Headline News

6, July 2022

CAF President Motsepe confirms postponement of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations ⁰

CAF through its President, Patrice Motsepe, made the announcement on Sunday

The 2023 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) initially billed to take place in Cote d’ Ivoire from June 2023 has been postponed to January 2024.

The decision was one of the key decisions taken during the Confederation of African Football(CA) Executive Committee meeting held on Sunday.

CAF through its President, Patrice Motsepe, announced the 34th edition, which was initially scheduled from June 23 to July 23, 2023, will no longer go on as planned due to the weather conditions in the West African country.

“The 2023 Afcon will now be played between January and February 2024,” Mostepe told the media during a press conference in Morocco.

“This is one of the issues we discussed during our congress meeting here in Morocco and the official dates will be communicated later.

“It is after deliberations we came into the decision, we have partners and even though we make decisions, it is out of respect that we take the advice we are getting that we cannot take a risk [to host the tournament] and so that is why we have made the necessary announcement today [Sunday].

“It is not good for African football to play a tournament that can be washed out, it is not good for Africa and the continent at large and so we have to postpone it.”

Motsepe, however, lauded Ivory Coast for the preparations they have already put in place to stage the tournament.

“I am happy and impressed with the infrastructure put in place by Ivory Coast in readiness for the tournament and I am sure they will host a very good tournament,” Motsepe continued.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are one of the teams eyeing qualification for the next AFCON tournament and they have started the qualification series quite well; winning their first two games against Sierra Leone and then Sao Tome and Principe.

At the last edition of the biennial football tournament held in Cameroon, the Super Eagles despite showing early signs of promise crashed out in the second round in a 1-0 loss to Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles.

Senegal went on to be crowned champions after defeating Egypt on penalties in the final.

It is worthy to note that the AFCON tournament held in Cameroon also suffered its own fair share of postponements.

However, unlike this case where CAF is making a decision due to weather contingencies, the tournament in Cameroon was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Culled from Marketscreener

6, July 2022

Senior UK cabinet ministers Sunak and Javid resign, plunging govt into chaos ⁰

Britain’s finance and health ministers resigned on Tuesday, in what looked to be the final blow for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s premiership after he had tried to apologise for the latest scandal to dog his administration.

Both finance minister Rishi Sunak and health minister Sajid Javid resigned in what appeared to be a choreographed release of letters to the prime minister, in which both took aim at his ability to run an administration that adhered to standards.

The resignations came as Johnson was apologising for what he said was a mistake for not realising that a former minister in charge of pastoral care was unsuitable for a job in government after complaints of sexual misconduct were made against him.

Both had formerly publicly supported Johnson during months of scandal over his administration’s conduct and a damning report into parties at his Downing Street office and residence that broke strict Covid-19 lockdown rules.

Sunak, who had reportedly clashed with the prime minister in private about spending, said: “For me to step down as Chancellor while the world is suffering the economic consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other serious challenges is a decision that I have not taken lightly.”

“However, the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously. I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning.”

Javid said many lawmakers and the public had lost confidence in Johnson’s ability to govern in the national interest.

“I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership – and you have therefore lost my confidence too,” Javid said in a letter to Johnson.

Former Brexit minister Steve Barclay replaced Javid as health minister while education minister Nadhim Zahawi has been named new finance minister.

In the wake of those two resignations, one of the vice-chairs of Johnson’s Conservative Party, Bim Afolami, also left the government, TalkTV political editor Kate McCann said on Twitter on Tuesday.

And late in the evening, British MP for Cheltenham Alex Chalk joined the string of resignations, stepping down as solicitor general for England and Wales in protest at Johnson’s leadership.

“To be in government … cannot extend to defending the indefensible,” he wrote in a resignation letter posted on Twitter.

Source: REUTERS

6, July 2022

Pilgrims arrive in Mecca for largest hajj ⁰

The biggest hajj pilgrimage since the coronavirus pandemic began kicks off Wednesday, with hundreds of thousands of mostly maskless worshippers expected to circle Islam’s holiest site in Saudi Arabia’s Mecca.

One million fully vaccinated Muslims, including 850,000 from abroad, are allowed at this year’s hajj, a major break from two years of drastically curtailed numbers due to the pandemic.

At Mecca’s Grand Mosque, pilgrims will perform the “tawaf”, the circumambulation of the Kaaba, the large cubic structure draped in golden-embroidered black cloth that Muslims around the world turn towards to pray.

Many have chosen to perform the ritual ahead of Wednesday’s official hajj start date.

On Tuesday afternoon, white-robed male worshippers and women in colourful abayas walked side by side on the white floors near the Kaaba, the majority without a mask even though authorities said last month that masks would be mandatory at the site.

“I just prayed for you,” one pilgrim, wearing a green robe, said during a video call with relatives.

“I love you mother, I love you all,” she added, waving into her mobile phone screen as she continued walking around the Kaaba.

Five days of rituals

This year’s hajj is larger than the pared-down versions staged in 2020 and 2021 but still smaller than in normal times.

In 2019, some 2.5 million Muslims from around the world participated in the annual event—a key pillar of Islam that able-bodied Muslims must undertake at least once in their lives.

But after that, the coronavirus outbreak forced a dramatic downsizing. Just 60,000 fully vaccinated citizens and residents of the kingdom took part in 2021, up from a few thousand in 2020.

The pilgrimage consists of a series of religious rites which are completed over five days in Islam’s holiest city and its surroundings in western Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, the pilgrims will move to Mina, around five kilometres (three miles) away from the Grand Mosque, ahead of the main rite at Mount Arafat, where it is believed the Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon.

This year’s hajj is restricted to vaccinated Muslims under the age of 65 chosen from millions of applicants through an online lottery system.

Those coming from outside Saudi Arabia were required to submit a negative Covid-19 PCR result from a test taken within 72 hours of travel.

Since the start of the pandemic, Saudi Arabia has registered more than 795,000 coronavirus cases, more than 9,000 of them fatal.

‘Too hot’

Those attempting to perform the hajj without a permit face fines of 10,000 Saudi riyals (around $2,600).

Policemen in the mountainous city have set up checkpoints and conducted foot patrols while holding green umbrellas to shield themselves from the scorching sun.

Temperatures in Mecca topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday.

Inside the Grand Mosque, female medics were on standby in different locations, and volunteers with wheelchairs were waiting in a long queue to help those needing assistance.

Authorities have set up multiple health facilities, mobile clinics and ambulances to cater to pilgrims.

Some pilgrims donned clothing featuring the names and flags of their countries. “Hajj 2020 — Chad” was written on the back of the white robes of one group.

Hosting the hajj is a matter of prestige and a powerful source of political legitimacy for Saudi Arabia’s rulers.

Costing at least $5,000 per person, it is also a money-spinner for the world’s biggest oil exporter, which is trying to diversify its economy.

In normal years, the pilgrimage brings in billions of dollars.

These days it represents a chance to showcase the kingdom’s ongoing social transformation, despite persistent complaints about human rights abuses and limits on personal freedoms.

Saudi Arabia now allows women to attend the hajj unaccompanied by male relatives, a requirement that was dropped last year.

“Being here is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I can’t wait for the rest,” said 42-year-old Egyptian pilgrim Naima Mohsen, who came to the Grand Mosque by herself Tuesday.

“My only problem is the weather. It’s just too hot.”

Source: AFP

6, July 2022

IMF team visits Cameroon, says outlook is clouded with considerable uncertainty! ⁰

An IMF team was recently in Cameroon to share economic perspectives with the country’s authorities. As part of the visit, the IMF team reached a staff-level agreement with the country’s authorities on the economic and financial policies which could support the approval of the Second Review of the program under the ECF and EFF arrangements. The agreement is subject to approval of the IMF Executive Board in late July 2022, which would enable the disbursement of SDR 55.2 million (about US$73.6 million).

According to the IMF, economic growth slowed to 0.5 percent in 2020 affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and security tensions in the region. Growth rebounded in 2021 and reached 3.6 percent for the year, supported by a domestic recovery and the general global economic recovery. Inflation for the year averaged 2.3 percent and the current account deficit (including grants) widened to 4.0 percent of GDP.

According to the global development finance institution, Cameroon’s economic outlook for 2022 remains positive and the economy is expected to grow by 3.8 percent. However, the outlook is clouded with considerable uncertainty arising from the sharp increase in international commodity prices—especially for oil, fertilizer, and foodstuffs—accentuated by the war in Ukraine, and tightening conditions in international financial markets. Average inflation is expected to rise to 4.6 percent, while higher oil export receipts should further improve the current account deficit to 2.1 percent of GDP. The authorities are committed to a fiscal policy anchored on a gradual reduction of the deficit and are revising the budget to maintain the deficit (cash basis, including grants) at 2.5 percent of GDP—much the same as in the original budget. This should bring the stock of public debt down to around 44 percent of GDP by end-2022.

It added that the impact of higher international oil prices on the budget is mixed as the higher oil revenues are more than offset by substantially higher fuel subsidies (estimated at 2.9 percent of GDP from 0.5 percent in 2021) aimed at maintaining the administered retail fuel prices unchanged. The higher subsidy costs are therefore being accommodated by reducing other spending, including spending on investment projects. The high cost of fuel subsidies would be difficult to sustain under current international oil price projections. However, the gradual phasing out of fuel subsidies would need to be accompanied by a substantial scaling-up of the social cash transfer mechanism.

The team shared the authorities’ concern with the rise in food prices and welcomed the authorities’ effort to ensuring adequate supplies of fertilizer so that the next harvest will be plentiful.

Also, the medium-term outlook remains positive, though facing considerable uncertainties. The economic strategy remains focused on rebuilding fiscal and external buffers to sustain macroeconomic stability. At the same time, the pace of structural reform needs to be accelerated for the country to meet its development goals. The business environment needs to be improved for the private sector to take the lead role in supporting growth. The team welcomed the authorities’ continued efforts to improve public financial management and governance, including the accountability of budget execution. The team also welcomed the authorities’ efforts to strengthen the financial management of state enterprises, including recent progress on SONARA’s restructuring. The completion of key infrastructure projects, especially for energy and transport, should boost economic growth and support the replacement of imported with domestically produced goods.

The IMF team acknowledged the authorities’ commitment to implementing policies consistent with the stability of the region’s monetary arrangement, which includes rebuilding foreign exchange reserves at the Bank of Central African States (BEAC). To this end, the authorities are working to strengthen compliance with the foreign exchange regulations notably regarding the repatriation of export earnings, while not impeding legitimate payments overseas.

By Rita Akana in Yaounde

5, July 2022

Football: Paris St Germain name ex-Lille boss Galtier as new manager after sacking Pochettino ⁰

Paris St Germain announced Christophe Galtier as their new manager on Tuesday, shortly after the Ligue 1 champions parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino.

Galtier joins PSG after leaving Nice last month, having guided them to a runners-up finish in the French Cup and fifth place in Ligue 1 last season.

The 55-year-old Frenchman joined Nice in 2021 after leading Lille to their first Ligue 1 title since 2011 in the previous campaign. Before joining Lille, Galtier spent eight seasons at Saint Etienne, where he won the French Cup in 2012-2013.

Galtier’s appointment comes after PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi put an end to speculation surrounding France great Zinedine Zidane, dismissing reports that PSG had been in talks with the 1998 World Cup winner about becoming their new boss.

Pochettino, who was appointed by PSG in January 2021, won the Ligue 1 title in 2021-22 and the French Cup in 2020-21 but failed to deliver in the Champions League, the only major trophy that has eluded PSG since Qatar Sports Investment took over in 2011.

PSG, eight times league winners since the takeover, were Champions League runners-up in 2020 but they were knocked out in the last 16 last season by eventual champions Real Madrid.

Pochettino came in with a strong resume after making Tottenham Hotspur perennial top-four finishers in England’s Premier League and guiding them to the Champions League final in 2019.

Despite having a star-studded squad at his disposal at PSG, with Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi leading the attack, Pochettino failed to win the other domestic trophies on offer, lifting only the league title last season.

Pochettino leaves PSG after 84 competitive games in charge, having won 55, drawn 15 and lost 14.

Source: REUTERS

5, July 2022

Dion Ngute, Atanga Nji, Paul Tasong and Co cannot even dream of holding a CPDM rally in Ambazonia ⁰

The Chairman and Editor-In-Chief of the Cameroon Concord News Group says holding a CPDM rally is beyond the Dion Ngute administration’s wildest dream.

“Dion Ngute, Atanga Nji, Paul Tasong and the other pro Yaoundé clowns cannot even dream of staging a CPDM rally in Southern Cameroons and they should know that even if they dare in their dreams they certainly will not wake from that dream,” the Right Hon. Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai said during Concord’s July editorial meeting on Sunday.

Amba fighters have repeatedly warned all Southern Cameroons CPDM elites of a crushing response should they dare hold pro Biya political rallies in Southern Cameroons.

Recently, a renowned Amba commander General No Pity warned that Southern Cameroons fighters will take the war deep inside French Cameroun if Francophone army soldiers continue to kill innocent Southern Cameroons citizens.

Political uncertainty has been haunting the Biya Francophone regime for the past five years, making it impossible for the 89-year-old leader to form a new cabinet.

By Toto Roland Motuba

5, July 2022

Amba fighters will give shocking response to Yaoundé offensives ⁰

The Vice President of the Southern Cameroons Interim Government (IG) says Ambazonia Self Defense Groups will soon deliver a shocking response to the ongoing French Cameroun military operations in Manyu and Ndian County as they constitute a flagrant violation of Southern Cameroons sovereignty.

Dabney Yerima told the Southern Cameroons war cabinet late on Sunday that Amba fighters will give a crushing response to Yaoundé within the next few weeks in Manyu, Ndian and Lebialem.

Yerima said the IG can no longer stand idly by in the face of attacks and violations carried out against the people of Southern Cameroons in Mamfe, Mundemba and Fontem.

Dabney Yerima went on to say that most Francophone military commanders deployed to Southern Cameroons by the Biya regime have created fake armed groups and are using them to terrorize the local population.

The Southern Cameroons exiled leader highlighted the nasty role currently being played by the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church and sounded a note of caution to Southern Cameroons clerics to continue to be prophetic voices of the suffering people.

By Enowtaku Ebanghatabi Christelle

5, July 2022

Southern Cameroons Crisis: There is a price to be paid for the fanciful delusions of Mr. Biya and his Beti Ewondo kinsmen ⁰

The two Cameroons are undergoing the greatest struggle in the name of freedom since the rigged 1961 reunification.

Southern Cameroonians are fighting to take back their country-the Federal Republic of Ambazonia while French Camerounians are fighting for their freedom.

Many are now convinced and confident that, at the end of the day, Southern Cameroons independence and Southern Cameroons sovereignty will prevail and will be there long after the 89 year-old Paul Biya has left the scene.

The reality is that the people of Southern Cameroons have survived five years of French Cameroun military onslaught and they are well on their way to outlasting the Biya administration that criminals like Atanga Nji and Joseph Dion Ngute serve.

There have been continued calls from the embattled President Biya to stop the military operations in Southern Cameroons and hold genuine negotiations with the jailed Ambazonian leaders.

While acknowledging that the Francophone dominated armed forces were suffering painful losses on the front lines in Southern Cameroons, President Biya and criminal gang believe that Cameroon government troops would be able to hold on in their fight against Ambazonia fighters, and eventually stifle the resistance.

People in the know including many political commentators have come to assess that the war in Southern Cameroons has tilted in Ambazonia’s favour, Biya and his Francophone Beti Ewondo officials believe that the opposite is in fact true — that the so-called one and indivisible Cameroon is emerging from the current struggle with an advantage brought on by the provision of Made in France weapons and the deliberate silence of the West.

The problem facing the Francophone leaders in Yaoundé is the harsh reality of military math. Amba fighters are destroying vast majority of Yaoundé’s pre-conflict arsenal. This fact is played out with violence daily — in a conflict that has taken on the characteristic of a massive artillery duel with Amba fighters using the hit-and-run tactics.

The hard truth is that even Paul Atanga Nji is now fed up with the Biya Francophone pattern of governance. Francophone military officials and some Roman Catholic clerics are now admitting high casualty rates. Correspondingly, there is no way Biya’s offer of more money to the military will reverse the inevitable tide of Cameroon government’s looming strategic military defeat in Southern Cameroons. The emergence of Boko Haram in the Far North makes Biya’s offer to the army very hollow.

We of the Cameroon Concord News Group believe that when the so-called Biya military operation will be over and Biya gone for good, the one and indivisible Cameroon would no longer exist as a nation.

There is a price to be paid for the fanciful delusions of Mr. Biya and his Beti Ewondo kinsmen, and those in Yaoundé like Fru Ndi who believe them, and that price may be the very existence of the United Republic of Cameroon as a country.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

4, July 2022

Ronaldo-Manchester United Crisis: Player misses training ⁰

Cristiano Ronaldo missed training with Manchester United on Monday due to “family reasons”, just days after the Portugal star reportedly told the club he wants to leave.

United players who had been away on international duty over the close-season were scheduled to meet up with the rest of the squad on Monday.

But, according to British media reports, Ronaldo did not attend, with his reason for failing to appear at United’s training ground accepted by the club.

However, the 37-year-old’s absence will be interpreted as the latest salvo in his bid to engineer a move away from Old Trafford.

Ronaldo is said to be disappointed by United’s decline since he returned to the club from Juventus last year.

United failed to qualify for this coming season’s Champions League after finishing sixth in the Premier League.

Despite the arrival of new manager Erik ten Hag from Ajax, Ronaldo reportedly does not believe United can challenge for major honours in the near future.

In the twilight of his career, Ronaldo would prefer to join a club capable of satisfying his desire to compete for the game’s top prizes.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, who has a year left on his United contract, has played 19 consecutive seasons in the Champions League and is the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.

The former Real Madrid star’s agent Jorge Mendes has reportedly sounded out Bayern Munich and Chelsea about a potential move, yet United are said to be adamant Ronaldo is not for sale.

Ronaldo was United’s top scorer with 24 goals last term, but his campaign was marred by public shows of frustration on several occasions as the team struggled under first Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and then interim boss Ralf Rangnick.

Ronaldo’s absence from training comes as United are due to leave for their pre-season tour of Asia and Australia on Friday.

Source: AFP

4, July 2022

Fecafoot terminates deal with Le Coq Sportif ⁰

The Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) announced it has terminated its contract with French sportswear manufacturer Le Coq Sportif. In a June 24 statement, Blaise Djounang, the acting Secretary-General of Fecafoot, said the decision will take effect right after the 2022 Women AfCON. That is July 23, 2022.

He did not explain the reasons behind the decision but the statement hints at non-compliance with commitments by the equipment manufacturer. “The president of Fecafoot plans to explore new collaboration opportunities with an equipment manufacturer that respects its commitments and is proud to join its image with the label of the national football teams of Cameroon,” the statement reads.

The new Fecafoot-Le Coq Sportif deal was signed on June 7, 2019, in Montpellier and was expected to last until 2023. But the collaboration has stalled since the signing and the Minister of Sports, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, asked for explanations from Fecafoot in October 2019. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi said he noted a real deficit in the quantity of equipment and sports kits made available to the national teams during some major international sports competitions.

Source: Business in Cameroon