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Biya regime declares Southern Cameroons, Far North region “economic risk zones”

3, September 2019

Biya regime declares Southern Cameroons, Far North region “economic risk zones” 0

Cameroonian Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute on Monday signed a decree declaring the troubled Northwest, Southwest and Far-North regions “economic risk zones.”

Companies operating in the economic risk zones will benefit from tax exemption for three years, according to the decree which did not specify additional measures.

In July, Cameroon’s Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development Alamine Ousmane Mey said the country’s sustainable development goals were facing “significant obstacles” as a result of the insecurity in the two Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions where separatists want to create an independent nation, and the insurgency of Boko Haram in the Far-North region.

Conflict in the Anglophone regions has led to the “partial or complete” closure of about 20 companies, according to government statistics.

Source: Xinhuanet

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigeria govt warns South Africa, Says ‘Enough is enough’

3, September 2019

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigeria govt warns South Africa, Says ‘Enough is enough’ 0

The Nigerian government says it will take further steps to ensure safety and protection of its citizens in South Africa. The position comes in the wake of a round of xenophobic attacks that hit Johannesburg on Monday.

The government described the incidents as unacceptable adding: ‘Enough is enough. Nigeria will take definitive measures to ensure safety and protection of her citizens.’

Leaders of the two countries – Muhammadu Buhari and Cyril Ramaphosa are scheduled to meet in October for bilateral talks and also on matters relating to security of Nigerians in South Africa.

The two met on the sidelines of the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICAD ; held last week in the Japanese city of Yokohama.

Another government to have reacted to the Johannesburg chaos is Zambia which tasked all its drivers plying the route to and from South Africa to suspend their trips till further notice.

Zimbabwe’s Cross Borders Transportation Association also warned that it could halt all South African cross border transport over the situation.

The provincial and national governments have called for restraint in the affected communities and cautioned against use of criminal avenues to express grievances.

The ruling African National Congress, ANC, also expressed their worry over the situation as has the main opposition Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters.

This criminality has been essentially driven by pure criminals against properties of foreign nationals and South Africans alike.

We call on SAPS (police) to take charge of the streets and decisively restore order. Most importantly, we call on South Africans to stop their violent intolerance of black foreign nationals, the EFF statement read in part.

Source: Africa News

Ambazonia threats scuttle school reopening in Southern Cameroons

3, September 2019

Ambazonia threats scuttle school reopening in Southern Cameroons 0

Empty schools in the English speaking region of Cameroon marked the opening of the academic year due to tensions in the region.

Residents have either fled or are hiding in their homes as the Anglophone separatists battle with government forces.

The rattle of gunshots in the north and southwest regions meant that whiles students in other parts of the country went to school, the situation was different in parts of the two regions.

The state-owned CRTV on the first day of reopening (September 2) admitted that classes had began in areas of the northwest but amid tight security. Separatists had warned they will disrupt any attempts to reopen schools.

As at today (September 3), CRTV reported that reopening of schools in the northwest had been timid but encouraging. Local newspapers are reporting a mixed reopening day.

Whiles one led with “Top départ” referring to the reopening day boom, another led with “Black to school” instead of “Back to school.”

Gustav Okuyu, resident of Bamenda told reporters why his kids had not gone to school: “My children have not gone to school, because… Look, one: my house has been burnt. Some of them are in the bush. Where will I take the other ones?

“I don’t even have money to send them to school. That’s why my children have not gone to school… I don’t even have a house and the others have run. I am an IDP (internally displaced person).”

After two years of conflict, a solution to the war between those calling for independence of the region and the government seem far from being found.

“The government has to bring eveybody to the table, so that everything can be OK. Many people have said it, France has said it, America has said it: to the dialogue table. What is the problem with dialogue? Everybody wants dialogue, who doesn’t want peace in his house?” Gustav quizzed.

Tensions have risen following the sentencing of the separatist leader Julius Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and others to life in prison by a military court sitting in Yaounde.

Naseri Paul Bea, a governor of the central region in an interview with CRTV said schools in his region were a little overwhelmed especially because of IDP students.

He added that upgrades on facilities and other plans by government will help ease the burden. He also said his outfit were yet to ascertain exactly how many IDPs had enrolled.

Source: Africa News

MTN Cameroon launches back-to-school support for underprivileged children

3, September 2019

MTN Cameroon launches back-to-school support for underprivileged children 0

MTN Cameroon has announced the launch of its 2019 Back2Skoul initiative aimed at supporting underprivileged children. More than 500 children will benefit from the initiative in all ten regions of the country for the 2019-2020 school year. MTN Foundation has been supporting orphans and underprivileged children from ten orphanages and care centres for several years now.

In each of these orphanages and care centres approved by the ministry of social affairs, MTN Foundation has set up a mini-school library equipped, among other things, with all curriculum textbooks of all the classes, from Class One to Upper Sixth, accessible to all the inmates.   

On the occasion of back-to-school, these underprivileged children receive from MTN Foundation, school supplies that comprise school bags, exercise books, pens, didactic materials and protective clothing that enable them to cope with the rainy season. MTN Foundation also offers scholarships to the top five students in each of these orphanages and care centres. In addition, volunteer MTN staff are available throughout the school year to assist the inmates in better assimilating their lessons.

Source: Telecompaper  

15 killed after Mali building collapses ‘like a house of cards’

2, September 2019

15 killed after Mali building collapses ‘like a house of cards’ 0

Fifteen people were killed on Sunday when a three-story building under construction collapsed “like a house of cards” in the Mali capital Bamako, the government and local media reports said.

Twenty-six people were rescued alive from the partially occupied building after it collapsed just before dawn.

“Thanks to the determination of the emergency services, a young girl of around four years has just been pulled out of the rubble alive.”

“Another survivor (a woman) has just, happily, been extracted by rescuers,” the civil protection ministry said.

The ministry later said an investigation into the building’s owner had been opened. According to local media reports, the top floor collapsed onto the rest of the building which was already occupied, resulting in the entire structure “collapsing like a house of cards.”

Such collapses are common in Mali where buildings are often constructed without planning permission.

(Source: AFP)

Ambazonians celebrate birthday of President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe

2, September 2019

Ambazonians celebrate birthday of President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe 0

Southern Cameroonians commemorates this Monday the birthday of the Interim President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia and leader of the Ambazonia Revolution, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, who including 9 of his top aides were sentenced recently to life in prison by the Yaounde Military Tribunal.

Birthday wishes bearing his photo have been posted in some towns and villages all over Ground Zero and on social media by hundreds of Southern Cameroonians who are also respecting the lock down. The Ambazonian Vice President Dabney Yerima in an act of faith, homage and commitment observed that the leader of the Ambazonia resistance; President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe is more alive than ever.

In a soul-searching message the Southern Cameroons exiled government said that “today is the birthday of the heir to the legacy of the visionary leaders who staged the blockade of the Eastern Regional Assembly in Enugu, Nigeria in 1953.”

Many Southern Cameroons daily newspapers are expected to dedicate their front pages and many of the inside pages to the Ambazonia leader, whose name is multiplied on social networks, in some cases to praise him and in others to deplore him.

By Chi Prudence Asong in London

Yaounde: US embassy issues security alert

2, September 2019

Yaounde: US embassy issues security alert 0

U.S. Embassy Yaoundé reminds U.S. citizens that the security situation in Cameroon remains fluid and recommends that all citizens follow security best practices to remain informed, prepared, connected, and safe in the event of a crisis.  Some of the most important security practices are listed below.  For a full list of such practices, please go to the following Department of State webpage:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/emergencies/what-can-you-do-crisis-abroad.html

Actions to Take:

  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive important safety and security messages and make it easier for us to locate and assist you in an emergency.
  • Monitor consular messages and local and international news from reliable sources.
  • Avoid demonstrations and public gatherings in Cameroon. Even events intended to be peaceful can quickly turn violent.
  • Make sure your passport is ready for use. Most countries require that it be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip and that it have two or more blank pages.
  • Always carry proof of your legal presence in Cameroon, such as a U.S. passport with visa, or a residency card.  Since Cameroon does not recognize dual citizenship, U.S. citizens of Cameroonian descent should never attempt to use a Cameroonian passport or identification card. 
Ambazonia: Vice President Yerima vows continued support for Ground Zero

1, September 2019

Ambazonia: Vice President Yerima vows continued support for Ground Zero 0

Ambazonia Vice President Dabney Yerima has announced continued support for Southern Cameroons Restoration Forces fighting an array of Biya regime militias and the French Cameroun government army.

“Southern Cameroons Self-Defense Forces and other Ambazonia revolutionary groups including the diaspora will continue to work together to resist La Republique du Cameroun’s occupation and will do everything to bring an end to French Cameroun’s control of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia” the Southern Cameroons Vice President said late on Saturday.

Ever since the Ambazonia Interim President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe declared the independence of Southern Cameroons, the territory has been under constant attack from the Cameroon government army supported by several armed militias created by the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji rooted in French Cameroun extremism that has killed thousands of Southern Cameroonians since 2017.

The Southern Cameroons Interim Government is also battling a crisis created by a sharp drop in financial donations in the West. “It is vital that the people of Ambazonia in the diaspora know that we have heard their cries of distress,” Dabney said.

The Ambazonia Interim Government is the largest administrative body grouping Southern Cameroonians involved in the resistance against French Cameroun’s brutal colonial rule.  The Ambazonia Vice President is scheduled to discuss the insecurity and La Republique Du Cameroun’s so-called back to school with other Southern Cameroons front line leaders this coming week.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

EU says won’t change Brexit deal agreed with UK

1, September 2019

EU says won’t change Brexit deal agreed with UK 0

The European Union (EU)’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said Saturday the bloc will not change the divorce deal agreed with Britain and that he is “not optimistic” about avoiding a no-deal outcome.

Barnier said the most contentious element of the agreement, the so-called backstop mechanism aimed at keeping the Northern Irish border open in all circumstances, must remain.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who took power last month, has called for the provision to be scrapped in order to reach a new deal ahead of the country’s latest October 31 departure date.

Johnson has said he was encouraged in his bid to ax the backstop by recent meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, who appeared to suggest an openness to alternatives.

But writing in Britain’s Sunday Telegraph, Barnier said Brussels remained unconvinced after “intense discussions with EU member states on the need to guarantee the integrity of the EU’s Single Market, while keeping that border fully open.”

“The backstop is the maximum amount of flexibility that the EU can offer to a non-member state,” he stated.

“I am not optimistic about avoiding a ‘no deal’ scenario, but I remain determined to explore all avenues that the UK government will present that are compatible with the withdrawal agreement,” Barnier added.

The EU negotiator also said discussions about alternatives to the backstop could not begin until Britain had approved the divorce deal struck with Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, late last year.

It was subsequently rejected three times by British MPs, leading Brexit to be delayed to October 31.

“We are ready to start this work immediately upon ratification of the withdrawal agreement, in parallel to finally creating clarity on our future relationship,” Barnier stated.

He added that if Britain left the EU without a deal, it would be London’s decision.

“Many people in the UK understand that and I would be surprised if they succumb to the idea that the EU is to blame for a difficult political situation in the UK.”

(Source: AFP)

US: Pelosi, Schumer, other Dems call for stricter gun laws after Texas mass shooting

1, September 2019

US: Pelosi, Schumer, other Dems call for stricter gun laws after Texas mass shooting 0

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi as well as a number of Democratic presidential candidates have called for stricter gun laws following a mass shooting on Saturday in Texas.

The shooting, which happened in the western city of Midland, reportedly left at least five people killed and more than 21 others injured.

A gunman opened fire, shooting randomly at bystanders at a Home Depot department store before moving on to a Movie theater in neighboring city of Odessa, where he was shot and killed by police.

Following the incident, Schumer and Pelosi took to Twitter, calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to introduce legislation that would expand background checks on gun purchases.

Chuck Schumer✔@SenSchumer

Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, & everyone injured in the shooting in Odessa & Midland, TX.

Thank you to the first responders who risked their lives to stop the threat.@senatemajldr should bring up H.R. 8 the week Congress returns. We must #endgunviolence.

Pelosi also said that McConnell should end Senate GOP “obstruction.”

Nancy Pelosi✔@SpeakerPelosi

Enough is enough. Every day, the gun violence epidemic inflicts a devastating toll in communities across America, this time
in West Texas. The @SenateGOP must end its obstruction & finally pass House-approved legislation to #EndGunViolence. https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/83119 Pelosi Statement on Shooting in Midland and Odessa, Texas“America’s heart is broken by the senseless and horrific mass shooting tonight in Texas.speaker.gov7,4692:27 AM – Sep 1, 2019

Meanwhile, several presidential contenders from the Democratic Party condemned the shooting.

“We do know that this is f-cked up. We know that this has to stop in our country,” Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D) said at a campaign stop in Virginia.

Former Vice President Joe Biden also tweeted that “we must end this epidemic.”

Joe Biden✔@JoeBiden

I’m heartbroken, sickened, & angry. Weeks after the horror in El Paso, another community in Texas has been terrorized by gun violence. Enough. We must end this epidemic.@DrBiden & I send our thoughts to those affected & thank our law enforcement who responded at great risk.5,7302:02 AM – Sep 1, 2019

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Twitter called on Congress to take action to stop gun violence.

“We’ve already lost far too many to gun violence—Congress must act now.”

It is not yet clear what motivated the carnage and whether the incident was racially motivated as was the case in a massacre a month earlier the Texas city of El Paso, where a white young male targeted mostly native Mexican residents, killing 22 and wounding nearly 30 more.

PressTV-20 shot dead in El Paso in possible ‘hate crime’: Police

Meanwhile, in another shooting in Alabama, a 17-year-old reportedly shot 10 teenagers – ranging in age from 15 to 18 — following a high school football game in the city of Mobile.

The shooting victims were taken to a local hospital Saturday morning as Mobile Police Department spokesman Laderrick Dubose identified the teenage shooter as Deangelo Parnell, further declaring that there were no fatalities as the result of the incident.

Source: Presstv

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