News

New York: Biya delegation told to implement measures to build confidence with Southern Cameroonians

9, August 2017

New York: Biya delegation told to implement measures to build confidence with Southern Cameroonians 0

The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Amina J. Mohammed has stressed the importance of implementing measures to build confidence between French Cameroun and the Southern Cameroons community.

The UN diplomat met a French Cameroun delegation on Tuesday led by Paul Ghogomu, the Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office and called for inclusive dialogue in attempts at resolving the Southern Cameroons crisis.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations welcomed the efforts announced by the Biya Francophone regime and wished that the rights of the persons prosecuted in the context of the Southern Cameroons revolution be respected.

Dozens of Southern Cameroons arrested in the context of the Anglophone crisis, including three of the leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium are currently prosecuted by the Yaoundé military court.
They are tried for acts of terrorism, popular insurrection, civil disobedience, contempt of the head of state … and risk the death penalty.

The situation has becoming more intractable following the election of an interim leader and the creation of the Southern Cameroons Governing Council including the intensification of the civil disobedience campaign by the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium.

By Chi Prudence Asong
Cameroon Concord News



CRTV-Amadou Vamoulke Affair: The shocking truth about Charles Ndongo’s involvement

9, August 2017

CRTV-Amadou Vamoulke Affair: The shocking truth about Charles Ndongo’s involvement 0

Amadou Vamoulke, the former general manager of the Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV), has been questioned at the Special Criminal Court in a new case just three days after the start of his trial in the Gervais Mendo Ze affair. The so-called new case relates to his management of the Cameroon radio and television (CRTV).

Cameroon Concord News sources revealed that this new file which could open comes after an audit report commissioned by Charles Ndongo the current general manager of CRTV on the management of his predecessor. For more than four hours on the 3rd of August, Amadou Vamoulke was interrogated at the Special Criminal Court.

Amadou Vamoulke who is incarcerated in the Kondengui Central prison in Yaoundé, was called to explain the purchase without tender the rights of re transmissions of certain major football competitions. Charles Ndongo alleges that Vamoulke violated the procurement procedure in connection with the purchase of these rights.

We understand the prosecutors at the Special Criminal Court and French Cameroun financial crime experts did not find any evidence against Amadou Vamoulke in the audiovisual (TV tax) scandal estimated at 3.9 billion FCFA. For instance, Amadou Vamoulke could not have been able to falsify an account operated by the treasury department in Yaoundé.

Alice Nkom one of the lawyers of the former GM of CRTV was quoted as saying that “Amadou Vamoulke is a victim of political and judicial fury. In the first case the judges were put under pressure to charge a citizen who did not steal anything. The Special Criminal Court hired experts who in their reports proved that the former General Manager of CRTV did not commit any crime, but in spite of these conclusions from the experts, our client is still in jail.”

By Rita Akana
Cameroon Concord News



Southern Cameroonian arrested for wearing an Argentina National Football team jersey

9, August 2017

Southern Cameroonian arrested for wearing an Argentina National Football team jersey 0

The man was abducted for wearing the Argentina Football T shirt. It was claimed that his T-shirt carried the secessionist colours. But actually, the guy was putting on the T shirt of the Argentina football team which looks almost like that of the secessionist group, the Southern Cameroons National Council.

Security agents in civilian dress instantly contacted the law and enforcement units, who hurried to the venue and instantly whisked him and disappeared with him in a mini bus. The people around could neither question or comment, but wondered quietly as they continued with their different marketing activities.

A certain Pa Kwenti said: “Police acted very quickly to arrest the individual and he remains in police custody at this time, he was certainly taken Up station for questioning, but might end in Yaoundé if found guilty. He could be charged with inciting violence, public disorder and threat to national unity. But all depend on his good luck and financial capacity of his family.”

Source: Cameroon Info.Net



UN sees ‘early signs of genocide’ in Central African Republic amid renewed fighting

8, August 2017

UN sees ‘early signs of genocide’ in Central African Republic amid renewed fighting 0

The UN aid chief has voiced alarm over possible genocide in the Central African Republic (CAR), which has been hit by a fresh wave of clashes between armed groups in recent months. At a UN briefing on Monday, the world body’s Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien said renewed fighting in the CAR are “the early warning signs of genocide” there.

He was speaking following his recent trip to the CAR and the Democratic Republic of Congo. “We must act now, not pare down the UN’s effort, and pray we don’t live to regret it,” he said. Some 180,000 people have been driven from their homes this year, bringing the total number of the displaced in the Central African Republic to well over half a million, he said.

O’Brien said it was time to authorize an increase in troops and police serving in the UN peacekeeping force in the CAR, known as MINUSCA, to enable the mission to “deliver on its critical protection mandate.” UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix last week said he was considering sending a request to the UN Security Council for more troops for MINUSCA.

In 2013, the country fell into chaos when then President Francois Bozize was ousted by the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance. The ouster caused a series of deadly reprisal attacks between the Seleka rebels and the Christian militia known as anti-Balaka.

This image taken on June 12, 2017 shows MINUSCA peacekeepers patrolling in the town of Bria in Central African Republic. (By AFP)

 

The United Nations has 12,350 troops and police on the ground to help protect civilians and support the government of President Faustin-Archange Touadera, whose election last year helped significantly contain the inter-communal violence.

In recent months, the country has, however, witnessed a fresh wave of fighting between the armed groups. In May, some 300 people were killed and 100,000 displaced in the CAR in the worst flare-up since Touadera’s election. Locals say MINUSCA forces have failed to help stop the violence and provide security in the conflict-torn country.

Nine MINUSCA peacekeepers have been killed in the CAR since the beginning of this year, raising alarm that the country is sliding back into chaos. “The risk of a relapse into another large-scale humanitarian crisis is imminent,” said O’Brien.

Source: Presstv


AU and UN commit to enhancing African peace and security

8, August 2017

AU and UN commit to enhancing African peace and security 0

The African Union and United Nations are working towards enhancing African peace and security capabilities as part of a shared interest in solving African conflicts.

Ambassador Smail Chergui, Commissioner for Peace and Security to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), last month told the Council that the African Union is an indispensable partner in promoting peace and security in Africa. “Over the last decade, the African Union has mandated or authorized the deployment of more than 100 000 uniformed and civilian personnel, many of whom are deployed in some of the most high risk and volatile environments.

“This has come at a huge cost to human lives. It is noteworthy to mention here that the number of casualties by African troops in peace support operations in the last decade exceeds the combined casualties experienced in UN peacekeeping missions over the last 70 years. This is a compelling reality to demonstrate the commitment of Africans and the African Union to durable peace and stability on the continent,” Chergui said.

“Despite these sacrifices and commitment, African troops are faced with some of the most challenging situations due to inadequate force enablers and multipliers, as well as financial resource gaps,” he told the UNSC.

Last month the African Union Peace and Security Council declared that AMISOM had successfully achieved its mandate over the last decade on the basis of a recently concluded lessons learned study by the African Union Commission. “Yet, AMISOM remains the least resourced mission in comparison with other deployed regional or international enforcement missions with similar mandates.”

As a result, Chergui made several proposals to the UNSC on how best to support African peace and security. The first entails the UN and international community promoting conflict prevention in Africa, as “conflict prevention remains the most cost effective conflict management tools but yet the least resourced,” he said, with the April 2017 Joint AU-UN Framework on the Enhanced Cooperation in Peace and Security a good foundation on this.

Secondly, Chergui called for the enhancement of the operational readiness of the African Standby Force. “The African Union and its Regional standby forces have put in tremendous efforts to develop and operationalize the African Standby Force (ASF) and its Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC) as one of its conflict management tool, as enshrined in the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). This was evidenced by the declaration of Full Operational Capability of the ASF In January 2016 by the African Union (AU) Specialized Technical Committee on Defense Safety and Security (STCDSS).”

However, Chergui noted that even though the ASF has been declared operational, there are challenges with the mandating process, funding and logistics support. The Maputo Five Year Workplan on the enhancement of the ASF will go a long way to addressing these concerns.
Chergui noted that a High Level Technical Team is currently undertaking the verification of the capabilities of the five brigades of the ASF.

Chergui expressed concern about the spread of violent extremism but applauded the recent authorization of regional coalitions such the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and the G5 Sahel force. “The African Union Counter-terrorism Fund, as well as activities of the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism, the Nouakchott and important coordination platforms through which the supported and in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

Lastly, Chergui said the financing of peace support operations is a perennial issue. “It is clear that Africa will not be able fund peace initiatives on its own… We, therefore look forward to further deliberation and possible decision by this Council in September 2017, on the dedicated support from the UN to all UNSC-mandated African peace support operations.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres agreed to strengthen the partnership between the AU and UN. “I firmly believe the international community needs to change the narrative about Africa and to establish a higher platform of cooperation that recognizes Africa’s enormous potential and promise.

“In the area of peace and security, the African Union and United Nations have a shared interest in strengthening mechanisms to defuse conflicts before they escalate, and to manage them effectively when they occur. “Enhancing African capacities is essentially both in the context of our collective response to international peace and security challenges as well as for the self-reliance of the African continent.

“This is why, on April 19, I joined with the Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat to sign a Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security”. The Framework includes four key action areas: first, preventing and mediating conflict and sustaining peace; second, responding to conflict; third, addressing root causes; and fourth, the continuous review and enhancement of our partnership.

Guterres pointed out it is critical that the UN and AU work together to solve disputes. “In The Gambia, for example, the strong leadership of West African nations — with the support of ECOWAS, the African Union and United Nations – contributed significantly to find a peaceful settlement to the political crisis.

“And in South Sudan, IGAD, the African Union and the United Nations are actively coordinating efforts to find a durable peace – including through a joint call for the immediate cessation of hostilities and a comprehensive and inclusive political dialogue.

“The African Union and the sub-regional organizations have deployed tremendous efforts to develop and operationalize the African Standby Force and its Rapid Deployment Capability. Under our new Framework, we look forward to further supporting the strengthening of this Force and to exploring synergies with the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System,” Guterres said.

Culled from Defenseweb


Consortium intensifies ghost town operation in Southern Cameroons

7, August 2017

Consortium intensifies ghost town operation in Southern Cameroons 0

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium have declared support for the non resumption of schools in Southern Cameroons and extended ghost town operations. In a press release signed by the Deputy Secretary General of the Consortium, Barrister Eyambe Ellias and Tassang Wilfred, the Programme Coordinator, the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium stated that as from August the 14th, ghost towns will be staged from Mondays to Wednesdays.

The Consortium also called for a strict boycott of Francophone businesses operating in Southern Cameroons territory. The leadership of the Consortium further pointed out that the new ghost town policy is to enable the Southern Cameroons people to engage in civil obedience to resist recent anti Anglophone moves adopted by the Biya Francophone government.

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium also appealed to the peace loving people of Southern Cameroons to avoid during ghost towns marketplaces, transportation stations, churches and mosques.

The Consortium decision came just days after the interim leader of the Southern Cameroons Governing Council noted that Southern Cameroons was at war with La Republique du Cameroun. The extension of the ghost town operation represents the beginning of the end for the regime that governed the Southern Cameroons by the force of arms destroyed its resources and looted its bounties.

Our senior political commentator opined at the time of filing this report that August the 14th must be the beginning, not the end of resistance and we must organize ourselves at all levels in order to cause a complete paralysis at all La Republque’s facilities. Other Southern Cameroons groups have supported the Consortium and said the call for intensive ghost town comes in line with its efforts to free British Southern Cameroons.

The Southern Cameroons Diaspora communities in South Africa, Nigeria, UK, Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, the US including Canada have all praised the decision to extend the ghost town and considers it unrivaled success and an initiative worthy of support and have accepted to work with Southern Cameroonians back home to ensure the success of this giant move in order to gain freedom and self determination.

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium communiqué described the ghost town as an effective tool to resist the totalitarian Yaounde regime, saying the Southern Cameroons people have used it during the 1953 Eastern Regional Crisis at Enugu, Nigeria.

Since last week French Cameroun government ministers had downplayed the call for ghost town, expecting it would fail and are in missions abroad claiming to explain measures taken by the Biya Francophone regime to resolve the Southern Cameroons crisis.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai
Cameroon Concord News


Southern Cameroons Crisis: Another Biya regime delegation expected in Canada

7, August 2017

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Another Biya regime delegation expected in Canada 0

Another Francophone CPDM delegation is expected in Canada despite stiff opposition demonstrated by Southern Cameroonians against the political move by President Biya.

Since the end of last week, several members of the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo government have been on mission to Europe, Nigeria, the Republic of South Africa and the US claiming to inform West Cameroonians of the Diaspora about the situation in Southern Cameroons.

The Southern Cameroons Diaspora communities have acted angrily against the action to send these Francophone surrogates abroad. The anti-Anglophone Minister for Justice, Laurent Esso and a certain Paul Ghogomu were jeered and booed in Brussels and Washington.

In a press release made public by the High Commissioner of La Republique du Cameroun in Canada, the members of the Francophone CPDM delegation will be meeting the Diaspora on Thursday the 10th of August, 2017.

By Chi Prudence Asong
Cameroon Concord News


Southern Cameroons Crisis: Minister Dion Ngute escapes beatings in South Africa

7, August 2017

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Minister Dion Ngute escapes beatings in South Africa 0

Minister Dion Ngute was forced to flee from the building hosting the Cameroon embassy in South Africa during a town hall forum decreed by President Biya. Dion Ngute who was representing the 84 year old French Cameroun dictator had traveled to the Republic of South Africa to explained the so-called actions taken by the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime towards resolving the Southern Cameroons crisis.

The Francophone regime’s action was interpreted by many Southern Cameroonians in South Africa as a pretentious and mocking endeavor to tilt the situation back home and instead engage in a diplomatic mission to convince Cameroonians in the Diaspora to support the ruling CPDM crime syndicate. Dion Ngute who moonlights as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of the Commonwealth and his CPDM gang had a handful of people and other invited individuals in the hall.

Cameroon Intelligence Report understands protesting Southern Cameroonians who came massively in their numbers were prevented from entering into the embassy. However, some forced their way into the embassy after bringing down the embassy gate, chanting songs of freedom and marched into the hall where the meeting was scheduled to take place.

(Southern Cameroons interim leader)

The junior Anglophone cabinet minister who hails from the oil rich Ndian constituency in West Cameroon, Bakassi Peninsula included was told to go back home, seek dialogue, free Southern Cameroons political prisoners and ensure school resumption in Southern Cameroons.

A sister publication Cameroon Info.Net reported that there was total chaos in the hall as the food, drinks and other entertainment items that were reserved for the Cameroonian delegation and their guests were completely destroyed by the angry crowd.

A frustrated Dion Ngute, attempted to engage the protesters in a conversation but was almost lynched. The humiliation suffered by the French Cameroun delegation was complete and total. He reportedly escaped unable to resist the mounting anger and pressure from Southern Cameroonians.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report



French Cameroun: Suicide bombing rocks Far North region

6, August 2017

French Cameroun: Suicide bombing rocks Far North region 0

8 civilians were reportedly killed and 4 people seriously injured in an alleged Saturday attack by Boko Haram in the locality of Ouro-Kessoum, Mayo Sava Division, some few kilometers from Amchide, a neighboring town close to Nigeria.

A securing source in the Far North region that confirmed the Boko Haram suicide bombing, also said one Cameroonian service man was killed in the incident. A Cameroon military source also hinted of another suicide bomb attack carried out by suspected Boko Haram militants still on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Waza in the Logon and Chari division that left the suicide bomber dead and 5 other civilians seriously injured.

The Far North Region of Cameroon, especially areas along the border with Nigeria, regularly experience significant violence, attributed to Boko Haram militants. While Boko Haram’s main stronghold is in Nigeria, the group has increase its attack along the Logon and Chari, Mayo Sava and Mayo Tsanaga Divisions of the Far North.

Source: Cameroon Info.Net



Buea: Zacharie Nkwo reaches his final resting place

6, August 2017

Buea: Zacharie Nkwo reaches his final resting place 0

Former senior football commentator, Zacharie Nkwo has been buried in a strict family ceremony in the Buea County in Southern Cameroons. His final funeral rites were staged at the mortuary of the Regional Hospital in Buea on Saturday, the 5th of August 2017 in the presence of a crowd of relatives, friends and fans of deceased including Mister Isaac Sinkot, a former indomitable lion and friend of the deceased.

After a brief stop at the family home, the long funeral procession went to the parish of St. Peter and Paul in Molyko for a requiem mass. In his homily, the Bishop of Mamfé, Monsignor Andrew Nkea, exhorted the audience to seek more the kingdom of heaven. For his part, veteran journalist, Gregory Allen, a comrade of the deceased, noted that the career of Zacharie Nkwo was rich in positivity and love for his country.

Some, like Jules Mbende, a journalist, still remembers some of the performances of the late sports chronicler, which he mimed in the ceremony before the emotional audience. Zacharie Nkwo graduated from the Yaounde School of Journalism (ESJY) in 1975 and worked at Radio Cameroon, Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV) until his retirement in 2003.

He died on the 4th of June from an illness at the age of 68. With Abel Mbengue, Zacharie Nkwo whom many recognize as the precursors of this trade in our country formed a tandem of anthology. Two powerful voices (French and English) who made the glorious days of the sports desk in the 80s and 90s on the antennas of Radio Cameroun now national post of the CRTV.

By Rita Akana
Cameroon Concord News



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