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After 34 years of crime, cruelty and corruption, Biya regime only wants Mebara’s blood

23, June 2017

After 34 years of crime, cruelty and corruption, Biya regime only wants Mebara’s blood 0

The Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara legal battle is still alive and active before the Supreme Court of Cameroon. The former secretary-general at the presidency of the republic filed appeals against two of his three convictions for embezzlement of public funds.

The famous “Albatros” case has not yet been scheduled. However, the “Cameroon Airlines” case was the subject of a hearing on June 13th, 2017.

In their pleadings, the defendants’ lawyers requested the annulment of the sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court in 2013, based on eight grounds … which the Court’s rapporteur immediately moved for a rejection. However, the prosecution ruled in favor of a cessation.

In its decision on the 27th of June, the Court could confirm the sentence (twenty years’ imprisonment), reduce it, or aggravate it. Whatever the verdict, the former Biya acolyte, Jean Atangana Mebara will always face two other convictions, of twenty-five and fifteen years’ imprisonment, in two parts of the “Albatros” case. He has been held in the central prison in Yaoundé since 6 August 2008.

By Sonne Peter
Cameroon Concord News



Spain: MPs vote down Catalan independence plebiscite

23, June 2017

Spain: MPs vote down Catalan independence plebiscite 0

Spanish lawmakers on Thursday as expected threw out a Catalan bid to hold an independence referendum which a court had already ruled illegal. Pro-separatist regional president Carles Puigdemont presented a bill calling on Madrid to “respect” the wealthy northeastern region’s attempt to hold a vote in October.

But 250 out of 350 lawmakers, led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservatives and backed by the main opposition Socialists and centrist Ciudadanos, voted down the move. Regionalist and pro-independence parties as well as the far-left Podemos group cast 92 votes in favor of a referendum.

Backed by a majority of pro-separatists in the Catalan regional assembly, Puigdemont wants to hold a referendum asking voters if they want their region, population 7.5 million, to be an independent republic.

Madrid has rejected the move as unconstitutional. Catalans appear divided on the issue, with 48.5 percent against and 44.3 percent in favor according to latest polls, although some three-quarters back holding a referendum.

(Source: AFP)


Confed Cup: Cameroon, Australia hopes look tenuous after tie

23, June 2017

Confed Cup: Cameroon, Australia hopes look tenuous after tie 0

Australia and Cameroon played out a 1-1 stalemate at the Confederations Cup on Thursday that further dents both countries’ hopes of progressing in the eight-team tournament in Russia.

Andre Franck Zambo Anguissa had Cameroon ahead with the last touch of the first half, but a Mark Milligan penalty on the hour mark ensured a first point for both in Group B at the new Saint Petersburg Stadium.

Australia play Chile in Moscow on Sunday and Cameroon face off against Germany at the same time in Sochi in their final pool matches.

But the chances for both the African and Asian champions to finish in the top two and progress to the semifinals look slim after they lost their opening encounters at the start of the week.

Culled from DNA


Boko Haram Kolofata attack: 8 dead, 4 injured as terrorists target Minister Amadou Ali residence

22, June 2017

Boko Haram Kolofata attack: 8 dead, 4 injured as terrorists target Minister Amadou Ali residence 0

8 people were killed on Wednesday afternoon in a suicide bomber attack in Kolofata, Mayo-Sava Division in the Far-North region. Eyewitnesses said that the eight people included six civilians and the two suicide bombers. 4 people were seriously injured.

Cameroon Concord News gathered that shortly after 17:30, local time, two young teenagers foiled the surveillance of the members of the vigilance committee, infiltrated Kolofata and found themselves in the vicinity of the residence of Amadou Ali, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of relations with the Assemblies.

One of the two suicide bombers staged the attack killing 6 people including his companion. The wounded were rushed to a hospital in Mora, the chief city in the Mayo-Sava Division where they are currently receiving treatment.

The locality of Kolofata, bordering Nigeria, is among Cameroonian settlements which have been under constant Boko Haram incursions. The Nigerian Islamic sect reportedly paid allegiance to the Organization of the Islamic State and is now called, Province of the Islamic State in West Africa.

By Rita Akana
Cameroon Concord News


Cameroon vs Australia: Ange Postecoglou says Cameroon has Socceroos’ style wrong

22, June 2017

Cameroon vs Australia: Ange Postecoglou says Cameroon has Socceroos’ style wrong 0

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has laughed off Cameroon’s idea of Australian football as the two nations prepare for their first meeting on a football pitch. The African and Asian champions meet in the Confederations Cup in St Petersburg on Friday (1:00am AEST).

Both suffered first-up losses in the tournament. Another defeat will send that team home. With no first-hand history and such high stakes, it is only natural that both sides would engage in opposition research for the match.
But Postecoglou feels Cameroon coach Hugo Broos’s scouting report has Australia all wrong. In his press conference on Wednesday, Broos raised a few eyebrows with his description of the Socceroos’ mode of play. “Australia likes to play very direct with not many combinations and they try to be ASAP at goal,” Broos said.

That line is at odds with any assessment of recent Socceroos matches — and the opinion of Germany coach Joachim Loew. Loew praised Australia’s development after their tournament opener, won 3-2 by the Germans.
“I think they have developed very well in the last three or four years,” Loew said. “They do more combinations, not playing the long ball … it’s a team that is courageous and sometimes cheeky enough to challenge the opponents and attack very boldly.”

Postecoglou’s response to Broos suggested he knew which side of the debate he fell on. “I don’t know what [Broos is] watching but from our perspective we certainly know how we want to play our football,” he said. “The World Cup-winning coach saw it differently. You’ve got two contrasting opinions, you can choose to believe him or not.”

Source: ABC


Biya Computer Hoax: Anti Anglophone Minister shifting the goalpost

22, June 2017

Biya Computer Hoax: Anti Anglophone Minister shifting the goalpost 0

The Francophone Minister of Higher Education, Jacque Fame Ndongo has said that the production phase of the 500,000 computers promised to students by the Head of State, President Biya will begin soon in China. Jacques Fame Ndongo, who is now acting as a representative of the Chinese company, also revealed that the firm Sichuan telecom will first make available 30% of the 500,000 computers. The anti Anglophone cabinet minister has been under fire particularly from the French speaking student community over the delay recorded in the project.

This time around, the CPDM baron lied that Exim Bank China has eventually released the funding for the project and reassured the student community that it was now possible to launch the operational phase. Cameroon Concord News sources say the Biya regime is broke and things are falling apart.

In one of its dubious moves, the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime signed an agreement with the Chinese company Sichuan Telecom Construction and Engineering Co LTD for the manufacture of computers and the construction of nine digital university development centers. Regarding the second point of this agreement, each of the eight state universities was expected to have a digital development center. Another center was supposed to be built at the interstate university of Cameroon and the Congo.

As for the delay in the project, Jacques Fame Ndongo indicated recently that it is linked to the complexity of many financial issues involved especially about the release of funds by the Chinese bank. On June 20, 2017 Qian Wen Feng, the Managing Director of Sichuan telecom construction and engineering Co.LtD was granted an audience by the 84 year old dictator. However, no date for the distribution of the first computers to the students has been made public.

By Rita Akana
Cameroon Concord News Group



Cameroon Cheetah
use this one

UK: Queen lays out May’s policies amid tumult

22, June 2017

UK: Queen lays out May’s policies amid tumult 0

UK Queen Elizabeth II has presented Prime Minister Theresa May’s policies to the new Parliament, at a tumultuous time for Britain and as May’s future in power remain uncertain. The queen took to Westminster on Wednesday to read out a list of the government’s intentions for the lawmakers on their first day in office, following the June 8 snap general election that saw May’s Conservative Party lose its narrow majority.

The legislative program that the monarch laid out on behalf of May was a pared-down version of her party manifesto for the election and dropped some key promises to instead focus on Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU). “My government’s priority is to secure the best possible deal as the country leaves the European Union,” said Elizabeth II. “My ministers are committed to working with Parliament, the devolved administrations, business and others to build the widest possible consensus on the country’s future outside the European Union.”

Eight of the 27 bills that were included in the agenda revolved around Brexit, while the rest were focused on other issues such as the recent wave of terror attacks that hit Britain as well as the deadly apartment block fire in Grenfell Tower last week. Absent on the list, however, were May’s manifesto pledges to tax the elderly more heavily for their own care and slash free lunches for schoolchildren, the very unpopular policies that were blamed for May’s uninspiring election performance.

Faced with growing calls to step down since the vote, May has been struggling to save her reign by striking a deal for a minority government with the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The deal plunged into new jeopardy on Wednesday after the DUP handed in an expensive £2 billion list of demands to the Tories, including £1 billion pumped into the health service in Northern Ireland and a similar figure for infrastructure projects, according to the BBC.

If true, this would make it impossible to get a deal on Thursday, the new deadline that was announced after a series of similar delays. Notwithstanding the uncertain future she faces, May has decided to press ahead with the previous schedule for the EU talks. UK Brexit Secretary David Davis held the first round of talks with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday. Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn, who managed to win many seats for his party in the election against all odds, took the opportunity on Wednesday to attack May and pitch himself as her replacement.

The opposition leader, who refused to bow to the queen, said at the beginning of the parliamentary session that the government has “apparently run out of ideas altogether.” While noting that Labour was “a government in waiting,” Corbyn said people in many traditionally Tory areas had chosen “hope over fear” by voting for his party. The so-called Queen’s Speech was marred by “Day of Rage” protests outside Westminster, where hundreds of Londoners had gathered to call for May’s resignation.

Source: Presstv


“For goodness sake!” Pro Consortium SDF MP returns to La Repubique’s National Assembly

21, June 2017

“For goodness sake!” Pro Consortium SDF MP returns to La Repubique’s National Assembly 0

Hon. Joseph Wirba, the SDF MP reportedly missing for over five months has appeared unexpectedly at the National Assembly today Wednesday the 21st of June 2017. He once again marked his presence among other MPs against all odds. Wirba had been on the run since his historic speech last year during the third and last parliamentary session of the year 2016.

On the rostrum of the National Assembly, in a long speech of about thirty minutes, he denounced the government of the 84 year old dictator, Paul Biya. Joseph Wirba told the world that the Biya Francophone regime was marginalizing Southern Cameroonians and after his speech, the MP declared his unflinching support for secession. He was received as a hero in his native Jakiri constituency but later on disappeared from circulation. Southern Cameroon sources hinted that he had escaped to the US.

The opposition MP reappeared and made another long speech attacking the Speaker of the National Assembly, Cavaye Djibril accusing him of doing nothing to ensure his safety. Joseph Wirba told local media houses in Yaounde that he was still not out of danger. The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium has so far not reacted to the second coming of Wirba.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai


Saudi Arabia: King relieves Nayef as crown prince

21, June 2017

Saudi Arabia: King relieves Nayef as crown prince 0

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has replaced Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud with his own son, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the deputy crown prince and defense minister.

According to a royal decree, Mohammed bin Salman, 31, was also named deputy prime minister, and shall maintain his post as defense minister, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday.

Saudi media say King Salman has called for a public pledge of allegiance to the new crown prince in the holy city of Mecca on Wednesday night.

The SPA also confirmed that 31 out of 34 members of Saudi Arabia’s succession committee chose Mohammed bin Salman as the crown prince.

Just days ago,  the Saudi king stripped Nayef of his powers overseeing criminal investigations and designated a new public prosecution office to function directly under the king’s authority.

In a similar move back in 2015, the Saudi king had appointed his nephew, then deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef as the heir to the throne after removing his own half-brother Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud from the position.

Under the new decree, King Salman further relieved Mohammed bin Nayef of his duties as the interior minister. He appointed Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef as the new interior minister and Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Salem as deputy interior minister.

Mohammed bin Salman is already in charge of a vast portfolio as chief of the House of Saud royal court and chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs, which is tasked with overhauling the country’s economy.

The young prince was little known both at home and abroad before Salman became king in January 2015.

However, King Salman has significantly increased the powers of Mohammed, with observers describing the prince as the real power behind his father’s throne.

Power struggle in the House of Saud

There had long been speculations that Mohammed’s rise to power under his father’s reign might also accelerate his ascension to the throne.

On Wednesday, a well-known Saudi online activist, known on Twitter as @mujtahidd, predicted that King Salman would renounce power in favor of his son.

The whistleblower has already leaked documents indicating high-level corruption inside the Saudi royal family.

The power struggle inside the House of Saud came to light earlier this year when the Saudi king began to overhaul the government and offered positions of influence to a number of family members.

In two royal decrees in April, the Saudi king named two of his other sons, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Prince Khaled bin Salman, as state minister for energy affairs and ambassador to the United States, respectively.

Mastermind of brutal, futile war

As the defense minister, Mohammed bin Salman has faced strong international criticism for the bloody military campaign he launched against neighboring Yemen in 2015 amid his rivalry with bin Nayef, the then powerful interior minister.

The file photo shows Mohammed bin Salman attending a military briefing.

The campaign was launched with the aim of restoring the former Yemeni government, a close Riyadh ally, and crushing the country’s Houthi Ansarullah movement. On the domestic political stage, the offensive was also viewed as an attempt by Mohammed bin Salman to steal the show and sideline the then crown prince.

However, despite spending billions of petrodollars, the Riyadh regime has achieved none of its goals during the campaign, which has killed over 12,000 civilians, left much of Yemen in ruins and empowered the Takfiri terror groups operating there.

On the economic front, Mohammed has been a key backer of the kingdom’s so-called Vision 2030 program, under which the Saudi leaders seek to reduce reliance on oil exports.

The plan is known as the most extensive and jarring economic shake-up of the country in decades, with economy experts describing it as too ambitious.

Mohammed bin Salman, according to analysts, appears to have orchestrated the Persian Gulf diplomatic crisis, which has seen a Saudi-led bloc of countries cutting ties with Qatar and imposed an economic siege on the country.

The diplomatic spat broke out days after a summit in Riyadh attended by US President Donald Trump, a staunch supporter of Saudi rulers and, in particular, Mohammed bin Salman.

Culled from Presstv


ELECAM: Chairman talks support with visiting Commonwealth delegation

21, June 2017

ELECAM: Chairman talks support with visiting Commonwealth delegation 0

The Chairperson of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), former governor Enow Abrams Egbe has met with a delegation from the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth team headed by the Director of the Rule of Law, Katalaini Sapoulu was at the ELECAM office in Yaoundé on the 20th of June 2017.

State radio and television reported that during the audience, Enow Abrams Egbe expressed gratitude to the Commonwealth for its constant support to ELECAM. Katalaini Sapoulu reportedly told pressmen that their visit is in line with the Commonwealth’s partnership deal to strengthen Cameroon’s electoral procedures.

The present visit comes shortly after one from a delegation from La Francophonie that declared similar objectives.

Source: CRTV


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