Headline News

16, November 2017

The pathetic situation facing 130 Southern Cameroons pregnant refugees in Obanliku Local Government Area ⁰

Hundreds of Southern Cameroonians who fled violence are facing serious health challenges as they seek refuge in Nigeria.

Pregnant Women at Obudu Ranch Health Center, RHC

A visit to the different camps for almost a week revealed that some are pregnant women who need adequate medical attention. Others are still battling with wounds and other infections. The case of pregnant women seems to be a cause for concern. In one of the camps in Obudu Ranch, on the Obudu mountain in Obanliku LGA, some 51 pregnant women are still wondering what the future holds for them barely months to delivery. Beyond the accommodation challenges, many complained that they have not bought a single item as part of preparation to welcome their new born.

Partial View of Pregnant Women at RHC

Majority of these women we learnt, have never visited the clinic. ” Many of them came from Akwaya without cloths. Using the same loin for two or three days affects mostly the pregnant women. When we did some tests their MP was positive, ” a community volunteer nurse at the Ranch Community Health Center, Virginia Echile explained on November 11 2017.

CDC Donating Blanckets to Pregnant Women

“The predominant illnesses from patients that we receive include malaria, typhoid and general body pains. When they were trekking from Akwaya to Kigol – one of the nearest Nigerian village through forest and rivers – they developed lower abdominal pains since they are pregnant,” she said.

The medics also complained that they were running out of drugs. “Everything is almost finished. We need anti-biotics and anti-malaria drugs. We need HIV tests tools to be running their tests, pain killers and other drugs,” she explained.

“Of the 51 pregnant women, six are due for delivery this November 2017 and 8 for December. We are in serious need of delivery kits to help us manage delivery. We have run out of hand gloves, Amoxilyn, paracetamol and other pain killers. We also need more blankets so that the nursing mothers and babies do not catch cold,” added the Chief Community Health Extension Worker of the Ranch Health Center, RHC, Madame Anna Amele. The case of the 51 registered pregnant women in Obudu Ranch Camp constitutes a minute fraction of many others scattered all over the Cross River State and other areas in Nigeria.

At the Sankwala General Hospital in the Obanliku LGA, 25 year old Oneh Janet was as still struggling to sit comfortably on the bed when we arrived there. She is a sick nursing mother to two weeks old Eric. Medical officials explained that she was brought there from another hospital after her situation was witnessing little improvement. “She was fast recovering,” they said. In the nearby maternity ward, 17 old pregnant, Ayawa Valentine was just recovering from weeks of fatigue. She was brought to Samkwala with a six month pregnancy from the Ranch Community Health Center.

Janet and Her Son in Sankwala Hosp

“The way she looks they might do cesarean. She sustained serious abdominal pains as she had to trek over a long distance. When she was brought here she was not talking, nor walking. She is better now. She eats how,” Ugbe Monica, the nurse in charge explained.

Down town in the Ikom Local Government Area, Mary Chufua who said she fled from violence in Buea with a 3 month pregnancy following a manhunt for her husband was eating a cocoa pod when she complained.

“I don’t have any money to go to hospital. I have not started my prenatal consultations, ” she said. It was the same message from Ngwa Mado who is six months pregnant. A smile was on their faces after officials of the Southern Cameroons Civil Defense Cabinet, SC – CDC gave them 10,000 naira each to begin with consultation. They expressed gratitude to Southern Cameroonian Association, SCAC,Canada, that came to their aid.

Late October, it emerged from Rhema Care, one of the Humanitarian Organisations on the ground that there were two deliveries in the Obalinku area every week, while some three cases were due for operation. “In the Obanliku Local Government Area made up of Amana, Obudu Ranch, Utanga and Sankwala communities, we have close to 130 registered pregnant women. Four of them have been operated while we have six others on the cue. It has not been an easy task especially with the numerous patients who are to be operated. We are struggling to do our best with the means available, ” explained Pastor Eric Suh, the CEO of Rhema Care, November 15, 2017.

Medics at the Sankwala General Hospital raised concerns should bleeding patients be brought in.
“Their feeding and water also remain a challenge. Otherwise the other parts are strictly medical. For the medical part of the management we now have a scan machine that would help us especially in the diagnoses. Otherwise we are doing our best to ensure every other thing is normal. We discussed that together with Doctors Without Borders.

Agbokim Waterfall SC Resident
I told them that we are not prepared for surgical emergencies for people that may be brought here bleeding. If they are in numbers we would have difficulties managing surgical emergencies. But for medical emergencies. We have no problem about that. We have enough bed space, ” the Director of the Hospital , Dr Besong Ferdinand said.

Beyond the trouble affecting pregnant women, other ladies also raised complains about their other sick children, some facing serious challenges to feed them. All these complains were recorded at the Agbokim Waterfall Camp.

During a visit to the Ajassor camp in the Etung LGA, mostly made of youths, it was also revealed that there were some who were battling with wounds they sustained in violence in the Southern Cameroons. Some sustained injuries on September 22 and October 1, while others are suffering with muscular pains as a result of walking for several hours, from Mamfe to Nigeria.

Besong, Geeting Treated

“I am grateful to our brothers in Canada who are thinking about us. We are now sure that those of us who have escaped cannot be forgotten, ” said Besong Ayamba. The CDC response team rushed him to County Specialist Hospital in Ikom where the wound he sustained on his left shin as he escaped to safety was treated. They wound was fast decomposing.
There were other Southern Cameroonians who had developed skin infections and others with fractures. “We slept at the Maromba forest for almost a month under rain and sunshine. When I arrived Nigeria, I only discovered that I had developed fungi infections which is like ring warm on my legs and hands. No way to go to hospital because I don’t have any money. And the fungi itches me every day very badly, “complained Lawson Nganga who left from Kumba. Similar complains of skin infections were presented by a lady from Akwaya in Amana camp apparently resulting from poor accommodation and sleeping conditions.

Living With a fractured thigh Challenge of Paying Hospital Bills

It emerged from the different areas visited that though hospitals were doing their best they were facing difficulties with increasing bills. We gathered from medics at the Sankwala General Hospital for instance that, the bills there stood at close to 500 000 naira with more than 13 operations already carried out.

Officials of the Ranch Health Center in Obudu said part of the medical bills there were paid by the UN HCR while more than half has not been cleared. “I can assure you to continue treatment of all Southern Cameroonians. Do not stop the treatment. We are mobilizing ourselves and our people all over the world and we would eventually foot the bills, ”

the SC Executive President Sir Ekili Clarence reassured the nurses, when he was informed on November 11, that some more than 200 naira was owed the health facility by Southern Cameroonians. The CDC was up the Obudu Ranch health Center to provide warm clothing, blankets and other non-food items to pregnant women as a result of the cold weather on the mountain.

Open Defecation Needs Attention

Open defecation was an issue raised by the local community volunteers amid fears of outbreak of diseases like diarrhea, typhoid and dysentery, if measures are not urgently taken to provide the local community with toilets and proper care to the water sources.
“There is need for the implementation of Water Hygiene and Sanitation programs because open defecation is an environmental and public health challenge, ” said Pastor Eric Suh.

By Solomon Amabo, Cross River State, Nigeria

15, November 2017

Southern Cameroonians to La Republique – You Seize Our Farm Tools, Label Us Terrorists? ⁰

Munyenge youths arrested, brutalised, and labeled as terrorists

The Anglophone population is yet to come to terms with the recent happening in Munyenge, a village in Muyuka County. An unprecedented crackdown on Sunday November 12 2017 by forces of La Republique du Cameroun (LRC), saw the confiscation of several farm tools from the population, and arrest of some people. The crackdown that led to the dead of two people, and several others displaced to cocoa farms, have now had those arrested declared as terrorists.

Speaking to local media one day after the illusive labelling of the people as terrorist and illegal confiscation of their farm tools, many descending voices have lashed at La Republique du Cameroun (LRC) for using Machiavelli tactics in arbitrarily arresting the people of Southern Cameroons. Many are of the opinion that LRC is using all such means to impoverish the people and then use devilish means of bribing their way.

machetes, hoes, cutlasses, knives, etc. seized by LRC forces

“When you take away a farmer’s “man-no-rest”, seize axes & kitchen knives from families; you are suffocating them. Those present farmers can no longer clear their fields, crack open cocoa pods, split firewood, chop up cassava. And some old people can’t now walk without their walking sticks. Kids won’t choose their lands at school,” lamented Ekongwesse Ronald, an inhabitant of Ekona

Others say LRC is committing genocide in Southern Cameroons, yet the world is not saying anything. They accuse LRC of arbitrary arrests and seizures of their only livelihood tools.

“If this is not synonymous to genocide, then what is it? We all know how village people sacrifice to buy a single cutlass, and which they will use for long years. And for those who can afford a new machete, how free are they to do so without being accused of sour sourcing a war weapon? As for hunters, they might never be authorised to replace their dane guns. So their only source of life and proteins for family is over. And no more ‘cha’voooom’ for ancestral ceremonies. Dane guns graciously handed down generations gone! Just like that!” Cried out Eko Mosoke Joseph, a culturist in Buea.

Many say the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), should be petitioned. According to them, MINADER gave these farmers the tools to till the soil and invest in agriculture.

Munyenge youths arrested, brutalised, and labeled as terrorists

“Me sef a tire. If them ask my opinion. I instead think the government should punish the people doing this for

misleading the public. This same farming tools was given to this farmers by the ministry of agriculture. A da cover events wey minister he sef sef hand over such farming tools nor. This thing da begin turn to drama,” lamented Pa Loko Smith.

Meantime, a French daily, Le Jour, carried a story this Tuesday indicating the farm tools the colonial forces seized are weapons. That headline has created so much disgruntlement among journalists of English Expression.

“I am shockkkkkkkkkkkked. That cutlasses (man no rest), kitchen knives, dig axes and other farm tools are seized from the homes of peasants in a locality near Muyuka in the south west region, and a leading French language tabloid (Le Jour) describes all those household items as “weapons”. This hate language, manipulation and cheap propaganda is indeed uncalled for at this moment. At its best, it can only fuel the already escalating crisis in Anglophone Cameroon,” lamented Patrick Mua, a reporter of an English daily, the Guardian Post Newspaper.

Influence-peddling headline on Le Jour

Another opined that the government is using all means to wipe out Anglophones. They say English newspapers should probe in.

“Our Publishers should write on this. How can they seize the tools of farmers, in a region where 80 % of people are farmers? So after killing Marketing Board and Wada in Wum, these fellows have declared war against rudimentary farmers in SW? The struggle has made this government confused. Instead of looking for a way forward they seize farm tools. A blatant expression of frustration to me. Not just agricultural outputs shall be pulled down, but the rubbishing of technical education in Cameroon. Rivers are flowing backwards!” Rawlings Nvem, another reported cried out.

Others say it is of the government’s ploy to use all unorthodox means in killing the people. “This is journalism made simple. For an agrarian population whose farming tools were seized by the military, clearly displayed in pictures to be tagged as stock of war weapons is not just misleading but demurring. Very provocative too. What’s government struggle to defend at this point? The wanton killing of its own citizens?” moaned Larry Essong, a Senior Journalist and Publisher.

From every indication, LRC will use all methods in distracting the people from Southern Cameroons from being steadfast in consolidating their statehood. While they continue to kill, brutalise, arrest and commit all sort of atrocities in our land, the people will never give-up. When they go low, we go high.

Source: Modern Ghana

15, November 2017

Southern Cameroons Crisis costs Fako tourism industry 15 billion FCFA ⁰

Hotels and restaurants in the Fako State that are usually sold-out during this festive period are barely running at 1% since the beginning of the Southern Cameroons crisis.

The French Cameroun Ministry of Tourism recently reported that the tourism sector in the Fako constituency has lost 15 Billion CFA francs due to the socio-political crisis.

This is explained by the fact that tourism structures like hotels and restaurants are experiencing a drastic drop in patronage. Typically, more than 300,000 tourists visit Fako annually. But with the crisis, the figure has barely reached 2,000.

The situation is true for the entire Southern Cameroons tourism industry with employers forced to put their staff on technical leave.

By Fru James, CCN

15, November 2017

Mugabe talks to Zuma, confirms ‘house arrest’ ⁰

Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU-PF, says the series of military activities underway in the country mark a “bloodless transition” of power from long-time President Robert Mugabe.

The army has deployed soldiers to the streets across the capital. Soldiers and armored vehicles have blocked roads to the main government offices, the parliament, and the courts in central Harare. The army has also taken over the headquarters of the national broadcaster.

In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Mugabe’s own ruling party denied that the totality of those activities amounted to a coup.

“Zimbabwe has not had a coup. There has been a decision to intervene because our constitution had been undermined, in the interim Comrade E Mnagngawa will be president of ZANU PF as per the constitution of our revolutionary organization,” it said in one tweet, referring to Emmerson Mnangagwa, who Mugabe sacked as his vice president earlier in the week.

“Last night the first family was detained and are safe, both for the constitution and the sanity of the nation this was necessary. Neither Zimbabwe nor ZANU are owned by Mugabe and his wife,” it said in another.

It was not clear who exactly was posting the tweets, and whether they reflected the mentality of the entire party.

This file photo, taken on November 8, 2017, shows Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (L). (By AFP)

Zimbabwean soldiers overran the headquarters of the state broadcaster and ordered staff to leave overnight Tuesday. After taking control of the national broadcaster, a spokesman for the military interrupted taped programming and read out a statement early on Wednesday.

“To both our people and the world beyond our borders, we wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover of government,” said Major General S.B. Moyo.

He insisted that the army had taken action to “target criminals,” who were “committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering” and was planning to “bring them to justice.”

“As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy,” he added.

This screen grab, taken early on November 15, 2017 from a television broadcast on the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), shows Zimbabwe Major General Sibusiso Moyo reading a statement at the ZBC broadcast studio in Harare. (Via AFP)

The statement did not clarify who it was referring to as “criminals” around Mugabe, but a government source later told Reuters that Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo had been among those detained. The minister was a leading member of the so-called ‘G40’ faction of the ZANU-PF party, run by the president’s wife, Grace Mugabe.

Moyo called on security services to “co-operate for the good of our country” and warned that any provocation would “be met with an appropriate response.”

He said all soldiers on leave “should return to barracks immediately.”

The major general also urged the public to remain calm but called on them “to limit unnecessary movement.”

Shortly after the army seized the national broadcaster, a number of loud explosions were heard in the capital, Harare.

Mugabe talks to Zuma, confirms ‘house arrest’

Later in the day, Mugabe talked to South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma on the phone, confirming that he was under house arrest but that he was fine, Zuma’s office said in a statement.

Zuma said he was sending special envoys to Zimbabwe to meet with Mugabe and the Zimbabwean Defense Force.

The South African president would be sending the envoy in his capacity as chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which is an inter-governmental organization among 16 southern African states. The organization works to resolve economic and political challenges faced by the regional countries.

And so begins a coup

Zimbabwe has been on edge since Monday, when army chief General Constantino Chiweng held a press conference warning that the army was prepared to act to end purges within Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party. The ruling party accused the army chief of “treasonable conduct.”

Political tension started to rise in the South African country after Mugabe, in a sudden decision, sacked Mnangagwa this week.

Mnangagwa had previously been considered the most likely to succeed the president if Mugabe resigned or died while in power. His sudden dismissal, however, raised speculations that Mugabe was clearing the way for his wife, Grace, to take the position.

Mugabe, 93, came to power in the 1980s. He has been the longest serving leader in Africa.

Zimbabwean military vehicles are seen just outside the capital, on November 14, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

‘Coup by any name’

A former political aide to ex-Zimbabwean prime minister Morgan Tsvangari, told the CNN that the army’s action was “a coup by any other name.”

“They are being very careful in their words,” said Alex Magaisa. “They might be trying to give a fig leaf to the notion that President Mugabe is still the leader. But de facto they are obviously the military force.”

US, UK issue warnings to citizens

The United States and the United Kingdom both issued warnings to their citizens inside the African country.

US State Department encouraged the Americans in the country to “shelter in place until further notice” due to ongoing uncertainty and political unrest. A US embassy spokesman in Zimbabwe also said the embassy would be closed to the public on Wednesday.

The UK Foreign Office, meanwhile, advised Britons in Zimbabwe to avoid demonstrations and rallies, saying it was “monitoring the situation closely.”

Culled from Presstv

15, November 2017

Who will be Cameroon Concord News Man of the Year 2017? ⁰

Our intention as a news organisation is not to alarm you, but the 2017 calendar year has already passed us by. Where did the time go? As you all are very much aware, plenty has happened: The 2016-17 political season is virtually coming to a close with no solution to the Southern Cameroons crisis. Bishop Balla of the Diocese of Bafia was killed and President Biya addressed an empty hall at the UN. Already, the Southern Cameroons Governing Council has mandated interim Head of State, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe to form a government. Cat calls have greeted the killings of hundreds of Southern Cameroons protesters on October 1 2017 and Barrister Agbor Balla and the people of Ambazonia are no longer an item. Interestingly, radio host Bibixy Mancho including hundreds of other Southern Cameroons detainees are still being held in French Cameroun detention centres.

With all that in mind, it felt like a good opportunity to revisit our Cameroon Concord News Man of the Year Award. Our readers have always nominated and voted for men and women with exceptional qualities. Name them: Former Nigerian Head of State, Goodluck Jonathan, Bishop Francis Lysinge of the Mamfe Diocese and African football legend, Samuel Eto’o.

We’ve ranked some of the best political actors of the year so far including Mark Bara and Tampang Ivo. Is Sisiku Ayuk Tabe in line to win the Cameroon Concord News Man of the Year Award, or has Bibixy Mancho stolen a march on him? The brutal murder of Bishop Balla indicates that CPDM actors are still the dominant force, or have the SDF and the outlawed Consortium performances broken the glass ceiling?

Another tendency of the Cameroon Concord News Man of the Year Award is to largely ignore Ambazonians and French Camerounians in the Diaspora.

Let your voice be heard!! Send us your nomination for the Cameroon Concord News Man of the Year 2017!! Be part of the history making process!!

Email us at: cameroonintelligencereport@gmail.com

cameroonconcordnews@gmail.com
By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

15, November 2017

Zimbabwe military denies coup rumors following blast reports ⁰

Zimbabwean military officers have denied rumors of a coup after reports of explosions in the capital Harare. The military made the announcement during a live broadcast early on Wednesday, stressing that President Robert Mugabe was safe.

The announcement comes shortly after three explosions were reported in Harare. The US embassy also released a statement in which it said it will be closed on Wednesday amid what it called ongoing uncertainty. Britain has also advised its citizens residing in the country to avoid leaving their homes.

Zimbabwe was on edge Tuesday as armored personnel carriers were seen outside the capital a day after the army commander threatened to “step in” to calm political tensions over the president’s firing of his deputy. The Associated Press saw three armored personnel carriers with several soldiers in a convoy on a road heading toward an army barracks just outside the capital, Harare.

While it is routine for armored personnel carriers to move along that route, the timing heightened unease in this southern African country that for the first time is seeing an open rift between the military and 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe. The military has been a key pillar of Mugabe’s power since independence from white minority rule in 1980.

Mugabe last week fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and accused him of plotting to take power, including through witchcraft. Mnangagwa, who enjoyed the backing of the military and was once seen as a potential successor to Mugabe, fled the country and said he and his family had been threatened.

Over 100 senior officials allegedly supporting him have been listed for disciplinary measures by a faction associated with Mugabe’s wife, Grace Mugabe.

The first lady, whose political profile has risen in the past few years, now appears positioned to replace Mnangagwa at a special conference of the ruling party in December, leading many in Zimbabwe to suspect that she could succeed her husband as president.

On Monday, army commander Constantino Chiwenga issued an unprecedented statement saying purges against senior ruling ZANU-PF party officials linked to the 1970s liberation war should end “forthwith.”

“We must remind those behind the current treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in,” the army commander said.

Mugabe did not respond to the military statement, and government spokesman Simon Khaya Moyo said only the president could respond. The state-run broadcaster did not report on the statement.

The ruling party’s youth league, aligned to the first lady, on Tuesday criticized the army commander’s statement, saying youth were “ready to die for Mugabe.”

The army spokesman was not immediately available for comment Tuesday. State broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation was operating as usual and the capital remained calm.

Frustration has been growing in once-prosperous Zimbabwe as the economy collapses under Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state. The country was shaken last year by the biggest anti-government protests in a decade, and Mugabe’s appointment of a minister for cybersecurity last month was criticized by activists as a crackdown on social media users.

Source: Presstv

14, November 2017

Muyengue Gendarmerie raids: Act of primitive criminal intimidation and provocation that must not go unchallenged ⁰

The announcement on French Cameroun media that troops loyal to the Biya Francophone regime have confiscated weapons imported by Southern Cameroons militants from Nigeria is raising a lot of dust and for the wrong reasons. Coming at a time tension was already mounting following the killings of Francophone gendarmes and renewed activities of the pro Ambazonia agitators and the massive deployment of soldiers to Southern Cameroons, various interpretations were already being given to the latest move by the French Cameroun Gendarmerie.

From the images aired by the Cameroon Radio and Television, we of this publication think the seizure in Muyenge in the Buea Province of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia is part of the alleged intimidation of the people of Southern Cameroons following the demand for an independent state. We fervently believe also that it is in line with the policy of the ruling CPDM crime syndicate to continue to keep Southern Cameroonians on edge.

As a prelude to the commencement of the Muyenge operation, the Francophone South West governor had already started positioning men and equipment at strategic locations in some of the counties in the zone. The presence of such equipment and soldiers was said to be the cause of the Muyenge clash between soldiers and Southern Cameroons youth, which some people were killed and many others sustained injuries.

Though the French Cameroun gendarmerie announced that the mission to Muyenge and Mutengene were aimed at fighting crime, it is evidently clear that the South West governor and his gang of French Cameroun surrogates wanted to score some political points. The French Cameroun military raided the Muyenge locality, carried out search, erected check points and road blocks in a general show of force.

But the fact that the Yaoundé regime could only show rudimentary weapons used by the farming and hunting communities in Muyenge as prove of equipment imported from the Federal Republic of Nigeria indicates that the Biya regime is indeed taking the last kicks of a dying horse. “It was a plot to kill members of a vibrant Muyenge Youth Association who had declared their unflinching support for the Southern Cameroons Governing Council,” noted our chief correspondent in Fako.

We of the Cameroon Concord News Group think that this act of primitive criminal intimidation and provocation must not go unchallenged by men of good conscience in the Federal Republic of Ambazonia. This latest attempt to use the French Cameroun army and gendarmerie in a show of force in Southern Cameroons to deal with legitimate peaceful agitation for self determination is shameful.

If their slogan “Cameroon is one and indivisible” is anything to go by, where on earth is it heard that combat ready troops are deployed within the borders of a country to deal with a non-violent civil matter? Such a thing can only happen in French Cameroun. Biya and his French Cameroun political elites such as Laurent Esso, Amadou Ali, Fame Ndongo have made a mockery of the role of the military and nonsense of the constitution that soldiers can be ordered by one governor, without the permission of the Commander-in-Chief, to kill civilian populations in an area devoid of any conflict.

The interim head of state of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe has made it abundantly clear to the regime in Yaoundé and to the international community that Southern Cameroonians are agitating for self determination in a peaceful manner. They have no arms and will never resort to bearing arms. Biya and his ruling CPDM crime syndicate should rather focus their attention on the Boko Haram-ravaged areas of Maroua, Kolofata, and Mora. Boko Haram is a well armed terrorist organization and it is the one Biya should be facing and not farmers and hunters including market women in Mamfe, Jakiri, Bamenda, Mundemba, Ndop and traders at Ekok and Muyenge. We are a peaceful people by nature, but will not tolerate any molestation or intimidation on our soil.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai with files from Rita Akana and Sama Ernest

14, November 2017

UN warns DR Congo ahead of protest rallies ⁰

The United Nations on Tuesday called on DR Congo’s government to allow peaceful demonstrations on the eve of expected protests against President Joseph Kabila.

In a statement, the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO urged the authorities “to respect the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Congolese Constitution, including freedom of assembly and of demonstration.”

The authorities, it said, should “instruct defense and security forces to respect the principles of necessity, proportionality and legality, consistent with international standards.”

Mineral-rich but chronically poor, politically unstable and saddled with a reputation for entrenched corruption, the Democratic Republic of Congo faces a feared flare-up of violence over Kabila’s decision to stay in office.

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Joseph Kabila (Photo by AFP)

He was scheduled to have stepped down in December 2016 after a constitutional maximum of two terms in office.

But as protests and a bloody crackdown swelled, a deal was brokered by the Catholic church enabling him to stay in office pending elections to be held by the end of this year. Those elections have now been delayed.

The country’s election body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), blames the delay on compiling an electoral roll in parts of the sprawling country that have been troubled by unrest.

Pressured by the international community, led by the United States, the ballot will be held on December 23, 2018, according to a CENI announcement on November 5.

A large part of the country’s political opposition, along with grassroots groups such as Lucha and Filimba, have scheduled rallies on Wednesday to protest against the 2018 date.

Demonstrations against Kabila have met with a heavy police response since September 2016.

Clashes in the eastern city of Goma last month left four civilians and a policeman dead and scores of activists were arrested.

The MONUSCO statement also reminded citizens “that the right to demonstrate implies abstaining from resorting to any form of violence.”

Kabila took over as president in January 2001 in wartime after the death of his father, Laurent Kabila, who was assassinated. He was first elected for a five-year term in 2006.

Under DRC’s constitution, he is banned from seeking a third mandate, but is authorized to stay in office until his successor is elected.

(Source: AFP)

14, November 2017

SDF MPs boycott opening session of parliament in French Cameroun ⁰

SDF Members of Parliament have boycotted the opening session of the national assembly in Yaounde. The predominantly Southern Cameroons bloc of elected representatives all gathered at the regional headquarters of the party in Olezoa district in Yaounde during the rituals at Ngoa Ekele.

Cameroon Concord News learned that the decision to boycott the opening ceremony of the 3rd parliamentary session, is the first action of a series whose goal is “to force the Biya Francophone government to find a lasting solution” to the crisis that has rocked Southern Cameroons for more than a year now.

An SDF statement said “We believe it is now time for parliamentarians in accordance with Article 4 of the constitution to take their responsibilities. It is a question of how far we can, in our own way, expose to the public, to the national and international public, the serious situation that prevails in our country.”

SDF Secretary General, Jean Tsomelou, was quoted as saying that the opening ceremony of the Senate at the Palais des Congres in Yaounde will also be boycotted. The opening session witnessed the participation of Martin Belinga Eboutou Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency, members of the French Cameroun Government and the President of the Senate

By Sama Ernest, CCN

14, November 2017

Buffon retires from international soccer after Italy elimination ⁰

Tearful goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon ended his 20-year Italy career in the saddest possible way on Monday, November 13, with their first failure to qualify for the World Cup in 60 years.

The 39-year-old Buffon said after Monday’s goalless playoff draw against Sweden, which ended Italy’s hopes of going to Russia, would be the last of his 175 appearances.

Buffon made his full international debut in 1997 against Russia the last time Italy took part in a playoff to qualify for the World Cup. Then, they scraped through 2-1 on aggregate.

In 2006, he helped Italy win the World Cup in Germany, beating France in the final in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw.

The 2010 and 2014 World Cups were less successful, Italy being eliminated in the group stages of the finals in South Africa and Brazil respectively, but Buffon remained with the team hoping for one last World Cup in Russia but it was not to be.

Source: Presstv