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27, October 2021

Revisiting SOBA UK 2021 Stellar Convention At St George’s Park ⁰

This year, SOBA:UK pulled all the stops to host a memorable come-together which not only met all the standard health guidelines, but provided entertainment worthy of St George’s Park. Home of the England’s national football teams.

In line with the limitations and innovations of the Covid era, the General Assembly deliberations occurred virtually a week before the convention; thereby setting the stage for a convention weekend free from the usual intensity that accompanies AGMs.

This was an innovative approach that was effective, focused, and rewarding for all members.

Sobans with their families and guests had a wonderful time on Saturday morning as they enjoyed the breathtaking beauty of St George’s Park built on 330-acres in the stunning Staffordshire countryside, a couple of hours away from London.

It was a great opportunity for visitors to explore the Park, including its 14 outdoor pitches and one of them with a replica of the Wembley surface.

The convention gala was equally memorable with the official 4:30 pm kickoff time, and 6:00 pm dinner strictly enforced and respected.

Dinner was personally handled by none other than the Head Chef of the England National Football teams, Tim Barker.

The gala went on until 2:00 am. D.J Take Away was awesome and he definitely took away the two hundred plus guests with his non-stop musical output.

The gala was graced by the presence of Mr, Albert Fotabong Njoteh, High Commissioner for the Republic of Cameroon in the United Kingdom, who was happy to be amongst Cameroonians in such numbers.

Our hearty congratulations goes out to Franklin Egbe, President of SOBA:UK, Atem Akoh Arrey, Vice President, Obale Ebai, Chairman of the convention and to the entire exco and the management teams. Of course, we cannot forget the good-spirited members of SOBA:UK who were wonderful hosts.

We are already looking forward to the 2022 convention.

Thanks

Soban

Edwin Daniel Ndoko

27, October 2021

AFCON 2022 in Cameroon at risk? CAF releases statement ⁰

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued a statement following shock reports suggesting that the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations could be cancelled or postponed.

It was reported earlier this week that there was a chance that the upcoming AFCON was at risk of cancellation or postponement due to reported in-fighting between those responsible for organising the tournament.

Journalist Eduardo Hagn had claimed that this was due to the president of Cameroon’s football governing body, FECAFOOT, being “in his role illegally”.

The tournament is scheduled to take place between 9 January and 6 February next year after it was initially set to be hosted in Cameroon in June and July last year. It was, however, moved due to unfortunate weather conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement released on Monday, though, the CAF Executive Committee revealed that the upcoming tournament has been approved, with the official calendar soon to be distributed.

The statement, as per CAF’s website, read: “The Executive Committee received a comprehensive report from the CAF Organising Committee delegation led by Vice President Augustin Senghor and General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba who recently visited Cameroon.

“The Executive Committee noted the report and the progress made so far. The EXCO emphasised the need to make follow-ups with the Local Organising Committee on the areas that still need some urgent attention ahead of the kick-off on 9 January 2022.

“On the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations and Covid19 situation and preparations for supporters, the Executive Committee raised some sanitary matters that will be part of on-going discussions between CAF and Cameroon government.

“The Executive Committee also ratified the signing of the Agreement for the Organising Association Agreement (OAA) of the AFCON with the host nation, Cameroon last weekend.”

On the 2021/22 CAF calendar, the statement concluded: “The Executive Committee approved the 2021/22 competitions calendar. The calendar will be distributed in due course.”

Source: SoccerLaduna

27, October 2021

Misery of a black minority: Southern Cameroons refugees facing persecution in Nigeria ⁰

Southern Cameroons refugees, who fled brutal French Cameroun military crackdown in their home country of Ambazonia are not only facing deplorable living conditions in neighboring Nigeria but are being targeted by both Nigerian and French Cameroun army soldiers in the Taraba communities, according to Cameroon Intelligence Report sources.

Our correspondent in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in a recent report said Southern Cameroonians have become a target in Taraba where Cameroon government army soldiers have carried out several raids ever since Abuja and Yaoundé agreed to counter both the Biafra and Ambazonia separatist movements.

The exodus of persecuted Southern Cameroonians from their homeland state started in 2016 when the 88-year-old President Biya declared war against English speaking Southern Cameroonians. Since then, thousands relocated to neighboring Nigeria, in a bid to escape persecution, murder, arson and rape by the Francophone military backed by France.

The savagery in Southern Cameroons has been described by the Norwegian Refugee Council as ethnic cleansing. The atrocities against Southern Cameroonians have been widely documented by the renowned Human Rights Watch and the Southern Cameroons Interim Government.

The number of Southern Cameroonians currently living in refugee camps in Nigeria is said to be about 200,000. Opportunities and health care in Cross River and Taraba states in Nigeria for the Southern Cameroons refugees are worse and in many local governments non-existent.

The Fulani dominated government in Nigeria headed by the frail President Buhari has issued detailed instructions for deportation of prominent Southern Cameroons activists, provoking an unprecedented cross-border crackdown against the Southern Cameroons communities in Calabar and Taraba states.

Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered that Southern Cameroons refugee communities are being targeted by both Nigerian and Cameroon government army soldiers. Camps harboring Southern Cameroons refugees have been set to fire, refugees beaten and many restrictions have been placed on the mediocre lives they live in Nigeria.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai with files

26, October 2021

Queen Elizabeth cancels COP26 appearance ‘on medical advice’ ⁰

Queen Elizabeth II has cancelled her planned engagement at the U.N. climate conference, accepting doctors’ advice to rest, Buckingham Palace said Tuesday.

The 95-year-old monarch has “regretfully’’ decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow to attend the reception on Nov. 1 — a move that will dash the hopes of Britain’s Conservative government, which is anxious to show the importance of the session to the fate of the planet. The climate conference runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12 and her appearance was meant to kick it off in style and splendour.

“Her Majesty is disappointed not to attend the reception but will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message,’’ the palace said.

The news came after the sovereign held virtual audiences Tuesday at Windsor Castle — the first since revelations that her doctors ordered her to rest last week. The sovereign greeted the ambassador of the Republic of Korea during her first technology-aided appearance since she was driven to London’s King Edward VII’s Hospital on Oct. 20 for “preliminary investigations.” She returned to her Windsor Castle home at lunchtime the next day.

The queen underwent the medical tests after she canceled a scheduled trip to mark 100 years since the creation of Northern Ireland, and the palace said she had “reluctantly” accepted advice to rest for a few days. The matter was not related to COVID-19.

Her doctors ordered rest last week after a hectic few days in which a monarch who likes to be seen by the people carried out a hectic series of events. She held audiences with diplomats, had a reception at Windsor Castle for global business leaders and attended the horse races at Ascot.

Her hospital visit last week came amid general disquiet about Elizabeth’s health. Days earlier, she was seen using a walking stick at a Westminster Abbey service marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion, an armed forces charity. Though she had used a cane in 2003, it was after she underwent knee surgery.

The queen’s husband, Prince Philip, died in April 2021 at age 99. Though Elizabeth has enjoyed robust health throughout her life, she is Britain’s longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch. She is due to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee — 70 years on the throne — next year.

Source: AP

26, October 2021

Biya must be held accountable for crimes against Southern Cameroonians ⁰

The Southern Cameroons Interim Government (IG) has called upon the International Criminal Court to hold President Biya accountable for the incessant crimes and human rights violations against the people of Southern Cameroons, emphasizing that tough ICC action would prevent the French Cameroun regime from committing more war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Vice President Dabney Yerima said in a statement on Monday that the people of Southern Cameroons-Ambazonia have long been victims of gross, systematic, and rampant violations of human rights by the Francophone regime backed by France.

Dabney Yerima pointed to the excessive use of live ammunition against Southern Cameroons civilians as an example of crimes against humanity, denouncing the unwavering support of the French government headed by Emmanuel Macron for the French Cameroun regime’s heinous acts over the past five years.

The Biya dictatorial regime also violates freedom of expression by intimidating, arresting and incarcerating Southern Cameroons journalists covering human rights abuses of Ambazonians, Yerima furthered.

Yerima noted that troops loyal to the French Cameroun regime in Yaounde are preventing Southern Cameroons businessmen and women from trading and marketing most basic and essential needs, and the Francophone soldiers have also created a major obstacle that medical officials in Southern Cameroons have had to face in their COVID-19 response.

The exiled Southern Cameroons leader stated that the International Criminal Court must hold Biya accountable for his never-ending horrific crimes, stressing that such a strong measure would possibly stop the Yaounde regime from perpetrating more war crimes and crimes against humanity.

By Isong Asu in London

26, October 2021

Anti-coup protests in Sudan continue with 7 killed, 140 injured ⁰

Protesters in Sudan remained in the streets on Tuesday, despite the violence, a day after the country’s military seized power from a transitional government in an apparent coup d’état.

At least seven protesters have been killed and 140 others injured in the countrywide protests that broke out on Monday.

Military forces in the African Union country on Monday detained Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok after besieging his house. He was taken to an unknown location “after refusing to support coup”.

Hamdok had shared power with the country’s military leadership following the ouster of former president Omar al-Bashir more than two years ago.

Hours after the apparent military coup on Monday, Sudan’s main opposition coalition called for civil disobedience and protests across the country.

The Sudanese Information Ministry said the Forces of Freedom and Change alliance had demanded that the transitional military council step down and transfer power back to the civilian government.

The alliance also called for the release of all detained members of the Sudanese cabinet and the Sovereign Council, the ministry said on its Facebook account.

On Tuesday, more than 24 hours later, protests were gathering momentum across the country, according to reports.

Sudanese security forces keep watch as they protect a military hospital and government offices during protests on October 25, 2021 in the capital’s twin city of Omdurman. (Photo by AFP)

Protesters were chanting slogans like “returning to the past is not an option,” and “civilian rule is the people’s choice,” while some were using tyres to create burning barricades.

The employees of the country’s central bank have also announced a strike to reject the coup, according to the Information Ministry.

The protests have, however been marred by violence. The country’s Health Ministry on Tuesday announced that at least seven people had been killed by gunfire and 140 others were injured.

Authorities said tens of thousands of people opposed to the takeover had taken to the streets and had faced gunfire near the military headquarters in the capital Khartoum.

The Information Ministry said on its Facebook page that the transitional constitution gives only the prime minister the right to declare a state of emergency, calling Hamdok a “legitimate transitional authority”.

The state of emergency was on Monday declared by the coup leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who dissolved the cabinet, as well as the ruling sovereign council of military and civilian figures.

The international community has condemned the military takeover, with the UN Security Council expected to hold a closed-door meet on Tuesday to discuss the unfolding crisis.

The United Nations has demanded the prime minister’s “immediate release,” with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres describing their detention as “unlawful.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet warned that Sudan risked the return to oppression.

“It would be disastrous if Sudan goes backwards after finally bringing an end to decades of repressive dictatorship,” she said.

Meanwhile, the US government has decided to halt the $700 million in economic support for the African country, according to the US Department of State.

African Union Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat has also expressed “deep dismay” about the emerging political situation in Sudan.

General Burhan, however, defended the military actions, saying, “What the country is going through now is a real threat and danger to the dreams of the youth and the hopes of the nation.”

He is slated to hold a news conference later in the day, officials from his office said.

Source: Presstv

25, October 2021

Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, launches digital currency eNaira ⁰

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari launched the country’s new digital eNaira currency on Monday as Africa’s largest economy looked to tap into the growing popularity of virtual money and cryptocurrencies.

With the eNaira, Nigeria becomes the first in sub-Saharan Africa to fully launch a digital currency and joins China and a few other countries using or piloting central bank-regulated electronic tender.

“We have become the first country in Africa and one of the first in the world to introduce a digital currency to our citizens,” Buhari said at the official launch.

Nigeria has seen booming interest in cryptocurrencies as people look for ways to avoid the weakening naira currency and combat high costs of living and unemployment in Africa’s most populous country.

Central bank-backed digital currencies or CBDCs and cryptocurrencies are both virtual money though the CBDCs are legal tender regulated by central banks while cryptos are out of government control.

Five countries have already launched CBDCs, with another 14 including Sweden and South Korea in the pilot stage, according to the Atlantic Council’s CBDC tracking project.

In West Africa, Ghana is also looking to launch its own CBDC soon.

Nigeria’s central bank earlier this year sought to control the use of cryptocurrencies by ordering banks to close accounts that were involved in such transactions.

‘Increasing the tax base’

But in spite of the central bank ban, many Nigerians still skirt traditional sectors to use cryptocurrency for overseas transactions.

Experts say digital currencies can potentially reduce transaction costs and ease cross border transfers while also expanding financial inclusion as people with no banking access can use their mobile phones.

“The use of CBDCs can help move many more people and businesses from the informal into the formal sector, thereby increasing the tax base of the country,” Buhari said.

The new eNaira will be issued as legal tender like the current naira currency and will operate on the Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain. It will also follow the official exchange rate.

Customers will be able to download the eNaira app and fund their mobile wallets using their bank accounts, according to the central bank.

Nigeria’s central bank says it will adapt the system after the launch to encourage use by people with no banking access, especially in rural areas.

The eNaira launch comes as Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, is tackling the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the sharp drop in global crude prices.

Slipping into its second recession in five years after the start of the pandemic, Nigeria’s economy has bounced back to growth. But inflation, especially cost of food, remains stubbornly high and the naira weak against the dollar.

Source: AFP

25, October 2021

Sako IG: ABC TV crisis, betrayal and the battle for control ⁰

The turmoil engulfing the so-called Sako-IG has turned to near chaos as its spokesman Chris Anu is now fighting for his survival and relevance after being sidelined in a move teleguided by Irene Ngwa. Many within the Maryland based Southern Cameroons group are considering a mass exodus back to the main Southern Cameroons Interim Government headed by Vice President Dabney Yerima.

Key players in the power struggle at the ABC TV and the disgraced Dr Ikome Sako gang exchanged increasingly harsh words in dueling statements recently, culminating in a bizarre stalemate between Mr Chris Anu and Dr Sako.

The weeks-long Maryland IG battle has split Dr Ikome Sako from his acolyte, Chris Anu. And Mrs Irene Ngwa is now being referred to as a prostitute by senior members of her own group. In the words of Mr. Chris Anu, Irene Ngwa’s legs are constantly open and all over the place and she is not prepared to give ABC TV a good bill of health.

Ikome Sako is yet to comment on the matter even though he remains the chair of the Maryland cabal that has contributed immensely to weaken the Southern Cameroons resistance.

It is all about money and keeping the ABC TV alive as an anti President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe tool where the likes of Fru John Nsoh go on air to make a mockery of the jailed Southern Cameroons leaders. Behind Sako’s blue-chip image, there’s a pattern of breakups. But Chris Anu may not survive anymore within that camp.

Sako and his men learned of Mr. Chris Anu’s intentions through an audio message and the disgraced Southern Cameroons frontline leader was quoted as saying that Chris Anu is no longer committed to the Sako IG, its donors, and its stakeholders, he should resign.

Hours after ABC TV went off air for unpaid satellite bills; Mr. Chris Anu blamed it all on Irene Ngwa and Sako. However the two Southern Cameroonians reportedly in a luvie duvie relation have maintained a kind of silence of the lamb.

The conflict at the ABC erupted after the executive wing of the Sako IG blocked a drafting process that was supposed to raise money. It is hard to explain if Sako or Irene Ngwa were aware of the drafting plan as stated by Mr. Chris Anu in his audio message.

From every indication, Southern Cameroonians in the US and Canada are no longer interested in financing the Chris Anu propaganda which has been counterproductive to the Ambazonian struggle. Chris Anu’s latest audio message and his actions demonstrate a disregard for good governance within the Maryland Ambazonian group and create a grave amount of risk for the Sako IG at an especially sensitive time.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

25, October 2021

Football: Five candidates to replace Solskjaer as manager of Manchester United ⁰

Solskjaer has failed to win a trophy in nearly three years in charge at Old Trafford and tangible signs of progress after finishing second in the Premier League last season have been blown away amid a run of five defeats in their last nine games.

United are already eight points off the pace at the top of the table and there is a growing consensus that they need a coach to match the calibre of Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Chelsea’s Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel.

Solskjaer has led United to two consecutive top-four finishes for the first time since Alex Ferguson’s retirement as manager in 2013, but his time looks to be running out.

AFP Sport looks at five of the candidates to replace the 48-year-old if and when he is shown the door at Old Trafford.

Antonio Conte

A proven title winner, Conte turned a Chelsea side that had finished 10th the previous season into Premier League winners in his debut campaign in England in 2016/17.

The Italian is without a club having left Inter Milan in May after ending their 11-year wait to win Serie A.

Conte appears a perfect fit to solve United’s defensive woes that have blighted their season. Solskjaer’s men have kept one clean sheet in 21 games and shipped 11 goals in a week against Leicester, Atalanta and Liverpool.

However, Conte’s fiery temperament and tendency to fall out with his superiors could count against him.

“He’s not a fit for United,” said former United captain Gary Neville on Sunday.

Zinedine Zidane

Expectations were high for United to challenge for major trophies this season after the signings of serial winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane, along with £73 million ($100 million) winger Jadon Sancho.

Three of Ronaldo and Varane’s Champions League titles came under Zidane at Real Madrid and the Frenchman is also a free agent having ended his second spell with the Spanish giants in May.

Zidane proved himself a master of moulding a star-studded squad into a team at Madrid, where he also won two La Liga titles.

That is exactly what United need and his global profile fits the brand-building exercise the English giants have gone down in recent years, at times to the detriment of a well-functioning team on the field.

Brendan Rodgers

The outstanding option on the domestic market for United is Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers.

The Northern Irishman’s past as a Liverpool manager may rule him out for many United fans, but he has rebuilt his reputation since a rollercoaster three years at Anfield between 2012 and 2015.

Rodgers proved himself capable of handling the demands of winning every week in three years at Celtic, where he won a clean sweep of seven domestic trophies before returning to the Premier League with Leicester.

The Foxes have narrowly missed out on the Champions League for the past two seasons to Chelsea despite far inferior resources and beat the European champions to win the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history last season.

Erik Ten Hag

The Dutchman is responsible for arguably the form team in Europe right now with Ajax cruising towards the last 16 of the Champions League and another Eredivisie title after thrashing PSV Eindhoven 5-0 on Sunday.

Ten Haag was linked with a number of top jobs after leading the four-time European champions to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 1997 two years ago.

But unlike many of his players from that run, he is yet to be poached by one of Europe’s top clubs.

The former Bayern Munich youth team coach would fit the attacking style demanded of a United manager, as exhibited by a 4-0 thrashing of Borussia Dortmund last week.

Luis Enrique

The Spain coach is another with plenty of experience in getting the best out of a collection of talented individuals.

He won the treble in his first season at Barcelona and added another La Liga title with a front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Fluent in English, Luis Enrique has never hidden his desire to one day coach in the Premier League

His success with Spain this year at Euro 2020 and the Nations League finals shows he is also capable of producing an exciting side without the same quality of stars he had on offer at the Camp Nou.

Source: AFP

25, October 2021

UN says Southern Cameroons regions are going hungry and their situations may become worse ⁰

The U.N.’s World Food Program says thousands of destitute people in Cameroon’s crisis-prone western regions are going hungry and their situations may become worse if the separatist crisis there continues. Chris Nikoi, WFP regional director for west and central Africa is visiting hungry community members – most of them farmers chased from their farms by Cameroon’s separatist conflicts who are pleading to be spared from fighting between the military and separatists.

Hundreds of civilians in the town of Bamenda Thursday welcomed Nikoi in their English-speaking town in Cameroon’s restive North-West region.

Among those who came out was 59-year-old farmer Clifford Tayong. Tayong said he asked Nikoi to thank the WFP for the assistance the U.N. body has been giving people suffering as a result of the separatist crisis in Cameroon’s western regions.

Tayong said besides rice and vegetable oil, the WFP gave him and his three children $60 in August. He said his family again received $80 from the WFP in September. Tayong said he used the money to buy school supplies for his children. He said he also bought two roosters and eight hens to start a poultry farm that will enable him to earn money and take care of his family.

Tayong said he lost all his beans and corn when his one-hectare farm was burned down in the English-speaking Bafut Subdivision near Bamenda. He said the military accused him of giving food to separatist fighters and torched his farm.

Tayong and many others who fled the separatist crisis recounted their suffering to Nikoi. They pleaded to be spared from the fighting and said they wanted to return to their villages.

Nikoi said thousands of Cameroonians chased from their towns and villages by the separatist crisis are now very poor and hungry.

“I can’t help thinking about the women and the men and the stories about their farms being torched and to the point where the little dignity that they are able to retain in their lives is because of the monthly little assistance that they are having from the World Food Program, so I am living here proud of what we are doing to sustain people’s lives,” he said.

Nikoi said famine looms should the separatist crisis persist and force farmers to stay away from their fields. He said the WFP is assisting 280,000 civilians in the English-speaking North-West region.

Most of those receiving WFP assistance are displaced persons living with disabilities, pregnant women or people whose houses have been burned.

Farmers say their farms, houses and plantations have been destroyed by both government troops and separatist fighters. They say separatist fighters torch houses and farms of people suspected of collaborating with government troops, while government troops destroy the properties of people suspected of supporting the rebels.

Both the Cameroon military and separatists have always denied that their troops target civilians, their farms, plantations or houses.

Cameroon Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriel Mbairobe said farmers who return to their farms will be given seed and fertilizers at reduced prices. He said the military will protect displaced people who return to places where there is relative peace.

The WFP reports that as part of its crisis response operations, it distributed 1,608 metric tons of food to 199,000 beneficiaries in Cameroon’s North-West and South-West regions. The U.N. also reports that as part of its malnutrition prevention program the WFP provided 48 metric tons of specialized nutritious foods to 8,100 children aged 6 to 59 months and to 5,500 girls and pregnant women.

According to the U.N., 4.4 million of the 25 million Cameroonians need humanitarian assistance, and more than 1.9 million were food-insecure between June and August.

The separatist crisis has forced more than 750,000 people to flee their homes since the conflict erupted in late 2017, according to the U.N. Ongoing armed clashes, civilian casualties and the burning of houses, hospitals and other infrastructure are causing further displacement, suffering and hunger.

Source: VOA