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17, July 2018

U.S. expresses outrage over video of executions in Cameroon ⁰

The U.S. has expressed outrage over a recent video of execution being carried out allegedly by Cameroonian military personnel.

Heather Nauert, U.S. Department of State spokesperson, in a statement called for thorough and transparent investigation by the government of Cameroon.

It said: “The U. S. is gravely concerned over the recent video depicting men wearing military-style uniforms executing two women and two children, one an infant.

“International media, Amnesty International, and Cameroonian human rights organisations attribute the actions portrayed in the video to the Cameroonian military.

“We call on the Government of Cameroon to investigate thoroughly and transparently the events depicted in the video, make its findings public, and if Cameroonian military personnel were involved in this atrocity, hold them accountable”.

The U.S. said all countries, including Cameroon, must uphold their international and national commitments and obligations to protect the human rights of their residents and promote accountability.‎

NAN reports that rights group, Amnesty International, on Saturday said it has “credible information” that Cameroonian soldiers were involved in the executions.

The agency said: “Extensive analysis of the weapons, dialogue, and uniforms that feature in the video, paired with digital verification techniques and testimonies taken from the ground, all strongly suggest that the perpetrators of the executions are Cameroonian soldiers.”

Cameroon’s Ministry of Communication said in a statement that the government is investigating the claims, although government spokespeson, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, is quoted in local media initially saying the video could be “fake news.”

”We haven’t authenticated yet, but I draw your attention to what we call fake news. Do not be peremptory in the attribution of this video to the Cameroonian army.

“Because the enemy is always able to slip into our defence and security forces to attribute to us such heinous crimes,” Mr Bakary said in local media reports.

Source: Premium Times

17, July 2018

Obama emerges from shadows to honour Mandela in South Africa ⁰

Former US president Barack Obama steps out of the shadows on Tuesday to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, in his most high-profile international appearance since leaving office.

Obama made headlines earlier this week with a visit to Kenya, his father’s homeland. But he has otherwise stayed largely out of the political spotlight during his post-presidency, quietly meeting with world leaders and groups away from the camera’s glare.

The choice of Obama to honour Mandela – who is also affectionately known as Madiba – on the centenary of his birth is a highly symbolic one.

“We thought to ourselves, ‘Who can best represent the legacy of Madiba? Who took the baton when he became president of his own country? Who would be able to deal with issues of democracy in a world ripped apart by corruption?’” Sello Hatang, chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, said when announcing Obama as the keynote speaker.

In keeping with tradition, Obama is not expected to comment on his successor, President Donald Trump. Instead, his speech will reflect on Mandela’s legacy, which Obama said “makes me want to be better” in a eulogy following the anti-apartheid leader’s death five years ago.

Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years over his campaign to end apartheid, was at the forefront of the fight against South Africa’s white minority rule, He was released from prison in 1990, and elected the country’s first black president in 1994. His leadership was marked by his steadfast commitment to reconciliation, diversity and equality.

In some ways, Mandela’s life serves as a counter-example, if not a silent rebuke, of the divisive politics Trump has embraced.

“In the US and around the world, many see recent developments that run counter to Mandela’s legacy,” Benjamin Rhodes, a longtime adviser and former speech writer for Obama, told the Associated Press. “This will be a globally minded speech, highlighting global trends and focusing on how, in his life, Mandela embodied perseverance. It will be aimed at young people in Africa and also around the world to show that we have been through darker times before and we can overcome these challenges to keep Mandela’s vision alive.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mandela’s widow Graça Machel will introduce Obama ahead of his speech at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Around 9,000 people were expected to attend the event, according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which will live stream it on its website at 2pm local time (GMT+2).

Obama will remain in Johannesburg afterwards to launch his foundation’s “Leaders: Africa” programme, which will bring together 200 emerging figures from across the continent for a five-day workshop aimed at exploring solutions to the biggest challenges in their communities.

Source: France 24

17, July 2018

Ronaldo says ‘will fight to win Champions League’ for Juventus ⁰

Five time World Player of the year and now the record signing for Italian club Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo has said his move from Real Madrid was a “well thought out decision”, adding that aims to help his new club win their first Champions League title in more than two decades.

Ronaldo, who joined the Italian champions last week on a four-year contract for 100 million euros ($117.07 million), added that he did not want to stay in his comfort zone after winning three straight European Cups with Real.

The 33-year-old left Los Blancos as their all-time top scorer with 451 goals in all competitions and won two La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies over nine years.

“I’m a person who likes to think about the present,” he told a news conference on Monday. “I’m still very young and I always liked the challenges, from Sporting, to Manchester (United), to Real (Madrid) and now Juventus.

“It was a well thought-out decision. It is the best club in Italy. It has an outstanding manager (Massimiliano Allegri) and coaches so it was not a difficult decision to take.”

“I am very ambitious and I like new challenges. I hope everything will go very well. Luck always helps but you have to look for it.”

Why Italy, not Qatar or China?

Ronaldo said he was grateful for the opportunity to represent Juventus, admitting players of his age usually settle for a move to less competitive leagues in Qatar or China.

“Usually players think their careers are over when they are 33. But I don’t feel that at all,” he said, adding that this showed he was “different from the others”.

“(Juve) is a big club and usually players of my age go to Qatar or to China, with all due respect, so coming to such an important and great club at this stage in my career makes me very happy.”

Ronaldo said one of the factors in joining Juve was the standing ovation given to him by the Turin club’s fans on his last visit, when he scored an astonishing overhead kick for Real in the Champions League quarter-finals.

“It was a really stunning moment for me,” he added. “Being welcomed this way is so rewarding. It increases your motivation to start a new adventure.”

Juventus plot European comeback

The signing of the five-times world player of the year and Champions League top scorer for the last six seasons is a major coup for Juve, who have lifted the Serie A title for the last seven seasons but have not won Europe’s top prize since 1996.

“We are going to fight not only for the Champions League but for the Serie A title,” said Ronaldo. “We know competition will be tough but we must stay concentrated.

“I hope I can help Juventus win it (the Champions League). They couldn’t win (last year) because even when you get to the final nothing is written. I hope I can be the lucky star of this club but we will see what happens.”

Ronaldo scored twice when Real beat Juventus 4-1 in the 2017 Champions League final in between triumphs over Atletico Madrid and Liverpool in Europe’s elite club competition.

The Portugal captain took his goalscoring form to the World Cup in Russia and netted four times, but failed to lead the European champions beyond the last-16 stage.

Ronaldo said he would start training with Juve on July 30 and hoped to feature in the opening match of their title defence in August. The fixtures will be announced later this month.

REUTERS

17, July 2018

Nigeria refutes reports of missing soldiers after Boko Haram ambush ⁰

Nigeria’s military has denied reports that over 20 of its troops are missing, following a clash with Boko Haram militants in the northeast of the country.

The confrontation between militants and troops took place on Saturday in the Bama area of Borno, the state worst hit by the jihadist group which has killed more than 30,000 people since 2009 when it launched an insurgency to create an Islamic caliphate.

Three soldiers told Reuters more than 20 were missing. “We lost some of our soldiers in the attack. It is possible those missing are dead. We haven’t seen about 23 of them now,” said an officer who did not want to be named.

Another soldier involved in the clash said the troops were ambushed while conducting a “clearance operation”, adding that “over 20 soldiers have not been seen up till now”. He said five military vehicles were taken.

The militant group carries out suicide bomb attacks in crowded places, such as markets, as well as gun raids and attacks on military bases.

Nigeria’s army denies its ‘missing soldiers’

At a news conference on Monday, the military said media reports of the soldiers being missing were untrue.

An army spokesman said suspected Boko Haram militants had tried to seize military vehicles in an attempted attack on troops in Bama but they had been repelled by troops backed by the air force.

“About 22 members of Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised while several others escaped with gunshot wounds. Efforts are being intensified by the troops to get the fleeing members of the Boko Haram terrorists,” said a military spokesman.

Boko Haram is ‘technically defeated’

Boko Haram held territory around the size of Belgium in northeast Nigeria for several months until being pushed off much of that land in early 2015 by Nigeria’s army and troops from neighbouring countries.

Bama, about 60 km (40 miles) southeast of Borno’s state capital Maiduguri, was held by Boko Haram from September 2014 until March 2015.

Nigeria’s government has said since December 2015 that Boko Haram has been “technically defeated”. Yet attacks continue in the northeast while another group, an Islamic State ally that split from Boko Haram in 2016, holds territory.

REUTERS

17, July 2018

Southern Cameroons-French Cameroun Crisis: Another African state descending into chaos ⁰

It was formerly called the North West and South West regions of the Republic of Cameroon; today’s Federal Republic of Ambazonia (also known as Southern Cameroons) was declared independent from the French Cameroun recently.

Although the government of La Republique du Cameroun started waging a war against the Southern Cameroons after the independence day declaration and the abduction and extradition of its leaders from Nigeria, Africa’s newest nation has been relatively stable under the guidance of the Interim Government (IG) since Sisiku Ayuk Tabe was elected Interim President. President Paul Biya – one of world’s longest-serving leaders – announced he would hold presidential elections this October in an already fragmented society.

The French Cameroun dictator’s reign has been marred by corruption and violence including untold misery. Ever since he joined the French Cameroun government as a junior minister and had a meteoric rise in the Cameroon political system, the former Roman Catholic seminarian has never lost a top seat.

The frustration and vicious marginalization of English speaking Cameroonians for over 57 years has prompted the creation of numerous militia – known as the Dragons, the Odeshi Warriors, The Tigers and the Amba Boys, respectively – drawing fighters from all Southern Cameroons ethnic and political backgrounds.

Biya’s government was aided by President Buhari of neighbouring Nigeria and consequently, the Interim President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and senior members of the Southern Cameroons government were abducted in Nera Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria and extradited to Yaoundé. Ever since Nigeria took that line, the conflict has escalated. Violent clashes have been the order of the day between the Francophone dominated army and Ambazonia Restoration Forces.

Naked arrogance and resisting talk on the part of the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime has already claimed the lives of some 1000 Southern Cameroonians including nearly 300 Cameroon government troops. The UN says some 160,000 Southern Cameroonians have been internally displaced and some 50,000 are seeking refuge outside the nation’s borders.

France and Nigeria are supporting the Biya regime that has also attracted a number of Chadian soldiers. Biya has continued to work closely with a number of Western powers, notably Britain and France, and allowing their firms to explore and extract Cameroon oil and gas.

Repression has always been a key factor in his renewed reign and the 86 year old has always taken the top seat with almost 90% of votes and extended his term when a new constitution came into force. A general ghost town operation is largely observed in Southern Cameroons, but ignored in French Cameroun, where Mr. Biya and his ruling CPDM crime syndicate are in charge.

Cat calls have greeted the announcement that Mr. Biya will be seeking another 7 year mandate at 86 and it is anticipated that sooner or later there will be a significant outbreak of violence in French Cameroun. We understand that dozens of panicked French speaking Cameroonians are already migrating to other African countries such as Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville including the Ivory Coast. In Southern Cameroons nearly all police stations have been set ablaze by Ambazonia forces.

Cameroon government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary has been blaming the attacks on government buildings and state institutions on Southern Cameroons separatists. Thousands of Cameroon government police and troops, some in armoured vehicles have invaded and destroyed Southern Cameroons towns and villages killing hundreds of civilians including women and children in a warlike operation.

Amnesty International has hinted of crimes against humanity being committed in Southern Cameroons and the renowned human rights organization says it’s collecting information to identify the perpetrators of the violence in Ambazonia. Amnesty International has also recently denounced widespread arrests of Southern Cameroonians and the fact that many have been illegally detained and harassed – including a number of members of the civil society and Anglophone journalists.

The Biya regime has always promised the international community that it will keep a watchful eye on government troops operating in Southern Cameroons and look into any excessive use of force by soldiers deployed across Ambazonia. These promises have been nothing but plain fiction.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

17, July 2018

FIFA World Cup: 550,000 fans welcome Croatian team in Zagreb ⁰

Zagreb’s Ban Jelacic square proved too small to fit all the fans who wanted to participate in the welcome party for the Croatian national team on Monday, who came back from Russia a few hours earlier.

Supporters of Croatian national football team celebrate during the team welcoming ceremony at the Bana Jelacica Square in Zagreb on July 16, 2018, after reaching the final at the Russia 2018 World Cup. (AFP)

According to police authorities, around 550,000 fans lined up along the route of the open bus tour, which took the team from Zagreb’s Franjo Tudjman airport to Ban Jelacic square.

The runner-up medal at the 2018 World Cup is the highest achievement in Croatian national football history.

Source: Presstv

16, July 2018

Germany: Service to celebrate the life of Bishop Francis Lysinge ⁰

Cameroonians in the Federal Republic of Germany are hoping that it will be a beautiful, sunny afternoon in Mulheim an der Ruhr, as members of the Cameroon Catholic Community gather in St. Mariae Rosenkranz Catholic Church for a special celebration of the Eucharist to thank God for the life and ministry of the much loved Primate.

Retired Bishop Francis Lysinge served as the Spiritual leader in the Major Seminary in Bambui and as Bishop of Mamfe before commissioning the first ever Cameroon Catholic Community in Mulheim, Germany.

The preacher at the service will be Rev. Father Maurice Agbaw-Ebai together with several other German and African priests who are serving in the Nordrhein Westphalia province. A release from the Mulheim Pastoral Council said the focus of the mass will be on the threefold Order of Ministry of Deacon, Priest and Bishop: A Deacon voices discipleship. A Priest voices presence. A Bishop voices engagement.

The Parish Priest Rev. Father Constant Leke was quoted as saying that he believes that all of the explorations and expressions of the three ordained ministries are already present and powerful in the laity and that the releasing of these gifts and inspirations as lay leadership, is a work on which the Cameroon Catholic Community, so dear to the heart of Bishop Lysinge, has only begun.

This special Mass is slated for Sunday July 22 at 13 hrs CET in Muelheim Germany

By Tambendiparrah

16, July 2018

Roger Milla tried to persuade Umtiti to play for Cameroon ⁰

Before having picked France as his national team, Samuel Umtiti was approached by Roger Milla, who tried to persuade the player to don Cameroon’s colours.

The African legend even travelled to France in 2015 to convince the current Barcelona defender to join his national team.

“The president of the French Federation told us that Umtiti will have to wait four years to make his way up the ladder because there are many players in his position,” Milla said at the time.

“If he wants to play in a World Cup, he has to decide for Cameroon, now or never.”

Three years later, Umtiti scored France’s first goal in the semi-final against Belgium, to lead Les Bleus to Sunday’s final against Croatia.

The 24-year-old defender already won the U20 World Cup in 2013, having been part of a team that also consisted of players such as Paul Pogba, Alphonse Areola and Florian Thauvin.

Umtiti, who was born in Cameroon but moved to France at the age of two, has explained his decision to play for Les Bleus.

“I have family [in Cameroon], but I’ve only been there twice,” he told ESPN. “It’s part of my roots, but I don’t remember what it was like to live there and my decision has been thought through.

“I wanted to defend French colours from the beginning and it’s logical and natural, as I grew up here. “I had my training here and I played with Les Bleus in all the lower categories.”

Source: Marca.com

16, July 2018

Russia 2018: A United Nations of football talent led France to glory ⁰

Antoine Griezmann’s father emigrated from Germany and the France forward’s mother is of Portuguese descent. Paul Pogba’s parents arrived from Guinea. Kylian Mbappe’s dad is from Cameroon, his mum Algerian.

Immigrants, sons of immigrants and grandsons of immigrants bonded together with scions of families that have been French for generations, all for the rouge, blanc et bleu. And for only the second time, France is the World Cup champion.

About two-thirds of Les Bleus’ roster included players with immigrant backgrounds, a mini-United Nations of soccer talent. “That is the France that we love,” Griezmann said through a translator after Sunday’s 4-2 victory over Croatia ended the most exciting World Cup final in decades. “It’s beautiful to see it.”

Griezmann’s free kick was headed in by Mario Manduzkic for an own-goal in the 18th minute, and then Griezmann converted a penalty kick for a 2-1 lead in the 38th after video review spotted a handball by Ivan Perisic.

Mbappe’s speed led to the third goal in the 59th. He added a goal of his own in the 65th, at 19 becoming the second-youngest scorer in a World Cup final behind 17-year-old Pele in 1958.

Vive la diversite!

A day after Bastille Day, the party was on.

“The diversity of the squad is in the image of this beautiful country that is France,” midfielder Blaise Matuidi, whose parents are from Angola and Congo, said through a translator ahead of the match.

France won on a humid night in Russia, with thunderclaps during play and a downpour during the trophy presentation. Quite different from that indelible summer evening at Stade de France in 1998, when fans in the arena and throughout Paris sang “La Marseillaise” until dawn and young teenagers drove cars while their intoxicated parents sat in passenger seats.

People called that team “Black, Blanc, Beur,” noting how black, white and North African players came together.

Zinedine Zidane, a son of Algerians, headed in a pair of first-half corner kicks against heavily favored Brazil. Patrick Vieira, born in Senegal, fed Normandy-born Emmanuel Petit for the third in the 3-0 win.

This year’s team was perhaps even more diverse.

Defender Samuel Umtiti was born in Cameroon and backup goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in Zaire. Others descended from Algeria, Mali, Mauritania, Mococco and Senegal, plus Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

“There may be players who come from different origins, but we do have the same state of mind,” Griezmann said. “We all play for the same jersey, the cockerel. For our country, we give everything we have. As soon as you wear the jersey, we do everything for each other.”

He scored the go-ahead goal after the first video review-created penalty kick in a World Cup final. During a delay of about four minutes that might have unnerved less-composed players, Griezmann told himself to pretend it was a league match.

“Carry on and do the same thing as I normally do,” he remembered thinking.

At 27, he is in his prime but in the penumbra of Spanish soccer powers at Atletico Madrid, toiling in a league that Barcelona and Real Madrid dominate. He led the 2016 European Championship with six goals and tied for second with four at this World Cup, three on penalty kicks, earning the Bronze Ball as third-best player behind Croatia midfielder Luka Modric and Belgium forward Eden Hazard.

Griezmann kissed the trophy, knowing his generation will be revered in the same way Zidane, Petit, Thierry Henry, Lilian Thuram and Fabien Barthez remain renowned from Calais to Cannes.

“From tonight on, I’m sorry for them, but they are going to be different,” coach Didier Deschamps said. “Those 23 players will be linked forever, forever. Whatever happens – they might follow different paths, but they will be marked forever and they will be together thanks to this event.”

Griezmann, man of the match in a World Cup final, will be on posters throughout the republic, asked for endorsements, a mainstay of commercials. He will be pestered for autographs for the rest of his life.

“I’m going to be in the history of French football with my team,” Griezmann said. “We don’t quite realize it yet. Our children will be very proud to have our names.”

(AP)

16, July 2018

Trump and Putin meet at closely watched Helsinki summit ⁰

US President Donald Trump is sitting down with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, in Helsinki, Finland on Monday for a meeting that comes amid heightened tensions with Europe and an ongoing inquiry into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

The US and Russian leaders opened the historic summit on Monday with Trump promising an “extraordinary relationship” and Putin saying it was high time they thrashed out disputes around the world.

Looking sombre, they exchanged opening remarks in front of reporters before their closed-door meeting. Trump underlined his sentiment that getting along with Russia would be “a good thing, not a bad thing”. Putin, for his part, said, “The time has come to talk in a substantive way about our relations and problem areas of the world.”

Hours before his first ever summit with Putin, Trump had said that “US foolishness” was responsible for Washington’s poor relationship with Moscow.

“Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse,” he tweeted from Helsinki on Monday morning, blaming “many years of US foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!”

Trump’s comments showed how much domestic political pressure he is under over the summit. Critics and his own advisers have urged him to use the meeting to pressure Putin over his country’s role in the 2016 election and other “malign” activities.

On Friday, the special counsel investigating Russian meddling indicted 12 Russian military intelligence officers for hacking the Democratic National Committee and the campaign of Trump’s rival, Hillary Clinton.

Yet Trump has refused to criticise Putin, instead focusing his frustration over US-Russian ties on his own country. His stance has raised questions back at home, with Clinton tweeting: “Great World Cup. Question for President Trump as he meets Putin: Do you know which team you play for?”

Despite the criticism, Trump appeared upbeat during a breakfast with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö just hours before his meeting with Putin. Asked what he would say to Putin, Trump said: “We’ll do just fine, thank you.”

The two leaders were expected to first meet one-on-one with only their interpreters, followed by a working lunch accompanied by advisers, and a joint news conference.

A win for Russia

Neither side expects major breakthroughs from the talks and the outcome is uncertain given sharp differences between Washington and Moscow over everything from Syria to Ukraine.

For Putin, the fact that the summit is even happening despite Russia’s semi-pariah status among some Americans and US allies is a geopolitical win because, in Russian eyes, it shows that Washington recognises Moscow as a great power that cannot be isolated or ignored.

The Kremlin made clear beforehand it did not expect an easy meeting, taking Trump to task over his criticism of a planned Russian gas pipeline to Germany and suggesting it would be hard to find common ground on Syria because of differences over Iran.

Russia hoped however that the summit would be “the first step” in overcoming a crisis in relations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s RT TV station. “Presidents Trump and Putin respect each other and they get along well,” said Peskov. “There is no clear agenda. It will be determined by the heads of state themselves as they go along.”

Trump wants Russia to use its influence in Syria, where it is backing President Bashar al-Assad militarily, to push Iranian and Iranian-allied forces out.

“Of course Syria will be discussed by the two presidents,” said Peskov. “We all know what Washington thinks of Iran. But at the same time Iran is a good partner to us in terms of trade, economic cooperation and political dialogue. So this will not be an easy exchange of views.”

Trump has predicted he will be accused of being too soft on Putin no matter how the summit goes. “If I was given the great city of Moscow as retribution for all of the sins and evils committed by Russia…I would return to criticism that it wasn’t good enough – that I should have gotten Saint Petersburg in addition!” he tweeted on Sunday.

He has said he will raise the issue of Russian election meddling, but does not expect to get anywhere.

The Helsinki summit is the capstone to a nearly week-long trip for Trump, during which he has sown doubts over his commitment to the NATO military alliance, undermined the US’s so-called special relationship with Britain, and denigrated the European Union as a trade “foe”.

(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)