News

29, November 2016

UN chief denounces recent bloodshed in the Central African Republic ⁰

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has denounced recent bloodshed in the Central African Republic (CAR) where clashes between members of the former Seleka rebellion killed scores of people. The clashes between rival armed groups from ex-Seleka in Bria northeast of the capital Bangui killed 85 people and displaced nearly 11,000 people, according to the UN.

In a statement on Monday, the UN chief urged the armed groups to “immediately stop the violence and genuinely commit to ongoing efforts to address the root causes of the conflict.” The fighting was said to have broken out between the Popular Front for the Renaissance of the Central African Republic (FPRC) and the Union for Peace in Central Africa (UPC). The two factions have been engaged in sporadic fighting over control of taxes levied on nomadic Fulani herdsman during the current seasonal migration. In March 2013, the Central African Republic plunged into chaos when then-president Francois Bozize was toppled and replaced by Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia, the first Muslim to hold the presidency in the country.

Djotodia’s opponents then formed “anti-Balaka” vigilante units, drawn from the Christian majority, which began to target Muslims and commit widespread atrocities. The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the national police are seen conducting a joint operation in the capital Bangui. (Photo by UN) In 2014, some 11,000 peacekeepers were deployed by the UN to the country as part of MINUSCA or the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. Seleka and anti-Balaka representatives signed a ceasefire agreement later that year but the country has not yet fully emerged from its bloody past.

The UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Central African Republic, Fabrizio Hochschild, said in a statement on Monday that almost half of the country’s population of over four million people is in dire need of humanitarian aid. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), hundreds of people have been killed and many more displaced since a deadly series of clashes broke out in the country in September.

Presstv

29, November 2016

In Loving Memory of Paul Atanga Nji, Mafany Musonge and Philemon Yang ⁰

× We have 2 sea ports all in francophone areas

× We have 3 international airports. All in francophone areas

× We have 2 or 3 hydro electricity dams. All in francophone localities

× Economic and political capitals all francophone

× the 3 first most powerful position in Cameroon Head of State, Senate President, National Assembly Speaker) all occupied by francophones

× The greatest document in public service (integration decision) only in French.

× Ministers of Higher Education, Secondary Education, and Primarily Education are Francophones.

× Ministers of Public Service, Finance, Justice and Defense are Francophones.

×PRIME MINISTER HAS NO REGIONAL DELEGATIONS. AND CAN NOT ACT WITHOUT PASSING THROUGH THE ALL SURROUNDED FRANCOPHONE MINISTER WITH REGIONAL DELEGATIONS EVERYWHERE.

× Government has not done any investment in any Anglophone zone to favor Anglophones.

29, November 2016

Business as usual in La Republique as Biya receives Senegalese Head of State ⁰

The President of Senegal, Macky SALL has commended Cameroon’s much-envied status in Africa. The Senegalese leader made the acknowledgement during a visit to Cameroon on Monday 28 November 2016.

President Macky SALL noted that he came to highlight Cameroon’s greatness at the heart of the continent, which has been magnified by its cultural, economic and political stability.

For his part, President Paul BIYA said Yaounde and Dakar will continue to share a sincere and excellent friendship, attached to the promotion of democracy, peace, dialogue, and unity in Africa.

President Macky SALL was welcomed at the Unity Palace by BIYA. Both men held a meeting behind closed doors, which was followed by a special lunch offered by the Presidential Couple. The august guest thanked President Paul BIYA and First Lady Chantal BIYA for the hospitality reserved to him and his delegation.

The Senegalese Head of State was accompanied from and to the Nsimalen International Airport by Prime Minister Philemon YANG.

28, November 2016

UN says four million children orphaned due to violence in Congo-Kinshasa ⁰

Some four million children have lost at least one parent in two decades of continuous violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations (UN) has announced. The UN said in a report that a total of more than 26 million children have also been orphaned in West and Central Africa, where the DR Congo is located.

This is the second highest number of orphans living in the world behind South Asia, according to the report. “They are the orphans with a story of violence since 1994 — it’s a generation of victims that continues,” says Francisca Ichimpaye, a senior monitor at the En Avant Les Enfants INUKA center. And the children “lose their story in the violence,” Ichimpaye said. Orphans are forced to fend for themselves and their younger siblings. Some of them are vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups; others face sexual exploitation in a country where rape has become commonplace.

The DR Congo, which faces grinding poverty and crumbling infrastructure, has been plagued by ethnic conflict and a fight over valuable minerals since 1998. Civilians are the main victims of the ethnic strife. On Sunday, at least 30 civilians were killed in the DR Congo when militiamen from the Nande ethnic group in the eastern country attacked the village of Luhanga, where the Hutu ethnic people live. The Nande and Hutu groups have been divided along ethnic lines and relations between the two sides have been tense over the past months.

Presstv

28, November 2016

Biya to meet President Macky Sall of Senegal today in Yaounde ⁰

President Biya will receive the Senegalese head of state today in Yaounde. A statement by the Cameroonian dictator’s civil cabinet said Biya will be at the Yaounde-Nsimalen International Airport today November 28, 2016 at 11:30 am to welcome President Macky Sall.

Both leaders will have a one-and-one at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel, before an official CPDM style luncheon offered by the Cameroonian presidential couple. The Senegalese president will leave Yaoundé late in the afternoon. Senegal maintains close relations with Cameroon, marked by mutual respect and a frank and cordial friendship. Since 1962, Cameroon and Senegal have signed a dozen of agreements. These include:

– the Cultural Agreement of 4 March 1964;

– the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation of 16 June 1972;

– the Commercial Agreement of 10 January 1974;

– the Agreement on cooperation in the field of sea fishing of 19 February 1991;

– the Agreement on ordinary civil aviation of 30 May 1973;

– the Cultural Exchange Protocol of 16 May 1980;

– the Convention on Social Security signed in Yaoundé in June 1991;

– the Cooperation Agreement in the field of communication signed on 24 July 1990 between CRTV and ORTS;

– the Tourism Agreement signed on 24 June 2010 in Dakar;

In the spirit of intensification of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, the Follow-up Committee of the 4th session of the Cameroon / Senegal Joint Cooperation Committee was held in Yaoundé from the 16^th to 17^th of November 2015. Closed in 1994, the Senegalese embassy in Cameroon resumed its activities in July 2007.

By Chi Prudence Asong with files from CIN

27, November 2016

Former UN Secretary Kofi Annan pays tribute to Fidel Castrol ⁰

“Today I mourn the loss of a friend, the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Securing the welfare of the Cuban people and ensuring the independence of his nation shaped much of Fidel Castro’s thinking and many of his actions. Whether one shared his political views or disagreed with them, Fidel Castro was one of Latin America’s most remarkable leaders.

In the course of his long life he overcame countless adversities and rarely chose the easy and comfortable path. I met Fidel Castro many times over the years and came to appreciate his extraordinary intellect, sharp mind, and his ability to engage in constructive dialogue. Farewell Fidel.”

27, November 2016

2016 Women’s AFCON: Cameroon knows how to throw a party ⁰

A walk into the courtyards of the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex tells the story of how the nation knows how to celebrate. A giant screen stands tall on which visitors watch football matches simultaneously played in Limbe and Yaoundé respectively. There is also a podium where promotional entertainment and playbacks are ongoing especially during the 15-minute half time period.

Somewhere in the same courtyard, children are being entertained with music and dancing competitions. At this section, the kids are given the opportunity to mount the podium and compete in dancing for the award of varied prizes. Exhibition stands have also been erected at the AFCON village; Cameroonian traditional regalia, jewellery, foot wear and cuisine are all on display.

Food and drinks are also available in huge supplies to spice up the entertainment. As people discuss and move around the courtyards of the AFCON village the police is on hand carrying out the necessary checks and ensuring safe movement. Either the cries from football fans, the sound of music, the smell of good food or the beautiful lighting from the AFCON village in Yaoundé is sure to catch the attention of those within the vicinity and beyond.

CRTV

26, November 2016

Another Camrail train derails, no casualties reported ⁰

A CAMRAIL freight train derailed today the 26^th of November 2016 in the district of Ndokotti, located in the economic capital of Douala.

No loss of human life has been reported so far. The Cameroon Railways (CAMRAIL) train experienced the derailment in the early hours of the morning at the Ndokotti Bridge in Douala. Police say the material damage was not huge.

Today’s incident whose causes remain unknown for the moment, brings to mind the terrible train tragedy at Eseka on October the 21st, 2016 that claimed the lives of 76 people and injured 599 people, according to official figures.

By Chi Prudence Asong with cables from CIN

26, November 2016

Fidel Castro of Cuba dies aged 90 ⁰

The legendary leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, has died, Cuban state television has announced. He was 90.

25, November 2016

Southern Cameroons Statehood Question: What the UN should Do ⁰

The Southern Cameroons Statehood Question falls squarely within the terms of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The people of the territory have the inalienable right to freedom and independence.

The United Nations still has at least a residual moral and legal obligation towards the people of the Southern Cameroons until they achieve sovereign statehood. It has the right to take appropriate action in this matter. Such action includes the right to revert to itself the interim administration of the territory, until such a time that it can conduct a referendum that will reflect the true aspirations of the peoples.

It is accordingly recommended that the United Nations should take the following actions:

1) Call on the government of La Republique du Cameroun, to refrain from any further action calculated to deny or deprive the peoples of the Southern Cameroons of their unquestionable and inalienable right to self determination.

2) Call on La Republique du Cameroun to forthwith withdraw its colonial administration, civil and security from the Southern Cameroons.

3) To take precautionary measures to safeguard life, property and the wealth and resources in the Southern Cameroons, including the deployment of a peacekeeping mission; and

4) To set up a two-year interim United Nations administration in the Southern Cameroons leading up to democratic elections and independence for the territory.