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Football: Trabzonspor pushing to keep goalkeeper André Onana

26, May 2026

Football: Trabzonspor pushing to keep goalkeeper André Onana 0

Trabzonspor are continuing efforts to keep goalkeeper André Onana at the club despite uncertainty surrounding his future following the end of his loan spell from Manchester United.

The Turkish side is reportedly keen to secure another temporary agreement for the 30-year-old ahead of next season, with club president Ertuğrul Doğan said to be personally involved in negotiations over a possible extension.

Although recent comments and messages from the goalkeeper appeared to suggest a farewell, Trabzonspor remain determined to convince him to continue his stay in Turkey.

The club’s hierarchy is understood to value not only Onana’s performances on the pitch, but also his influence inside the dressing room, where he has established himself as one of the senior figures within the squad.

During his time with Trabzonspor, the Cameroon international has been regarded as an important presence due to both his experience and leadership qualities.

Despite the growing interest from Trabzonspor, Onana is yet to make a final decision on the next stage of his career.

Onana is currently expected to wait until the end of his holidays before carefully reviewing the different offers available to him from clubs across Europe.

The former Ajax and Inter Milan goalkeeper is believed to want time to evaluate all sporting opportunities before deciding whether to remain in Turkey or pursue a new challenge elsewhere.

His situation is therefore expected to remain unresolved for the coming weeks as discussions continue between the parties involved.

Trabzonspor’s desire to retain the goalkeeper underlines the importance they place on maintaining stability within the squad ahead of the new campaign, particularly in a position considered crucial for the club’s ambitions next season.

For now, however, Onana’s future remains open, with the Cameroon international taking time before making a definitive choice on where he will play next season.

Source: Africa Soccer

Cameroonians in Leicester: funeral contributions must never become a marketplace for corruption

26, May 2026

Cameroonians in Leicester: funeral contributions must never become a marketplace for corruption 0

The recent creation of a Commission of Inquiry into the alleged embezzlement of funds raised for the repatriation of the remains of Tata Jeff Osife Mokube who died in Leicester in the Midlands is the most vital and commendable action toward restoring trust, accountability and integrity within the Cameroonian community in Great Britain.

It is common knowledge deep within the Cameroonian community in the UK that at any time of grief whether in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland including the Irish State, solidarity always prevail.

Whenever Cameroonians and their well-wishers contribute money to ensure that one of their own receives a dignified home-going, they do so “in good faith”, believing that their generous contributions would serve a holy and humanitarian purpose. Any insinuation that such money may have been diverted for personal gain, strikes not only at the heart of trust within the Cameroonian UK family but also at the moral conscience of the Cameroonian community itself.

Consequently, the decision by the Cameroonian community in Leicester UK to establish a Commission of Inquiry into what is now known as the Tata Jeff Osife Mokube Affair deserves widespread support. To be sure, it sends a clear message that no individual should exploit tragedy for selfish enrichment and more importantly, the Leicester UK decision demonstrates a commitment to transparency and justice, values that are indispensable in preserving unity among Cameroonians both at home and in the diaspora.

We of the Cameroon Concord News Group are happy with this decision and we hope that the inquiry will be conducted independently, professionally and without prejudice against the team headed by Ben Ntamack. The objective of this Commission of Inquiry should not be vengeance or public spectacle, but truth and accountability.

Ben Ntamack and his acolytes should know that deep within the Cameroonian community in Great Britain, those entrusted with handling community money carry a heavy moral responsibility, especially in matters involving death and bereavement. If wrongdoing occurs as it is now being reported all over the UK in the Tata Jeff Osife Mokube Affair, the Cameroonian people deserve to know the full extent of it and appropriate measures must be taken to prevent a recurrence.

Far from determining culpability, the Leicester Commission of Inquiry is also offering Cameroonians in Great Britain an opportunity for institutional reform. Cameroonian fundraising initiatives in the UK, particularly those organized in moments of crisis should be governed by clearer financial procedures, transparent reporting mechanisms and stronger oversight. In this regard, we of the Cameroon Concord News Group salute the leadership of the Manyu Solidarity Group UK for their single-guided vision towards development and unity of purpose. Diaspora communities are often most vulnerable during emergencies, and systems must exist to protect both donors and beneficiaries from abuse.

Equally important in this Tata Jeff Osife Mokube Affair is the need to preserve the dignity of the deceased and the emotional wellbeing of the bereaved family both in the UK and back home in Cameroon. The present controversy surrounding the late Tata Jeff Osife Mokube contribution is creating pain and division. A credible inquiry can help bring clarity, closure and reassurance that justice and integrity still matter.

In welcoming this Leicester Commission of Inquiry on the Tata Jeff Osife Mokube Affair, we of the Cameroon Concord News Group affirm a simple but powerful principle: compassion must never become a marketplace for corruption. The generosity of ordinary Cameroonians in the UK deserves respect, and every contribution made in the name of humanity must be accounted for faithfully.

The Cameroonian community in the Midlands now has an opportunity to turn a painful episode into a defining moment for integrity, responsibility and collective renewal.

To this I put my name

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Iran Supreme Leader invites Muslim nations to shape new regional order, says US era is over

26, May 2026

Iran Supreme Leader invites Muslim nations to shape new regional order, says US era is over 0

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei urges Muslim countries to deepen cooperation and shape a new regional and global order beyond American dominance.

“The [global] Muslim Ummah (Nation) and the nations of the region possess many shared capacities and common interests that will shape the new order and the future architecture of the region and the world,” Ayatollah Khamenei wrote in a message on Tuesday.

The message, issued on the occasion of the Day of Arafah, the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage, said Muslim nations were entering a historical phase in which regional realities were changing irreversibly and American military influence was steadily diminishing.

“The hands of time will not turn back, and the nations and lands of the region will no longer serve as shields for US bases,” the Leader stated.

He added that the United States “will no longer have a safe haven for its mischief and for establishing military bases in the region” and was “growing more distant from its former status day by day.”

“The future belongs to the Muslim Ummah and the new Islamic civilization.”

Source: Presstv

Biya regime tightens gold mining controls to curb smuggling

26, May 2026

Biya regime tightens gold mining controls to curb smuggling 0

Cameroon announced on May 21 new measures to tighten control over artisanal gold mining, targeting illegal operations, gold smuggling and revenue losses in the sector.

The reforms were unveiled during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute in Yaounde. They include a minimum monthly declaration threshold of five kilogrammes of gold for companies seeking exploitation rights and an environmental hazard tax of CFA 63 million for operators working on more than 21 hectares.

The government said the measures are aimed at improving transparency in gold production, increasing state revenues and strengthening oversight of mining activities.

Interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development Fuh Calistus Gentry said illegal mining had created major discrepancies between officially declared production and volumes traced abroad. He said the reforms would help formalise the sector and improve state control over gold exports.

“Illegality represents the gap between what is declared and what is exported. Once restructuring is accepted, it will generate immediate revenue for the State estimated in several hundreds of billions. We are also projecting a minimum increase of three tonnes in the State’s gold reserves every year,” he said.

The minister added that the reforms would strengthen the role of Cameroonians in artisanal mining, while foreign operators would be limited to technical and financial partnerships as provided by law.

Government figures presented during the meeting showed that nearly 200 illegal semi-mechanised mining sites had been identified in the Adamawa and East regions, compared with only 57 officially authorised gold operations. Authorities said the illegal activities had contributed to gold smuggling and major losses in public revenue.

“If 100 companies align with the declaration threshold, projections already point to 10 tonnes being declared. Many companies are already complying, and tax payments are now being enforced,” Fuh Calistus said.

Officials also said mining operators would face stricter environmental restoration obligations under the “polluter pays” principle. Between 2020 and 2026, the government issued 57 environmental conformity certificates for mining and quarry projects.

On labour issues, Minister of Labour and Social Security Grégoire Owona said more than 1,700 enterprise inspections were carried out during the first quarter of 2026, leading to 188 formal notices against employers found in violation of labour regulations.

“Our role is to protect workers against all forms of abuse. We will intensify inspections, continue sensitisation campaigns on workers’ rights and finalise reforms to the Labour Code to strengthen protection mechanisms,” he said.

At the end of the meeting, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute instructed ministries to strengthen coordination and ensure strict enforcement of the new measures, particularly on illegal mining, environmental compliance and labour protection.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Pope Leo apologises for Church’s historic role in slavery

25, May 2026

Pope Leo apologises for Church’s historic role in slavery 0

Pope Leo on Monday issued the clearest apology yet from a pontiff for the Catholic Church’s ‌role in slavery, acknowledging both its delay in condemning the practice and its historic involvement in legitimising it.

In a key passage of his first papal encyclical, Leo said the Church had taken centuries to fully recognise “the ​scourge of slavery” as incompatible with human dignity, calling the legacy “a wound in Christian ​memory.”

“For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for ⁠pardon,” he wrote in the wide-ranging manifesto, expressing “deep sorrow” for the suffering endured by enslaved ​people.

Leo acknowledged that Church authorities had, at times, responded to rulers by regulating and legitimising ​forms of subjugation, including the enslavement of non-Christians.

He also acknowledged that before that time, in the Middle Ages, ecclesiastical institutions had their own slaves.

He said the Church only reached a “formal, absolute and universal condemnation” of ​slavery in the 19th century, under Pope Leo XIII, after what the current pope described ​as a long period of inconsistency in teaching and practice.

PREVIOUS PAPAL STATEMENTS ON SLAVERY

The remarks mark the most ‌explicit ⁠papal admission to date of institutional responsibility, going beyond earlier statements by previous popes that focused on the actions of individual Christians rather than the Vatican itself.

Pope John Paul II, during a 1985 visit to Africa, asked forgiveness from Africans for the suffering caused by “men belonging ​to Christian nations” in ​the slave trade.

Leo’s predecessor ⁠Francis condemned the plight of modern-day slaves and formally repudiated papal documents from the 15th century which were used by colonial powers to ​give legitimacy to their actions, which included slavery.

But such statements stopped ​short of ⁠directly addressing the role of the papacy, instead framing responsibility in broader terms tied to Christians or historical circumstances.

Leo’s intervention was made in his debut encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas” (Magnificent Humanity), which addresses the ethical ⁠challenges of ​artificial intelligence and warns of new forms of exploitation ​linked to the global economy.

Genealogical research published after Leo’s election last year showed that history’s first U.S.-born pope had ​a diverse ancestry that included both enslaved people and slaveholders.

Source: Reuters

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Dozens abducted in Bamti

25, May 2026

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Dozens abducted in Bamti 0

The weekend turned tense for residents of Bamti in Noni Subdivision, Bui Division, after dozens of civilians were forcefully taken by armed separatist fighters.

Local sources indicate that the incident occurred on Saturday morning, May 23, when the fighters rounded up community members accused of refusing to participate in a road work activity they had imposed on the population.

Among those taken were pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, raising concerns over the conditions in which they are being held.

Residents say the abducted individuals have been asked to pay a sum of 15,000 CFA francs each as a condition for their release, a demand that has left many families in distress.

In several parts of the North West region, such actions have become increasingly frequent, with armed groups enforcing their own rules through intimidation, financial demands and compulsory participation in local initiatives.

As of now, there has been no official communication from administrative or security authorities regarding the incident.

Source: Lebledparle.com

Iran has no trust in US; frozen assets release red line for any deal

25, May 2026

Iran has no trust in US; frozen assets release red line for any deal 0

Iran harbors no optimism toward the United States and views any negotiations through a lens of deep mistrust, an informed source told Tasnim News Agency on Sunday, stressing that even if a preliminary understanding is reached, Tehran will not rely on Washington’s commitments.

“Iran has no goodwill toward America, and the exchange of messages through the Pakistani mediator is constantly conducted with mistrust of the US government,” the source said.

The source added that no final understanding has been achieved so far, and disagreements persist over certain clauses.

“Even if an initial understanding is reached, it does not mean Iran has changed its view of America or that it trusts the current administration to fulfill its obligations,” the source said.

“The Americans have a very bad record in negotiations, which reinforces and entrenches mistrust. Therefore, even if an understanding is reached, Iran will monitor US actions throughout the post‑agreement process. If America breaches its commitments at that stage, Iran will retain its leverage to respond.”

Israeli media report dismissed as false

Another report by Tasnim also rejected an Israeli media report claiming that US officials have said Iran will receive no relief on frozen assets until it begins transferring its enriched uranium stockpiles.

According to Tasnim’s information, such a claim is completely untrue and Iran refuses to link the release of its frozen assets with nuclear material issues.

“Iran insists that part of its frozen assets must be released immediately upon any possible announcement of an understanding, and must be fully accessible to Iran. The bitter past experience of asset releases, which were effectively sabotaged by American procrastination, must not be repeated,” the report said.

The report also stated that Iran has made no commitment regarding the details of the nuclear issue at this stage.

Asset release in the first step has no connection to nuclear material matters.

Moreover, any preliminary understanding must focus exclusively on “ending the war.”

“If the release of frozen assets does not happen, one of Iran’s red lines will have been crossed, and there will be no understanding,” the report emphasized.

The remarks came as US President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday he had told his negotiators not to “rush.”

Source: Presstv

Atanga Nji’s Samuel Eto’o comment: Cameroon does not need bombastic declarations

25, May 2026

Atanga Nji’s Samuel Eto’o comment: Cameroon does not need bombastic declarations 0

As a chartered member of the ruling CPDM crime syndicate wanted by the Special Criminal Court in Yaoundé, the Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji has every right to dream big for Cameroonian football. Cameroonians are entitled to ambition and Cameroonian football fans are entitled to hope. But asking the President of the Cameroon Football Federation Samuel Eto’o to “give Cameroon two more Africa Cup of Nations titles and a FIFA World Cup semi-final place” is not leadership. It is political theatre wrapped in football romanticism.

Paul Atanga Nji’s statement collapses under the weight of its own absurdity.

Soccer in today’s world is not governed by charisma, nostalgia or individual football legend. It is governed by systems namely:  youth development, coaching structures, domestic league investment and sports medicine including governance stability, scouting networks, infrastructure and institutional competence. No football federation president in the world, not even a global icon like Samuel Eto’o can wave a wand and manufacture continental dominance and World Cup semi-finals on command.

To frame Cameroon’s football destiny as the personal responsibility of one man is to fundamentally misunderstand how elite football works in 2026. We of the Concord Group are extremely shocked by Minister Paul Atanga Nji’s low sense of judgment.

Cameroon’s greatest football moments were not created by slogans from corrupt government ministers. The 1990 FIFA World Cup quarter-final run was the product of a golden generation, tactical discipline and an era in which African football was beginning to break psychological barriers. The 2000 and 2002 AFCON triumphs came from a deep reservoir of talent, organization and continuity. Even then, success was difficult, fragile and fiercely contested.

Today, the landscape is even harsher. Morocco reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2022 not because King Mohammed VI publicly demanded it, but because the country spent years building academies, modernizing football administration, investing in facilities and creating a coherent football ecosystem. Senegal’s rise was similarly institutional, not mystical. Egypt’s consistency did not emerge from reckless and tactless ministerial declarations. Serious football nations build patiently.

Cameroon continues to struggle with recurring administrative disputes, inconsistent domestic league structures, coaching instability and tensions between the Minister of Sports and Physical Education and football establishments. Mindful of the current situation, demanding “two more Africa Cup of Nations titles and a FIFA World Cup semi-final” sounds less like a strategic vision and more like a headline designed for applause in Yaoundé.

Even more troubling is the dangerous personalization of Cameroon’s football. Samuel Eto’o is not Cameroon’s entire football machinery. Eto’o is not the youth academies. Eto’o is not the league. Eto’o is not the tactical execution on the pitch. Eto’o is not the ministry of finance. Eto’o is not the infrastructure budget. Elevating one man into both savior and scapegoat is intellectually lazy and politically convenient.

If the Indomitable Lions fail, will Atanga Nji and his gang acknowledge structural dysfunction? Or will they simply recycle blame onto Eto’o?

Cameroon football development cannot continue to operate on plain fiction, superstition and celebrity worship. It requires accountability across government, federation leadership, clubs, coaches, schools and private investment. President Biya and his corrupt cabinet ministers should be talking about pitches, academies, referee standards, grassroots competitions, sports science and transparent governance not casually handing out World Cup semi-final ultimatums as though football were a ring road campaign promise to the people of the North West region.

There is also an arrogance hidden inside the Atanga Nji declaration. Winning the Africa Cup of Nations is extraordinarily difficult. Reaching a World Cup semi-final is historically monumental. Only one African nation has ever done it. To speak about these achievements as obligations rather than aspirations trivializes the scale of the challenge. Cameroon does not need bombastic declarations. It needs seriousness deep within government circles.

Samuel Eto’o should be judged on tangible administrative progress: improving football structures, stabilizing FECAFOOT operations, supporting grassroots football, attracting investment and creating long-term competitiveness. Those are measurable standards. Those are rational expectations.

But demanding “two AFCON trophies and a World Cup semi-final” as though football history can be summoned by political rhetoric is, quite simply, nonsensical nonsense.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Senegal parliament speaker El Malick steps down as political crisis deepens

25, May 2026

Senegal parliament speaker El Malick steps down as political crisis deepens 0

The speaker of Senegal’s parliament said Sunday he was resigning, two days after his close ally was fired as prime minister, deepening a political crisis in the debt-laden West African country.

The move by speaker El Malick Ndiaye clears the way for sacked premier Ousmane Sonko to run for the post of head of parliament, where his Pastef party holds a strong majority, in a challenge to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Deputies have been summoned to a full session of the assembly on Tuesday morning to reinstate Sonko as a member of parliament and vote for a new speaker, said an official document published late Sunday.

That could further complicate reform efforts by Faye, who sacked his former ally Sonko on Friday after months of tensions.

Faye owed his presidency in large part to Sonko, who would almost certainly have taken the top job had he not been barred from running in the last presidential election due to a defamation conviction.

Their Pastef party comfortably won the 2024 elections on a promise of a profound political shake-up, vowing to fight corruption and inheriting an economy mired in debt.

Sonko had generated a passionate following among Senegal’s disaffected youth ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Despite Sonko’s popular appeal however, Faye held all the real power as president.

But in recent months, relations had soured between Faye and his one-time mentor. And as the discord between the president and prime minister became increasingly public, their governing alliance crumbled.

Sonko had become vocal in his criticism of his former protégé, accusing Faye of a “failure of leadership” for not backing him against his critics.

He also regularly denounced what he said was the slow pace of legal action for corruption against senior figures in the previous government of former president Macky Sall.

The two also disagreed on the crucial question of how to tackle Senegal’s high debt.

A difficult cohabitation

Hours after Sonko’s dismissal, hundreds of his supporters gathered outside his Dakar home to show their support for him – and it is Sonko who is the uncontested leader of Pastef, with its large parliamentary majority.

Sonko’s departure as premier raised the question of how Faye can govern the country when he cannot be assured of the support of the ruling party.

“One can imagine that it is going to be complicated to cohabit with this majority of the Pastef party in the Assembly,” said Babacar Ndiaye, research director of the West African Think Tank (WATHI).

Faye has to name another prime minister to replace Sonko – and that choice will have to be approved by parliament within three months of his nomination, said Ndiaye.

“If the deputies decide to table a motion of censure or no confidence, they are capable of doing so,” he added.

The president cannot dissolve parliament itself until November – two years after the last parliamentary election.

And a reform of the electoral code approved by parliament a few weeks ago means that Sonko is now eligible to run for the presidency.

That raises the possibility that the two former political allies might at some point run against each other for the top job.

Source: AFP

Senegal: President Diomaye Faye dismisses Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko

23, May 2026

Senegal: President Diomaye Faye dismisses Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko 0

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has officially ended the functions of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, according to a decree read on national television by the Secretary General of the Presidency.

The announcement, made on Friday evening, brings an immediate end to Sonko’s role as head of government, with the rest of the cabinet expected to continue in a caretaker capacity until a new Prime Minister is appointed.

No official reason was provided at the time of the announcement, although the decision comes after months of growing political tension between the two leaders, who were once close allies and central figures in Senegal’s ruling political movement.

‎The dismissal marks one of the most significant political developments since the pair led the 2024 electoral victory that brought President Faye to power.

Government sources indicate that consultations are expected to begin shortly for the formation of a new cabinet.

Shortly after the announcement, Ousmane Sonko reacted on his official Facebook page, writing:

« Alhamdoulillah. Ce soir je dormirai le cœur léger à la cité Keur Gorgui »

The statement, widely shared online, was interpreted as a calm and reflective response to his dismissal.

Further developments are expected in the coming hours, particularly regarding the appointment of a new Prime Minister.‎

Source: Lebledparle.com

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