News

15, July 2016

CPDM government identifies the teaching of local languages as a tool for development ⁰

After failing to deliver best practice in economic and social development in the country, the government of Cameroon has identified the teaching and learning of local languages as a tool for development.

The idea was made concrete through a convention signed between the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI) and the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) International, on the 13^th of July 2016.

The MINRESI boss, Madeleine Tchuinte signed on behalf of the CPDM regime while the Director General of SIL represented his organization.

The agreement comes to buttress other actions by Cameroon government to promote the teaching of many native languages in schools especially at the level of basic education.

CRTV

14, July 2016

Amnesty International says 6 to 8 people die every month in the Maroua Central prison ⁰

The latest Amnesty International report on Cameroon released this Thursday, July 14, 2016 shows an alarming situation of human rights violation. Amnesty International say prisoners’ detention conditions are deplorable. The report hinted that over 1,000 people were arbitrarily arrested and are held in appalling conditions, and dozens of them die from an illness, malnutrition or torture by law enforcement operations targeting captured Boko Haram militants.

The Amnesty International report singled out the situation in the Maroua prison and reported that more than 1000 people accused of supporting Boko Haram are currently being held in extremely overcrowded and unsanitary prisons, where malnutrition is rife. The authoritative human rights organization revealed that the Penitentiary Maroua prison records each month six to eight deaths.

Amnesty warned that water is not sufficient in many of the detention centers and added that even the construction of new cells in the Maroua prison has failed to alleviate the sufferings of nearly 1 500 people held in a building meant for 350.

Rita Akana (Cameroon Concord News Group)

14, July 2016

Yaounde: Leader of a gang of fraudsters arrested ⁰

A suspected leader of a gang of fraudsters is presently in police custody in Yaounde. Reports say Tchienou Gideon, 43, is alleged to be specialised in the production and distribution of fake documents notably birth certificates, administrative and municipal documents. According to the reports, Gideon was caught on June 17, 2016 by the elements of the Central Police Station No 1 for the city of Yaounde at the Yaounde administrative area. The officers were acting on the instructions of the Delegate General for National Security.

The police officers found in his possession huge quantities of stamped and signed birth certificates awaiting information to be filled and several others. Two other accomplices, Bedima Basile and Ekoule Mbenda, suspected to have links with this crime world have also been arrested. Even though they have spent days in police cells they still claim to be innocent. However, investigations are on going to see whether they are guilty of the same offence.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Handy Likound said administrative authorities have been complaining that their signatures are being misused. He said Gideon was arrested while carrying out his act through thorough investigations by the police. He said those who produce fake documents are punishable by the law and even those who keep the documents. He called on the public to be vigilant while certifying documents.

Cameroon Tribune

13, July 2016

As fighting intensifies in South Sudan, Germany and Italy begin evacuating nationals ⁰

Germany and Italy have started evacuating nationals and some citizens from other European countries from South Sudan as fighting keeps surging across the African country. “The government’s crisis task force has decided to evacuate German, European and international citizens from South Sudan,” German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Sawsan Chebli, said on Wednesday, adding that the ongoing evacuation process is carried out by German air force planes.

Chebli added that the priority in the evacuation would be for those with German organizations, adding that some 100 German nationals still remain in South Sudan. Germany’s evacuation program would also include other foreigners, she said. The German official did not elaborate on the nationalities of those foreigners due to security concerns.

Italy also announced the start of evacuation from South Sudan on Wednesday with officials in Rome saying that a military plane carrying 30 Italians and an unspecified number of other EU citizens departed Wednesday morning for its base in Djibouti.

Presstv

13, July 2016

Amnesty International holds talks with Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary ⁰

Cameroon’s Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary has met with a high powered delegation from Amnesty International. The meeting was at the request of the Cameroon government and both sides had a positive exchange on Tuesday in Yaoundé on the situation of human rights in the Far North region.

As a prelude to the launch tomorrow Thursday of a report on the situation of human rights in the Far North region, in relation to the fight against Boko Haram, Amnesty International officials opined that the meeting with the controversial cabinet minister was vital. After the meeting, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and his guests took stock of their trade to the press.

The Amnesty International delegation expressed concerns over the arbitrary detention of innocent people in the Far North region and stressed the need to investigate human rights violations in the country.

Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News Group)

13, July 2016

Boko Haram kills 2, injures 4 Cameroonian soldiers ⁰

Militants of the Nigerian Islamist sect that has pledged allegiance to the Organization of the Islamic state have killed two Cameroonian civilians injuring 4 within the last 24 hours.

Presented as being militarily weakened, Boko Haram on Tuesday night raided the locality of Maloumri killing two people.

Cameroon Concord News military informant hinted that 4 soldiers were seriously wounded in Mourdas on Tuesday after a mine deposited in their vehicle exploded.

Rita Akana (Cameroon Concord News Group)

12, July 2016

South West mayors snub launching of PNDP phase 3 ⁰

Municipal officials in the South West region who were the main target of the National Community Driven Development Program, PNDP, a local state development outlet created by government have boycotted an event in Buea to inaugurate the third phase of the program.

Almost half of the over 200 capacity BUEA council hall was empty today considering the heavyweight nature of the event chaired by South West Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai in the Presence of the PNDP National coordinator, Mme Magdalene Nga who merely managed to address the scantily attended forum in English.

The spirit of today’s event was that of sleeping during speeches and it required an injunction from Governor Bernard Okalia for participants to wake up sleeping mates. The launching of the World Bank supported project was a disgrace and total fiasco.

More than 15 councils in the South West have been earmarked to benefit from the third phase of the project. Local development is expected to speed up in the South West region. David Nkem, Regional coordinator for PNDP South West says all have been set for the 3rd phase to kick off in the region.

Cham Victor Bama (Cameroon Concord News Group)

11, July 2016

Cameroon to deploy troops along the border with the Central African Republic ⁰

Cameroon government authorities have announced that security will be tightened security along the border with the Central African Republic. Jean Baptiste Bokam, the Secretary of State for Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, made the decision public over state radio and television without specifying the nature of such measures.

Cameroon Concord News understands the strengthening of security will dampen or limit multiple incursions from rebels in the Central Africa region which has culminated to deaths or kidnappings of many Cameroonians. A sister publication, Cameroon Intelligence Report revealed that in recent months, the rebels of the Seleka and anti Balaka groups have multiplied their incursions into Cameroonian territory.

Rita Akana (Cameroon Concord News Group)

10, July 2016

Mayor of Lagdo, 13 others freed ⁰

Mama Abakaï, Mayor of Lagdo in the north and 13 Cameroonian hostages have been released after negotiations that did involve the governments of Cameroon, Central African Republic, the UN peace keeping mission, Minusca and the Central African armed groups that carried out the kidnappings.

Cameroon Concord News learnt that they were freed two days. Our informant hinted that the mayor and his entourage were first handed over to the UN peace keepers before they started their journey home for Garoua –Boulaï. The 14 Cameroonian hostages were kidnapped on March 19, 2015 at Gbabio, a town in eastern Cameroon.

Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News Group)

10, July 2016

Minister Martin Belinga Eboutou travels to France for medical reasons ⁰

The Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic has reportedly traveled to France for medical reasons. Martin Belinga Eboutou, a long time acolyte of the Cameroonian dictator, President Biya, smuggled himself out of the country yesterday night.

Cameroon Concord News gathered from an authoritative source that Martin Belinga Eboutou walked through one of the tarmacs of the Nsimalen international airport incognito looking a very sick man and boarded an Air France flight to Paris.