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African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights releases statement on the situation in Cameroon

20, January 2017

African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights releases statement on the situation in Cameroon 0

Press Release on the Human Rights Situation in Cameroon Following strike actions of Lawyers, Teachers and Civil Society

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) continues to follow closely the deteriorating human rights situation in Cameroon, State Party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter) caused by the ongoing protests in the English speaking North West and South West regions of the country.

The Commission’s Country Rapporteur for Cameroon and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa, Hon. Commissioner Reine Alapini-Gansou, is deeply concerned by the deteriorating human rights situation in Cameroon, in particular: killings of civilians; the deployment of armed military personnel, special security forces (BIR) and war machines to these two regions; the disproportionate and deathly use of force and violence to dispel peaceful and unarmed Lawyers, Teachers, Students, civilians and protesters in Bamenda, Buea and Kumba; the raping of students in Buea; the arbitrary arrests, detention and merciless beatings orchestrated by the police, gendarmerie, military and the BIR following strikes and protests that have been going on since October 2016.

The Special Rapporteur has received information that the strikes and protests are allegedly provoked by what has been dubbed, “the Anglophone problem,”  due to discontented Anglophone Lawyers, Teachers and Civil Society in English speaking Cameroon legitimately and peacefully seeking a halt to: the gradual, but systematic destruction and obliteration of the Common Law Legal System and the Anglosaxon System of Education; the marginalisation and neglect by the administration of Cameroon of the two English speaking regions of Cameroon; and the return to Federal system of governance.

The Special Rapporteur is particularly concerned about the alleged deaths of more than nine (9) Cameroonians during the protests in Bamenda, Buea and Kumba, and the allegations that the Government is planning mass arrest, kidnappings and assassination of leaders of Lawyers’ associations, Teachers’ unions, Civil Society and human rights defenders as a means to thwart the Anglophone cause.

The Special Rapporteur condemns very strongly the alleged use of disproportionate force against civilians, the violent and deathly suppression of peaceful demonstrators and calls on the Government of the Republic of Cameroon to:

  1. Investigate the alleged killings, rapes, inhumane treatment and human rights violations on peaceful protesters by the riot Police, elements of the gendarmerie, the military and the (BIR) in Bamenda, Buea and Kumba;
  2. Immediately end the alleged violence against civilians and take necessary steps to ensure that the human rights of its citizens and all its inhabitants are respected;
  3. Uphold the right to freedom of expression, assembly, the right to peaceful protest and ensure the security of its citizens, as provided by the African Charter;
  4. Cease all arbitrary arrests and detention; and
  5. Release all individuals unlawfully arrested during the protest.

The Special Rapporteur would like to remind the Cameroonian authorities of their obligations to guarantee fundamental rights, including the right to life, the right to freedom of assembly, association and expression as well as the right to self-determination as provided in Articles 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 20 of the African Charter.

The Special Rapporteur also calls on the international Community to look into the matter and support the Government of Cameroon in the peaceful resolution of the “Anglophone problem”; by encouraging genuine and inclusive dialogue between the Government of Cameroon and the Cameroon Common Law Lawyers, Teachers, and Civil society in the Anglophone regions and other such bodies established to resolve the issue.

The Special Rapporteur will continue to monitor developments in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon and calls on the African Union to contribute towards the effective realization of human and peoples’ rights in the country as a whole.

Done in Banjul-The Gambia

Honourable Commissioner Reine Alapini-Gansou

Country Rapporteur for Cameroon and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa

Consortium confirms Ghost Town to resume on Monday, MTN, CAMTEL, NETTEL to face boycott action

20, January 2017

Consortium confirms Ghost Town to resume on Monday, MTN, CAMTEL, NETTEL to face boycott action 0

Since Tuesday January 17, 2017 the English speaking regions of Cameroon partitioned by the Francophone regime as North West and South West have been cut off from the internet world. Internet connection was shut down late Tuesday shortly after the government arrested the main leaders of the now outlawed Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium.

Businesses have been grounded in both regions. Several Money transfer agencies are unable to operate, banks are inactive and mobile telephone operators who deal with internet have had their businesses closed. The leaders of the Consortium have announced a continuation of the civil disobedience campaign beginning on Monday the 23rd of January. The seat of the Consortium has also been moved to an unnamed European country and Southern Cameroonians have been called to listen to the Consortium.

The ghost town operation starting next week will be staged every Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Schools will remain closed and Anglophone parents have been cautioned not to end their children to school. The Consortium is aware that the Yaoundé regime has ordered Francophone schools in Southern Cameroons to open their doors this coming Monday.

Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered that the Consortium considers the Yaounde position as an act of provocation. The interim leaders of the Consortium have announced that they are discussing plans with the Southern Cameroons business community to develop a strategy for a complete and total boycott of  CAMTEL, MTN, ORANGE and NEXTTEL.

The shutting down of internet was intended to make communication difficult for locals of these two regions who have been using the internet as fast means of disseminating information to one another. Denizens see this as a failure by these companies to risk their businesses by forgetting the Customer King philosophy and allegedly working with the government.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report

Justice Ayah releases statement says the Anglophone struggle must continue till the end

20, January 2017

Justice Ayah releases statement says the Anglophone struggle must continue till the end 2

Justice Ayah Paul Abine released a statement via his Face Book page detailing an arrest attempt made on his person in Yaounde yesterday the 19th of January 2017. The Judge of the Supreme Court of Cameroon is reportedly wanted by the Francophone regime for his pro Anglophone stance and support for the civil disobedience campaign. Contrary to what was announced late yesterday, the Anglophone Judge will appear before a Francophone army colonel today Friday the 20th 2017. Attached to this report is the Justice Ayah Statement:

ARREST ATTEMPT: UNPERTURBED

A worker of the Supreme Court rushed into the office some 90 minutes ago to inform Ayah Paul Abine that some persons were asking to know the location of his residence. The man said he had replied that Ayah was either in a hotel or at Buea… The informant had hardly finished talking when two persons smashed into Ayah’s office. They required Ayah to sign that he had received a summons (“convocation”) to appear before a colonel at the gendarmerie (SED) at once or get arrested…

Ayah told them that, by law, he could only be served through his departmental head. After lengthy exchanges, including telephone calls by the persons in question, it was settled that Ayah would report to the gendarmerie tomorrow, January 20 at 11 AM.

But when the colonel explained that Ayah would have to make a statement, Ayah explained that he would report only by way of courtesy and not to answer to accusation. So it is because, Ayah explained, any investigation about or against him as a serving magistrate must comply with Section 629 of the Criminal Procedure Code…

Detentions of Anglophone figures continue as ghost town returns on Monday

20, January 2017

Detentions of Anglophone figures continue as ghost town returns on Monday 0

Several Francophone government officials have downplayed the ghost town operation and non resumption of schools in Southern Cameroons describing the Anglophone strike as a non event and nonsense. Large segments of Southern Cameroonians have already engaged in a three-day civil disobedience campaign called by the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium to protest the recent rapes, killings and militarization of the Anglophone regions of the country by the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime.

Southern Cameroons activists launched a wide electronic campaign to mobilize West Cameroonians to engage in the second phase of the civil disobedience action starting Monday the 23rd and to run through Tuesday and Wednesday the 24th and 25th of February 2017.  Opposition forces and groups have expressed support for the general one month strike called by the detained leaders of the Consortium and Southern Cameroonians including those in the Diaspora and their affiliates are expected to play an active role to ensure its success.

This week, the 83 year old dictator, Paul Biya who has been in power for 34 years boastfully told one of Cameroon Intelligence Report’s informant at State House that his government wouldn’t be overthrown by “WhatsApp” and Face Book including Twitter pointing he wouldn’t hand over the country to a new leader but arrest and jail any Anglophone activists hiding behind the “keyboards”. The Minister of Communication and the Francophone government spokesman, Issa Tchiroma told reporters last night that the outcome of the previous ghost town operations in Southern Cameroons was zero and the upcoming one would be a big zero since the presidency has shut down all internet and telephone services in the British Southern Cameroons territory.

Issa Tchiroma accepted that his government was holding many Southern Cameroons political detainees including the Chairman and Secretary General of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium, Barrister Agbor Nkongho Felix and Dr. Neba Fontem. We got intelligence that the leader of the Anglophone teachers trade union, Wilfred Tassang has seek refuge in the American embassy in Yaoundé and the whereabouts of Barrister Bobga Harmony is still unknown. Commenting on the recent crackdown including rapes and extra judicial killings going on in the Anglophone regions of the country, the Minister of Communication said the Yaoundé authorities have the right to take all the necessary measures to maintain the security and stability if there is any security threat to the country.

Boko Haram is now a thing of the past as the Francophone dominated Intelligence and Security Services has recently intensified crackdown on journalists for publishing news reports and articles on the Anglophone Problem. Radio stations and newspapers houses have been forced to close down. With the world turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the Francophone regime in Southern Cameroons, the Yaoundé government launched a large arrest campaign and has detained senior Anglophone officials including attempts at arresting Justice Ayah Paul of the Cameroon Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium has said the civil disobedience could be extended beyond February with the sole aim of paralyzing all economic and academic activities in Southern Cameroons. Southern Cameroons youth have been called to join a telephone campaign to increase participation in the ghost town operations and the Anglophone struggle.  At the time of filing this report, Consortium forces announced more detentions among its members across Southern Cameroons as Monday the 23rd 2017, the date of the civil disobedience approaches.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report

Gambia: Adama Barrow sworn in as new President

19, January 2017

Gambia: Adama Barrow sworn in as new President 0

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously approved a resolution endorsing efforts by some West African countries to ensure the respect of “the will of the people” in The Gambia. The 15-member body on Thursday approved a Senegal-drafted resolution expressing “full support” to Gambia’s new President Adama Barrow and calling on ex-leader Yahya Jammeh to step down. The resolution calls on the council to give “its full support” to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to ensure that Barrow’s election victory on December 1 is respected by “political means first.” Senegal presented the draft resolution to the council on Wednesday, requesting UN approval for ECOWAS to take “all necessary measures” to force Jammeh to cede power to Barrow.

The harsh language of the resolution was dropped during negotiations late Wednesday because some UNSC members objected to backing military action, according to diplomats. The vote came shortly after Barrow was sworn in as Gambia’s new president. Barrow, 51, was sworn in inside Gambia’s embassy in neighboring Senegal, where he had been remaining after Jammeh refused to endorse the results of the presidential election. “This is a victory of the Gambian nation. Our flag will now fly high among those of the most democratic nations of the world,” Barrow said, waving to crowds in Senegal’s capital Dakar.

Jammeh, who lost the votes by a slim margin to Barrow, first accepted the defeat but then changed his mind and said there were irregularities in a recount. Following the UN vote, Senegalese troops moved across the border into The Gambia. “They entered this afternoon,” army spokesman Colonel Abdoul Ndiaye told AFP. Troops from Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria began building up along Gambia’s border with Senegal hours before Jammeh’s mandate was to expire by January 19.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Barrow called on members of Gambia’s small-size military to pledge loyalty to him as the commander in chief. “I command the chief of defense staff and officers of high command to demonstrate their loyalty to me as commander in chief without any delay,” Barrow said. “I command all members of the armed forces to remain in their barracks, those found wanting or in possession of firearms without my order will be considered rebels,” he added. Gambia’s army chief Ousman Badjie had said earlier on Thursday that his troops would not get involved in the country’s deepening “political dispute.” He also said that troops would not prevent foreign forces from entering The Gambia.

Presstv

Kah Walla says Consortium leaders to be charged with treason, secession, terrorism

19, January 2017

Kah Walla says Consortium leaders to be charged with treason, secession, terrorism 0

The only prominent female politician in Cameroon, Kah Walla has met with the detained leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium. Kah Walla issued a statement after the meeting which was sent to our London news desk some few hours ago. Below is the press release from Madam Kah Wall:

Very happy to report that we have seen Barrister Nkongho Felix Balla and Dr. Fontem Neba today. They are both well and in strong spirits. They report being literally kidnapped from the South West region on Tuesday 17 January and brought to Yaoundé by car, via Douala in the very early hours of Wednesday morning. They are being held at the SED (Sécretariat d’Etat à la Défense). Since their arrival there they have been treated humanely.

The charges brought against them are of extreme gravity including secession, treason, inciting rebellion and acts of terrorism. These charges require that we as Cameroonians mobilize and act swiftly, non-violently, but with mass determination, to ensure their IMMEDIATE RELEASE. If we do not mobilize quickly, efficiently and effectively, these leaders will pay a very heavy price.

Dr. Fontem Neba and Barrister Nkongho Balla have been part of the leadership of a movement that will forever change the perspective of how we determine the future of Cameroon. We must not let them pay the price of decades in prison or even their lives for these unfounded charges. The Deputy Secretary General of the Cameroon People’s Party and myself as President of the CPP joined a delegation of lawyers from the South West who had traveled to meet with Balla and Fontem.

We discussed the importance of mobilization with them. We are asking all political and civil society organizations and all citizens to follow the lead of the lawyers as they mobilize for the IMMEDIATE RELEASE of Dr. Fontem and Barrister Balla. We must not cede to the fear that the government is trying to instill in us. It is time to STAND UP! Stand Up for Nkongho Balla and Fontem Neba, Stand Up for all those who have sacrificed their lives in this movement. Stand Up for Bobga and Tassang, stand up for the many who stood in the streets of Buea, Bamenda, Kumba and throughout the SW and NW.

It is in the eye of the storm, that the strength of the people will be known. STAND UP, STAND UP, STAND UP! We must act without violence and with utmost determination to obtain freedom for these leaders! As we receive information on precise non-violent action to be taken, we will relay here.

Note: As we left the SED, we were informed that Mancho BBC had been brought there in the night. We were unable to see him, but will provide more information on his situation as we receive it.

Yaounde: Leader says the international community will not turn a blind eye to the plight of West Cameroonians

19, January 2017

Yaounde: Leader says the international community will not turn a blind eye to the plight of West Cameroonians 1

The Chairman of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium and Vice President of the Bar Association, Barrister Agbor Felix Nkongho have told a sea of Francophone army generals and judges from the military tribunal in Yaoundé that the international community will not turn a blind eye to the plight of British Southern Cameroonians. The Anglophone leader urged the United Nation, the European Union and the governments of the United States and Great Britain to unite in support of the persecuted minority in Cameroon.

Barrister Agbor Balla Felix made the remarks as he was being interrogated by highly placed Francophone military officials today in Yaoundé.  Balla Felix further condemned the Biya regime’s handling of the Anglophone problem observing that the Consortium has made genuine recommendations to Yaoundé over the matter. The Leader also censured the killings and massive arrest going on in Southern Cameroonians and called on Etoudi to focus on getting a swift solution to the crisis gripping West Cameroon.

We gathered that in the presence of Barrister Ben Muna, the Francophone interrogators attempted to put a charge on terrorism on the Leader including what they described as the Leader’s trade in hate speech. Barrister Agbor Balla Felix pointed out that West Cameroonians have been deprived of their inalienable right to citizenship while facing systematic discrimination, violence and hatred from the political elites of Francophone Cameroun.

British Southern Cameroonians are dying appalling deaths and the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime is not anywhere near to end its crackdown on the Anglophone community.  The Leader made a short submission at the tail-end of the interrogation stating that “West Cameroonians have suffered appalling deaths, and those that have lived through Francophone military atrocities have witnessed or endured unspeakable cruelty.”

Southern Cameroons is one of the most persecuted minorities in Africa. Tens of thousands of its citizens are asylum seekers in Europe, the US, Canada and the Middle East. The Francophone government has constantly denied full citizenship to the Anglophone Cameroonian and imposes some form of restrictions on their movement. For instance, the Republic of Cameroon has four international airports and none of them is located in the Anglophone zone. Hydro electricity power dams in the Anglophone region were shut down and the Anglophone communities now rely on power from dams in the Francophone areas.

Since 2016, the Francophone dominated army has carried out many operations in Southern Cameroons using air power that claimed the lives of many Southern Cameroonians. In recent days, there have been numerous reports of arbitrary killings, rapes and other atrocities against British Southern Cameroonians. Thousands have fled to neighboring Nigeria in the face of the crackdown.

By Chi Prudence Asong

Bamenda: Many feared dead as Francophone troops clash with civilians

19, January 2017

Bamenda: Many feared dead as Francophone troops clash with civilians 2

The Francophone Army has reportedly killed civilians today in Bamenda in a clash between soldiers and some residents of the city. The regime in Yaoundé has shutdown internet and telephone services in the Anglophone region of the country making it difficult for our cream of reporters to send live pictures of the prevailing situation.

Cameroon Concord News understands the incident started earlier today at 2.00 a.m. when troops loyal to the Biya Francophone government stormed the residence of a prominent Southern Cameroons activist and arrested him and his partner. The 31 Artillery Brigade of the Francophone Army presently stationed in Bamenda, the capital of the North West region intervened when the population came out massively to clamor for the release of those arrested.

Our North West bureau is yet to establish a tally of those who have been killed and arrested by the joint police and army operation.

By Sama Ernest

Anglophone Problem: Government backtracking on Ad Hoc Committee decision

19, January 2017

Anglophone Problem: Government backtracking on Ad Hoc Committee decision 0

The Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo government is backtracking on its decision that dissolved the Ad Hoc Committee and eventually led to the arrest of the leaders of the Consortium. It is now even hard to say who is really in charge in Cameroon.  The Minister of Higher Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo made public a press release stating that the government will resume dialogue with the teachers on the 31st of January 2017.

The Fame Ndongo communiqué also stated that the fourth round of talks shall be held at the conference hall of his department. A lot of tongues have been waging ever since the Biya acolyte published the press release yesterday January the 18th 2017. We understand the Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office; one Mr Ghogumu Paul Mingo had announced that discussion with the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium was over.

Ghogumu Paul Mingo’s pronouncement prompted the banning of the Consortium by another inexperienced Francophone Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Rene Emmanuel Sadi. The MINAT order led to the arrest of the leaders of the Consortium. Cameroon Concord News sources say Wilfred Tassang is currently at the US embassy in Yaounde.

One of the interesting features of the Minister Fama Ndongo press release is that the CPDM operates many governing councils within the crime syndicate.  At present, we do not know if Minister Fame Ndongo intends to appoint teachers representatives who will brave the bad roads and come to Yaoundé to dialogue with him. “This is highly unsatisfactory from a government that has many cabinet ministers with PhDs attached to their names” noted a retired Anglophone Head Master contacted by CAMCORDNEWS.

But something very unusual has just happened. The Minister of Higher Education observed in his press release that he was by his action informing “national and international public opinion” of the 31st of January meeting. The inclusion of international public opinion not by the government spokesman is a major backdown.

Nigeria has had numerous armed struggles: Boko Haram, Niger Delta Avengers and Biafra. It has never disconnected internet services in any of its region. The decision to cutoff internet and telephone services in British Southern Cameroons tells us how they (Francophones) see us and tells us that we are not part of them.  It is sad to see the powerful Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime backtracking on this.

Fame Ndongo 1Fame Ndongo 2

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Editor-in-Chief

Cameroon Concord News Group

Leader says the Anglophone Problem is real and legitimate

19, January 2017

Leader says the Anglophone Problem is real and legitimate 0

The Chairman of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society and Vice President of the Bar Association, Barrister Felix Agbor Nkongho has said that a return to federalism is one of the solutions to the ongoing crisis in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon.

On January 17, 2017, René Emmanuel Sadi, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization (MINATD) signed a decree banning the activities of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC) and the presidency of the republic ordered his arrest some few hours later.

Felix Agbor Nkongho hinted that “If you look at the memorandum of May 9, 2016, the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society used the words” federalism or nothing.” The Chairman of the Consortium also revealed to a French tabloid that the Consortium has no hidden agenda since the genesis of the crisis.

“Lawyers had addressed a memo to the Minister of Justice, the Prime Minister, the Senate and the National Assembly; you will see that federalism was there. So it’s not a hidden agenda as some people want to believe. The people in the Consortium are simply helping the state of Cameroon to survive. In other words, the debate among Anglophones is changing because of the government’s repressive actions.”

Reacting to his arrest in Buea, Chairman Agbor Balla said “No one wants to undermine the power of Yaoundé. It has never been said that Paul Biya has to leave. And then it’s not Paul Biya’s English problem. What is more, we have decided that no politician should be among the members of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium, so that no one can direct these claims towards their political agenda. The Anglophone problem is both real and legitimate.”

By Rita Akana

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