• As Discrimination Stirs Discontent
• Protest Against Political, Economic Discrimination Fuelling Clamp Down
• Country Heading Towards Pogrom

Few days before October 1, 2017, the atmosphere was charged on the two campuses of University of Bamenda and University of Buea. On the orders of President Paul Biya, troops were drafted from the Francophone region to Anglophone towns and cities to carry out a specific mission- stop, by all means, the symbolic proclamation, by students and university teachers, of the “Republic of Ambazonia,” a name for Anglophone Cameroon.

The political union of both Anglophone and Francophone Cameroon, two separate and sovereign legal entities, came into existence on October 1, 1960 via a referendum; whereby Anglophone Cameroun opted to join a united and indivisible Federal Republic of Cameroon.

According to Mesang Rosine Noutsa, a student of University of Bamenda, the soldiers moved into the hostels and residential quarters on the campus in the wee hours of October 1, and started brutalising students and families of lecturers.

“It was a scene of horror, and I have never witnessed such an ugly incident in my entire life,” she declared on her sick bed at the General Hospital, Bemenda, where many students and teachers were receiving treatment for wounds inflicted on them by the soldiers.

The repression by the soldiers was also carried out at the University of Buea. Unconfirmed reports indicate that some students and teachers were allegedly killed by the soldiers on these two campuses.

According to Amnesty International, and eyewitnesses, who spoke to Al-Jazeera, an international satellite television, at least 17 peaceful and unarmed protesters were killed by soldiers drafted to the campuses by Biya.

“In order to avoid further bloodshed, the security forces must cease unnecessary and excessive use of force, and protesters should be peaceful if they want to make their voices heard. The government should investigate these killings,” declared Illaria Allegrozzi, a researcher with Amnesty International in the Lake Chad basin.

Vice Chancellor of University of Buea, Professor Horace Ngomo Manga, and Vice Chancellor University of Bamenda, Professor Theresa Akenji Nkou, were both summoned for a meeting with the Higher Education Minister, Jacques Fame Ndongo. At the meeting, which took place in Yaounde, capital of Cameroun, the two vice chancellors were told, in very clear terms that their campuses would remain closed until “all secessionists were cleared from the campuses.” The meeting only lasted for 10 minutes.

According to diplomatic sources, in order to escape arrests, many ring leaders of the symbolic attempts to declare the Republic of Ambazonia, fled into Nigeria through bush paths, to where they reside a large community of Cameroonian students and teachers on Nigerian university campuses.

Discontentment of Anglophone Intelligentsia
IN an exclusive interview with University World News (UWN), Professor Samuel Wara, Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, who is a native of Bamenda, Anglophone Cameroun, provided useful insights into the past and present complex history of his country, with particular reference to the difficult relationship with Francophone Cameroun, and the role of the Anglophone intelligentsia in the possible resolution of the current problems in the land.

“Anglophone university community in Cameroun has always played a vital role in the misfortunes and fortunes of the English speaking region of our country. It was the intellectuals, who canvassed and supported a United Nations- sponsored referendum in 1961, in which our people massively accepted the idea that we create a federation with Francophone Cameroun,” he stated.

“It was Professor Bernard Nsokika Folon, Professor Carlson Anyangwe, and Fon Gorji Dinka, a renowned lawyer, who produced, in 1984, a manifesto called the New Social Order in which they stated clearly that by reverting to the name French Cameroon it had at independence, President Paul Biya, had “seceded” from the union and so the English speaking part of Cameroon has the right to revert to its “independence” before 1961. And the new state was named Ambazonia.”

And in 2005, Anglophone Cameroon was registered and recognised as Republic of Ambazonia, with Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO), an international organisation affiliated to United Nations,” he informed.

Wara, while shedding light on the current political situation in Anglophone Cameroon, revealed that Bamenda and Buea universities’ communities are in the forefront of what he called, “the struggle for the emancipation of the people of Anglophone Cameroon.”

Instances of marginalisation and discrimination against the Anglophones, which the intelligentsia are fighting against include:
•The National Entrance Examination into schools that develop the human resources are set by the French Subsystem of Education. This makes it difficult for Anglophones and Francophones to compete on an equal playing field. The examination board members are all Francophones, a development, which places some bias against Anglophone candidates. Important examinations into professional schools are set in French only, sometimes sparingly in the English-speaking region.
•There are five ministries in charge of education. None of them is Anglophone.
•State institutions put documents and public notices in French with no English translations.
•Most heads of government offices only speak French, even in the English speaking region. Visitors and clients to government offices are also expected to speak French.
•Most senior administrators and members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies in the Anglophone region are French-speaking, and there is lack of effort by them to demonstrate an understanding of Anglophone culture.
•According to the 1961 constitution, the vice president was the second most important person in state protocol. Today, the Prime Minster (appointed Anglophone) is the fourth most important person in state protocol, after the President of the Senate and the President of the National Assembly.
•Of the 36 ministers, who defended the budget for the ministries last month, only one was Anglophone.
•Most of the military tribunals in Anglophone Regions conduct their courts in French.
•Financial documents such as COBAC Code, CIMA Code and the OHADA Code are all in French. These documents are international treaties and conventions to which Cameroon is a signatory.
•Magistrates in Anglophone Cameroon are disproportionately Francophone. In addition, other government –appointed officers such as the senior divisional officers, commissioners, and commandants are disproportionately Francophone.
• There are Francophone principals in Anglophone schools, hospitals, banks and mobile telephone companies.

IN an exclusive chat with UWN, Professor Augustine Awasum, a veterinary surgeon, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who hails from Anglophone Cameroon, said that best solution to put an end to the current  bloodbath in Anglophone region of his country is to create an enabling atmosphere for dialogue by all stakeholders.

He is of the view that all students, teachers held in prison by the government must be released unconditionally. And the universities of Buea and Bamenda must be reopened as soon as possible. “This inevitable dialogue should be supervised by the African Union, and the United Nations, with a view to ensuring that mutual agreements reached at the negotiation table are legally binding on all the parties. The minimum condition to guarantee peace, progress and meaningful development is to reinstate the October 1, 1961 constitution, which guarantees true federalism where Anglophone and Francophone regions are equal partners,” he concluded.

Source: The Guardian

Evaluation of consultations mission that took the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang to the North West since October 15, 2017 is scheduled for the weekend in Bamenda. The way forward, towards lasting solutions in the Anglophone Crisis rocking the North West and South West regions is the subject.

The Mission featured audiences with the Prime Minister receiving socio- professional associations and groups in all seven Divisions of the region. Evaluation meetings have been scheduled at Divisional levels, tomorrow, October 21 ahead of another, Regional evaluation session with the North West Governor on Sunday, October 22, 2017.

The SDO’s office in Fundong was the venue where on October 19, the Prime Minister exchanged with some Biyam sellams from Boyo Division, commercial motorcycle riders, teachers, CPDM and UNDP Members and Boyo Mayors. It was all inclusive with the PM Yang at some point involving all who were around and thirsty to meet him. He reassured the government’s preparedness to work towards the return to normalcy and inspired the population to dominate fear, ensure that children are in schools and keep business activities alive.

Elsewhere, in Mezam, Momo and Ngoketunjia, Divisions, representatives of some trade unions, traditional, political and religious leaders, transporters, traders, development associations and economic operators had the opportunity to express their views on the Anglophone Crisis during audiences with the visiting Prime Minister.

Mgr. Michael Bibi, Auxiliary Bishop of Bamenda Archdiocese told Cameroon Tribune after meeting the Prime Minister that, “The other church leaders also shared their own opinions towards moving forward as a nation. Of course, we condemned actions of violence perpetuated by the population or the military. Concerning Cameroonians in the Diaspora who have been championing the secessionist actions, he said, ” We also appealed to the government to look even at the possibility of trying to reach out to members of the governing council because they are still Cameroonians though living abroad. They should be brought to the dialogue table, listen to them and get what they have to suggest and accept points that can be acceptable and drop what is unaccepted.”.

Source: Cameroon Tribune

Parents ran to schools to pick up their children today in the Bamenda County when a  locally made bomb was discovered near a school in the locality of Azire New Church.  Elements from Mobile Mobilization Group regiment  defused the bomb using a crude process that led to a massive explosion.

Cameroon Info.Net reported that the explosion caused great panic and people started running around. Parents rushed to schools immediately to pick up their children. The French Cameroun dominated authorities who came to the scene, reassured parents about the safety of their children and noted that the explosion did not cause any casualties.

The explosion occurred in Bamenda while the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang, was in town holding his so-called  consultation meetings.  Since Monday, Philémon Yang has been in dialogue with pro CPDM groups pleading for a return to normal in activities.

Ever since the beginning of the Southern Cameroons uprising, at least five explosions have been heard in Bamenda. One of them had seriously injured police officers who were on patrol. The Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a chartered member of the gang that plotted the 1984 April 6^th coup against President Biya, described it as a terrorist act.

By Fru James with files from CIN

Cameroonian president Paul Biya is urging citizens to remain patriotic irrespective of what people may think about it. According to him, it was a mark of responsible citizenship.

A terse statement on his official social media handles posted on Wednesday October 18 read as follows: “Patriotism is a virtue that some people might wrongly consider outdated. Even today, it remains a mark of responsible and nobly asserted citizenship for the nation.”

The message was accompanied by a smiling photo of the leader who is currently on vacation since he left the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The president’s quote comes at a time when tensions remain high in the country’s English-speaking regions. In what has become known as the ‘Anglophone crisis,’ people in the North West and South West regions of the central African country are pushing for independence.

The resultant protests which started months back has resulted in deaths, injuries to scores of people and mass arrests of protesters.

The height of the clashes was on October 1 when a symbolic declaration of independence under the Ambazonia republic was planned. The government had deployed heavy security presence to the regions to face off the separatists.

There has been widespread calls for the government to engage leaders of the restive region in dialogue. The president in his last address on the crisis condemned the violence. The government has, however, defended the security forces over the level of force used during protests.

Source: Africa News

The Secretary General of the outlawed Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium , Tassang Wilfred has made public a tentative list of Southern Cameroonians killed recently by troops loyal to the Biya Francophone regime. The names of those murdered by the French Cameroun dominated army were published on his Face Book attached to a strongly worded message in which the member of the Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Governing Council called on the so-called Anglophone elites defending the blood suckers and genocide instigators in Southern Cameroons to think and rethink things. Below is the list of the dead count:

Names of Southern Cameroonians killed by LRC military for protesting peacefully

1. Nkom Noel (Mbakem, Ejagham)
2. Tal Elvis Ebngoh (Oku, )
3. Bafron Frankline Mbunda (Oku, shot on chest)
4. Okwaniye Cletus (Akwaya)
5. Ngu Terence (Ikiliwindi, )
6. Enow Rellis (Kumba)
7. Benjamin Amin (Kumba)
8. Ojah-Zah Leonard Sone (Tombel,)
9. Ndep Arrey Nkiri (Eyumojock, )
10. Chelepakong Peter (Lebialem, )
11. Valentine Ebekwa (Muyuka)
12. Numfor Phidelis (Bafut, )
13. Tabe Elvis (Ekona)
14. Che Ephraim Fukah (Ikiliwindi, )
15. Monje Collins (Ikiliwindi, )
16. Tifang Charles Njien (Ashong,)
17. Edwin Mahwoh ( Kumbo, )
18. Donatus Azeh (Nkwen, )
19. Nkeih Lapangho (Ndop
20. Tange Emmanuel (Muyuka)
21. Akwo Rene Mua (Wum, )
22. Tah Emma (Bafut)
23. Efu Peter Fojong
24. Mawo Edwin (Kumbo)
25. Ghakanyuy Terence (Buea, )
26. Fuh Jude (Kumba, )
27. Nobia Njinto (Santa, killed Monday 2nd Oct)
28. Ntui Clifford Enongene
29. Numfor Fidelis (Bafut,)
30. Mbah Julius Muya (Kumba, )
31. Derick Nubea (Bali)
32. Banna Singlare (Balikumbat, )
33. Tume Wilfred (Buea)
34. Derick Ngoutanu (Buea)
35. Harris Bosema (Buea)
36. Wemba Njuabeh
37 Akande Simon
38. Tamajong Louis (Bamendankwe, )
39. Ayuk Napoleaon
40. Ayon Edwin (Mutengene, )
41. David Goutonou (Mutengene)
42. Menyong George (Mutengene)
43. Tahalifack Ferdinand (Mutengene, )
44. Tiku Blaise (Mutengene, )
45. Fombui Elvis (Bamessing, )
46. Mesang Rosine Noutsa
47. Chiamboh Samuel (Belo)
48. Amadou Alaji (Nkwen)
49. Mbeb Robinson N ( Bamenda, )
50. Ngwa Bryan Ngwa (Bafut, )
51. Bate Christiana (Mamfe)
52. Afuah Awah Norbet (Buea, )
53. Ngwa Bryan Ngwa (Bafut, )
54. Epoge Emile Epoge (Tombel, )
55. Nkembi Derick (Buea, )
56. Chin Rene (Kumbo, )
57. And much more
58. Akisah Louis Ayiwoh (Nkwen, )
59. Mbah Stephen (Batibo)
60. Ndanem Julius (Batibo)
61. Moses (Batibo)
62. Mispa (Batibo)
63. Sebastien Acha
64. Okeme Prince (Mamfe)
65. Tine Epie (Buea, )
66. Mr. Ebot Manyo Achalle ( Ajajukndip, Manyu)
67. Barah Bernard (Bamenda)
68. Khan Marcel Mbuh (Buea)
69. Roger Ntong Kukeh
70. Ngwa Kingsley Nde ()
71. Yongho Nicodemus (Kumba)
72. Chofor Stephen Joel (Santa)
73. Ndemaze Junior (Found at Buea Prisons) according to Jonas Tanyi
74. Ncham Charles Ful (Kumbo, 3rd oct missing)
75. Enow Tambo Fabrice (30th September)
76. Akode Epie Anthony (2nd Oct)
77. Wepnjeh Jude
78. Endo Cyprain Tandong (Ekona, shot on right chest, died instantly, buried at Ekona on 14/10/2017).
79. Marshall (Ekona, shot in the Stomach died an hour later buried at Ekona on 7/10/2017
80. Ajong (Ekona, buried on the 7/10/2017)

More than 500 arrested and in jail. More than 200 missing

President Biya who left La Republique du Cameroun on the 14^th of September, has still not returned, although some anonymous sources announced his imminent arrival this week. The 85 year old French Cameroun dictator travelled to the United States to attend the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) on September 14.

Paul Biya is reportedly running the country via Face Book and other social media outlets.  The subject of his absence has for several days prompted many to question key actors of his ruling CPDM party and government which for lack of answers, leaves room for some suspicions about the “prolonged” absence of the head of state.

Cameroon Concord News understands President Paul Biya is in a hotel in Switzerland, where he usually spends a “deserved” leave after months of intense activity in the country. Some Biya acolytes have also pointed out that the commander-in-chief took refuge in his second homeland, Switzerland, and is in the process of fine-tuning redeployment strategies with a view to finding effective and lasting solutions to the various problems undermining the Cameroonian nation. However, what we do know is that the French Cameroun chief executive is battling all types of age-related issues and gradually running out of time.

Meanwhile, the Southern Cameroons crisis is far from being over, with the regime intensifying electricity and internet cuts in the Anglophone regions. Hospitals can longer cope with the thousands injured by French Cameroun soldiers and corruption has paralyzed the good functioning of the society as the population continues to languish under the weight of misery.

The leadership of the Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC) recently spoke of a vacancy in power and called on the Supreme Court for a statutory finding. But the President of the Republic has still not returned and no press release from his civil cabinet says where Paul Biya is, or when he intends to return to the fold.

By Sama Ernest with files from Cameron Info.Net

Biya regime has paid the sum of 500 million FCFA to mayor Ekema Patrick of the Buea Council as part of a monthly cash “bribes” scheme to raise the Bakweri youth against other Southern Cameroons tribes residing in the Buea municipality.  The money was handed to the mayor secretly by the Francophone Minister for Defense, Joseph Beti Assomo.

French Cameroun officials in Yaounde are bankrolling a CPDM government initiative to pay Anglophone elites, traditional rulers and community leaders monthly wages to get them talking to the Biya regime. News of French Cameroun’s involvement to destabilize the revolution came as the Defense Minister, Beti Assomo met Mayor Ekema Patrick during a recent visit to Buea. He then held talks with some elites from Manyu, Ndian and Kupe Manenguba appointed by Prime Minister Philemon Yang likely to be involved.

The new strategy comes amid growing violence across Southern Cameroons caused by the French Cameroun dominated armed forces.  The few Southern Cameroonians still militating in the ruling CPDM crime syndicate have accused the Biya administration of “losing the support of Southern Cameroonians”. The bribe scheme is seen as the first step towards winning back influential  Southern Cameroons elites and tribal leaders, on a county level.

The elites were handpicked by Prime Minister Philemon Yang after a French Cameroun government auditioning that was carried out by the governors and prefects of the territory and they are expected to earn about two hundred thousand a month for attending up to two meetings. But critics fear the payments, which are about 30 per cent more than civil servants earn, are President Biya’s way of bribing  Anglophone elites to deliver support ahead of elections next year.

A senior Cameroon Concord News policy analyst in Yaounde said: “If this is perceived as more political patronage, or bribery, it runs the risk of generating friction and resentment.”  The Biya regime is financing a similar initiative in the Bamenda State where thousands of French Cameroun troops have been deployed.

It comes ahead of a major strategy review by the Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Governing Council which is expected to advocate a major intensification of the ghost town operations. A statement issued by the Chairman of the outlawed Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium, Barrister Agbor Felix Nkongho purportedly condemning the so-called visit of Southern Cameroons elites was treated as inconsequential by agents of the Governing Council.

A senior CPDM personality who spoke to us at the time of fling this report but sued for anonymity said existing French Cameroun government strategies had seen the Southern Cameroons Governing Council gain ground: “We don’t want to create militias, but we need to be empowering leaders like Ekema Patrick. Equip them, not just with weapons but with whatever it takes, so they can protect their territories against secessionist influence.”

Mayor Ekema had discussed the plans with the anti-Anglophone Justice Minister Laurent Esso when he visited Douala and got 60 millions FCFA from the Douala City Council and lied to the press that the amount was 13 million. Prime Minister Philemon Yang has promised to increase support for “community defence initiatives, where local volunteers are recruited to defend homes and families.” But the plans will meet with a stonewall because of a lack of Southern Cameroonian support.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai, CCN

Amnesty International on Friday accused Cameroon of detaining at least 500 people “like sardines” in overcrowded detention facilities following arbitrary arrests in two English-speaking regions.

The human rights watchdog said in a statement that the detainees were arrested when protesting in dozens of towns in Cameroon’s Anglophone North-West and South-West regions on October 1.

English speakers in the Central African nation have long complained that they are treated like second-class citizens and that the government makes less money available to them.

Amnesty alleged that Cameroon’s security forces, who killed more than 20 demonstrators that day, had used unnecessary or excessive force when making arrests, and most arrests were carried out without warrants.

According to Amnesty, many people who were injured during the protests were too scared of the security forces to seek medical treatment.

“This mass arrest of protesters, most of whom were acting peacefully, is not only a violation of human rights, but is also likely to be counter-productive,” said Amnesty researcher, Ilaria Allegrozzi.

Source: The Nation

Joseph Beti Assomo, the Francophone Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of defense has praised the army for the numerous killings currently going on in Southern Cameroons.  The Biya acolyte remained firm at the end of the meeting that held yesterday in Buéa promising more raids and a continuation of the militarization of West Cameroon.

It took Mr Beti Assomo more than 5 hours of closed session to assess the security situation in Southern Cameroons.  He told his French dominated security personnel that from the observation Cameroon is dealing with an insurrectional and terrorist movement pointing out that the defense and security forces of La Republique du Cameroun had to carry out the killings for the integrity of the territory. “Security, order and respect must be observed” said the Defense Minister.

The French Cameroun conclave also allowed the so-called governors of the Southern Cameroons regions, senior officials of the defense and security forces, to take stock of the demonstrations on 1 October.  The Beti-Ewondo Minister was informed that during the October 1 Southern Cameroons celebrations, public buildings were destroyed and some soldiers and police officers on duty were injured.

Mr Beti Assomo told state radio and television that “The state through its defense and security forces oversee the territorial integrity of the country as a whole. For this, no square meter of territory was abandoned by the forces. It will be so to the end. We have a Republican army, defense and security forces have done their job responsibly without losing their head.”

By Rita Akana, CCN

The Francophone Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense, Joseph Beti Assomo is expected this Thursday, October 12, 2017 in the Buea County in Southern Cameroons. Information has filtered that Etoudi wants the defense boss to personally conduct an assessment of the security situation in West Cameroon as instructed by the UN Secretary General.

This is the content of a press release issued on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 by the presidency of the republic. “The meeting will scrutinize the security situation and assess the functioning of the various devices on the ground to adapt them where necessary in the light of compliance with law and order,” the press release said.

French Cameroun security forces have carried out arbitrary arrests, illegal searches of homes, murders and other abuses in Southern Cameroons under the watchful eyes of the African Union and the United Nations. This trip by Minister Assomo has been interpreted by the Southern Cameroons Ambazonia Governing Council has a mission to cover up facts.

Joseph Beti Assomo will meet with senior officials of the central and territorial defense and security forces and the French Cameroun governors of the Northwest and Southwest regions.

By Rita Akana, CCN