Headline News

21, September 2017

Congo-Kinshasa: 12 dead, 92 missing in floods ⁰

At least 12 people died, 18 others injured and 92 were missing after heavy rains caused flooding in two villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an official said Wednesday.

“The provisional toll after torrential rain hit the villages of Bihambwe and Matanda in Masisi Territory is 12 dead, 18 injured and 92 missing,” said Julien Paluku, governor of Nord Kivu province, where the villages are located.

The rain started on Tuesday, causing a river to flood, local residents told AFP.

“The rain began in the afternoon, forcing those coming back from the fields to take shelter in homes near the river. The flooding caught them by surprise,” said Joseph Ndabita, a resident of Bihambwe.

He told AFP he had counted “10 bodies and (seen) others being swept away by the strong current towards the river.”

“The water which came down from the mountains has caused damage,” said Safari Ayobangira, a local MP, who said searches were underway to find the missing.

Most of the victims were farmers whose fields bordered the Bihambwe river which passes the two villages that lie about 50 kilometers (30 miles) northwest of Goma, the regional capital.

In mid-August, at least 150 people died when a massive mudslide devastated Tara, a fishing village on the shores of Lake Albert near the country’s northeastern border with Uganda.

The vast country has experienced several natural disasters caused by torrential rain.

In May 2010, a wall of mud swept through the eastern village of Kibiriga, killing 19 people and leaving 27 missing. And in 2002, about 50 people died when a wave of mud and rocks struck the eastern town of Uvira, submerging about 150 homes.

(Source: AFP)

21, September 2017

German Chancellor Merkel slams Trump’s threat to ‘destroy’ North Korea ⁰

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says US President Donald Trump’s threat to “totally destroy” North Korea is wrong, citing economic pressure and diplomacy as the only “appropriate” ways to resolve the conflict.

“I am against such threats,” Merkel told the Deutsche Welle channel. “We consider any form of military solution as totally inappropriate and we insist on a diplomatic solution.”

“From my point of view sanctions and their implementation are the right answer. But I consider everything else concerning North Korea as wrong,” she added. “And that is why we clearly disagree with the US president.”

The German chancellor made the remarks in reaction to Trump’s debut speech at the United Nations General Assembly, where he said Tuesday that the US was ready to destroy the North to resolve the ongoing standoff over the country’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons program.

“The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” he said.

“It is time for North Korea to realize that its denuclearization is its only responsible future,” he added.

The Trump administration has been pushing for greater international pressure on North Korea through the UN and by pressuring China, Pyongyang’s main trade ally.

The pressure peaked in early September, when the North announced that it had successfully exploded a hydrogen bomb, its sixth overall thermonuclear test.

The UN Security Council adopted new sanctions against the North as a result, a move that Pyongyang warned would not go unanswered.

Germany’s role

Merkel said in her interview that Germany’s strong ties China, Japan, South Korea and the United States puts it among the few countries that could actually help resolve the North Korea crisis.

“Even if this conflict is far away from Germany, it is one that also affects us,” Merkel said. “That is why I am prepared, as is the foreign minister, [Sigmar Gabriel], to assume responsibility here.”

Gabriel told Monday’s edition of the Bild daily that the world had to wait for the sanctions against North Korea to work.

He also noted that military action was not going to succeed and “a security guarantee other than the nuclear bomb” was needed.

Source: Presstv

21, September 2017

National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism: A failed institution ⁰

The Commission that was created by President Biya to resolve the Southern Cameroons crisis and led by Senator Mafany Musonge has existed for eight months already. And so far, it has nothing to its credit. This September 23, 2017 will be nine months of its existence and the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism (CNPBM) is still on paper.

Apart from the installation ceremony of its members and the secretary general and the two sessions it held, the institution headed by Mr. Mafany Musonge is virtually non-existent. For the records, the commission was established to examined several subjects related to the anglophone crisis. A visit was was announced last June in the Northwest and South West Regions during the apex of the crisis, which began in November 2016. Musonge and his men were to visit Southern Cameroons as part of the “facilitation mission “. Cameroon Concord News can reveal that until now, the so-called National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism has not set foot in Southern Cameroons.

After the release of the leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium on August 30, French Cameroun political elites were anticipating a reaction from the president of the Commission on the antennas of the Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV). No reaction regarding this measure was made public. Mafany Musonge and his gang have never commented on the violence, particularly the destruction of schools and other public buildings, which are constantly pacing life in Southern Cameroons. Similarly, the institution headed by former Prime Minister Mafany Musonge has also refrained from any statement on the non resumption of schools.

Peter Mafany Musonge (to use his three names) was approached by a French Cameroun newspaper and he observed that there is no need to worry. “The commission is working. You will hear from us soon,” he said. The Commission was created on the 23rd of January 2017 by a decree of the President of the Republic. Its creation took place after the Government decided to end the negotiations begun with the leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai
Cameroon Concord News

20, September 2017

Liverpool FC: Jurgen Klopp told to build his defence around Joel Matip ⁰

Liverpool need to build their defence around Joel Matip, Garth Crooks has claimed. The Reds have made a mixed start to the Premier League season in Jurgen Klopp’s second full campaign in charge of the Merseyside outfit.

Liverpool missed out on the signing of Southampton captain Virgil van Dijk in the summer transfer window to leave Klopp with the same options at centre-half. Klopp has stuck with Matip for all of Liverpool’s Premier League games so far but has alternated between Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan to partner the Cameroon international.

And the Estonia international partnered the African centre-half for Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Burnley on Saturday to extend their winless run to three games. The Reds have already conceded 14 goals in eight games in all competitions to raise serious questions about Liverpool’s ability to defend.

Klopp has failed to address Liverpool’s defensive issues which continue to undermine their progress in other areas of the pitch under the former Borussia Dortmund coach. Former Spurs legend Crooks believes Liverpool should build their back four around Matip if Klopp wants to improve his team’s defensive performances.

“Joel Matip is a very willing defender and without the Cameroon centre-back’s exploits against Burnley, Liverpool would almost certainly have lost,” Crooks told BBC Sport. “His header off the line from a Ben Mee effort was priceless for the Reds and the Burnley defender nearly gave the Kop another heart attack when Simon Mignolet just about managed to stop the ball crossing the line after another free header at the far post.

“However, it was Matip, acting as his goalkeeper’s insurance policy, who saved the day. I’ve expressed my views about Liverpool’s defence on a number of occasions and they were desperately lucky to survive this fixture.”
Crooks added: “I will say this: Matip is an honest competitor capable of producing excellent performances on his day. But for goodness sake, he needs a defence around him.” Matip moved to Liverpool in a free transfer from Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04 in the 2016 summer transfer window.

Source: The Sports Review

20, September 2017

Vodafone suspends internet connectivity in Cameroon ⁰

Following a directive issued by the Cameroon’s Telecommunications Regulatory Agency, Vodafone Cameroon has confirmed it has suspended its internet services in the country until further notice. Vodafone Cameroon is operated by Afrimax under a non-equity partner market agreement with Vodafone Group. Authorities in Cameroon are making moves to compel Vodafone to apply for its own license.

Since it began operations in 2016, Vodafone had been using the license issued to Northwave SARL which was subsequently acquired by Afrimax Group to create Vodafone Cameroon. This arrangement, according to authorities, is illegal.

Minette Libom Li Likeng, Cameroon’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunications said he directed the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ART) to withdraw the operating license issued to Northwave SARL, thus compelling Vodafone to apply for its own license – since the operator would not be allowed to operate until it secures a license from the government.

Likeng said the government has applied the law governing the establishment and operation of networks and supplies of electronic communication services authorisation system in Cameroon. Under the law, licenses are personal, non-transferable and do not confer any right of exclusivity. With this condition, Likeng said Northwave SARL’s operating license cannot be transferred to Vodafone Cameroon.

Likeng said, “I’ve had discussions with Vodafone Cameroon officials in recent months, and I’ve told them that they have to apply for a license in good form and will have to pay to provide 4G LTE to the population.”

Going forward, he confirmed that his ministry directed the company to suspend its plan to expand its operations to eight additional cities, adding that if allowed to continue to operate, Vodafone would not be competing fairly with other players who paid US$136 million (CFA75 billion) each for operating license.

Antoine Pamboro, CEO Vodafone Cameroon, in a statement apologised to customers and said the company is working hard to restore services as soon as possible.

“To date, Vodafone Cameroon has contributed 3 billion CFA to the State of Cameroon, including 2 billion CFA in taxes and duties and 1 billion CFA for regulatory fees. Vodafone Cameroon has 116 employees and indirectly created 1,055 jobs with more than half of the workforce composed of young graduates,” Pamboro stated.

Prior to the latest development, Vodafone was expanding its 4G LTE services across the country, starting with 8 regions following a partnership with CAMTEL. Richard Achu, Vodafone Cameroon’s Sales and Distribution Director, said the company will not renege on its vision to extend its operations across the country.

“Vodafone Cameroon will enable anyone with a 4G compatible equipment to benefit from the best 4G LTE network as it is already the case in Douala and Yaounde. We want to extend our 4G LTE ultra-fast network in the ten regions of the country before the end of the year. We will do our utmost best to achieve this,” Achu said.

Source: ITwebafrica

20, September 2017

Biya Computer Gift: The CPDM government cannot stop telling lies ⁰

The anti Anglophone Minister of Higher Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo has told the Prime Minister and Head of Government that 80,000 of the 500,000 computers promised to Cameroonian students will be available as of November 2017. Fame Ndongo made the revelation during an extraordinary cabinet meeting that held on the 19th of September in the Prime Minister’s office in Yaoundé.

The controversial Francophone cabinet minister did inform Yang Philemon that he has put in place a transparent distribution mechanism that will take into account enrolment through the bio metric system in all the universities. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Higher Education, “The computers that students expect will be delivered to them from November on wards. The Ministry of Higher Education will simply have to dispatch the computers concerned to the students who will be enrolled beforehand by the bio metric system in order to avoid fraudulent or fraudulent distributions.”

Fame Ndongo and his higher education gang now say the computers should arrive faster than expected. Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo had made numerous declarations on the Biya Computer program but none has ever come out to be true. He promised the first wave by the end of December and then another delivery date was announced for the month of February 2017 and again deferred. Cameroon Concord News understands the devices are manufactured by a Chinese company that will also equip Cameroonian universities with digital technology centers.

By Sonne Peter, CCN

19, September 2017

Huge fire tears through Sacred Heart College forcing students to flee classrooms ⁰

Students were forced to evacuate Sacred Heart College as a fire tore through the buildings hosting classrooms. Firefighters were called to the College from Bamenda after the blaze started in the administrative block.

Although the flames seem to have been extinguished, smoke can still be seen coming from the classroom windows. A spokesman for the Francophone dominated police unit said officers were alerted to the fire by one of the discipline masters of the college.

A regiment from the Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR were called to the scene to provide support to the fire crews in attendance. No injuries or casualties have been reported.

Sent to CCN by a SCACUF Representative

19, September 2017

44 die of cholera in Nigeria’s militancy-hit northeast ⁰

The United Nations says at least 44 people have died in a cholera outbreak in the militancy-hit northeast of Nigeria, where the first case of the disease was identified nearly five weeks ago.

The world body said in a statement that nearly 2,300 confirmed or suspected cases of cholera had been registered by Monday.

“To date, the outbreak has claimed at least 44 lives, out of close to 2,300 confirmed and/or suspected cases,” read the statement.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said that nearly $10 million is needed to keep the disease from spreading.

Additional funding would assist to implement a cholera response and prevention plan in the coming months, including providing access to clean water and a vaccination program.

Peter Lundberg, OCHA’s deputy humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria, said that despite new treatment centers and sanitation measures, more needed to be done.

“The camps for displaced persons are congested, there is not enough water, sanitation facilities are poor, and the health care system is weak,” Lundberg said, adding, “We must tackle this urgently to avoid preventable suffering and loss of life.”

The first cholera case was identified in Borno State on August 16 and has since spread, mainly in camps for those displaced by the Boko Haram Takfiri terrorist group.

A boy walks through one of the internally displaced people camps in Gwoza, north-eastern Nigeria, on August 1, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection spread by contaminated food and water. It can be easily treated with oral rehydration solution if caught early, but the disease can kill within hours if left untreated.

The latest figures by the UN suggest a 4.3 percent fatality rate — well above the 1 percent rate that the World Health Organization rates as an emergency.

Cholera is just one of the challenges facing the Nigerian government, which is still struggling to expand its authority in the militancy-wracked northeastern states.

Displaced families stand at the main gate of a camp for internally displaced people at the Monguno district of Borno state, Nigeria, on February 14, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Last week, Mark Lowcock, the UN head of humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, said that the threat of famine caused by the conflict’s impact on farming had been averted.

But 8.5 million people in the northeast, out of 17 million in the wider Lake Chad region comprising Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, needed humanitarian assistance, Lowcock added.

Northeast Nigeria is already in the grip of a humanitarian crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency, which has killed at least 20,000 people and displaced more than 2.6 million since 2009.

Source: Presstv

19, September 2017

Lord Justice Ayah Paul speaks of his arrest; Says Cameroon in need of a truth and reconciliation Committee ⁰

Lord Justice Ayah Paul Abine has broken the silence he maintained after his release from prison on Sunday, September 17, 2017, on the TV program Geopolis of the Equinoxe Television channel. Ayah Paul made an overview of his arrest, the conditions of his detention, his release, the reparations demanded by his party and the Southern Cameroons crisis.

The magistrate accused the Biya Francophone regime of having contributed to the deteriorating state of his health. “It is probably my stay at the SED (Secretariat of State for Defense) that caused me damage. I can say irreparable damage. Currently I can not see anything with my left eye. All of a sudden, I became a cardiac patient, ” Ayah pointed out.

Ayah Paul Abine revealed that he spent his first night in a small cell without window or mattress, a situation that worsened his health. “If I returned to this cell even for 30 minutes, I will die,” said Ayah Paul Abine, who added that in his new cell he was given “a semblance of a mattress with a thickness of 5 cm”.

The former Supreme Court judge regretted that during his stay at the SED, only one of his colleagues visited him. He said he was abducted from his home on a Saturday night without an arrest warrant and no magistrate reacted. “How can I explain why I stayed in a cell for 223 days and only one magistrate in all of Cameroon had the courage to visit me?” Asks Ayah Paul Abine. The retired magistrate insisted that 80% of Cameroonian magistrates should not be part of the judicial family as “they are all afraid to do their job”.

For Ayah Paul Abine, the arrest of the leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium was a political affair. Ayah noted that he was not a member of the Consortium but was arrested because he asked for the law to be applied in the case. He called for the establishment of the National Truth and Reconciliation Committee. The Attorney General suggested that arrogance be set aside in dealing with the Southern Cameroons leadership.

By Sama Ernest with files from CIN

19, September 2017

French Cameroun: Boko Haram escalates terror campaign in the Far North region ⁰

8 people lost their lives first following an explosion of an improvised device at Wulba and in a suicide attack attributed to the Nigerian Islamic sect, Boko Haram at Kossa in the Far North region of French Cameroun. The attacks took place on Sunday the 17th of September 2017 in the morning.

Five people including three civilians and two suicide bombers died in Kossa, near Mora, Mayo-Sava division in the Far North region. It was around 5am (4am GMT), during prayer time that the first girl triggered her bomb at the entrance of a concession. The second suicide bomber who took advantage of the panic created by the first detonation, set off his bomb inside the concession killing three people including one child and two women.

The two suicide bombers died in the double suicide bombing. 72 hours before, in Wulba, three Cameroonians, including a first-class soldier, Abakar Mahamat of the Joint Multinational Force(FMM), based in Mora, died after the explosion of an improvised explosive device.

Two other men, including members of vigilance committees whose mission was to alert the army and authorities during the Boko Haram intrusions, were also killed in the explosion.

By Fru James
Cameroon Concord News