The Chairman of Cameroon’s anti-corruption body, CONAC, Dieudonne Massi Gams has hailed the work of the Business Coalition against Corruption (BCAC) in Cameroon. Speaking during a kind of CPDM cocktail at the residence of the British High Commissioner in Yaounde on the 4^th of October 2016, Dieudonne Massi Gams thanked BCAC for training over 400 “good governance managers” in Cameroon and advocated for greater cooperation.

The Business Coalition against Corruption seeks to reinforce the respect of ethics in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises which have a key role in Africa’s economic advancement. Some members of BCAC who made the trip to Cameroon with Neil Wigan, British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Director for Africa highlighted the importance of developing a culture of integrity and good governance in Cameroon’s business sector.

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In what the Cameroon Radio and Television reported as a renewed commitment by the Chinese government to support Cameroon, Beijing has handed over a Greek gift of toiletries and foodstuff to the Chantal Biya Foundation in Yaounde. Cameroon Concord News understands the donations were received on behalf of the First Lady, Chantal Biya by the Secretary General of the foundation, Habissou Bidoung.

The 30^th of September 2016 ceremony also provided an opportunity for the Chinese ambassador to Cameroon, Wei Wenhua to make public his thank you message to the foundation for alleviating the plight of the underprivileged and vulnerable in the country. Some pro CPDM comedians noted that the donation, second of its kind, was a means of strengthening relations between Cameroon and China, while projecting future partnerships.

Eyong Paul

President Paul Biya is reportedly governing Cameroon from a hotel apartment in Switzerland. The 83 year old dictator, who has already spent 34 years in power, signed a decree on Thursday night and channelled it through a fax message to the Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic in which he dismissed the Senior Divisional Officer for Dja et Lobo Division. Ever since he left the 71st session of the General Assembly of the UN and unlike other heads of state who have returned to their respective countries, Paul Biya is still out of Cameroon.

From abroad he signed a decree appointing David Koulbout Aman, as the prefect of his home constituency, the Dja and Lobo in the South Region to replace Bernard Marie Mba (seen here). A journalist with a sister publication, Cameroon Intelligence Report hinted that the prefect was fired for his involvement in the financial scandal that has rocked the local community of Mekin linked to the construction of a hydro power dam.

Cameroon Concord News gathered that many prominent Beti-Ewondo government officials are involved in the scandal. The outgone Senior Divisional Officer Bernard Marie Mba could be charged in the coming days. At the time of filing this report, information filtered that President Biya was informed about the matter by

       the mayor of Sangmélima who is also his nephew.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

A traffic accident claimed the lives of four people on Wednesday evening, on the Douala / Yaoundé “ancien route”, Cameroon Concord News has learned from police sources. A tractor reportedly collided violently with a five seater vehicle that had on board 8 people above its carrying capacity.

A reporter with the Cameroon Intelligence Report has been quoted as saying the accident happened at Massombo some 21 km from Douala and involved a vehicle registered LT EY 870, from PK Yabassi 19 and a tractor registered 656 S 11 A. Four people including three from the same family died on the spot. The truck driver fled the scene before police arrived.

By Sama Ernest

A 10 month old baby boy reportedly stolen at the Longla neigbourhood in Bamenda was rescued at Banjock and has been handed over to his parents. The baby whose name state radio and television gotten as Daniel was carried away from home on the 13^th of September 2016 after a shrewd manipulation of his baby sitter. The baby sitter Collette Aza recounted that the baby trafficker took the child away when she was busy preparing food. Collette notified the baby’s parents who immediately opened up a quick search and alerted the police at the Bamenda 3 Council.

After a thorough search of all coach services to and from the North West region especially Mondial Express, another step of investigation surfaced when the culprit used her neighbour’s mobile phone and demanded a ransom. The police immediately contacted the MTN office in Bamanda to trace the number.

The perpetuator was finally tracked at Bandjock in the Centre Region by the judicial police. Baby Daniel was finally returned to his parents after a thorough medical examination. With smiles and relief of the traumatic tale, the baby’s mother testified that the three days search was accompanied by prayers of supplication shared with many through the social media and other means of communication.

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A war of words has reportedly erupted between Transport Minister, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o and his deputy, Mefiro Oumarou, who also moonlights as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cameroon Airlines Corporation (Camair-Co). The all-powerful Minister of Transport sent a letter to his collaborator on August the 30th 2016 in which he requested Mefiro Oumarou to explain what he said on the airwaves of the state owned radio and television on two different programs Weekly News and Inside the Presidency.

Mebe Ngo’o, we learned, was also not happy with pronouncements made by his assistant and had to go on the radio program Dimanche Midi to debunk the rantings of his subordinate that challenged the Camair Co recovery plan developed by the manufacturer Boeing. The situation seems to be developing a kind of tug-of-war in the ministry as both men have all granted two interviews each on the matter. National public opinion has witnessed an unprecedented bewildering spectacle, featuring the Minister of Transport and his deputy painting a confusing and declining transport policy.

Cameroon Concord News understands, Minister Mebe Ngo’o is no longer feared and respected by the ruling Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo hegemony. The Transport Minister even asked to meet Mefiro Oumarou on Monday, August 29, 2016. But his deputy left Cameroon on Saturday, August 27, 2016, to enjoy his holiday without having the politeness and courtesy to inform his boss. The Minister observed that Mefiro Oumarou has lost sight of his roles as Minister Delegate to the Minister of Transport and Board member of Camair-Co and plans to remind the Mefiro Oumarou that he remains under the authority of the Minister.

By Rita Akana

Some military families and a cross section of the population of the Far North region have paid homage to soldiers of the Rapid Intervention Battalion who died defending the nation in the war against Boko Haram. The families came together during an interreligious service that took place at the command post of “Operation Alpha Unit” in Maroua.

President Paul Biya reportedly extended his condolences to the bereaved families through the Governor of the Far North region, Midjiyawa Bakari. Biya also appealed to the civilian population, the members of the Vigilante committee, traditional and religious rulers to continue supporting the soldiers in the fight against Boko Haram terrorism.

Brigadier General Jacob Kodji Commander of the 4th Military Legion said the ceremony was organized to boost the morale of everyone especially the soldiers and those intending to join the military corps. Spiritual leaders from the Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic and Islam denominations in their prayers extended words of encouragement and comfort to the bereaved families.

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Three man aged between 20 and 34 years were presented to the press as a gang of taxi robbers who have dispossessed some 30 women of their handbags using a taxi in Yaoundé. The alleged gang leader, Tsala Andre Jules who also goes by the name Boulli Jean alias Pa Ye is an ex-convict. He is said to have created the gang after he left prison about a year ago for similar offences. He is the driver of the taxi used in the robbery. He told the police that they operate about three times a week generally around 8:00pm to 6:30am.

He was arrested in Essos after he attempted to escape. Enyengue Andre Loic, a member of the gang fakes the role of a passenger in the front seat of the taxi they use in their operations while Mekongo Augustin plays the same role on the back sit. Both men were arrested in Mimboman neighbourhood. They have denied any involvement.

According Senior Police Superintendent Babanguida Ahmadou, service head for Interventions and Investigations at the Judicial Police Department in Yaoundé, investigations that led to the arrest of the gang began after a victim deposited a complaint.

The victim noted the matriculation number of the taxi in which she was robbed of her hand bad containing her tablet, smart phone and a medical; kit Bio Disque. The victim told the police that she boarded the taxi at about 9:30pm at the Multi Sports Complex to Elig Edzoa. During the journey the drive change the direction and drove to a dark area. The passenger on the back seat pull out a dagger placed on her throat and threatened to kill her if she resisted. The accomplice on the front seat then ceased all her belongings.

A huge number of handsets including smart, phones, tablets and laptops including other devices and daggers where presented to the press as objects recovered from the suspects who are expected to face the law courts.

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A suicide bomber was killed on Wednesday night in Djakana as he was about to unleash mayhem. Cameroon Concord News was reliably informed that he was shot by elements of the secret service and the bomb he was carrying exploded wounding five other persons. The death toll from the incident that occurred in Djakana, near the district of Mora in the Mayo-Sava Division in the Far North is expected to rise as four other persons were badly affected.

The explosion happened shortly after evening prayer. The suicide attack on Wednesday comes one month to the day after the last attack that hit Mora on the 21^st of August 2016 which claimed the lives of 4 and wounded 24. These suicide attacks on Cameroonian territory are not claimed by Boko Haram. They are systematically attributed to the Nigerian Islamic sect by Cameroon security forces. Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Organization of the Islamic state and is now called Province of the Islamic State in West Africa.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai with files from Amadou Adama