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28, May 2022

Indomitable Lions: Nicolas Nkoulou released by Watford ⁰

Championship side Watford have confirmed the departure of former Cameroon international Nicolas Nkoulou.

The centre defender was asked to leave following the Vicarage Road giants’ demotion to the English second-tier.

In the just-concluded season, the Hornets finished in the 19th position having garnered 23 points from 38 league outings.

Nkoulou featured in just three league appearances and he is now expected to look elsewhere to continue his professional career alongside Andre Gray, Juraj Kucka, and goalkeeper Ben Foster.

“Following the conclusion of the 2021/22 Premier League season, Watford FC can confirm that five first-team players have left the club,” a statement from the club website read.

“Defender Nicolas Nkoulou – who made three league appearances after signing in October 2021 – and forward Andre Gray – who spent the last campaign on loan at Queens Park Rangers – have also departed upon the expiration of their deals.

“We thank the departing players for their contributions and wish them the best of luck for the next steps in their careers.”

The African defender moved to England to become Claudio Ranieri’s first signing after leaving Serie A side Torino.

Prior to his spell in the Italian top-flight, Nkoulou played for AS Monaco, Olympique Marseille and Olympique Lyon.

On the international scene, Nkoulou was part of Cameroon’s squad for the 2008 Olympic Games. There, he helped the squad reach the knockout phase before they were shown the exit door by Brazil.

He made his senior team debut on November 19, 2008, in a 3-2 friendly defeat against South Africa.

Coach Paul Le Guen picked him in his squad for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and then the 2010 Fifa World Cup hosted by South Africa.

Following the suspension of Samuel Eto’o and Eyong Enoh from the Indomitable Lions squad for five and two matches respectively by the Cameroon Football Federation for boycotting a friendly match against Algeria, the defender was appointed as captain of Cameroon on a temporary basis and captained his first national match, in a 1–0 win over Guinea-Bissau.

Nkoulou announced his retirement from the national team after helping the country win the 2017 Afcon.

Source: Goal.com

28, May 2022

AGOVC-Cho Ayaba gang: BBC Journalist Abducted In Bamenda ⁰

Frederick Takang, a correspondent of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was early Thursday, May 26, abducted by an unidentified armed gang in Bamenda, chief town of the restive Anglophone Northwest province of Cameroon.

The kidnappers, who took the journalist to an unknown destination, have not yet indicated the reasons for the abduction nor have they given any specific conditions for his release.

Bamenda is the epicentre of the security crises in the two English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest where separatists have been clashing with security forces for the past five years.

The separatists, who say they are fighting for the creation of an independent state of Ambazonia, have of recent reduced their fight to mostly kidnappings for ransom and targeting soft civilian targets.

On Saturday, April 30, 2022, the separatists abducted Senator Regina Mundi, a ruling party, Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM) upper house member.

The Senator was travelling from Yaounde to Bamenda to attend a wedding when she was abducted.

The separatists demanded for the release of their colleagues held in various prisons in the country in exchange for her release and promised to kill her before the national day celebration on May 20, 2022 if their demands are not met.

May 20 has come and gone and nothing yet has been heard from the separatists nor from the abducted senator.

Source: Humanglemedia

27, May 2022

Biya Succession Palaver: French ambassador at Unity Palace ⁰

The French Ambassador Christophe Guilhou was at the Unity Palace today to push for a succession plan program.

Pro Yaoundé media houses reported that the top French diplomat and Biya discussed the current situation in Ukraine and its consequences on the world economy.

However, Cameroon Intelligence Report sources confirmed after the meeting that Paris is very worried about Biya’s deteriorating bill of health and the need for new blood that will protect French interest.

The French are scared that if Biya disappears suddenly, there could be chaos and they will lose Cameroon, especially as Russians are spreading their presence on the continent.

Ever since the Biya regime purchased arms from Moscow, Paris has been very concerned and it is working hard to build confidence even though it no longer trust Biya who is crumbling and losing his mind.

Speaking to reporters after the almost one hour thirty minutes meeting, Christophe Guilhou said

“Cameroon is still a friend of France and France is still a friend of Cameroon. We have a very substantial cooperation. The idea is to foster even more the cooperation and the friendship between Cameroon and France.”

By Rita Akana in Yaoundé

27, May 2022

Yaoundé: Archbishop Nkea officially takes over as President of the National Episcopal Conference ⁰

Elected by the bishops of Cameroon during their April 2022 Plenary Assembly as President of NECC, Archbishop Andrew Fuanya NKEA of Bamenda took over officially from Bishop Abraham KOME on Friday 27 May 2022. The ceremony took place at the Conference Centre at Mvolye Yaounde. The day began with a Holy Mass in the chapel at 11am.

The ceremony took place under the direction of Bishop Christophe ZOA Bishop of Sangmelima and President of Juridical Affairs.

In his handing over speech Bishop Kome thanked all and congratulated the new President and his assistant, Bishop Philippe Allain Mbarga, Bishop of Ebolowa. Bishop Kome then gave a rundown of what happened during his tenure of office.

In his inaugural speech Archbishop NKEA said his duty was to do the will of the bishops of Cameroon. He was grateful to Bishop Kome for his achievement and promise to follow along similar lines even if from an Nkea perspective.

His Grace Archbishop Nkea said he has two main preoccupations – peace in Cameroon and the dignity given to Marienberg. The Catholic Church in Cameroon he furthered must take up her prophetic role and all Christians must work in the spirit of fraternity and solidarity, devoted and love the Church.

27, May 2022

Football: Ibrahimovic intends to continue playing ⁰

Zlatan Ibrahimovic intends to continue playing despite the end of his contract with AC Milan and a lengthy layoff in store following knee surgery, club director Paolo Maldini said Friday.

“From what I understand, his intention is to continue,” Maldini told Gazzetta dello Sport, two days after the striker, who turns 41 in October, underwent surgery that is expected to sideline him for eight months.

“We have made an appointment in a fortnight. I don’t see any problem in reaching an agreement. He is certainly not at ease playing so little. We will see what happens in the next two weeks,” Maldini said.

Ibrahimovic, who returned to AC Milan in January 2020 eight years after leaving and has just helped the club win their first Serie A title since 2011, has had the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee reconstructed.

The former Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United forward said this week he endured six months of sleepless nights due to the pain in his knee because he was determined to fulfil his promise to AC Milan of delivering their first Serie A crown in 11 years.

Meanwhile, Maldini confirmed that the club are in the process of signing Belgian striker Divock Origi from Liverpool to support Olivier Giroud, Rafael Leao and Ante Rebic in attack.

Milan does not currently have “the financial means” to make large transfers, said former ‘Rossoneri’ icon Maldini, with negotiations currently underway for the sale of the club which has won 19 Serie A titles.

Discussions between Bahrain-based Investcorp and AC Milan’s current owners, American investment fund Elliott Management, ended on Thursday without a deal.

Another American investment fund, RedBird Capital Partners, are now thought to be in the driving seat to secure a takeover.

Source: AFP

27, May 2022

Ambazonians achieved grand victory in 20th May boycott ⁰

The Vice President of the Ambazonia Interim Government says the 20^th May 2022 French Cameroun celebration in the Ambazonia homeland was a battle against the Interim Government (IG), and the IG achieved great victory in the boycott.

In his remarks in Cambodia recently, Comrade Dabney Yerima said the massive boycott conveyed a message of Southern Cameroons adherence and commitment to the struggle.

Yerima stated that the huge support for President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and the Ambazonia Interim Government as indicated by the boycott showed Ground Zero’s commitment to the path of resistance.

Vice President Dabney Yerima opined that after five years of aggressive military and media campaign targeting the people of Southern Cameroons and their Interim Government, spearheaded by the 90-year-old Biya and his French Cameroun political elites, support for the Ambazonia Interim Government and its jailed leaders has increased.

Yerima said there is a big advantage in having all restoration groups looking at the same direction. He further said the nature of the Southern Cameroons liberation war does not allow one single Ambazonia county or group to solve the crisis single-handedly even if they have the majority following within their respective county, which calls for cooperation between all different groups.

Dabney Yerima also debunked lies promoted by some pro Yaoundé CPDM Southern Cameroonians that the Ambazonian resistance bloc is divided.

By Enowtaku Ebanghatabi Christelle in the USA

27, May 2022

Secret Meetings Continue at Etoudi ⁰

More secret meetings are still being held at the Unity Palace to find Dion Ngute’s replacement.

Dion Ngute, who became Prime Minister some three years ago, is viewed by the French and Cameroonian authorities as having fallen short of their expectations because he has not been able to douse the fire in the Southwest region.

He was brought in as Head of Government to help disconnect the Southwest Region from the separatist movement that is still tearing the country apart, as a strategy to roll back the revolution.

“Dion Ngute has failed as a Prime Minister. He is a nice person. He is mild mannered and very friendly, unfortunately he has not been able to establish communication lines with Ambazonian fighters so that some of them could be convinced to down their weapons and return to a state of law,” a source at the presidency told Cameroon Intelligence Report.

“Many people are thinking that Dion Ngute could be replaced by Elung Paul Che, but many others wonder if he has any leverage over the Ambazonia Interim Government and its majority Amba fighters, many of whom pay allegiance to the Southern Cameroonian Diaspora,” he stressed.

“We need peace in Cameroon and many Cameroonians hold that if the post of vice president is created, it should be given to someone who can talk to the Diaspora and has much leverage over the separatists,” he underscored.

“We are hearing that the president and his men are seriously looking abroad for someone with vast knowledge and experience who can help change things on the ground. The intelligence community has it that many Southern Cameroonians working in international organizations have much leverage as they help to finance the fighters. Bringing one of such persons into government might cut the fighters off some of their finances, making it possible for them to come to the negotiating table,” the source, who is a senior government official, said.

“The focus is now on Southwesterners in international organizations. The hawks in government hold that someone who is moderate and not tainted by the corruption in Yaoundé could be a welcome relief. The search for a real Southwesterner is even extended to some who are on retirement and the key factor here is they must be capable of talking with both the separatists and federalists,” he said.

“The hawks in government know that the mismanagement in Cameroon has put the government at odds with major global development finance institutions. They think that bringing someone from the world of finance and development will help the government to clean up its image,” the source added.

“There are a few Northwesterners who could be considered for this position, but it is feared they will not be supported by pro CPDM Southwesterners in Yaounde and that they lack the cloud that can help to bring the separatists back to the fold,” he pointed out.

“The African Development Bank, the African Union and the UN have some good Southwesterners. They are knowledgeable, they have been in the civil service and have been connected to the struggle in different ways, but their handicap is that they are loose cannons and electrons which cause doubts in the minds of the government hawks,” he stressed.

“I have been reliably informed that government delegations are currently in Abidjan and Addis Ababa to gather more intelligence on some people whose names are on the list. Things are moving very fast and change is really in the offing,” our source pointed out.

“Change is coming to Yaounde and it is bringing with it a lot of confusion and fear. We only hope we will get the right people. We need people who are trust-worthy. People who can silence the guns in the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon,” he said.

“While the French keep on pushing for the return of Abouem à Tchoyi, Cameroonians clearly think that Anglophones deserve the position of vice president and the next president should come from the English-speaking minority,” he furthered.

“We don’t need to ruin our country. We just need someone who will unite the country and bring about development in the country,” he concluded.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

27, May 2022

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Prof Carlson Anyangwe blasts havoc in areas under Biya regime control ⁰

Renowned Southern Cameroons academic Professor Carlson Anyangwe says the deliberate silence on the part of the international community on the war in British Southern Cameroons is to blame for widespread humanitarian crisis.

Carlson Anyangwe told a group of Southern Cameroonians during a recent stop at the Heathrow International airport that all efforts by the Ambazonia Interim Government geared towards establishing security and stability in the Federal Republic of Ambazonia is hindered by the illegal French Cameroun military occupation.

Anyangwe slammed inhumane living conditions and havoc in areas such as Akwaya in Manyu, Weh in Menchum, Tatum in Bui and much of Ndian County under effective Biya French Cameroun control, where Francophone authorities plundered natural resources including timber.

The much respected Southern Cameroons front line leader said the Vice President of the Ambazonia Interim Government Dabney Yerima has made great diplomatic victories against La Republique du Cameroun in recent months, but disunity and lack of support from the Southern Cameroons diaspora is delaying the liberation process.

Biya and his French Cameroun political elites backed by France invaded Southern Cameroons in 2017 under the pretext of fighting terrorists and separatists. However, numerous independent reports have indicated that the war is mainly for the control of Southern Cameroons wealth and the oil and gas in the Bakassi Peninsular.

Under former president Ahmadou Ahidjo, French Cameroun began exploiting oil and gas from Southern Cameroons territory.

By Isong Asu

26, May 2022

Cabinet Reshuffle: Dion Ngute on his way out ⁰

The long-awaited cabinet reshuffle will soon be released and many southwesterners will end up being unhappy, as Dion Ngute is on his way out.

Though hated by Southwest separatists, the current prime minister, Dion Ngute, has his supporters who think he should still be in government. But Biya and the international community think differently. He has not been up to the task a source at the UN told the Cameroon Concord News Group’s editor-in-chief.

According to the international community and France, Dion Ngute has outlived his usefulness. The Biya government thought Dion was capable of disconnecting the Southwest region from the separatist movement, but the Ndian Division native has not been able to unite Southwesterners for more than three years. On the contrary, he has been a lightning rod for controversy.

The Southwest Diaspora is totally against Dion Ngute as it is being publicly alleged that he has not done anything for his people. He has not been to his native Ndian since he became the Prime Minister.

Also, Dion has never sought to talk to the Southwest Diaspora which has been financing the fighting in his region of birth and this makes it hard for the dying Biya regime to keep him as the Prime Minister, a source told the Cameroon Concord News Group.

According to a source at the country’s Presidency, Dion’s fate has been decided and he will be promptly replaced by a Francophone, presumably by someone from the north who is expected to calm down northerners who have been planning to slaughter Betis once Biya disappears.

Dion’s departure has been made a lot easier by the need to appoint a vice president who will succeed Biya in the event of a vacancy.

A Cameroon Concord News Group source at the Presidency has said that the Biya regime is still looking for a Southwesterner who will be capable of serving as a vice president. For now, it is hard to find a credible Southwesterner at home.

The source added that the French are insisting on an establishment Southwesterner but most credible and presidential Southwesterners are out of the country. They are working abroad and many of them are not loyal to the government.

The government is looking at Southwesterners in international organizations, especially those who can have an influence on separatists.

The French are worried about losing Cameroon and they hold that a moderate Southwesterner could help calm down tempers in the two English-speaking regions of the country.

The Source hinted that a list of Southwesterners in international organizations such as the African Development Bank, the African Union, the United Nations and the World Bank is being studied at the Presidency.

Many names have been floated but the fear is that will those in international organizations be capable of protecting those who have been very loyal to Biya over the last forty years?

While it is difficult to find a very reliable Southwesterner at the international level, the French are suggesting that Abouem à Tchoyi could also make a good successor because of his deep understanding of the government and the Anglophone problem which is tearing the country apart.

Abouem à Tchoyi has served as governor in the two English-speaking regions of the country and he understands the issues. He is supported by Anglophones because he knows the issue, but he is from the center region and this makes things complicated, the source said.

Currently, a few names from the African Development Bank and the United Nations are being analyzed. The fear is that those being considered are loose electrons. Will they be able to work according to French dictates? the source asked.

There is tension at the Unity Palace. Most Betis who are close to the regime are scared. Any Anglophone is feared. They know many Anglophone Cameroonians feel hurt and may not give the Betis the protection they need at this time.

For now, the die has been cast for Dion Ngute. Cameroon needs to remain united and indivisible and only an Anglophone vice president can make that happen.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

26, May 2022

Yaoundé: Biya Set To Reshuffle Cabinet ⁰

President Paul Biya is set to replace the Dion Ngute cabinet that was appointed to resolve the crisis in Southern Cameroons.

Cameroon Concord News sources hinted this after the President had a valedictory meeting with some top barons of the ruling CPDM party at the Unity Palace on Tuesday.

According to our sources, Biya has indicated that he would immediately form a government that will oversee a peaceful transition to the new generation.

He reportedly thanked some of the ministers including Prime Minister Dion Ngute for their services to the nation, expressing confidence that giving the experience they have garnered in the services of government, they are equipped to help Cameroon again when the need arises.

This item is still developing

By Rita Akana in Yaoundé