Monthly Archives: January 2025

12, January 2025

The Holy Father names new bishop in Yokadouma ⁰

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Justin Georges Ebengue, of the clergy of Batouri, until now rector of the Notre Dame de l’Espérance Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Bertoua, as bishop of Yokadouma, Cameroon.

Msgr. Justin Georges Ebengue was born on 18 May 1970. He attended the Saint Jean-Baptiste Preparatory Seminary of Doumé, and studied philosophy and theology at the Notre Dame de l’Espérance Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Bertoua, receiving a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of Central African in Yaoundé.

He was ordained a priest on 18 February 2006 for the diocese of Batouri.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar, parish priest, rector of the minor seminary of Doumé, chancellor of the diocese of Doumé-Abong’ Mbang, head of diocesan pastoral care and catechesis, diocesan administrator of Batouri (2017-2018), rector of the Cathedral of Batouri, chaplain of the Bary Catholic College, member of the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral Council and the Council for Economic Affairs, member of the administration of the diocesan Procuratorate, vicar general of Batouri.

Since 2023 he has been rector of the Notre-Dame de l’Espérance Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Bertoua.

Source: Agenzia Fides

12, January 2025

Mamfe: Church hails diaspora for giving toilets to Saint Mary’s Catholic School ⁰

The Roman Catholic Church has lauded Boh Nchang Europe (BNEu) for constructing a modern toilet facility for the Saint Mary’s Catholic School Nchang to put an end to open defecation among pupils in the school.

The Regent Chief of Nchang, Ta Martin Ettasco who commissioned the toilet project recently and handed it over to the Diocese of Mamfe, commended BNEu for keying into Bishop Abangalo Fondong’s plan to put an end to open defecation in the bush in Catholic schools.

Ta Martin Ettasco said that the toilet project would prevent pupils from contaminating diseases associated with open defecation, and keep them clean and safe, stating that the project was a selfless service to improving the well-being of the current and future of the pupils.

Speaking exclusively to Cameroon Concord News the President of Boh Nchang Europe Dr Tataw-Mbimbeng opined that the provision of toilets in schools and the benefits they inevitably offer cannot be stressed enough.

The much respected Dr Tataw-Mbimbeng furthered that adequate sanitation facilities are fundamental to creating a conducive learning environment, improving students help, and curbing the spread of preventable diseases.

Dr Tataw-Mbimbeng also pointed out that the intervention of BNEu would go a long way to complement the efforts of the government towards the provision of equitable and quality education for the citizenry.

By Soter Agbaw-Ebai

11, January 2025

Unity Palace: Biya receives 2025 New Year Wishes ⁰

Members of the Diplomatic Corps and National Dignitaries presented New Year wishes to the 91-year-old BIYA at Unity Palace on 10 January 2025.

The ceremony reportedly started at the Hall of Ambassadors where Mostafa Bouh, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps acknowledged Cameroon’s hospitality and efforts to strengthen multilateralism. Bouh congratulated Biya on CAF’s decision to confer the Excellence Award recognition for his outstanding contribution to the growth of football on the African continent.

Ambassador Mostafa Bouh lauded the recent inscription of the Ngondo festival of the Sawa people on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list on 4 December 2024.

BIYA responded with gratitude and recalled his message for more solidarity and constructive dialogue in the resolution of conflicts around the world. He reiterated Cameroon’s position for a peaceful, just, prosperous and inclusive international community.

He also expressed his profound gratitude to the Diplomatic Corps for their massive support on the election of Cameroonian-born Philemon Yang as President of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The second and last phase of the ceremony organised at the Banquet Hall opened the floor to National Dignitaries, including Members of Parliament, the judiciary, Members of Government, defence and security forces, political and religious authorities, businesspersons, trade union leaders, and staff of the Presidency of the Republic.

Culled from the PRC

10, January 2025

Manyu Diaspora: A senior Nyene Mawn queen has died in France ⁰

A prominent member of the Manyu Women International Association (Nyene Mawn) Lady Mbi Angel died Friday in France.

Here’s how the Nyene Mawn family announced her passing on a social media post.

Death of Queen Mbi Angel of NYENE MAWN France

Queen Mbi Angel has died in France. Lady Mbi Angel was the rock on which Nyene Mawn was built when we rebranded in Belgium last year and who provided Nyene Mawn with the stability and strength that our great association needed.

The death of our beloved sister Mbi Angel is a moment of the greatest sadness for all members of the Nyene Mawn family all over the world.

Nyene Mawn queens are mourning profoundly the passing of a cherished Manyu iron lady and a much-loved Manyu woman. We all in Nyene Mawn know her loss will be deeply felt throughout all Nyene Mawn branches all over the world and in our great Manyu constituency.

Rest in peace Queen Mbi Angel!

Please a detail Nyene Mawn funeral arrangement will be announce in the coming days.

Sign: Mami Patience Abangma

President-General

Nyene Mawn

10, January 2025

Biya will die soon ⁰

The clock is ticking on whether President Biya will continue as head of state beyond the 2025 presidential elections.

The 91-year-old leader and his acolytes would not say if he is preparing to step down this year or face a forced eviction out of the Unity Palace by angry Cameroonians.

The failed leader has still not made a decision on whether he will run for the upcoming elections and go beyond 2025.

While senior Roman Catholic Bishops are demanding that he resigns, ambassadors from the US, UK and Canada have also been pushing his Minister of Territorial Administration; Paul Atanga Nji to convince Biya to accept that time has come for him to leave the political stage.

Our Yaoundé city reporter said late yesterday that the dictator after forty-two years in power is still not sure that Cameroon as a nation has options if he decides to step down.

With age now telling on him and his health failing at catastrophic rapidity, we of the Concord Group believe that sooner or later it will happen and Cameroonians have to prepare.

However, if Biya does decide to go on beyond 2025, he will end up in the Kondengui Maximum Security Prison in Yaoundé with many of his most trusted allies.

Our informants in Etoudi watching him as he struggles to receive New Year wishes from his cronies have all admitted that the presidential part of Biya has left him and he will die soon.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

9, January 2025

“Biya has realized that the time has come to leave” Joshua Osih ⁰

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), Joshua Osih, met the press on Tuesday 7 January 2025. This is a traditional meeting that the SDF leader honours at the beginning of each year.

The business tycoon took the opportunity to revisit President Biya’s message to the nation on 31 January 2024, as well as the statements made by Roman Catholic bishops.

According to Joshua Osih, Biya himself has noted that the time has come to leave and this is what the Cameroonian Bishops have noticed, although they are not alone. Joshua Osih stated that the bishops have simply made public what everyone else is thinking.

‘When you listen to the President of the Republic on 31 December, the least you can do is give us an assessment. If you can’t tell us what you’ve done in a year, if you cannot tell us what you’ve done in 42 years. Unfortunately, it has to be said that Biya is incapable of doing so. He has also realised that the time has come to leave. The Catholic Bishops have noticed this, and they are not alone. Everyone has seen it. But they have a platform that others don’t have. That’s why, from this platform, they have said out loud what others think in silence’, Joshua Osih told teleasu.tv journalists.

Hon. Osih described Cameroon as a country at the end of its tether. According to Joshua Osih, the end-of-year celebrations are a clear sign of failure, epitomised by the President of the Republic.

‘The Cameroonian majority has always been a silent majority. When you see how the end-of-year celebrations went today, with deserted streets and very little music, you understand that Cameroon is at the end of its tether. And the person who embodies this failure, all he can do to save us from a bloodbath, is to leave’, said Joshua Osih.

By Rita Akana in Yaoundé

9, January 2025

Football: Eto’o in Cairo ⁰

Samuel Eto’o, the four-time African Player of the Year, this week visited Cairo where he met Egypt’s Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhi and congratulated the new board of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA).

Eto’o, currently the president of the Cameroonian Football Association, congratulated the new board members, headed by FIFA and CAF executive board member Hani Abu Rida, after they won elections last month by acclamation. They will lead the EFA for the next four years.

“Thank you for coming to congratulate Abu Rida, the ‘godfather of Egyptian football’. Glad to meet you again in Egypt,” Sobhi told Eto’o, who had made a surprise visit to the EFA headquarters.

Eto’o was also in Egypt to support Cameroon’s Under-18 women’s football team who are to meet their Egyptian counterparts in the African qualifications for the FIFA U-18 world Cup. The home game is to take place on Sunday 12 January at the 30 June Stadium. The return game is scheduled for 18 January in Cameroon.

Eto’o, 43, joined Barcelona in 2004 where he scored 130 goals in five seasons, winning La Liga three times and the UEFA Champions League once.

As a member of the Cameroon national team, he was part of the squad that won the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics. He also won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002. He is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations with 18 goals.

Eto’o also participated in four World Cups.

He announced his retirement from international football in August 2014.

Source: ahramonline

9, January 2025

Football: Manchester United eye move for Cameroonian star Bryan Mbeumo ⁰

Premier League giants Manchester United are in the market for another forward as they lose hope of keeping Marcus Rashford, pushing them to consider a move for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.

The Cameroonian attacker has been impressive for Brentofrd and could be set for a move to Old Trafford to join international teammate Andre Onana.

According to reports from England, the Red Devils are reportedly heavily invested in a potential deal for Mbeumo, especially considering the Cameroonian’s current form with Brentford.

In 20 matches with Brentford this season, Mbeumo has already scored 13 goals, providing three assists in the process, and is one of the most in-form players in the Premier League at the moment.

Given Mbeumo’s impressive performances this season, including four-goal contributions in his last two games, Manchester United are reportedly willing to pay as much as £43 million for the Cameroon international.

The Red Devils’ pursuit of Mbeumo could be linked to the possible departure of Rashford, who seems ever closer to the Old Trafford exit door.

After being left out of the matchday squad to face Manchester City by Ruben Amorim, Rashford starred in a tell-all documentary, where he confirmed that he was in search of a new challenge, possibly outside Manchester United.

The England international is reportedly now deemed transferrable by Manchester United, amidst interest from AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli, and Borussia Dortmund for a possible January switch.

Should they lose Rashford in January, Manchester United will likely step up efforts to persuade Brentford to part ways with Mbeumo.

Source: Pulsesports

9, January 2025

US: fire erupts in Hollywood Hills ⁰

A fire has broken out in the Hollywood Hills, causing LA Fire Department chief Kristin Crowley to abruptly leave a press conference at which she was giving an update on the fires

The blaze, named the Sunset Fire by the LA Fire Department, has triggered mandatory evacuations, including areas dotted with celebrity homes

There are now at least six fires raging in Los Angeles and its neighbouring Ventura county. Apart from one in Woodley, which has decreased in size, the others are 0% contained, officials say

Five people are confirmed dead and more than 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate from the Eaton fire. Another 37,000 have been evacuated because of Palisades inferno

Palisades, the first blaze to break out on Tuesday, has become the most destructive in LA’s history – and is still growing, officials say

Firefighters in Los Angeles are experiencing a shortage of water and are resorting to taking water from swimming pools and ponds

LA Mayor Karen Bass defended her absence when the wildfires broke out – she was in Africa as part of a delegation. Bass has also faced criticism amid reports she cut more than $17m from the fire department’s budget last summer.

Source: BBC

9, January 2025

Coup d’état in Chad: Government says attempt at destabilization thwarted ⁰

The government of Chad has insisted the situation in capitol N’Djamena is stable after gunshots were heard near the presidential palace.

Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said in a video apparently recorded within the palace complex that there had been a “little incident” but that “everything is calm”.

Sources close to the African state’s government said clashes had occurred between security forces and “terrorist elements”.

The French news agency AFP quoted Koulamallah as saying that 18 attackers and a member of the security forces had been killed.

Chad is a landlocked country in northern-central Africa which, since gaining independence from France in 1960, has seen frequent periods of instability and fighting, most recently between government forces and those of Islamist group Boko Haram.

It is led by President Mahamat Déby, who was installed by the military in 2021 after his father, Idriss Déby, was killed in a battle with rebel forces after 30 years in power.

Following the incident on Wednesday, tanks were seen in the area and all roads leading to the palace were closed, the AFP said.

In the video, posted to Facebook, Koulamallah is seen surrounded by members of the government forces.

“Nothing serious has happened,” he says.

“We are here and we will defend our country at the price of our blood. Be calm.

“This whole attempt at destabilisation has been thwarted.”

He is then seen taking photos and raising his fist with the soldiers.

Koulamallah was quoted by AFP as saying the assault had been launched by a 24-man commando unit, adding that six of the attackers had suffered injuries.

A further three members of the government forces also suffered injuries, he added.

The incident came just hours after a visit to the former French territory by China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, who met Déby and other senior officials.

Source: BBC