More than two weeks after the railway accident in Eséka that reportedly killed 79 and wounded over 600, only 45 families have so far received the 1.5 million FCFA promised by the Cameroon Railway Company, CAMRAIL for funeral arrangements. Cameroon Concord News understands, CAMRAIL has been incessantly flashing out signals for families of the victims to contact its representatives in hospitals in Eseka, Douala and Yaounde for payments to be made.

Regarding compensation for damages, which remain the priority and the most important issue, CAMRAIL recently issued a statement that its insurers will foot the bills for personalized treatment and pay damages directly to the wounded and their families. Some 20 experts are engaged on the ground in coordination with health institutions to attend to each passenger affected by the accident.

The railway company has also set up a refunds department for property lost by various passengers in the accident. CAMRAIL says all compensation will be paid in the fastest possible means to all the victims.

By Rita Akana

The Minister of State in charge of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Laurent Esso on the 26^th of October 2016 granted an interview to update public opinion on issues related to the OHADA instruments and legal practice which is part of the demands of the striking common law lawyers in Cameroon.

Laurent Esso observed that the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa, OHADA was predominantly French and French was its working language. The Biya acolyte said Cameroon requested that Article 42 of the OHADA Treaty be applied. Accordingly, English, Portuguese and Spanish became other working languages of OHADA.

Minister Esso also said, the adoption was delayed because some legal practitioners in Cameroon opined that the English version provided by the Permanent Secretariat were of doubtful technical quality. The Minister revealed that the committee was now ready to transmit the corrected version to the Permanent Secretariat for the publication in the OHADA Official Gazette.

The 42nd session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa OHADA held a two day session in Brazzaville Congo recently and recommended that the translated version be published in the three official languages.

CRTV

Opposition parties, prominent members of the civil society and many concerned citizens are skeptical of the official report of the Eseka train crash that rocked the nation on October the 21^st 2016. Accordingly, each camp has reportedly set up its own commission of inquiry.

This weekend, the Social Democratic Front (SDF), the main opposition party announced that it will conduct its own investigation into the train crash which government sources say claimed the lives of 79 people and wounded 600 others.

The SDF Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi was quoted as saying that a legal commission has been established to investigate the Eseka train accident consisting of 7 members including experienced lawyers. An SDF insider hinted Cameroon Concord News that the commission will burst the truth that the government is trying to bury.

Cameroon’s opposition groups have unanimously described as “misleading” the commission created by the Head of State, composed of members of government, which must render its findings to the President of the Republic by 24 November.

By Rita Akana

The remains of two Cameroonian soldiers killed by Boko Haram were decorated in Maroua on Friday, by the Governor of the Far North Region,Midjiyawa Bakari. Caporal Ngafdigang Joseph and Halilou Ismael Benson were both posthumously raised to the rank of Bravery in the Cameroonian military.

The Friday, 4^th of November 2016 ceremony was to pay tributes to the soldiers who gave the supreme sacrifice in the fight against terrorism and attended by four army Generals among them was the Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force.

The Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force said the demise of the two soldiers gives more encourage to the military expedition to completely flush out the terrorists. He added terrorist have been rounded up within a small area.

CRTV

The late President Ahmadou Ahidjo elected in May 1960 as the first President of the Republic of Cameroon decided on the 4^th of November 1982 at the age of 58, to resign as head of state. He handed over to his constitutional successor, Prime Minister Paul Biya. To remember this day, a sister publication, Cameroun-Info.Net made available the historic speech that was read on state radio by the late president.

“Fellow Cameroonians, My dear compatriots,

I have decided to resign from my functions as President of the Republic of Cameroon.

This decision will take effect as from Saturday, November 6th at 10 am. In this major circumstance, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who for nearly 25 years, gave me their confidence and provided assistance in performing my duties as president of the republic.

I particularly want to thank the militants of our great National Party, the CNU for their total, constant and unwavering support.

If there was much to do in building our beloved and beautiful country, we have indeed accomplished together after independence, reunification and Unification and considerable progress in all areas.

Our country has significant assets. We have consolidated national unity; we have many resources, varied and complementary, a continuous expanding economy, sound monetary and social justice system, an ever improving working population and a dynamic youth including strong and fruitful relations of friendship and cooperation in Africa and the world.

I invite all Cameroonians to give unreserved trust and lend their support to my constitutional successor, Paul Biya. He deserves the confidence of all, inside and outside. I urge you to remain a united people, patriotic, hardworking, dignified and respected. I pray Almighty God that he continues to provide the Cameroonian people the protection and assistance to its development in peace, unity and justice.

Long Live Cameroon.”

November 4, 1982

Amadou Babatoura Ahidjo

President of the Republic of Cameroon

Culled from Cameroun-info.net

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

9 people were killed on Wednesday morning on the highway code name National Road 2 in the Central region linking Bafoussam in the West.

The 9 people, all women crashed at about 10:30 am on the Yaoundé -Bafoussam axis. The accident occurred between Obala and Ebeda, located in the Ekom-Edjem district some 38 km from Yaoundé.

Cameroon Concord News gathered that the women were  returning from a gospel crusade when their car violently collided with a vehicle.

The 9 ladies died on the spot and 1 seriously injured was taken to a hospital in Ebebda.

By Sonne Peter

Cameroon’s first lady Chantal Biya, will be named as the Mother Teresa of Cameroon soon.  The wife of the 83 year old president was the focus of an academic discourse that recently brought together some pro CPDM university lecturers of the University of Yaounde II.

The scantily attended forum that held for three days at the Soa campus recommended that the first lady be made Doctor Honoris Causa for her charity works. At the opening session of the conference on Tuesday, the Executive Secretary of African Synergies, -a foundation created and run by the wife of the head of state using Cameroon tax payer’s money, said Chantal Biya was the “Mother Teresa” of Cameroon.

Just over 65 million FCFA was mobilized and spent for the conference in a country that lacks roads, hospitals, electricity and drinking water. The so-called intellectuals did not explained to the audience why Cameroon’s Mother Teresa has not visited the victims of the intercity train crash several days after the tragedy.

By Rita Akana

Grégoire Owona, Minister of Labour and Social Insurance have been missing in action for some time now.   The Biya acolyte who is also the Assistant Secretary General of the Central Committee of the ruling CPDM party has not appeared in any public event for the last three months. His last appearance was exactly after the last Olympic games.

Some members of his entourage have hinted that the dancing minister is receiving medical treatment abroad. Grégoire Owona,   has also not been seen in any political activity in the country. Protocol officers in his office are quick to answer when asked about his where about that “the Minister is not here.”  Nobody seems to know what is happening with Minister Grégoire Owona.

Cameroon Concord News Group had reported on his health including that of the late general manager of the Douala Port and also that of the late Assistant Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic. A highly placed government official who spoke to our undercover reporter revealed that Grégoire Owona’s days in government are numbered.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report

Ten days after the derailment of Camrail train 152 at Eseka, controversy still surrounds the official figures of the death toll announced by the government. Cameroon Concord News understands the debate on the death toll linked to the tragedy has continued to fuel a hostile public opinion against the Francophone Beti-Ewondo regime.

The figures provided by the government spokesman, Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary as 79 dead and 600 wounded has been rejected by the Eseka community leaders who were the first to bring relief to victims of the crash. The traditional rulers of the town have jointly stated that their people collected more than 200 dead bodies.

Amadou Sali, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Camrail said earlier today that there were 1462 passengers on board the train. Hours later, a company executive indicated that more than 1,600 passengers were in that Intercity 152 service.

Local media reports say between 1600 and 2000 passengers were on the derailed train with several hundred of these passengers not registered.   A journalist with a sister publication, Cameroon Intelligence Report was quoted as saying that many bodies were buried in the night by security forces.  The nation is now waiting for the findings of the Prime Minister Philemon Yang Commission.

By Sonne Peter