What has happened to Chief V.E.Mukete?

That’s the question every Southern Cameroonian in the Meme County is asking, amid all kinds of rumors following the Bafaw paramount leader’s uncharacteristic Friday absence from the opening of the House of Senate in Yaoundé.

Nfon V.E.Mukete was last seen alongside his young wife during a Eucharistic celebration at the Bastos Presbyterian Church in Yaoundé, and several social media outlets are speculating that the 104-year-old may be ill.

The rumors intensified today with information that his children Abel, Mbe, Diko, Ekale, Ebako, Ekoko are all involved in a bitter war for the throne. Social media reported that Ekoko Mukete has already been presented to the Bafaw royals as the new king.

Ekoko Mukete

Cameroon state radio and television (CRTV) broadcasted images of Chief V.E.Mukete’s empty chair at the House of Senate, the country’s Upper House; the first His Majesty V.E.Mukete has missed since coming to the senate.

Such rumors have been fueled by reports that there is infighting deep inside the Bafaw royal family.

Cameroon Intelligence Report sources gathered that the paramount leader of the Bafaws was rushed to hospital after news of the passing away of his younger sister Princess Hannah Bokeng Sone was revealed to him.

Late Princess Hannah Bokeng

CIR is keeping a watchful eye on the developments in the Bafaw royal family and will keep our readers posted as we get it!!

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Cameroon’s military says it has killed 24 separatists who vowed to disrupt Sunday’s election rerun in the country’s English-speaking regions. The anglophone rebels say the casualties were on the military’s side, but witnesses say a number of those killed were civilians caught up in the fighting.

Military commander Brigadier General Valere Nka says 350 troops destroyed 10 rebel camps this week, as well as seizing rebel vehicles and weapons and killing a number of their fighters, including a commander. 

“The so-called general was neutralized, and you had about 20 killed or neutralized, many who are wounded [are] on the run. We are satisfied.  Let’s continue so that peace comes back to the west, northwest and southwest regions,” Nka said. 

The separatists on social media acknowledged the military destroyed their camps but said most of the casualties were among the military. Nka, however, said all of his troops are alive, though a few suffered minor injuries. 

Witnesses say the military also killed civilians during the raids.   

Metombi Nchari, a 44-year-old nurse, says troops shot dead at least six civilians, including his daughter.   

“Do you want to tell me that my daughter, my 17-year-old daughter who was going to the farm, was carrying a weapon, meanwhile she was carrying just a hoe to go and work?” he said. “Or do you want to tell me that my daughter who is 17 years is a terrorist fighter? That is not possible.” 

Official’s response

Cameroon territorial administration minister Paul Atanga Nji rejected the possibility the military killed any civilians.  

He says President Paul Biya ordered the raids to stop a spike in rebel attacks on candidates and voters ahead of Sunday’s elections for the National Assembly. 

“The head of state gave instructions that the administrative authorities and the forces of law and order reinforce the mechanisms for the rerun,” Nji said. “We can tell you that the security situation in the northwest region is under control.” 

Local reaction

But locals, and even ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement party officials, say fighting is common.   

An official of the ruling CPDM party in the village of Mbiame, Ben Collins Nyuyberiwo, says rebels are always attacking in the area. 

“Either they cut off your fingers or they cut off your hands completely,” he said. “Those who are not able to pay ransom are being killed. Ten houses belonging to my colleagues have been burned.  Even this morning we received calls that they are coming to burn our houses if we take part in the rerun this Sunday. They have fabricated explosives and it causes a lot of havoc.” 

Nyuyberiwo says they are pleading with the rebels to call off their attacks and with Cameroon’s military to offer protection.   

The rebels, who are seeking an independent English-speaking state within French-speaking-majority Cameroon, have vowed to stop the elections. 

Cameroon’s Constitutional Council ordered a re-do of the vote in parts of the western regions over widespread irregularities and fraud. 

The court said Biya’s CPDM party, which was declared the winner, was guilty of violations ranging from ballot stuffing to chasing opposition voters from polling stations.   

The party and government denied any wrongdoing. 

Voter turnout was barely 5 percent in some English-speaking areas. Authorities have vowed to secure the area for a better turnout this Sunday.

Source: VOA  
 

French Cameroun billionaire, Fotso Victor who also moonlights as the Mayor of Bandjoun is no more! The business tycoon turned politician died today Friday, March 20, 2020 in Paris aged 94. He was elected mayor of his home town whose town hall he built with his own money. He also constructed and donated to the Cameroon government the University of Technology in Bandjoun, thus offering French Cameroonians and the CPDM government one of its first institute of technology.

A celebrated polygamist and father of several children, Fotso Victor successfully raised a son – Yves Michel Fotso – imprisoned for corruption by the Special Criminal Court over his handling of the Cameroon Airlines Company, Camair-Co. Yves Michel Fotso was recently evacuated to Morocco for health reasons. Also renowned among his sea of children is a daughter who is a lawyer.

In 1994, in collaboration with Jean-Pierre Guyomard, he wrote an autobiographical work entitled Le Chemin de Hiala. The book is the story of his journey: from his childhood in Bandjoun (at the time, a small village in western Cameroon) to his success as a businessman. The book also provides a description of the political, economic and cultural context of Cameroon from the late 1920s to the early 1990s as perceived by the author.

 Fotso Victor was also a father-in-law of Geremi Njitap Fotso, a former Cameroonian international footballer.

By Oke Akombi Ayukepi Akap in Glasgow

The government of Cameroon had vowed that it must roll back the fighters who had challenged its authority and were seeking to establish an independent Southern Cameroons, but the times have changed and a new invisible boss is in control.

The Coronavirus has dictated a ceasefire which both sides are respecting without any questions.

Around the world, the virus is spreading like wildfire and it has sent thousands to an early grave. This has struck fear in the minds of the soldiers and fighters who have been at each other’s throat for almost four years.

The new rule is social distancing and neither the soldiers nor the fighters are in the mood to disrespect this rule which if disrespected could lead to death.

The soldiers and the fighters who were displaying how cruel they could be just a few weeks ago, are today avoiding each other like a plague.

Soldiers cannot even shake the hands of their friends and it will be hard for them to stand together to prosecute a war that was erroneously declared because of a misrepresentation of facts.

The whole world had said the war was unjustifiable, but ruled by ego, the country’s authorities refused to listen to any advice. Today, they are listening to a virus they cannot even see.

The ceasefire is effective and even soldiers are respecting it. They are no longer worried about Amba boys. It is their hope that the dangerous Coronavirus will take care of them before it disappears.

Amba fighters, for their part, are still walking the jungles of the two English-speaking regions of the country, hoping that the virus will not extend its reach to them, but they are also respecting the ceasefire against their wish.

Schools have been shut down and the entire country is on lockdown. No more ghost towns. The Coronavirus has instituted its own lockdown which is “ghost country.”

It is hoped after the Coronavirus leaves town, both parties will see the need for peace. For now, they must respect nature’s ceasefire, if not they will be swept away by the wave of death blowing across the world.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai with additonal reporting and editing from Dr Joachim Arrey