Headline News

Cameroonians Plead for Tolerance Among Religions, Francophones, Anglophones

17, November 2021

Cameroonians Plead for Tolerance Among Religions, Francophones, Anglophones 0

More than 200 people, most of them women, marched in the city center of Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde, on Tuesday against what they call growing intolerance in the Central African state. The protesters, marking this year’s International Day for Tolerance, sang that there is a growing lack of respect for each other’s cultural and religious beliefs.

Secretary General of the Council of Imams and Muslim Dignitaries of Cameroon Adamou Ngamie took part in the protest. Ngamie says all Muslims, especially Imams, must try to preach inter-religious tolerance because it is praised by God in the Holy Quran. He says intolerance is bringing confusion and discord in Cameroon, which is in dire need of tolerance that will breed cohesion and bring back peace to the country.

In 2020, the government of Cameroon reported on problems of inter-religious intolerance in the central African state. It cited conflicts between Christian Pentecostal churches and Muslim fundamentalist movements on Cameroon’s northern border with Nigeria. The report said several clashes resulted in casualties but gave no further details.

Tuesday’s protesters noted intolerance in Cameroon spiked in 2017 when Anglophone separatists, complaining of second-class treatment, took up arms against the French-speaking majority state.

Cameroon’s separatist conflict has claimed more than 3,000 lives and displaced more than 550,000, according to the United Nations.

22-year-old University of Yaounde student Anabel Michou marched in the protest. She says hate speech and propaganda on social media by both separatists and authorities promote intolerance.

“We are calling on everybody to join us on board, to build a hate free Cameroon, to promote social cohesion, to ask for peace. Wherever we find ourselves, we have a collective role to play to make Cameroon a better country. There are alternative, nonviolent means of saying what we have and using the right channels for our thoughts to be heard. And we should also remember, we cannot build by destroying. We have to build by making what we have better.”

The Cameroon Women’s Peace Movement, which has been urging troops and separatists to lay down their arms, organized the protest. Movement member Nicoline Nwenushi Wazeh says the separatist conflict would be greatly reduced if Cameroonians learned to tolerate each other.

“We need to acknowledge that every human being is a separate entity [person] and this acknowledgement needs to come from the government through enforceable laws against intolerance. Parents should have a communication around tolerance with their children. In schools, children should be able to know about tolerance. We should be able to promote tolerance.”

In July, Cameroon launched a campaign against what it called growing online hate speech, intolerance, and xenophobic statements.

Rights groups, however, note that along with xenophobic statements, authorities also define hate speech as criticism of the state and long-time President Paul Biya.

The government did not issue any statements for this year’s International Day for Tolerance but has in the past called on all Cameroonians to live together in harmony.

Source: VOA

Qatar 2022 World Cup: Cameroon oust Ivory Coast as Africa’s World Cup playoff spots decided

17, November 2021

Qatar 2022 World Cup: Cameroon oust Ivory Coast as Africa’s World Cup playoff spots decided 0

Cameroon beat Ivory Coast 1-0 in a contest of two continental heavyweights to join Algeria, Nigeria and Tunisia in securing the last four places in March’s African World Cup playoffs as the group phase came to a dramatic conclusion on Tuesday.

Karl Toko Ekambi scored for Cameroon as they snatched a narrow home win over the Ivory Coast in a clash full of tension but without many clear chances.

Cameroon had been one point behind in the Group D standings but took top spot to advance to the playoffs.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana, back from a nine-month drug ban, made several key saves for Cameroon to help them survive a late onslaught and hold on for the win.

Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea were level on 10 points in Group B when they kicked off their respective games but Tunisia romped into an early three-goal lead before beating Zambia 3-1 at home while Equatorial Guinea drew 1-1 away in Mauritania.

African champions Algeria and Nigeria made heavy work of booking their places, but home draws proved enough for them also to progress.

Algeria were twice ahead against Burkina Faso, with Riyad Mahrez grabbing their first goal, but a late penalty saw them held to a 2-2 draw in Blida. Algeria finished with 14 points in Group A, two ahead of the Burkinabe.

Nigeria scored in the first minute through Victor Osimhen but quickly gave up an equaliser to the Cape Verde Islands, who had to win to take top spot in Group C. The 1-1 draw in Lagos left Nigeria top on 13 points and Cape Verde second on 11.

The four countries join the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Mali, Morocco and Senegal in the playoffs.

The 10 teams will be drawn into five two-legged ties with the aggregate winners representing Africa at the World Cup finals in Qatar.

A Confederation of African Football spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday that no date had yet been set for the draw, but it would likely take place in January.

There were also victories for Egypt, Liberia, Morocco and Mozambique on the last day of the group phase competition, but with the results having no bearing on the final places.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah did not start for Egypt, but came on for the last 30 minutes as they beat Gabon 2-1 in Alexandria.

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who will face Salah in the Premier League at Anfield on Saturday, did not play for Gabon, who were already out of contention.

Source: Reuters

Pfizer to allow generic versions of its Covid pill for poor countries

17, November 2021

Pfizer to allow generic versions of its Covid pill for poor countries 0

US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Tuesday announced a deal to make its prospective antiviral Covid-19 pill available more cheaply in the world’s least-wealthy countries.

Pfizer will sub-licence production of its promising Paxlovid pill to generic drug manufacturers for supply in 95 low- and middle-income nations covering around 53 percent of the world’s population.

Under the deal struck with the global Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), Pfizer — which also produces one of the most widely-used Covid vaccines with German lab BioNTech — will not receive royalties from the generic manufacturers, making the treatment cheaper.

The agreement is subject to the oral antiviral medication passing ongoing trials and regulatory approval.

The Pfizer drug is to be taken with the HIV medicine ritonavir.

Interim data from ongoing trials demonstrated an 89 percent reduction in the risk of Covid-19-related hospitalisation or death compared to a placebo, in non-hospitalised high-risk adults with Covid-19 within three days of symptom onset, said Pfizer.

Similar results were seen within five days of symptom onset, it added.

The Geneva-based MPP is a United Nations-backed international organisation that works to facilitate the development of medicines for low- and middle-income nations.

If approved, the pill could be on the market in “a matter of months”, MPP policy chief Esteban Burrone told AFP.

Pfizer also said Tuesday  that it was seeking an emergency use authorisation, or EUA, in the US for the Covid pill.

HIV drug mix

Pfizer will forego royalties on sales in all countries covered by the agreement while Covid-19 remains classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization.

Last month, the WHO maintained the highest level of alert over the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.

Paxlovid, or PF-07321332, is an investigational antiviral therapy designed to block the activity of the SARS-CoV-2-3CL protease — an enzyme that the coronavirus needs to replicate.

Taking it together with a low dose of ritonavir helps slow the breakdown of PF-07321332. It therefore remains active in the body for a longer period at a high concentration, to help combat the virus.

The pill could potentially help patients avoid severe illness, which can lead to hospitalisation and death, Pfizer said.

“We believe oral antiviral treatments can play a vital role in reducing the severity of Covid-19 infections, decreasing the strain on our healthcare systems and saving lives,” said Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla.

While a multitude of vaccines have been rolled out in the pandemic, the hunt for treatments for those who have already caught the disease has not been as fruitful.

Agreement follows Merck deal

The MPP was founded by Unitaid, which works on innovations to prevent, diagnose and treat major diseases in poorer countries.

“During a pandemic, saving time means saving lives. This agreement could help us to reach more people more quickly as soon as the medicine is approved,” said Unitaid executive director Philippe Duneton.

Potential sublicensees have until December 6 to register an expression of interest.

The announcement comes after the MPP signed a similar voluntary licensing deal with Pfizer’s US rivals Merck & Co last month for its investigational oral antiviral medicine molnupiravir.

Subject to regulatory approval, the deal will help create broad access to molnupiravir in 105 low- and middle-income countries.

Pills are easier to make than vaccines, do not require a cold chain for delivery and can be self-administered by the patient.

In terms of relieving health systems by preventing hospitalisations, “it’s a game changer”, said Burrone.

He said pricing for the Pfizer pill had not yet been set, but said that “in a competitive environment… the prices tend to come down” to a low level.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) meanwhile suggested it might cost around $700 per Pfizer treatment course, in line with molnupiravir.

The medical charity said it was disheartened by the deal, saying restrictive voluntary licences were no substitute for guaranteed global access to Covid tools to bring the pandemic under control.

Source: AFP

Deadly mudslides, floods in Canada after Pacific north-west storm

17, November 2021

Deadly mudslides, floods in Canada after Pacific north-west storm 0

The body of a woman was recovered from one of the mudslides caused by extremely heavy rainfall in the Pacific coast Canadian province of British Columbia, authorities said Tuesday.

Police said search and rescue personnel were continuing to look for other possible victims from Monday’s slides.

David MacKenzie, the Pemberton District Search and Rescue manager, said his team came across seven vehicles at the slide site on Highway 99 near the town of Lillooet and police were trying to determine if there were any other bodies.

“It is a significant amount of debris. It makes it very difficult for our search crews. The mud is up to their waist. I can’t recall our team being involved in anything like this in the past,” he said.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said the total number of people and vehicles unaccounted for had not yet been confirmed. She said investigators had received reports of two other people who were missing but added that other motorists might have been buried in the slide.

Jonathan Gormick, spokesman for the Vancouver Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team, said that while the roadway had been cleared of potentially trapped vehicles or people, they would now be searching the slide’s debris field.

About 300 people spent Sunday night in their vehicles and were helicoptered to safety Monday.

Elsewhere in the province, Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said impassable highways were creating havoc in his city as police and firefighters tried to get people to evacuation centers.

“It breaks my heart to see what’s going on in our city,” Braun said.

Sunny skies followed two days of torrential storms that dumped the typical amount of rain that the city gets in all of November, but the mayor said the water was still rising and Highway 1 would be cut shut down for some time.

Braun said he was worried about getting enough information from officials in Washington state about water levels that have risen dramatically from the overflowing Nooksack River and over the Sumas dike.

“When are we going to crest? When is it going to level off here? It’s like a full cup of coffee. Once it’s full, it keeps flowing over the sides,’ he said.

Abbotsford Police Chief Mike Serr said officers removed some people from the roofs of cars awash in flood waters Monday night but left some motorists in semi-trucks because they were higher above the water.

“I was out there last night. You could not see where the side of the road was. We had one member put on a life-jacket and swim out towards a car that was overturned to bring someone back. And that was on a regular basis for about two hours,” Serr said.

About 1,100 homes had been evacuated in Abbotsford, adding to others in various parts of British Columbia, including in Merritt, where the entire town of 7,000 people was forced to leave after the sanitation system failed.

Multiple roadways have been closed because of flooding or landslides, including sections of Highway 1A, Highway 3, Highway 5, Highway 11, Highway 12 and Highway 91.

Source: AP

CPDM and Covid-19: Two down and many to go

16, November 2021

CPDM and Covid-19: Two down and many to go 0

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Defense confirmed on Sunday, the deaths of two notorious Francophone army generals Nganso Sunji Jean and Oumarou Djam Yaya.

Generals Nganso and Oumarou Djam Yaya quitted the Cameroon military and political scenes on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at the Central hospital in Yaoundé.

According to Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo, the two senior officers of the Cameroonian army died from an undisclosed illness.

However, Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered that the veteran French Cameroun soldiers died from Covid-19 related complications. Both French speaking Cameroonians were promoted to the rank of General in July 1993.

Jean Nganso Sunji, a native of the Western Region was an engineer who graduated from the Paris Polytechnic School before becoming a general in 1983.  He died at the age of 84.

Oumarou Djam Yaya, aged 82, originally from Northern Cameroon had a spell at the National Gendarmerie School in 1957 and graduated from the Yaoundé Inter-Army Military School (Emia) as a specialist in criminology.

The two generals who died on Sunday were among the senior officers who worked to thwart the attempted coup of April 1984.

By Rita Akana

“It is time to let our Southern Cameroons children go back to school”

15, November 2021

“It is time to let our Southern Cameroons children go back to school” 0

Dr. Joachim Arrey, the executive director of the Global Think Tank for Africa, a not-for-profit public relations firm has reacted to the current situation affecting schools in English speaking Cameroon. 

In his bid to ensure that Southern Cameroonian children return to school,  Dr. Joachim Arrey, the son of a headmaster, has been calling for children to return to school so that the future of both French and English speaking Cameroon can be guaranteed. Our chief political man, Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai talked to him and he regretted what was happening to rural kids in Southern Cameroons.

Cameroon Concord News: You seem to make education a key component of life. Why?

Dr. Joachim Arrey: My father, Mr. Michael Arrey, was a teacher who always underscored the importance of education and he told my siblings and me that only education could enable us walk away from poverty and fear and he has never been wrong. That is why throughout the crisis in Southern Cameroons, I have been urging the factions involved to let our children go back to school. It is already more than five years since the conflict began and the rural child is not yet back to school. That is a long time and it is, indeed, inhuman. This is breaking my heart. My father of blessed memory instilled the love of education in me and he always encouraged me to support educational endeavors which could help other children face the future with confidence and happiness. When we rob our kids of education, we rob them of their confidence and future. We must learn to decouple our children’s education from the struggle. Those who control the fighters on the ground should push for school resumption and teachers and students should be protected by the fighters. It is time for our children to go back to school. No nation ever develops without a soundly educated population.

Cameroon Concord News: You seem to have good information on things in rural Southern Cameroons, what is your source of information?

Dr. Joachim Arrey: While my body is out of Cameroon, my soul is in Cameroon. I am in touch with my family members in Mamfe and the picture they paint to me regarding the daily struggles of our people and children’s struggle for education has shattered my mind and heart. Children in rural Mamfe are out of school and those whose parents have relatives in Mamfe town have sent their children there for them to have whatever education they can have. Many government primary schools in Mamfe town are not yet open and some unregulated community schools have emerged with no defined curriculum. Those teaching in these schools have no training  and the class sizes are unfortunately not the best. A family member whom I had sent to study the situation of things in those community schools has intimidated that there could be as many as 90 students in each class in those make-shift structures which are unfortunately bereft of good sanitation and ventilation. It breaks my heart that so many years are going by and the children in rural areas of Southern Cameroons are not being given the education  that can enable them walk away from ‘perpetual darkness’. It is painful to see six-year-old kids being separated from their parents just because they have to go to school in town. These parents do not even have the means to support themselves because of the war, how can they support their children in town?

I think those living abroad are not aware of the magnitude of the issues facing these rural children. Even those who go to towns to school have to deal with sexual and physical violence. There is nobody to actually supervise and protect these children and unwanted pregnancies are popping up all over the two English-speaking regions of the country, as girls become both financially and physically helpless. Something needs to be done to save the rural child in Southern Cameroons. If violence is on the rise today in that part of the country just after five years, what will it be after ten years? Keeping our children at home is one mistake that will come back to haunt all of us. Those who thought that using children as a bargain chip in the dispute against the government never new they were manufacturing a bomb which will hurt so many people once it goes off. There is a need for a rethink of strategy. What is happening in rural Mamfe is exactly what obtains in the entire Southern Cameroons.

Cameroon Concord News: So what needs to be done?

Dr. Joachim Arrey: Like I have said above, there is a need for a rethink of the  war strategy. The government like the fighters have to take a look at their strategies to ensure that those children do not get left in  the darkness of ignorance because of a conflict they know nothing about. Our children’s education should be decoupled from the struggle to enable our children return to school. Keeping these children at home for a long time only robs them of their future and confidence. I am also urging people of good will to send as much material support as possible to those community schools which are seeking to impart some knowledge to our children. Those schools are not properly equipped to deal with many educational challenges. They need financial support to help the students. Any assistance in this regard will be appreciated. For my part, I am in touch with some education  authorities in Mamfe, and my organization, the Global Think Tank for Africa, will be offering books and other supplies worth CFAF 500,000 over the next three months to students in various schools in Mamfe town. My organization will also be granting scholarships to young girls in Manyu Division to enable them get an education. The modalities for the scholarships will be released in the days ahead. We need to do things differently if the future has to be bright for many of our children. It is education that opened many huge doors for me and I want other children to enjoy the fruits of a sound education.

Cameroon Concord News: Do you think your plea will be heard by the government and the fighters?

Dr. Joachim Arrey: I don’t think the government and the fighters will forever be deaf and dumb. The government is aware of the storm that is building as a result of millions of children sitting at home instead of being in school. The fighters, for their part, understand that keeping children at home is not  a genuine bargaining chip. After five years, they should understand that the children should be in school and not at home. Some of the fighters have children. What will become of those children if the school boycott remains in place. While I agree that the government has allowed a small disagreement to snowball, I would also like to point out that those who engineered the revolution did not have a long term view of things. It is preposterous to shoot yourself in the foot. Keeping our children at home is like shooting ourselves in the foot.

However, all is not lost. Now that some of the factions have begun talking to each other, we can assume that there is hope in the offing. The Toronto Retreat, which will be followed by many others, holds out a lot of hope. Talking is a very important first step and I am urging the secessionists, the federalists, and the government to walk away from their positions so that a middle ground can be established. While the talks may be holding, the various factions should come out forcefully to underscore their commitment to the education of our children. The government can start putting in place confidence-building measures like granting a general amnesty to all those who have been directly or indirectly involved in the struggle. It can also use diplomatic channels to engage the various factions as a means of facilitating the talks and negotiations. There is a lot to be done, but we have to start somewhere. No war has ever ended without the various factions talking to each other. That is, of course, the best way to ensure that errors of the past do not rear their ugly heads in the future.

Cameroon Concord News: Thank you, Dr. Joachim Arrey, for your insightful thoughts.

Dr. Joachim Arrey: It is always a pleasure to share my thoughts with your readers

Southern Cameroons: IG voices concern over health of detainees in French Cameroun jails

15, November 2021

Southern Cameroons: IG voices concern over health of detainees in French Cameroun jails 0

The Ambazonia Interim Government, (IG) has voiced concern over the fate of Southern Cameroons detainees in French Cameroun jails including New Bell and Kondengui as seriously ill prisoners are being denied essential and adequate medical treatment.

In a statement today, Vice President Dabney Yerima reaffirmed the Ambazonia Interim Government’s call for the immediate release of all Southern Cameroons detainees including President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and his top aides in the notorious Kondengui and New Bell prisons.

The statement came as pro English speaking independent newspapers in Yaoundé and Douala uncovered that many Southern Cameroons detainees lack proper medical treatment.

Vice President Dabney Yerima also urged international rights groups to visit the notorious New Bell and Kondengui prisons and inspect the conditions of detention for the forgotten Southern Cameroons detainees.

Since the Southern Cameroons crisis hit the global stage some five years ago, some 10,000 Cameroonians have been killed, with army soldiers accounting for close to 35% of the deaths.

Thousands of civilians and soldiers have been maimed and scarred for life in a conflict that could have been addressed through negotiations and genuine dialogue.

By Isong Asu

Football: Cameroon, Ivory Coast stay on course for crunch World Cup clash

15, November 2021

Football: Cameroon, Ivory Coast stay on course for crunch World Cup clash 0

Cameroon and the Ivory Coast both won World Cup qualifiers on Saturday to set up a crunch clash to decide the outcome of their group, but Tunisia suffered a surprise loss in the African preliminaries.

The Cape Verde Islands and Nigeria were also winners on Saturday and will play against each other in Lagos on Tuesday to decide the outcome of their group.

Cameroon, who have made the most World Cup finals appearances by an African country with seven, put in their most convincing performance of the 2022 qualifying campaign as they beat Malawi 4-0 away.

Vincent Aboubakar tucked away a first-half penalty and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa added a second before the break.

Christian Bassogog scored a double in the closing stages of the match, which was played in Johannesburg because Malawi were banned from hosting World Cup qualifiers because none of their stadiums passed a FIFA inspection earlier this year.

The Ivorians were forced to move their last two home games to Cotonou, Benin because of a poor playing surface but were still good enough to beat Mozambique 3-0 later on Saturday.

Max-Alain Gradel scored early to settle the nerves and Maxwel Cornet and Jean Michael Seri netted two more in the second half.

It meant the Ivorians stayed one point ahead of Cameroon in the Group D standings but they must avoid defeat away in Yaounde on Tuesday if they are to advance to the March playoffs instead of the Indomitable Lions.

The 10 group winners play five two-legged ties to decide the African representation for Qatar and Tunisia were expected to add their name to a list that already includes Egypt, Mali, Morocco and Senegal.

FANCIED TO WIN

Tunisia were fancied to win away against Equatorial Guinea, but beaten 1-0 in Malabo with a late goal from Pablo Ganet, who plays in the fourth tier of Spanish club football.

Both countries now have 10 points in Group B but Tunisia finish at home to Zambia on Tuesday while Equatorial Guinea are away in Mauritania at the same time. Tunisia also have a plus seven goal difference to plus one for Equatorial Guinea.

Nigeria stayed two points ahead of the Cape Verde Islands in Group C after they won 2-0 away against Liberia. A first-half penalty from Victor Osimhen and a stoppage-time effort from Ahmed Musa secured the points.

Cape Verde had to come from behind to beat the Central African Republic 2-1 in Mindelo.

Sunday sees the start of the final sequence of group qualifiers with the outcome of Group G and Group J to be decided.

Ghana need to beat South Africa to win Group G while the Democratic Republic of Congo host Benin in Kinshasa also needing a victory in Group J. If neither home side triumphs, their visitors will advance.

Source: Reuters

Southern Cameroons Crisis: 8 Cameroonian security members, 1 civilian killed in Santa

15, November 2021

Southern Cameroons Crisis: 8 Cameroonian security members, 1 civilian killed in Santa 0

Gunmen killed at least eight Cameroonian security members after they ambushed a convoy in Cameroon’s English-speaking region of Northwest on Saturday, according to security and local sources.

A senior police officer told Xinhua that the gunmen ambushed and attacked the convoy that was transporting security forces to their duty posts around 7:30 a.m. local time on Saturday in Santa, a locality in the region.

“Five police officers, three gendarmes and a civilian were killed in the attack making it nine people killed. Another police officer was seriously injured, and he is receiving treatment in a hospital,” the officer who asked not to be named told Xinhua by phone, adding that attackers used a rocket launcher.

Security forces have blocked the highway leading to the locality and are in pursuit of the gunmen, whom the army suspect are separatist fighters who are known to be operating in the area.

It is one of the bloodiest attacks in the troubled region this year, officials said.

Separatists have been clashing with government forces in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest in a bid to create an independent nation they called “Ambazonia.”

Source: Xinhua News Agency

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Road workers kidnapped in Ndu

13, November 2021

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Road workers kidnapped in Ndu 0

Gunmen abducted at least 14 road construction workers in Cameroon’s war-torn Anglophone region of Northwest on Friday, according to a local official.

Abdou Borno Kamfon, mayor of Ndu Council of the region said the workers were rehabilitating a bad stretch of road in Mbusoh locality when armed men came and seized them.

“They were sent there by the Ndu Council to repair the road. We do not know their whereabouts yet. We are still trying to secure their release,” Kamfon told Xinhua by phone.

The road is a deviation regularly used by passengers who are escaping from armed separatists who had blocked the main road for over four years now, according to locals.

The Cameroon army is conducting a rescue mission to secure the safe release of the hostages, local authorities said.

Abductions are common in the region where the army and armed separatists have been clashing since 2017.

The separatists want to create an independent nation they called “Ambazonia” in Cameroon’s two Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest.

Source: Xinhuanet

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