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18, October 2021

Cameroon football legends inspect infrastructure ahead of AFCON ⁰

Cameroon football legends began inspecting football infrastructure in the country on Sunday ahead of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The delegation, including former strikers Roger Milla and Samuel Eto’o, visited Japoma Stadium in the commercial hub of Douala, which will host matches when the central African nation hosts the competition next year.

Secretary General of the Presidency and delegation leader Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh said the inspection visit was intended to showcase Cameroon’s readiness to stage the championship.

“We are proud of the infrastructure in our country – everything is modern and well done. Cameroon’s football infrastructure is quite ready to host AFCON,” said Eto’o, a four-time African Player of the Year, during a tour of the stadium.

The biennial football championship will run from January 9 to February 6 with the participation of 24 teams.

Source: Xinhuanet

18, October 2021

Colin Powell dies of Covid-19 complications: family ⁰

Colin Powell, a US war hero and the first Black secretary of state who saw his legacy tarnished when he made the case for war in Iraq in 2003, has died from complications from Covid-19. He was 84.

“We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American,” the family said in a statement posted to social media on Monday.

The retired four-star general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who served four presidents made his reputation as a man of honor distant from the political fray — an asset in the corridors of power.

“General Powell is an American hero, an American example, and a great American story,” George W. Bush said as he announced the nomination of Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants who became the Republican president’s secretary of state in 2000.

“In directness of speech, his towering integrity, his deep respect for our democracy, and his soldier’s sense of duty and honor, Colin Powell demonstrates… qualities that will make him a great representative of all the people of this country.”

But he found it hard to live down his infamous February 2003 speech to the United Nations Security Council about the alleged existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq — the evidence he presented was later proven to be false.

“It’s a blot… and will always be a part of my record. It was painful. It’s painful now,” Powell said in a 2005 interview with ABC News.

Tributes nevertheless poured in from Congress, where Democratic Senator Mark Warner praised Powell as “a patriot and a public servant,” while House Republican Peter Meijer described him as a rarity in the modern age: “a true soldier statesman.”

The family statement said Powell had been fully vaccinated.

Source: AFP

18, October 2021

Biya’s job is to lead the two Cameroons into a bloody civil war ⁰

The Chairman of the Cameroon Concord News Group has condemned the statement made public by the Biya Francophone regime on the murder of a primary school pupil in Buea, saying the 86-year-old Biya and his ruling CPDM crime syndicate outfit aims to stoke tensions in Southern Cameroons and plunge the two Cameroons into a civil war.

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai made the comments last week to a cream of Southern Cameroons elites at The Hilton at St George’s Park, Burton Upon Trent in the United Kingdom.

The Concord Group chairman denounced the Yaounde Beti Ewondo regime, stressing that a French Cameroun gendarme committed the crime while Biya bears responsibility for the act.

“Dion Ngute, Paul Atanga Nji and his fake Amba Boys, and all those, who are involved in supporting Biya and the CPDM, are responsible for the blood that has been spilled,” Agbaw-Ebai added.

Soter Agbaw-Ebai furthered, “Biya’s job today is to create a state of internal tension that leads to civil war between French and British Southern Cameroons.”

The Concord chief political man added that the responsibility of the current Southern Cameroons Interim Government headed by Vice President Dabney Yerima is to protect Southern Cameroons citizens.

By Chi Prudence Asong

18, October 2021

The SOBA UK 2021 convention went off without hitches and was a huge success ⁰

This past week, the President of SOBA UK laid out a forceful case for the importance of unity and strong moral character in SOBA UK, his ability to continue on the successful path of SOBA UK President Emeritus Ako Arrey, and the threat that a Midlands chapter would pose to the great SOBA UK family. Did President Egbe Franklin – and his fellow Sasse Old Boys at the 2021 Residential Convention who echoed his points – do so successfully? We of the Cameroon Concord News Group think the 2021 Convention at St. Georges Park was a huge success.

Both Egbe Franklin’s convention declaration and the convention as a whole clearly were pitched toward the entire SOBA UK family and even some other Cameroonian groups, particularly in English speaking Cameroon . From the perspective of all the guests including Cameroon’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Egbe Franklin and his Sasse Old Boys led by Joe Foncha performed brilliantly.

Compared to past conventions, SOBA UK’s AGM held via zoom and was comparatively short and provided SOBA UK members enough time to concentrate on the Convention proper. We gathered that Egbe Franklin’s delivery was fluid and heartfelt during the AGM.

The rest of the convention at The Hilton at St George’s Park, Burton Upon Trent went off without hitches or glitches. Other leading Sobans including Chief Dr. Daniel Asua, Dr Enow Humphery and the Chairman of the 2021 organising committee Obale Ebai also spoke effectively and with great rhetoric on the passing to eternity of senior SOBA Sessekou John Tabi.

Overall, the SOBA UK 2021 Residential Convention sent a strong message that Sasse Old Boys are firmly grounded in their traditions and values and will not make any concessions to any dissident group. To be sure, SOBA UK can be trusted with the development of Sasse College, they can revive prosperity among its members and distribute its benefits more widely to students currently in the academic establishment back home. They intend to increase bereavement package and institute greater social unity.

Holding an AGM before the convention was a huge gamble for the president and his vice, but the success which can now be assessed following the outcome paints a picture of two young SOBA UK leaders with a vision.

SOBA UK has had a good run under Egbe Franklin. Many of SOBA UK best qualities were on display at The Hilton at St George’s Park, Burton Upon Trent and in Egbe Franklin’s speech. We of the Cameroon Concord News and the Cameroon Intelligence Report are hoping we’ll have more conventions like that in the future.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Chairman/Editor-In-Chief

Cameroon Concord News Group

17, October 2021

Football: Newcastle fans celebrate new Saudi era in spite of rights concerns ⁰

Jubilant Newcastle fans descended on St James’ Park on Sunday to celebrate a new era for the club under the ownership of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund with few showing concern for the issues raised by human rights groups over the takeover.

Hundreds of supporters sported traditional Saudi headdress and flew flags of the Gulf kingdom ahead of the Magpies’ first match since a £300 million ($412 million) takeover was given the green light by the Premier League.

The protracted deal had been held up for over a year by a dispute over piracy of sports rights, including for English top-flight football, between Saudi and Qatar.ADVERTISINGhttps://8c753c88bbf2a44252e3b56fe4d3ee18.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

Saudi’s agreement to lift a ban on Qatari sports broadcaster beIN Sports cleared that obstacle, but the deal has been criticised by human rights groups.

Amnesty International has accused Saudi Arabia of using the global appeal of the Premier League to “sportswash” its reputation.

The fiancee of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed inside the Saudi consolate in Istanbul in 2018, has described the takeover as “heartbreaking”.

A billboard with the hashtag #justiceforjamal was driven in front of St James’ Park in the hours before kick-off.

Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan (centre) and minority owner Amanda Staveley (centre right)were given a huge reception at St James' Park — Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan (centre) and minority owner Amanda Staveley (centre right)were given a huge reception at St James’ Park Paul ELLIS AFP

But there was little other sign of protest as Newcastle fans celebrated the departure of unpopular former owner Mike Ashley and dreamt of a transformation of their fortunes on the field.

“We’ve been waiting for this for 14 years. The atmosphere is immense, I haven’t seen it like this for years,” said Chris, a fan dressed in Saudi headdress.

“I’m just excited for the new era in Newcastle, you can feel it everywhere.”

Governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Yassir Al-Rumayyan, was handed a huge ovation by the 55,000 crowd as he was presented as the club’s new chairman before kick-off.

Newcastle have not won a major trophy since 1969 despite regular attendances of more than 50,000.

“It doesn’t matter where the money comes from, as long as we win something,” said another supporter, Rob McCafferty.

The club from northeast England began the day second bottom of the table, without a win in their opening seven league games of the season.

However, the fans are already dreaming big as they aim to follow in the footsteps of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, two clubs transformed by state-backed takeover from Abu Dhabi and Qatar respectively.

On top of being linked with a host of star players in the January transfer market, supporters are keen to replace manager Steve Bruce.

“The manager is the first thing,” said another fan, Sam Gardner. “Ideally (Antonio) Conte, but I don’t know if he is interested.”

Source: AFP

17, October 2021

Massacre of the Holy Innocents: In Loving Memory of Louise Ndialle ⁰

Our dear sky daddy,aka Heavenly Father has given all of us life.That life is sacred.He has placed so much value in life by commanding that “thou shall not kill”All we have to do is develop,harness,improve on this life so that we can present our bodies to him holy,acceptable as a living sacrifice.

God gives a chance to a little girl to live,grow and eventually contribute to society.A mature man,well equipped with arms handed to him by a rock state decides to prematurely terminate the life of our baby.

A Police officer 9 months ago had beaten to death a motorcycle rider at Bellow Foncha,Bamenda still on control palaver.If sanctions have to come from the delinquent state it will never.There’s complicity in the action of state and it agents in devaluing lives leaving the people to fight their battles.

All we now see is a huge machinery of defence and justification from some colleagues and Yaounde hierarchy, no sympathy,no excuses but provocative words blaming the lady,driver etc.What warranted the release of bullets.

We know that the main issue in a control is not whether the driver has got all the papers but whether he has given money.We systematically arrived at an unfortunate level whereby money must be given, papers or not.We don’t eat documents they say.Officially carrying arms is now a license to kill.Let the state proof us wrong.

By Chief Charles A. Taku

16, October 2021

‘It is indeed different’: SOBA UK ANNUAL RESIDENTIAL CONVENTION kicks off with emphasis on unity ⁰

The SOBA UK 2021 Annual Residential Convention started on Friday with a star-studded lineup and heavy emphasis on unity aimed at presenting a new picture of the association as the best hope for all Sasse ex-students in the UK and even beyond.

SOBA UK’s three-day Annual Residential Convention has been entirely reshaped by the Franklin Egbe administration and named “Appreciating Community Spirit.”

The event has once again drawn hundreds of guests including members of the Sasse Old Boys family to The Hilton at St George’s Park, Burton Upon Trent for days of celebrating, intellectual discourse and development politicking.

Sobans are scheduled to formally accept all decisions reached at the last convention in Colchester.

“There’s no doubt about it – it is indeed different,” a senior Soban from the USA, hinted Cameroon Concord News.

The programming has been arranged to reflect the depth of SOBA UK’s way forward beginning 2022.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

15, October 2021

Fully vaccinated foreign visitors can enter US from Nov 8 ⁰

The United States announced Friday that it will allow entry to foreign travelers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, by both land and air, starting November 8.

“This policy is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent,” tweeted White House assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz in announcing the news.

In an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, US borders were closed after March 2020 to travelers from much of the globe, including the European Union, Britain and China, India and Brazil. Overland visitors from Mexico and Canada were also banned.

The months of restrictions led to both personal and economic suffering.

Under the new policy that was outlined last month, vaccinated air passengers will need to be tested within three days before travel, and airlines will be required to put in place a contact tracing system.

Earlier this week, a White House source said the land border opening would happen in two phases.

Initially, vaccines will be required for “non-essential” trips — such as visiting family or tourism — though unvaccinated travelers will still be allowed into the country for “essential” trips as they have been for the last year and a half.

A second phase beginning in early January 2022 will require all visitors to be fully vaccinated to enter the United States by land, no matter the reason for their trip.

Source: AFP

15, October 2021

Louise Ndialle: Irate Southern Cameroonians lynch Francophone gendarme after killing of schoolgirl ⁰

A gendarme officer is reported to have died from a mob action after he allegedly fired his gun killing a little schoolgirl.

The incident occurred on Thursday morning at a security checkpoint around the Divine Mercy Co-Cathedral in the city of Buea in South-West.

Although state authorities are yet to issue an official statement, open sources say the gendarmerie officer, lynched by a mob, had in an attempt to immobilize a car at a security checkpoint, shot and killed a three-year-old schoolgirl who was being accompanied to school by her parent.

Onlookers and passersby are said to have taken the laws into their hands. They were later joined by a thick crowd to administer mob justice on the suspect gendarme.

A video of the mob action that has gone viral shows policemen watching helplessly as the gendarme is stoned.

Before long, the situation degenerated into a popular protest as the irate crowd marched with the corpse of the little girl from Molyko to the Governor’s Office and back.

At the Governor’s Office, the crowd chanted songs demanding an end to security checkpoints that have been transformed into extortion posts.

“FCFA 500! FCFA 500,” they chanted, urging authorities to sanitize the security corps in the country plagued by corruption.

Some of the protesters claim the gendarme shot at the car, killing the schoolgirl, because the driver of the car failed to stop and offer a FCFA 500 (less than a dollar) bribe.

The Governor of the South-West Region, Okalia Bilai Bernard was on hand to receive the irate population.

The Governor called for calm, describing the situation as unfortunate.

“It is indeed a shocking incident. An innocent child has been killed. All of us are in shock. I want to assure you that those who did it, some are already in the hands of the law,” the Governor said.

Meanwhile, the remains of the little girl were displayed at Bongo’s Square in Clerks’ Quarters. A woman in an advanced age stripped naked to protest against brutality by security forces.

The headless corpse was paraded down to the esplanade of the Molyko Stadium, paralyzing traffic.

At press time, the road leading to the Molyko Stadium and the entire vicinity had been overtaken by a huge crowd. The stadium had been opened for the irate population and the Bishop of the Diocese of Buea, His Lordship Michael Bibi was about addressing the population.

Source: Cameroon Info.Net

15, October 2021

Louise Ndialle: Former US Undersecretary says schoolgirl was shot because mother refused to pay a bribe of 500 CFA francs ⁰

Former U.S. Undersecretary of State for African Affairs has confirmed in a tweet that it was for a matter of 500 CFA francs that the young Southern Cameroons schoolgirl was coldly murdered by a Francophone gendarme officer of Beti-Ewondo extraction.

The horrific murder of young Louise Ndialle in the morning of Thursday, October 14, 2021 in Buea the chief city in the South West is now causing a stir beyond Cameroon’s borders. Several senior world citizeens and personalities were moved, including the American Tibor Nagy, the former U.S. Under Secretary of State for African Affairs.

The American diplomat reacted in a tweet on Thursday, October 14, and deplored the disappearance of the young schoolgirl, who was killed, according to him, by a gendarme, for a matter of 500 FCFA. For Tibor Nagy, the horror occurred because the girl (her mother) refused to pay the gendarme this amount.

“Does anyone doubt that the poor child killed in Cameroon by a gendarme was shot because they refused to pay a bribe of 500 CFA francs? Anyone on the roads of Cameroon encounters “electric gate” stops with great frequency. Shame on a government where corruption flows from all levels and kills!” tweeted Tibor Nagy.

Tibor Nagy, who has always focused on the armed conflict in Southern Cameroons, and who knows Cameroon inside out, also accuses the government of having maintained a reign of corruption, to the point where this scourge is now killing literally and figuratively.

By Rita Akana