Headline News

22, May 2024

Federal Republic of Ambazonia: mayor among 3 officials killed in 20th May attack ⁰

Gunmen suspected to be separatists on Monday shot dead three officials, including a mayor, in Cameroon’s war-torn English-speaking region of Northwest, according to the army and officials.

Innocent Ngong — mayor of Belo council, one of his deputies, as well as Aaron Aghi Ngong — chief of basic education in Belo subdivision were ambushed and killed on their way to attend Cameroon’s National Day celebration in the subdivision, the region’s governor Adolphe Lele L’Afrique said.

“Measures have been taken to trace the authors of that killing and we will be informed on all the development concerning that situation,” L’Afrique told reporters in Bamenda, chief town of the region.

Cameroon celebrated the 52nd National Day on Monday but separatist fighters in the country’s Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest imposed lockdown to disrupt celebrations.

The regions have been ravaged by a prolonged armed separatist conflict after separatists declared the “independence” of the regions in 2017.

Source: Xinhuanet

22, May 2024

FECAFOOT Affair: Eto’o’s technical staff suspended! ⁰

In yet another twist in the convoluted saga surrounding the coaching staff of the Cameroon national team, the team appointed by Samuel Eto’o, in lieu of the one designated by the supervising ministry, has been suspended.

This latest development comes after the technical staff chosen by Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fécafoot), was sidelined by the Conciliation and Arbitration Chamber of the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Cameroon. This action follows requests from the Association of Amateur Football Clubs of Cameroon (ACFAC) and the Professional Football League of Cameroon (LFPC).

“In accordance with Article 36, paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of the Statutes and Regulations of Procedures of the Chamber, orders the immediate suspension of the effects of (…) decision AP008/FECAFOOT/PDT/56/2024 appointing members of the technical, medical, and administrative staff of the Cameroon men’s national ‘A’ football team until further notice,” reads a statement.

Eto’o Once Again in a Tight Spot

This decision comes after the former number 9 of the Indomitable Lions was seen on Monday alongside the head of state, Paul Biya, during the national celebration, seemingly endorsing the presidential choice in favor of Eto’o’s staff. Consequently, the former Barcelona star finds himself in hot water. Even though this suspension appears to be a temporary measure pending further examination, it remains unclear who will emerge victorious between Eto’o and the ministry.

As a reminder, the Fécafoot-appointed coaching staff includes assistants Ndtoungou Mpile and David Pagou, Carlos Kameni (goalkeeping coach), Benoit Angbwa (national team coordinator), physician Fotso, and press officer Thierry Ndoh. These individuals are supposed to replace François Omam-Biyik and Cyprian Besong Ashu (assistant coaches), Alioum Boukar, Benjamin Banlock, William Ngatchou Djomo, Germain Noël Essengue, and team manager Dany Nounkeu, respectively.

Source: Afriquesports

22, May 2024

Biya regime marks 52nd National Day with military, civilian parades ⁰

Cameroon marked on Monday the 52nd anniversary of its National Day with military and civilian parades nationwide.

In the capital Yaounde, Cameroonian President Paul Biya presided over the celebration that saw hundreds of soldiers and civilians march past in front of national and international dignitaries.

Marches took place in all the 10 regions of the country including war-torn Anglophone regions, where separatist fighters had imposed a lockdown to disrupt the celebrations.

May 20 is one of the most important days on the Cameroonian calendar. On this day in 1972, Cameroonians voted in a national referendum for a unitary state as opposed to a federal state which existed at the time. ■

Defense forces parade during the national day celebration in Yaounde, Cameroon, on May 20, 2024.

Defense forces parade during the national day celebration in Yaounde, Cameroon, on May 20, 2024.

Students parade during the national day celebration in Yaounde, Cameroon, on May 20, 2024.

Cameroonian President Paul Biya watches a civil parade during the national day celebration in Yaounde, Cameroon, on May 20, 2024.

Culled from Xinhuanet

22, May 2024

Football: Pochettino leaves Chelsea after one season ⁰

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has left the club by mutual consent after one season at Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino, 52, took charge of Chelsea on 1 July, signing a two-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.

The Argentine was under pressure after an underwhelming first half of the season but a run of five successive wins to end the season ensured they finished sixth in the Premier League.

Chelsea were also runners-up in the Carabao Cup and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

“Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and sporting directors for the opportunity,” Pochettino said.

“The club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”

Chelsea will now search for a successor and have expressed recent interest in Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, Sporting’s Ruben Amorim and Burnley’s Vincent Kompany.

BBC Sport understands Chelsea are unlikely to go for Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca, a former assistant coach with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. A return for former managers Jose Mourinho or Thomas Tuchel is not on the cards as the club targets a young head coach.

Pochettino was Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager in five years, following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, which led to Frank Lampard taking charge on a temporary basis at the end of the 2022-23 season.

“On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season,” sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said.

“He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career.”

Coaches Jesus Perez, Miguel d’Agostino, Toni Jimenez and Sebastiano Pochettino have also left.

Source: BBC

22, May 2024

Russia begins tactical nuclear weapons drills near Ukraine ⁰

Russia on Tuesday announced the start of tactical nuclear weapons drills close to Ukraine, in what it said was a response to Western “threats”.

Throughout its two-year offensive on Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly talked-up its arsenal of nuclear weapons and its readiness to deploy them if it senses an existential threat.

The West has accused President Vladimir Putin of irresponsible nuclear sabre-rattling.

Russia’s defence ministry said Tuesday the drills were taking place in its Southern Military District, which borders and includes parts of Ukraine that Moscow claims to have annexed. It did not specify exactly where.

The drills are designed to test “the readiness of personnel and equipment of non-strategic nuclear weapons combat units to respond and to unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

It added they were a “response to provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials.”

Putin ordered the drills earlier this month after a series of Western statements on the Ukraine conflict drew scorn in Moscow.

Russian officials pointed to comments by French President Emmanuel Macron about NATO countries needing to not rule out deploying troops to Ukraine and British Foreign Minister David Cameron saying Kyiv had the right to fire Western missiles at Russian territory.

Russia’s Southern Military District is the command centre for its offensive on Ukraine. It is headquartered in Rostov-on-Don, 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the border with Ukraine and also includes parts of the country Russia says it has annexed—the Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

The defence ministry published footage showing trucks carrying missiles to a field where launch systems were prepared and troops at an airfield readying a bomber to carry a nuclear warhead.

It said this was the “first stage” of the drills, which involved practicing the loading of launch vehicles, driving to designated launch sites and loading planes with hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.

It did not indicate whether any test firings had taken place.

Tactical nuclear weapons, also known as non-strategic nuclear weapons, are designed for use on the battlefield and can be delivered via missiles.

Source: AFP

15, May 2024

FECAFOOT and lucrative appointments: it’s not over till it’s over ⁰

The President of the Cameroon Football Federation has maintained only the Belgian coach Marc Brys as head coach of the Indomitable Lions.

FECAFOOT boss Samuel Eto’o reached the decision at the end of a meeting with members of the Emergency Committee of the Cameroon Football Federation that held on May 8 2024.

Apart from the most important position on the staff where FECAFOOT retained the Belgian technician Marc Brys, appointed on April 2, 2024 by the Minister of Sport, President Eto’o swept aside all the other officials appointed by the member of the CPDM government.

Former Indomitable Lions legends Omam Biyick and Alioum Boukar were all replaced as deputies by Coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile and Idris Carlos Kameni, the 2000 Olympic champion.

The most powerful position which is that of national team coordinator was given to Benoît Angbwa, while the Minister for Sport had appointed Didier Benjamin Banlock, a former associate of President Samuel Eto’o to the post. The two men have been at daggers-drawn positions ever since the Qatar FIFA World Cup.

Cameroon Concord News understands FIFA played a role in bringing together the factions by invoking the collaboration agreement between FECAFOOT and the Ministry of Sport for the management of the Indomitable Lions that has been in place for over 9 years.

FIFA reportedly insisted that articles 9 and 13 of the agreement must be respected. Article 9 stipulates that members of the Indomitable Lions’ staff are recruited either by FECAFOOT or on secondment from the State. Article 13 says that FECAFOOT and the Ministry of Sport are committed to the serene and concerted management of football in a spirit of dialogue, solidarity and patriotism.

On the basis of these two articles, FIFA invited the two parties to sit down around a table and engage in dialogue to resolve their differences, pending the revision of this disputed agreement as soon as possible.

But without any consultation, FECAFOOT appointed the Indomitable Lions staff on May 8. The nation is now curious to know the reaction of the Minister of Sport, who declared on April 2 that he had acted on the instructions of the President of the Republic.

By Rita Akana

15, May 2024

Moja Moja: The Chief of Bwassa village and BIR serviceman trying to escape Biya’s bullets ⁰

John Ewume Eko is the pro Biya traditional ruler known as Chief Moja Moja who reportedly became a prominent member of Cameroon’s elite force the Rapid Intervention Battalion-BIR in Buea.

On May 7, 2024, Chief Moja Moja made public a video on social media and claimed that some top military barons in the nation’s capital Yaoundé had contacted him to be part of a coup against Biya.

Moja Moja was never a military tactician. He was never respected by any Cameroonian in and out of power. So, when his power deep within the Fako constituency crumbled like a pack of cards recently over a fake coup revelation on social media, the man who had killed dozens of innocent English speaking Cameroonians and was seen as a star officer and star traditional ruler of the finest Biya Francophone tradition, was arrested as he attempted to escape to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Moja Moja has now been moved from Buea to the Secretariat for Defense in Yaoundé and he will eventually face a public trial over the alleged coup plot.

Moja Moja is only 41 and described by many as a young man with a criminal mindset who never had a great career in the military but took advantage of the war in Southern Cameroons and made himself relevant to the ruling CPDM crime syndicate in Yaoundé whose policies are driven purely on incompetence.

His Royal Highness Chief Moja Moja announced a phantom coup which led to his arrest and the matter promises to be hot.

We of the Concord Group gathered that five other acolytes of Moja Moja have also been arrested.

Moja Moja has now come to understand that he was dealing with a regime headed by a man drunk on autocracy. He is now in Biya’s drag-net.

Moja Moja with the support of BIR elements reportedly carried out several raids on the Buea University Campus and in Molyko stressing that his action was in support of a one and indivisible Cameroon.

Today, the regime in Yaoundé is accusing him of being the initiator, coordinator and executor of the so-called coup.

By Rita Akana

15, May 2024

Football: Aston Villa reach Champions League for first time ⁰

Aston Villa have qualified for the Champions League for the first time after top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur lost to Manchester City on Tuesday.

Tottenham had been the only team who could have overtaken Villa into fourth before Tuesday, but are now five points behind Unai Emery’s side with one game remaining.

Villa have not reached Uefa’s premier club competition since it rebranded from the European Cup to the Champions League in 1991-92.

They last played in the European Cup 41 years ago in 1982-83 having won the competition the season before.

Villa did finish second and fourth in the Premier League in 1992-93 and 1995-96 respectively, but in both those seasons only first was good enough to reach the Champions League.

Source: BBC

15, May 2024

Southern Cameroons Crisis: 2 teachers kidnapped in Ndu ⁰

Suspected Ambazonia Restoration Forces have reportedly arrested two teachers on Tuesday in Ndu in the Northwest region, according to local and security sources.

The Amba fighters raided a school in Ndu town where primary school pupils were sitting for a public exam, a security source said.

“They started shooting indiscriminately in the air and dispelled the school children and kidnapped two teachers. One of the teachers was shot in the leg. The pupils had started the exams when the Restoration Forces arrived at about 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday,” the source said. Soldiers deployed to Southern Cameroons by the regime in Yaounde were in pursuit of the Amba fighters.

Separatist fighters in Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest are known for regularly kidnapping teachers and students.

In 2019, they abducted 170 students and their teacher in Kumbo in the Northwest region. Since 2017, government forces and separatist fighters have clashed in the two regions, where separatists seek to create an independent nation.

By Fon Lawrence with additional reporting from Xinhunet

14, May 2024

CPDM Crime Syndicate: Customs Targets 75% of Revenue from Douala and Kribi Ports ⁰

The Directorate General of Customs (DGD) within the Ministry of Finance (Minfi) aims to collect over CFA92 billion in revenue for the Treasury in May 2024. The largest contributions are anticipated from the customs sectors of Littoral I and South II, covering the ports of Douala and Kribi, respectively.

Specifically, the customs services in the Littoral I sector have been tasked with collecting CFA58.9 billion, representing over 50% of the total expected revenue. Meanwhile, the South II sector has a collection target of CFA23.3 billion, less than half of what is expected from Littoral I, amounting to a 73.3% collection goal.

Following these major contributors, the third highest revenue, amounting to CFA4.7 billion, is anticipated from the Southwest region. The smallest contribution (CFA18.7 million) is assigned to the Northwest region, which, like the Southwest, has been grappling with a socio-political crisis since late 2016.

Despite the increasing tariff dismantlement in line with the implementation of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union (EU), Cameroon’s customs revenues surpassed 1 trillion CFA francs for the first time in 2023, reaching CFA1,019.8 billion by the end of the fiscal year.

In 2024, Cameroon aims for revenues of CFA1,079.9 billion, marking a 10% increase from the previous year’s projections.

Source: Business in Cameroon