unassuming leaders who can unite the people for development purposes.

Cameroon Concord News: This leads us to the issue of MOHWA which has been your focus over the last week. What is the issue with MOHWA?

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai: MOHWA has been the hope of the people of Manyu for decades. When created some decades ago, it was to enable Manyu women to socialize and for the older women to share their wisdom with the younger ones. This made it possible for traditional wisdom to be preserved and used for a limited development purpose. But over the years, following the migration of many women of Manyu descent to many parts of the world, MOHWA had to go global and many people saw it as a key development instrument. Under previous leaderships, scandals were rare and the development function was executed smoothly. Unfortunately, this seamless operation cannot continue for too long as greed, manipulation and self-aggrandizement have taken centre stage. MOHWA’s current leadership has been involved in unholy and undemocratic ways of running an association and this has caused outrage among the people of Manyu. The current MOHWA president, Comfort Beyang Ojongmpot, has been accused of financial malfeasance, dictatorship and manipulation by some current and former MOHWA members who are totally disappointed with the way MOHWA is being run. Despite our attempts to get MOHWA, which has been diminished by multiple breakaways, to clear itself of these allegations, the MOHWA president and her surrogates, have demonstrated that they do not care about the disaster they have engineered for MOHWA. True leadership is selfless, attentive and responsive. From their behavior, it could be deduced that they are only concerned about the money that is being generated abroad and sent back home for them to manage and that governance means little or nothing to them. The formation of EYUMEMA and NYENE MAWN are great testimonies to the chaos playing out in MOHWA and, from every indication, the worst is yet to happen. Many MOHWA members have left the organization and they are talking. Those who hold that MOHWA can still be relevant are looking forward to the day the current leadership will yield to the enormous pressure that is on Comfort Beyang Ojongmpot who has fallen short of the people’s glorious expectations.

Cameroon Concord News: I have read some reactions from some people who hold that the Cameroon Concord News Group is doing someone’s bidding and that you, in particular, have been paid to run down the image of MOHWA and its president. What do you make of this?

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai: Thanks indeed for this important question. As you know, journalism is not a business wherein journalists go to seek love. A journalist is a whistle-blower, a teacher, an informant and, in an organized system, he could be an undercover agent. A journalist does not create stories, he reports events and ensures that the voiceless have a platform on which they can tell their stories. A good journalist should have great sources and it is his duty to protect those sources. If anybody says that I am being paid, then that person already acknowledges that I am a good writer and a journalist whose work is attracting readers and attention. People just don’t distribute money if they do not find your services useful. I think that those who think I am getting paid for rendering such quality services should rather demonstrate their innocence by providing evidence which will make mincemeat of the allegations leveled against MOHWA and its president. The onus is on MOHWA and its president to demonstrate that all the allegations are unfounded. Leaving the issues unaddressed and chasing shadows will not, in any way, rebuild MOHWA’s shattered image. I am not doing anybody’s bidding. I am doing Manyu’s bidding. Things must be done differently in Manyu if that division has to make giant strides forward.

Cameroon Concord News: Some of your critics even say you are unemployed and that may be why you have the time to be writing.

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai: My dear friend, ignorance is bliss for the stupid. I am running a media empire which keeps me busy. If journalism is not a job, what then is it? Do I need to be found in a nursing home taking care of old or mentally sick people for me to be considered a worker? The world has changed and many of our people are unfortunately not adjusting to the changing times. With technology, certain professionals do not need other people’s offices for them to do what they like. A translator, a technical writer, a journalist, an editor and many others do not need to be running around like neckless chicken to make a living. Having a strong and good pen these days can deliver to you the best possible life. I happen to be working for an organization which knows how to raise funds online and I would like to hail the Board Members of Cameroon Concord News Group, especially Board Chairman and majority shareholder, Dr. Joachim Arrey, whose ability to bring money to the organization I lead is mind-blowing. The Board of my organization has structured the organization in such a way that many advertisers get attracted to what we do and the quality of writing is exceptional. We have correspondents across Cameroon and sometimes we pay journalists in other parts of the world to cover events for us. We do sometimes pay sister organizations to get any information we find useful on their websites. During the Southern Cameroons Crisis, the Cameroon Concord News Group was the only organization which had correspondents in the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon and we brought news about the horrors taking place in Southern Cameroons to our audiences in real time. We were admired by many and those who think today that journalism is not a profession hailed us when we were criticizing the government of Cameroon for its atrocities on English-speaking Cameroonians. Those who are casting slurs on me and my organization are simply unaware of how we operate. If they can criticize the work I do, then it implies that they are reading what I am writing. Instead of disliking them for their insults, I think I should admire them for their insatiable quest for the knowledge I am sharing. They should know that each time they click on our website; they only make it possible for my organization to make more money. I will not trade my job for anything else. Journalism is a lucrative venture and writing comes to me easily. I don’t need to be a nurse or a factory worker for me to earn money.

Cameroon Concord News: So, what is next?

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai: We are going to continue with our coverage of Cameroonian organizations and we will continue to encourage those who are doing the right thing while exposing those who engage in irresponsible behavior. We have given MOHWA the opportunity to share its perspective with us, but all of its members who have been protesting are media-shy. Either they do not know how to draft their story or they do not have much to say, and such behavior is symptomatic of guilt. We have even sent messages to some of their objective and responsible members but they have not replied to our messages. Are they hiding anything? Next weekend, our correspondent in Belgium will be covering the launch of NYENE MAWN which may be that proverbial nail into MOHWA’s coffin and we will be bringing the stories to our readers in real time. We will also focus on MOHWA whose leaders have yet to come to terms with the fact that they are no longer relevant. They have to do the right thing or they will end up with an empty shell on their hands as the bad press is diminishing their ranks.

Cameroon Concord News: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your time. Any last word?

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai: Thank you once more for granting me this opportunity for me to share more insight into the MOHWA saga with our readers. As a journalist, I would like to point out that writers neither hate nor love people just because they are close to them. As journalists, we have a key role to play – exposing those things which retard progress in any society. Those who think I hate MOHWA and its president are mistaken. If they organize any major event today, I will send my writers there for them to cover the event free of charge. They need to be media-friendly and this implies doing the right thing. Once more, thank you!

17, August 2024

Football: 19-year-old eligible to represent Cameroon, Nigeria and Belgium wanted by Serie A clubs ⁰

Italian clubs Torino and Empoli are currently showing interest in talented striker Hemsley Akpa-Chukwu according to Tuttomercatoweb.

Born in Douala, Cameroon Akpa-Chukwu is eligible to represent the national teams of Nigeria, Cameroon and Belgium.

Torino and Empoli have been impressed by his strong performances in lower tiers of Italian football.

The 19-year-old striker initially caught the attention of the Serie A with his display in the Primavera 2-B, finding the net 10 times in 23 matches.

His impressive form carried over to Serie B with Bari, where he scored a goal in his first 29 minutes on the field in the second division of Italian football.

Torino and Empoli are reportedly in a bidding war to acquire the services of the promising youngster

Both clubs are vying to sign him and intend to integrate him as a key player in their squads for the 2024/2025 Serie A season.

The tr-national forward has played in two games for the Belgian U19 national team.

Although he has played twice for Belgium at youth level, the talented striker remains eligible to represent Nigeria at the U20, U23, and senior levels.

Source: All Nigeria Soccer

17, August 2024

Football: Nantes appoints Cameroon defender Jean-Charles Castelletto as captain ⁰

Nigeria international Moses Simon has missed out on the FC Nantes captaincy, with manager Antoine Kombouaré opting for Cameroon defender Jean-Charles Castelletto to lead the team for the 2024/25 season.

Despite Simon’s consistent performances since joining the club, it is Castelletto who will don the captain’s armband, replacing the outgoing skipper Pedro Chirivella.

Simon, who first arrived at Nantes on loan in 2019 before making his move permanent, has been a pivotal figure for the Canaries.

Over 168 appearances, the Nigerian winger has scored 29 goals and provided 32 assists for a 61-goal contribution, becoming one of the most influential players at the club.

His contributions saw him shortlisted among the five players considered for the captaincy.

However, despite his remarkable stats and leadership potential, Kombouaré chose Castelletto, who has been with Nantes since 2020, as the new skipper.

Kombouaré’s decision was driven by Castelletto’s stability and experience, having made 132 appearances for Nantes and becoming a key figure in the defence.

“He has a lot of experience, is very respected by the group. He has had solid seasons; he is deserving,” said Kombouaré when explaining his choice, according to Ouest France.

However, Simon has been elevated into the “council of wise men,” alongside Nicolas Pallois, Alban Lafont, Pedro Chirivella and new captain Castelletto.

The Super Eagles winger’s impact on the pitch remains crucial as Nantes aim to improve on their 14th-place finish last season.

With the Ligue 1 campaign kicking off this weekend, Simon will look to lead by example when Nantes face Toulouse, eager to make his mark even without the captain’s armband.

Source: Thisday

17, August 2024

Garoua: Issa Hayatou goes home to rest ⁰

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called Issa Hayatou “an ambassador for football in the world” at the late FIFA President ad interim’s funeral in Garoua, Cameroon.

Mr Hayatou was acting FIFA President for just over four months between October 2015 and Mr Infantino’s election in February 2016.

He passed away in Paris, France, on 8 August, a day before his 78th birthday, and his remains were then repatriated to his home town in Cameroon for burial.

“He knew how to take the helm of FIFA in 2015, when our boat was sailing in rough seas, and he steered us back to calm waters, just before I was elected President, in 2016. He was a great figure, a great gentleman, a great friend,” said Mr Infantino at the ceremony.

“We always say that football unites people, regardless of their origin. Issa Hayatou, with his remarkable and world-acclaimed work, knew how to contribute to this unity. He surely was an ambassador for Cameroon and an ambassador for football in the world. He was an ambassador of great values such as family and unity, and this is what brings all of us together here today.”

Among the other mourners joining Mr Hayatou’s family and friends were FIFA Vice President and Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe, members of the FIFA administration including FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström, Cameroonian Football Association (FECAFOOT) President Samuel Eto’o and a number of FIFA Member Association Presidents and CAF officials.

“Everyone obviously has their own memories, every one of us here has their own memories of Issa Hayatou, but I’m sure that all of us today, on this day of sadness, but of unity, too, hold a memory of his smile. A smile he kept on his face on any occasion,” said Mr Infantino, who recounted his first meeting with the then-CAF President when he had attended – “as a football fan” – the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 1998.

“I’m standing here today as FIFA President, as a member of this family, to tell you all the sadness we have and to give you some strength. We want to tell you that we are here with you, with all our love. Today is a day of mourning for the football world, but it’s also a day when all our memories should unite to remember Issa Hayatou, a major figure of Cameroonian football, African football and global football.”

A former FECAFOOT President, Mr Hayatou served as CAF President for 29 years from 1988 to 2017. He was a FIFA Council member from 1990 to 2017 and a FIFA Vice President. He was also an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member from 2001 to 2016, after which he became an IOC Honorary Member.

Source: Inside Fifa.com

17, August 2024

MOHWA: those who have engineered its crash are simply on their last leg! ⁰

Though the Bible warns those who have ears to be careful with false prophets, many MOHWA followers who pass off as churchgoers are simply not heeding the advice which their own benchmark document provides.

The truth is that false prophets always provide consolation while those in pain need solutions. MOHWA’s problems need long-lasting solutions which may help restore the beleaguered organization’s image which has taken a snake beatings over the last few months but yesterday a message of questionable origin put short-lived smiles on the faces of the beleaguered MOHWA members.

The fact is, a false prophet’s announcement of his weightless support will neither cause the group that wants to stop Comfort Beyang from ever coming to Europe from undertaking its actions against Comfort Beyang nor will it cause the accusations of financial malfeasance, embezzlement and intimidation to go away.

The rule of thumb for people with the right mindset is that when things fall apart, a thorough introspection should be conducted so that such unfortunate situations do not show up again. But with MOHWA, despite the overwhelming evidence and the numerous defections and breakaways, MOHWA leaders hold that the storm will be over and they will continue business as usual.

MOHWA will never be the same again and those who have engineered its crash are simply on their last leg as the pressure is still on. More defections and accusations imply that the mess runs deep and it might not be cleaned up anytime soon, especially as the cleanup crew comprises those who have robbed the organization blind.

But the accusations are not yet over. The storm has become a category nine hurricane and it is very likely to sweep away whatever little trust MOHWA has.

According to a source in Europe who was a member of the defunct MOHWA Europe, an official financial statement of money sent directly to Comfort Beyang before she dissolved MOHWA Europe will be released soonest and the Cameroon Concord News will be handed a copy.

The source added that CFAF 2 million had been wired to Comfort Beyang directly and according to the source, Comfort Beyang had not accounted for that money, adding that with MOHWA Europe hastily dissolved, it is obvious that the money ended up in her pocket as no MOHWA records carry that amount of money.

True to her philosophy, Comfort Beyang and her surrogates organized a kangaroo court session where her protégés were given the opportunity to make their complaints but the accused were never contacted despite complaints from the accused and a decision to set up a committee for that purpose. And all of this was done to ensure that the money wired to her would never be accounted for.

The source also added that Comfort Beyang was supposed to return the money and all attempts to recover the money have been futile.

Meanwhile, a massive fight is brewing within MOHWA as it is emerging that Martina Agbor Tambe has been nursing ambitions to take over as the next president of MOHWA.

According to a source in Cameroon, Martina Agbor Tambe like many other MOHWA members has been supporting the mess engineered by Comfort Beyang as a means of ensuring that she crashes.

Naive as she is, Comfort Beyang has been leaning on the wrong support and most of those supporting her in public privately admit that she has worked so hard to destroy a once buoyant MOHWA.

Her greed and manipulation have blown up MOHWA into pieces and no effort will ever restore the organization’s former reputation, especially if Comfort Beyang continues to (mis)lead MOHWA.

The coming days will be very challenging for MOHWA. The much awaited report from Europe will be yet another piece of evidence which will only go a long way in calling into question the honesty of Comfort Beyang and her surrogates who many thought could steer MOHWA to safer shores.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Group Chairman and Editor-in-chief

Cameroon Concord News Group

17, August 2024

Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea agree to build gas pipeline ⁰

Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea have signed a groundbreaking deal to build a gas pipeline between the two countries, in a move that will help maximise the use of a liquefied natural gas plant on Bioko Island.

This agreement could be the precursor to a recent initiative to build oil and gas pipelines in the Gulf of Guinea region, linking both littoral nations as well as those inland to promote hydrocarbon usage within Africa and help industrialise the continent.

During a three-day state visit to Equatorial Guinea by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu this week, the two nations signed an agreement to construct what they call the Gulf of Guinea Gas Pipeline (GGGP).

The initial aim is to transport gas from Nigeria to Equatorial Guinea where it will be processed at the LNG plant in Punta Europa.

The deal, which was signed by Tinubu as well as Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on the evening of 14 August, outlines plans for a pipeline, LNG facility feedstock and gas sales to power companies and industrial users, in a move to boost energy security and regional trade in West Africa.

The agreement covered legislative and regulatory measures linked to the GGGP, as well as issues such as ownership, operations and gas transit arrangements.

Details of the pipeline route were not revealed.

Antonio Oburu Ondo, Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Mines & Hydrocarbons, said: “By partnering with Nigeria … we are not only strengthening bilateral cooperation but also regional collaboration to ensure a secure and reliable supply of gas for our LNG facility at Punta Europa for years to come.

“This project will unlock immense economic value for both our nations, driving sustainable development and energy security across the region.”

The LNG plant is currently supplied with gas from Marathon’s Alba gas field, and Chevron’s Alen field.

A second phase involves processing gas from Alba under new contractual terms, while the third phase will tap gas from Chevron’s Aseng field.

Earlier this year, Equatorial Guinea also signed a bilateral trade agreement with neighbouring Cameroon to developed trans-border gas and condensate fields, also operated by Chevron, with the gas slated for use as feedstock for the Bioko LNG plant.

Source: Upstream