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28, September 2024

Lucas Cho Ayaba in Norwegian Custody: Arrest Sends Important Message ⁰

Earlier this week, Norwegian police confirmed the arrest of a man on suspicion of incitement to commit crimes against humanity in Cameroon. AFP confirmed the man was Lucas Cho Ayaba, a Cameroonian separatist leader. His arrest could be a step toward justice for the victims of serious crimes in Cameroon’s embattled Anglophone regions.

Ayaba is the leader of the Ambazonia Governing Council, a major separatist group involved in the ongoing conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone region. Ayaba is alleged to have coordinated its armed wing, the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), remotely from Norway. The Ambazonia Governing Council’s aim is to carve out an independent state for Cameroon’s minority Anglophones. To accomplish this aim, the group punished anyone it perceived as collaborating with the government. It targeted civilians, kidnapped humanitarian workers, and killed perceived opponents while using intimidation and violence to keep children and their teachers out of school.

The prosecutor has indicated that the investigation is at an early phase, but given Ayaba is accused of inciting these crimes from Norway, prosecutors may have a number of grounds on which to pursue the case. It is the first time Norwegian judicial authorities have charged an individual for incitement to crimes against humanity.

As armed separatists like the ADF continue to clash with government forces, the welfare of civilians has become a secondary concern to the parties involved. Ayaba’s arrest is a warning to others implicated in grave crimes that the reign of impunity may be ending.

Separatists are not the only ones committing serious human rights abuses in the Anglophone regions. Serious crimes by government forces have been rife since the crisis began and security forces have also killed civilians, burned dozens of villages, and arbitrarily arrested and tortured hundreds of alleged armed separatists.

The Cameroonian government has the responsibility to ensure justice for the most serious crimes but has made scant progress in investigating, much less prosecuting, those responsible for grave offenses committed as part of the Anglophone crisis, particularly by Cameroon’s security forces.

While Ayaba’s arrest is to be welcomed, justice cannot be one-sided. All perpetrators of grave abuses, including government forces, should be held to account.

Culled from Human Rights Watch

28, September 2024

CAMTEL battles vandalism threats as internet service deteriorates ⁰

CAMTEL is facing intentional vandalism targeting its optical fiber, disrupting internet services across Cameroon since September 20.

Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL), the country’s leading telecommunications provider, has reported a significant deterioration in Internet service following a rise in acts of vandalism targeting its optical fiber infrastructure. Since September 20, the company has faced an upsurge in deliberate attacks that have severely impacted its ability to maintain reliable electronic communications across Cameroon.

CAMTEL’s management believes that these incidents are intentional and aim to undermine the company’s reputation and its capacity to deliver high-quality Internet services.

As the backbone of Cameroon’s digital connectivity, CAMTEL’s optical fiber network plays a critical role in ensuring seamless communication, making the recent disruptions particularly concerning for businesses and individuals who rely on stable online access.

“Our teams on the ground are working tirelessly to restore connection as soon as possible.

CAMTEL apologises for the inconvenience caused by the deterioration of service due to these incidents and remains committed to providing its partners with quality Internet service” Camtel said in a statement.

Source: Techafricanews

26, September 2024

Ambazonia at the United Nations: The Speech of Vice President Dabney Yerima ⁰

The neglected eight-year war in Southern Cameroons and the urgent international action to end it

The ongoing mass killing of Southern Cameroonians by French Cameroon in the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, marked by systematic violence, widespread displacement, and the persecution of innocent civilians, continues to be met with disturbing silence and inaction from the international community.

The conflict which has claimed some thirty-two thousand lives, torn apart communities and displaced about 5 million people is a glaring example of a human rights crisis that demands urgent attention.

Despite a compelling body of evidence of genocide, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities by Biya’s armed forces ranging from extrajudicial killings of men women and children, to the destruction of villages, schools and churches used as military camps, raping of women, girls and children, looting of property by the French Cameroon invading military, global powers and international institutions have failed to respond with the seriousness the situation deserves.

This neglect has allowed the situation to deteriorate, deepening the suffering of the Ambazonian people and emboldening Paul Biya and his invading military sponsored by France which is responsible for the violence and human rights abuses.

The recent trend of arresting, abducting, and incarcerating Ambazonians in the Diaspora is not only a violation of their fundamental rights but also a misguided approach that will not resolve the crisis. These actions, aimed at silencing voices advocating peace, justice, and self-determination, only exacerbate tensions.

We, the leaders of Ambazonia, categorically state that arresting Ambazonian leaders abroad will not bring about peace. The international community must recognize that repression and intimidation will not end this conflict.

I have followed the ongoing general assembly meeting of the United Nations hoping that some world leaders would site what is going on in Ambazonia as one of the ongoing conflicts in the world today, strangely, none of them mentioned it. Some world leaders would cite Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine and Sudan, but will never think of the conflict in Southern Cameroons.

President Biden had a great speech but omitted the conflict in Ambazonia even though interestingly he called on the UN to go back to their main objective of promoting and fighting for peace around the world. He also emphasized the force of people’s power.

The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Philemon Yang, a born Ambazonian, on the other hand did not make mention of the genocide going on in Ambazonia which he could not resolve through peaceful dialogue when he was head of government in Yaoundé. He is calling for a two-state solution for the conflict between Israel and Palestine. What a paradox! Ask Yang to leave the current UN Session and spend a week in his village, Oku, in Ambazonia. He will tell you, over his dead body because he has the blood of innocent Ambazonians on his hands.

What Ambazonia and the people in the region need is not more violence or punitive measures but genuine and meaningful discussions which address fully and definitively the root causes of the French Cameroon-Ambazonia armed conflict. The key to resolving this conflict lies in dialogue. We call upon the international community, especially key stakeholders such as the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, and major world powers, to push for a peaceful resolution through negotiations without pre-conditions.

The International community should note that the genocide in Ambazonia will not be resolved by arresting, abducting or incarcerating Ambazonians.

The people of Ambazonia have the right to self-determination and to live free from fear and persecution. The international community’s continued indifference is unacceptable. It is time for the world to act decisively, to bring both sides to negotiate a peaceful and just resolution, and to address the root causes of the conflict. We shall not be intimidated; we are bold and resilient because self-determination is our basic human rights. We will continue to fight for our liberation. We will continue to fight for our inalienable right to govern ourselves in peace, justice and security.

We stand firm in our belief that the future of Ambazonia must be determined by the people of Ambazonia themselves and no one else, not by the unlawful detention of those seeking to voice the legitimate aspirations of the Ambazonian people.

All evidence points to the fact that it is Biya and his civilian and military collaborators who ought to be in a dock. Ambazonia is a land founded on democracy and Justice.

The rule of law is the basic tenet in Ambazonia. Justice shall prevail!

The time for negotiations is now. Arrests and abductions will not stop our will and the will of a people who are determined to live in peace, dignity, and freedom. We urge the international community to stop turning a blind eye and take active steps towards peace in Ambazonia. I call on all comrades around the world to celebrate our Independence Day this year like never before. Let our voices be heard in Canada, Ground one, and Ground two and Ground zero, Rome, South Africa and the United States of America with the slogan, “No to the War in the Southern Cameroons and Yes to peaceful negotiations.”

26, September 2024

UN Conference on diversity holds in Nairobi ⁰

A UN conference on climate diversity and desertification, held on the theme “Greening the African Horizon” took place in Nairobi, Kenya, on 17 September 2024 with Africa taking center stage in efforts to restore degraded landscapes, protect biodiversity and build sustainable livelihoods for its citizens.

Dubbed as the GLF Africa 2024 hybrid conference greening the African Horizon, the event brought together thousands of participants from local communities, indigenous peoples, youth leaders and policy makers, as well as innovators to showcase Africa’s immerse potentials.

Speaking at the event, the CEO of the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Eliane Ubalijoro, said that the event was designed to showcase Africa’s immense potential to construct a resilient equitable future through its landscape.

“Together, we have the power to green Africa and beyond- for food securing livelihoods, food security, climate resilience and biodiversity conservation. Land and community are the common denominators for achieving these goals. Though the climate crisis presents immense challenges, Africa holds immense potentials of rich and local indigenous knowledge, innovative solutions, youth leaders, brilliant minds and emerging technologies,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, Elijah Mboko, National Technical Specialist at FAO Kenya said that “As we bring in new tools and approaches, we should look at how to best integrate them into the existing functional systems so that we don’t start from zero to distort what is ongoing on the land. We don’t want to work in isolation; we want to strengthen that system.”

By integrating local knowledge with cutting-edge technology and the latest science, the GLF is creating an AI hub to promote community-driven AI solutions that challenge the status quo. It will connect landscape actors and create interdisciplinary alliances to foster collaboration, innovation and inclusive knowledge.

Catherine Nakalembe, Associate Research Professor at the University of Maryland and Africa Program Director at NASA Harvest, who also attended the event pointed out that Africa needed to design systems that fitted the African context.

“We need to design systems that are appropriate for the context of Africa. We need data from the places that we’re trying to understand to build better models. Let’s say, foe Western Kenya, we need a context-aware model that can interpret intercropping in small-scale practices,” she said.

A key aspect of restoring forest is planting trees, which in turn requires effective tree seed and seedling delivery systems. During a session hosted by CIFOR-ICRAF, panelists and participants emphasized the need to develop a market for demand-driven native tree species to engage communities through participatory approaches and to share knowledge and resources broadly through stakeholder networks such as the nascent Transformative Partnership Platform (TPP).

Also present at the event, the Senior Manager for the Youth Leadership Program at the African Wildlife Foundation, Simangele Msweli, underscored that youths made a critical mass of the population. “70% of the African population is under the age of 35. Youths make up a very critical mass of the population. The biodiversity and climate crisis requires a whole-of-society approach-everyone must take action,” he said.

“There is a need to decolonize how we do climate justice and land restoration. Whatever has happened on other continents, whatever the donors and the granters are saying might not be the solution for Africa. There is a need for Africa to come up with African solutions. There is a need for women to be involved in coming up with solutions to land issues that are upon them,” said Deborah Oyugi, English Countries Manager and Safeguarding Lead at Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (Yilaa).

By Cecilia M. Manjang

26, September 2024

Yaoundé: Glencore affair could cause political earthquake ⁰

As UK courts investigate accusations of corruption against Glencore and the oil trader’s activities in Africa, speculation is rife in Cameroon that the affair could have repercussions for President Paul Biya.

On 8 October, Southwark Crown Court in London will open a new hearing in the Glencore case, and Cameroon will again be holding its breath. The case could erupt into an international corruption scandal.

At this and subsequent hearings, it will be a question of putting names to the nebulous figures who are alleged to have received bribes from the oil company – to the tune of some CFA10bn ($16.9bn) in connection with contracts awarded to Cameroon by the Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures (National Society of Hydrocarbon, SNH).

Expectations dropped on 10 September at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, where the case was called for a preliminary hearing. Despite popular pressure, none of the names of those suspected were mentioned. Yaoundé is waiting for British defendants Martin Wakefield, Alexander Beard and Andrew Gibson, former senior executives of the Anglo-Swiss oil company, to reveal the names of the Cameroonians to whom they are alleged to have paid bribes for the award of oil contracts – and preparing for the impact.

Biya implicated?

As Cameroon’s President Paul Biya looks set to run for re-election in a year, he is grappling with the possible consequences of the Glencore case, which could call into question his commitment to fighting corruption. Two years have passed since former executives of the company confessed to bribing Cameroonian officials, yet no criminal investigation has been launched. This is despite a complaint by SNH to the Special Criminal Court (SCT) asking it to “identify the Cameroonian accomplices in these acts of corruption”.

According to the British defendants, the events took place between 2007 and 2014. Most of those working for SNH or Société Nationale de Refininage (National Society of Refining, Sonara) at the time are still in their positions. However, none have been heard from in an investigation. Is this because the chain of responsibility could go all the way back to the president of Cameroon himself? According to many observers, it is unthinkable that SNH could have awarded contracts at extremely advantageous rates without the presidency being informed.

The minister of state and secretary-general of the presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, also chairs SNH’s board of directors. Yet the government has communicated little about this affair, reinforcing the impression of a lack of transparency that surrounds the management of oil affairs, despite international commitments to financial openness. The only positive development is that the ministry of finance has referred the matter to Swiss and British authorities to defend Cameroon’s interests. Glencore’s Douala-based subsidiary will be subject to a tax reassessment commensurate with the damage suffered by Cameroon’s public finances.

At the very least, the affair reveals major security flaws, since it has been established that aircraft carrying cash could land at Cameroon airports without alerting the attention of the relevant authorities. How did these shipments escape the attention of the customs service and therefore the ministry of finance? This is one of the questions that Wakefield, Beard and Gibson, the British defendants at Southwark Crown Court, will have to answer.

Moudiki on borrowed time?

Who might be the Cameroonians implicated in the Glencore affair ? On 26 July, Biya authorised Ngoh Ngoh to hold an extraordinary meeting of the board of directors of SNH, with a view to replacing Adolphe Moudiki, the long-serving managing director and a long-time ally of the head of state. But the president then changed his mind and in the end prevented the dismissal of his old ally, without explanation. Moudiki is still at the head of SNH, but now appears to be a man on borrowed time.

The matter is all the more delicate for him because his wife, Nathalie Moudiki, is charged with the company’s contractual interests through her position as director of legal affairs at SNH. At 85 years of age, Moudiki will not indulge in any talk of retirement, even though his colleagues say his insight and vigilance have been undermined by illness. He initially denied any involvement in the company that he has run with an iron fist for 31 years, before changing tack.

On 6 November, 2023, he filed a complaint with the TCS to “identify the Cameroonian accomplices in these acts of corruption”. He added that SNH is “confident that the outcome of the proceedings in London will enable the TCS to speed up its investigations”. In Yaoundé, there is no doubt Moudiki is hoping to get the TCS to look into the oil networks of the man who tried to sack him – Ngoh Ngoh, secretary-general of the presidency.

As chairman of SNH’s board of directors since 2011, he is the number two in Cameroon’s executive and the link between President Biya and the oil company, which contributes around 60% of the national budget. Given he is supposed to be the eyes and ears of the president, how could he have allowed the Glencore scandal to emerge, his critics ask. “Technically, you can’t sell at knock-down prices without it showing up in the records presented to the directors, and SNH’s and Sonara’s auditors are turning a blind eye,” said one source.

Reluctance to comment

Against a backdrop of clan warfare around the presidency, Ngoh Ngoh’s enemies are waiting to see him fall. Given the complexity of the Glencore affair and the number of people involved in the alleged acts of corruption, between London, Geneva and Cameroon, is still unknown, could it all come to nothing?

Among the “second tier” figures exposed are Charles Metouck and Ibrahim Talba Malla, the two successive heads of Sonara between 2007 and 2014, when the incidences of corruption are alleged to have taken place. Neither has, as yet, offered a reaction. The former, appointed managing director in 2007, was dismissed and arrested in 2013 before being sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for embezzling CFA514m ($872,000). But the latter, his successor, who held the post from 2013 to 2019, is the current minister delegate in charge of public procurement.

Little known to the public, he is nonetheless a political heavyweight of northern Cameroon, comprising the three regions of Adamaoua, the north and the far north and representing reservoirs of votes on which Biya will be relying in part in the forthcoming elections. No doubt aware of the explosive nature of the situation, Talba Malla’s successors, Jean-Paul Simo Djonou and Harouna Bako, have not so far commented on the Glencore affair, nor on the actions Sonara intends to take to protect its interests and safeguard its image.

Source: The Africa Report

26, September 2024

Cameroon, South Africa aim to restart trade commission ⁰

Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, met with South Africa’s High Commissioner, Mandla Langa, to discuss revitalizing the joint commission between the two nations. This body, crucial for monitoring and evaluating the Cameroon-South Africa trade agreement, last convened in 2018, its activities disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Signed in September 2006, the trade agreement led to the creation of an interministerial committee overseen by the Minister of Trade, serving as a platform to discuss priority sectors for cooperation and trade exchanges between the two countries. During the meeting, the South African diplomat expressed his commitment to personally facilitate the resumption of the commission’s vital work.

Beyond trade, Cameroon and South Africa’s relationship includes agreements on air transport, double taxation avoidance, and various political and economic initiatives. On July 24, 2024, President Paul Biya ratified a bilateral agreement to enhance air operations and trade exchanges, a deal initially signed in Cape Town in 2011. Economically, South African companies have a strong presence in Cameroon, MTN being one of them.

In 2023, South Africa solidified its position as Cameroon’s second-largest African trading partner, exporting 143.8 tons of goods worth 47.9 billion CFA franc, representing 1.6% of Cameroon’s imports, according to the National Institute of Statistics. Cameroon’s exports to South Africa also increased, reaching 46 billion CFA francs in 2023, up from 44.5 billion CFA francs the previous year.

Minister Mbarga Atangana praised the “excellence and diversity” of relations between Yaoundé and Pretoria, reaffirming President Paul Biya’s commitment to attracting more South African investors. He highlighted Cameroon’s favorable business environment and the opportunities available to foreign investors.

Source: Sbbc

25, September 2024

Biya takes up residence in Geneva ⁰

Cameroon’s notorious and ever ailing president, Paul Biya, has finally taken up residence in Switzerland after failing to return to his dirty and constantly deteriorating country, Cameroon, on Wednesday.

The 91-year-old Biya has been dealing with multiple health issues and the burden of age can be seen on his face.

Mr. Biya is unable to walk and he is gradually losing his mind, triggering debates about his ability to continue ruling a country he has deliberately destroyed through corruption and incompetence.

Since leaving China some ten days ago, Mr. Biya has been in Geneva where his doctors are in a rush against time to save the life of the 91-year-old dictator whose mismanagement of his country has triggered a wave of migration from the country.

Thousands of Cameroonians are leaving the country in utter disappointment and there is no sign that things will be changing for the better anytime soon.

Today, there is a vacancy at the country’s presidential palace also known as the Unity Palace. Power is going abegging in Yaoundé and even the military is incapable of saving the country.

Mr. Biya, who once thought he was invincible, is today bowing to the will of time and age. Though he knows he has been a disaster to the country, the 91-year-old is not willing to yield power to his successor for fear that he and his protégés could be dragged to jail.

Biya left Cameroon for Beijing on September 8 for the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.

Cameroon Concord News understands he was unable to fly back to Cameroon yesterday and his bill of health after the cancellation has not been officially revealed. The incident has undoubtedly triggered a surge of reactions and conversations among Cameroonians.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

25, September 2024

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Cho Ayaba arrested in Norway ⁰

Norwegian police said Wednesday that they had detained a German national of Cameroonian heritage for allegedly inciting crimes against humanity in war-torn Cameroon, the first time Norway was embarking on legal proceedings for such crimes.

The man, who is in his 50s, lives in Norway but has not been named. However, Cameroon Intelligence Report has been reliably informed that it is Cho Ayaba Lucas the notorious leader of the Ambazonia Defense Force. He was detained because the National Criminal Investigation Service, known in Norway as KRIPOS, said that they believed he “had a central role in an ongoing armed conflict in Cameroon.”

Anette Berger, the prosecutor in the case, said, “We are in an early phase of the investigation, and there are several investigative steps that remain.”

On Wednesday, KRIPOS would seek his custody from the Oslo District Court “on the basis of the risk of tampering with evidence.”

For the past seven years, a protracted armed conflict known as the Anglophone crisis has devastated communities across the west African country’s two English-speaking regions — officially called Northwest and Southwest — as armed separatists clash with government forces.

Following a crackdown on peaceful protests in 2016, armed rebel groups mobilized and vowed to fight for the independence of the Anglophone areas, which they call Ambazonia.

The ensuing conflict with the Cameroonian military has killed more than 6,000 people and displaced over 760,000 others, according to the International Crisis Group. The rebel groups, as well as the military and police, have been accused of committing abuses and crimes against civilians.

Source: AP with additional reporting by CIR

25, September 2024

Football: France’s World Cup winner Raphaël Varane retires after knee injury ⁰

France World Cup winner Raphaël Varane on Tuesday announced his retirement from football at the age of 31.

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United centre-back Varane had joined Italian club Como for this season but was then excluded from their Serie A squad having suffered a knee injury in August.

“A new life begins off the pitch,” Varane said on social media.

“I will remain with Como. Just without using my boots and shin pads.

“Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon,” the four-time Champions League winner added.

Varane made 93 appearances for France from 2013-22, playing a key role in their victory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as well as their runners-up finish four years later in Qatar.

Source: AFP

25, September 2024

Biya’s health under fresh scrutiny ⁰

President Paul Biya’s health is once again under scrutiny after it emerged the 91-year old leader was unable to board a flight back home late yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland.

Cameroon Intelligence Report understands that ever since the Cameroonian dictator left the Chinese capital, Beijing, he has been at the mercy of his medical team at the InterContinental Hotel in Geneva.

He was seen at the hotel reception struggling to share a conversation with one of his aides when he was whisked away by his wife Chantal Biya.

Paul Biya is still in Geneva after he first left Cameroon for Beijing on September 8 for the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.

Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV) reported with footages of a plane carrying Mr. Biya and wife that the ageing leader had left the Chinese capital. But more than ten days later, he hasn’t returned to Yaoundé.

The recent Biya’s flight cancellation highlights just the latest of several health issues he is rumoured to be experiencing.

It has been a subject of speculation since the war in Southern Cameroons began, with the leader having been pictured looking hunched and bloated amid reports he has been treated for an undisclosed cancer.

The 91-year-old’s legs also appeared to buckle during a speech in Beijing.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai