Headline News

15, October 2018

Biya’s concocted victory leaked? ⁰

Local media portals are reporting that a leaked result shows that president Paul Biya was in the lead with over 71% of votes cast. The government or ELECAM has yet to confirm or deny the information.

The fight against fake news was one of the core campaign issues ahead of the election. Yaoundé had gone as far as seek the help of social media giants, Facebook, to help combat the menace.

Elections body, ELECAM, on Thursday confirmed that it had been served legal challenges to the October 7 presidential polls. A total of 18 individuals and parties had approached the Constitutional Council.

“They are thus allowed 48 hours to submit their replies, against a receipt. Section 133 (3) od the Electoral Code,” it added in a tweet.

Meanwhile a local journalist is reporting that the main opposition Social Democratic Front, SDF, candidate, Joshua Osih in his application to the Council is seeking a total cancellation of the process.

ELECAM has fifteen day period to release results but opposition parties hold that it is largely a period during which results are manipulated. An Aspirant, Maurice Kamto claimed victory on Monday with a government response branding him as “irresponsible and lawless.”

Source: Africa News

15, October 2018

October 7: Kamto Campaign calls on Cameroonians to defend victory ⁰

Some eight days after Prof Maurice Kamto of the MRC party declared himself winner of the October 7 presidential election, the Biya regime is still struggling to hold on to power. The Kamto Campaign has reportedly told the military to stop showing loyalty to the man tormenting the Cameroonian people.

At a well-attended press briefing in Yaoundé, the spokesman for the Kamto team said “Cameroonians would no longer tolerate such perversion of justice. Cameroonians of their own free will voted for Prof Maurice Kamto the presidential standard bearer of the MRC in the October 7^th polls”

Information filtering from the National Vote-counting Commission relating to the results of the presidential elections is now indicating a landslide victory for the 85 year-old President Biya. MRC and the coalition that constituted itself around candidate Maurice Kamto have categorically rejected these results saying it has been fabricated with the help of some unmasked fake Transparency International observers.

The Kamto Campaign continues to claim victory in the election in conformity with the truth from the polling stations that was made available in the evening of October 7, 2018. The Kamto Coalition has also rejected all forms of violence recently implored by the Biya regime and has also exhorted the Cameroonian people to remain vigilant and be ready to fight to protect their victory.

By Sama Ernest in Yaounde

15, October 2018

SOBA UK appoints new Patrons, Dismisses SOBA National lifetime bans on Exco ⁰

On 22nd September 2018, the General Assembly of SOBA UK met at St George’s Park, Burton Upon Trent, the Home of England National Teams under the theme of “Together we Succeed”. The General Assembly was well attended and members sat through a six-hour meeting to deliberate on all issues on the published agenda.

The following key resolutions are officially published;

1) The Appointment of New Patrons

The SOBA UK General Assembly appointed new Patrons in line with Article 15 (1, 3, and 5) of the SOBA UK Constitution;

Patron membership shall be awarded to persons who have been outstanding in their efforts and contributions to the business of SOBA UK.
Persons who qualify for patron membership shall be elected as such by the Convention Assembly on the proposal of the Chapter Executive. Persons so promoted, shall be notified in writing by the Secretary.
Patron membership shall be conferred for two years after which, membership is reviewed by the Convention assembly.

The General Assembly took two decisions, namely;

Ended the patronages of all existing patrons previously appointed in line with Article 15.5 2. Appointed the following new patrons in line with Article 15.1 and 15.3 effective immediately; Patron Joseph Foncha (Class of 1962) Patron Cyril Alima (Class 1973) Patron Ashu Akoachere (Class 1978) Patron Maximus Ewane (Class 1979) Patron Francis Shupo (Class 1980) Patron Thompson Egbe (Class 1982) We wish all our new patrons every success in their roles as patrons of SOBA UK.

2) The Dismissal of the lifetime bans of SOBA UK Executives Referral of ‘Misconduct outcomes’ and pronouncements by SOBA National Council in Cameroon to SOBA UK members.

Article 18: SOBA UK Constitution

The Convention Assembly shall be the supreme and final authority of the Association.
It shall comprise all the registered members of SOBA UK. However, it shall be constituted, and thus shall be entitled to proceed with its business, if at least four members of the Executive and a minimum of sixteen other members of the Association are present.

The General Assembly of registered members in SOBA is superior to the SOBA National Council (Article 22, SOBA Constitution 1991). The SOBA UK General Assembly has been used as the reference General Assembly due to its jurisdiction, and the members concerned are registered to the United Kingdom SOBA General Assembly.

Matter for General Assembly Consideration

On 3 September 2018, the SOBA National Council in Cameroon made the following pronouncements:

That Mr. Ayuk Akoh-Arrey, Mr. Francis Shupo and Mr. John Bawak were expelled from the Sasse Old boys Association (SOBA) for life with no recourse to re-admission in any SOBA chapter in the world.
Mr. Denis Angafor was suspended for a period of 5 years and without leave for registration in any chapter in the world.
Mr. Bime Lafon, Mr. Babangida Usamatu, Mr. Batey Tako and Mr. Frankline Egbe were seriously warned and advised to deceit (SGC representation) from unethical activities that will attract further sanctions from the SGC.

On the charge of a) Contempt of the Proprietor of St Joseph’s College Sasse, the SOBA General Council, SOBA General, SOBA President General and SOBA General Executives; b) Usage of the SOBA name, and logo for disruptive purposes; c) Slanderous and libellous statements made against the SOBA General Council, SOBA General, SOBA President General and SOBA General Executive; d) Advocating severance or complete separation from SOBA General (national chapter); e) Misrepresenting, fabricating and altering the contents of the SOBA Constitution to advance own agenda.

Decision of the General Assembly

The SOBA UK GA unanimously voted to DISMISS the SOBA National Council decisions in Cameroon put before it by its Executive and declared the decisions as INVALID. The General Assembly of SOBA UK confirms this matter as closed and members concerned should continue as members of the association in the United Kingdom.

The General Assembly cited the following reasons:

The General Assembly resolves that there are no bases for these draconian sanctions, and that the SOBA UK General Assembly was never consulted on this matter.
The General Assembly is the supreme and final authority of the Association in the United Kingdom as per Article 18.1 and 18.2 of the SOBA UK Constitution. The members concerned are registered members of SOBA UK and therefore cannot refer this matter to the General Assembly in Cameroon. The reference General Assembly is that of the United Kingdom which sat on 22nd September, 2018 and deliberated on the matter.

Background:

On 24 July 2018, members of SOBA UK received communication from Mr. Ebot Mfoataw announcing ‘Notice of Investigation for Gross Misconduct’. On 26 July 2018, a response proposing an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) was sent by these “Individuals”, individually and together to Mr. Ebot Mfoataw and to the competent authority as prescribed by the 1991 SOBA Constitution.

On 3 September 2018, Mr. Ebot Mfoataw sent another communication to the same individuals making the above pronouncements, that have been circulated throughout the social media and a clear attempt to discredit and humiliate the SOBA UK executive.

The SOBA National branch has failed to hold General Assembly meetings and has allowed the SOBA National Council led by a handful of individuals to become the de facto Supreme Authority of SOBA which is against the constitution.

15, October 2018

Francophonie Summit: Biya acolyte goes begging ⁰

Zaki Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State reportedly held a meeting with Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Foreign Minister of Cameroon, on the sidelines of the 17th Francophonie Summit in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

Lejeune Mbella Mbella and Zaki Nusseibeh during the meeting discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries. We gathered that the Biya acolyte told the United Arab Emirate politician that Cameroon was badly in need of financial support.

Reported by CIR with files from Urdupoint

15, October 2018

Cameroon and Gabon polls were to prolong unpopular regimes of Biya and Ali Bongo ⁰

Following elections in Gabon and Cameroon last weekend, it has become clear that the two countries have several things in common.

The polls were expected to prolong unpopular and unstable regimes of Ali Bongo and Paul Biya respectively.

Whereas the oil-rich Gabon held long-delayed legislative and municipal elections on October 6, Cameroonians cast their presidential election ballots the following day.

The two nations are run by regimes that are well past their sell-by dates.

Pointedly, calls for the observance of constitutional term limits have been ignored in Gabon and Cameroon, with incumbents using all kind of tricks to remain in power.

Ali Bongo is the scion of Omar Bongo, who held sway in the country for decades, going down in history as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.

VICTORY

Indeed, the older Bongo is remembered for establishing a decades-old dynasty by dint of resisting democratic changes.

While Gabon has been ruled by the same political dynasty for almost half a century, Cameroon’s 85-year-old Biya has been in power since 1982!

But whereas he might have been sitting pretty in the past, political dynamics in Cameroon are rapidly changing. Biya is beginning to find it difficult to keep the volatile country on an even keel.

The situation is slightly different for Ali Bongo, whose ruling Gabonese Democratic Party claimed victory in the legislative poll “by a landslide”.

Even before the announcement of the final results, presidential spokesman Ike Ngouoni said Bongo’s party won 80 of the 143 parliamentary seats in the first round.

That claim should have been taken with a pinch of salt, given that some opposition candidates and witnesses said irregularities marred the poll.

RESULTS

The elections, incidentally boycotted by Bongo’s key rival Jean Ping, were the first ones since a presidential election marred by fraud claims and deadly violence two years ago.

Cameroon faces a long wait for the results, despite victory claims by opposition contender Maurice Kamto.

Kamto, who the is leader of the Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon, said on Monday that he won the vote, triggering street celebrations.

The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement accused Kamto of compromising peace.

Pointedly, the poll followed a last-minute attempt by a weak opposition to unite in a desperate bid to dislodge Biya.

Amid the drama, all indications are that Cameroon is headed for a long election dispute.

APATHY

That aside, there was an alarmingly low turnout in the conflict-torn anglophone regions, amid media reports that violence has been spiralling out of control.

“Turnout in the English-speaking regions has been low. Almost all the returns we have seen show a less than five per cent turnout,” International Crisis Group analyst Hans de Marie Heungoup said earlier in the week.

According to media reports, deaths and detentions have been the order of the day in the troubled areas, where the authorities have been cracking down on activists.

The army has been accused of shooting independence activists dead, burning unarmed civilians alive and other abuses.

Unfortunately, the country’s polling process is convoluted, with the final, official tally of the votes expected within 15 days from the date of the election.

Given that scenario, the country is likely to remain in the grip of tension for the coming week, with nobody able to foretell what will happen if Biya wins a seventh term.

Culled from Daily Nation

15, October 2018

The contested election and the war in the Federal Republic of Ambazonia ⁰

Earlier this week, opposition candidate Maurice Kamto claimed election victory ahead of the official election results announcement. Unofficial and unverified election results numbers have flooded social media in Cameroon, which in the past the government has been accused of repressing internet freedom especially during election time. The early announcement by Kamto has been fueled with controversy escalating political tensions in the country.

Gregoire Owona, deputy secretary-general of the incumbent Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement party, has accused Prof. Maurice Kamto of breaking the law by claiming victory prior to the release of official results. The votes are still being counted with many experts expecting President Paul Biya to return for a seventh term.

Internally displaced English speakers from Southern Cameroons find themselves stranded in their own country, afraid to go home, as the violence continues

Conflict in Southern Cameroons has forced hundreds of thousands of people out of their homes. English speakers in the region are demanding independence from a Francophone-dominated government. The government has rejected demands for independence, but has said it is open to talks.

Meanwhile, both sides of the conflict have been accused of human rights violations and those who have sought refuge inside the country want to return home, but are haunted by the horrors they have witnessed.

Compiled by Chi Prudence Asong

14, October 2018

Burundi accuses Belgium of ordering hit on independence hero ⁰

Burundi on Sunday accused former colonial power Belgium of ordering the assassination of independence hero and Crown Prince Louis Rwagasore in 1961, a move likely to further poison ties between the two countries.

A government statement said Belgium was the “true backer of the assassination of Rwagasore”, in the first direct accusation over the murder by Bujumbura, which said it plans to probe the six-decade old incident.

The statement said that Brussels “has yet to explain itself” over the killing of Rwagasore, who played a key role in Burundi’s anti-colonial movement.

Rwagasore was named prime minister in the run up to independence, but was shot dead a month later by a Greek assassin accompanied by three Burundian members of a pro-Belgian party at a hotel in the capital — a little over a year before independence was achieved in July 1962.

He is one of Burundi’s most beloved heros, with his name gracing stadiums, schools and roads across the country.

In the statement, the government said it “plans to launch a technical commission to investigate the assassinations … of Rwagasore” and his two young children a few months later.

The Kingdom of Burundi, believed to date to the 17th century, came under German colonial rule in 1890, but was awarded by the League of Nations to Belgium after World War II.

Rwagasore was the eldest son of King Mwambutsa IV.

Burundi has been gripped by political crisis since President Pierre Nkurunziza sought a third term in office in 2015, provoking severe civil unrest that has left at least 1,200 dead and displaced over 400,000 people.

In October 2016, Belgium withdrew its ambassador to Burundi and suspended several development projects, as Bujumbura’s relations with foreign allies worsened over the crisis.

The following month, the executive secretary of the ruling CNDD-FDD Evariste Ndayishimiye accused Belgium of “acting as if Burundi is still under its yoke,” on Twitter, after accusing it of backing the opposition.

AFP

14, October 2018

Ivorians vote in municipal and regional elections ⁰

People in Ivory Coast have cast their ballots in municipal and regional elections, which came less than two years before the country’s presidential election in 2020.

Most of the polling stations opened at 08:00 (local and GMT) on Saturday and closed at 18:00.

Over six and a half million Ivorians took part in the elections to choose nearly 200 mayors and 31 heads of regional councils.

About 30,000 police, gendarmes, and soldiers were deployed across the West African country to ensure security on election day.

About 400 independent candidates had registered for the elections.

Voters wait to cast their ballot in Ivory Coast’s regional and municipal elections at a polling station in Abidjan’s central business district of Plateau, on October 13, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Tensions overshadowed the polls as the ruling RHDP coalition faced widespread divisions over who should be its candidate in the 2020 vote.

The two parties making up the ruling coalition — the RDR of President Alassane Dramane Ouattara, and the historically-dominant PDCI of former president Henri Konan Bedie — fielded rival candidates in many regions in the Saturday elections.

President of Ivory Coast Alassane Dramane Ouattara of the RDR Party casts his ballot during the country’s municipal and regional elections in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on October 13, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

Reports said scuffles and clashes took place in several localities as campaigning was carried out in a very tense atmosphere.

Two people were reportedly injured and a man was stabbed to death during clashes between rival political groups in the country’s south.

In other incidents, voting urns were smashed and torched in Bonoua, east of the commercial capital, Abidjan.

There are concerns an RHDP implosion would bring back violence and unrest ahead of the 2020 presidential elections.

Source: Presstv

14, October 2018

Coup Scare In Cameroun ⁰

The social media space was on Friday awashed with report that 85-year-old President of Cameroun, Paul Bila has been overthrown. However, the reports turned out to be untrue. Cameroun went to the polls last Sunday, in a determined effort by a coalition of opposition parties to puncture the 38 years rule of Bila.

The last time a coup d’état occurred in Cameroon was in 1984; when presidential palace guards unsuccessfully tried to overthrow President Paul Biya, resulting in fighting that began on April 6, 1984 and ended several days later.

The coup attempt is widely viewed as one of the most crucial events in the history of Cameroon since independence in 1960. The opposition coalition led by Maurice Kanto had declared himself the winner of the Sunday polls, a claim the Cameroonian authorities swiftly denied.

Of importance is that the English Speaking side of Cameroun has been embroiled in a crisis of succession owing to language imposition of the French language. The lack of transparency in connections with the misuse of power is the reasons that the Republic is ready for a political change, as the opposition has even claimed to be the winner of this rigged election. This being Maurice Kamto for instance.

Source: Anonymous

14, October 2018

Battle for Ambazonia: Francophone troops kill 11 Southern Cameroonians ⁰

Troops loyal to the Biya Francophone regime in Yaounde reportedly killed eleven Southern Cameroons civilians in two separate attacks on Thursday. The Cameroon government army said in a statement that the 11 were suspected armed separatists.

Four “separatist terrorists” were neutralized in Misaje in the Northwest, while seven others were killed in raids on Eshobi in the Southwest, according to the statement released on the army’s Facebook page.

According to the Francophone army statement, six hostages were released during the operation in Eshobi some few kilometers from Mamfe, the chief town in the Manyu County.

Fighting between government forces and armed separatist groups has been ongoing since Nov. 2017 after the separatists declared the independence of a nation called “Ambazonia” in the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest.

According to the United Nations, over 200,000 people have been displaced internally and at least 30,000 have fled to neighbouring Nigeria.

By Rita Akana