Headline News

12, July 2019

7 Ambazonia Restoration Fighters killed in Southern Cameroons ⁰

At least seven armed separatists were killed in fresh clashes with French Cameroun government forces early Thursday in Cameroon’s locality of Esu located in troubled English-speaking region of Northwest, according to military sources.

“We know them well. There were 11 of them generally. We only handled those that were actively involved in the fighting and the others were released,” a military officer who asked not to be named observed.

Armed separatists seeking to secede from largely French-speaking Cameroon have been clashing with government forces in the two English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest since 2017.

At least 430,000 people have been displaced internally by the conflict, according to the United Nations. The crisis also cost the lives of more than 300 soldiers, according to the Cameroon army. There are no official figures of the number of separatists killed.

Source: Xinhuanet with additional editing from Camcordnews

12, July 2019

Ambazonia Self Defense Council Re Appoints Comrade Foncha as Spokesperson ⁰

The General Assembly of Ambazonia Self-Defense Council (“ASC”) has announced one key appointment in line with the succession planning and strategic growth of its activities across the Ambazonia territory.

▪ Mr Nso Obi Foncha has been appointed as the ASC National Spokesperson, effective 11 July 2019.

Mr Foncha, as our new national spokesperson, brings a wealth of experience and in depth specialist knowledge in security and defence issues. His impressive reputation and professionalism will further enhance the global standing and profile of ASC.

He succeeds Mr Jude Mbindzenyuy, who served as ASC Spokesperson from September 2018 to June 2019. We are deeply appreciative to Mr Mbindzenyuy for his demonstrated excellence in being the voice and face of thousands of our brilliant battlefield fighters during his term as ASC Spokesperson. Mr Mbindzenyuy has taken up other duties within the ASC command. Concurrently, he will continue to support activities of the ASC Communication Unit.

12, July 2019

Canada to mediate political rifts between Southern Cameroons and La Republique ⁰

Canada officially has offered to mediate between Southern Cameroons & La Republique du Cameroun.

In a Press Release dated July 4th,2019 issued in Ottawa, the Canadian MPs sub-Committee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foriegn Affairs and International Development has said “Canada is Well Placed to engage in the complex task of Establishing a mediation process leading to a political Solution acceptable to both Cameroon’s central government and its Anglophone community “
Anita Vandenbeld, MP, is quoted in the Press Release.

The Canadian government has, via its MPs, called for a negotiated peaceful settlement between the Separatists Southern Cameroons Independence Movements and La Republique du Cameroun to end the 3- year armed conflict in Anglophone regions of the North West and South West regions.

The Canadian government believes its model for Quebec can be replicated in Southern Cameroons. However 95% of Southern Cameroonians want complete independence from the majority French Cameroun and will thus not accept a Federal status with autonomous political structures if it’s short of full independence.

11, July 2019

UK ambassador to Washington quits over Trump row ⁰

Britain’s ambassador to Washington resigned Wednesday after Donald Trump labelled him “stupid” and “wacky” following a leak of confidential diplomatic memos in which the envoy said the US president’s administration was inept.

The shock resignation of British Ambassador to the US, Kim Darroch, a day after a Conservative Party leadership debate sparked accusations that frontrunner Boris Johnson had thrown the envoy “under the bus”.

At a Tuesday night debate, Johnson and Jeremy Hunt — the two contenders for the prime minister’s post – were asked if they would support Darroch if they were prime minister.

While Hunt replied in the affirmative, Johnson evaded the question and gave a banal response on the importance of US-UK bilateral relations.

Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump

The wacky Ambassador that the U.K. foisted upon the United States is not someone we are thrilled with, a very stupid guy. He should speak to his country, and Prime Minister May, about their failed Brexit negotiation, and not be upset with my criticism of how badly it was…

“It was the make-or-break moment,” explained Philip Turle, FRANCE 24’s international news commentator. “Reports are coming in that Sir Kim Darroch watched that debate and because Boris Johnson is the favourite to take over as prime minister after Theresa May, he [Darroch] knew that if that was the case he would not receive the support from Boris Johnson to remain in the job. That’s what pushed him to hand in his resignation.”

‘Johnson’s comments may have prompted resignation’

‘Impossible’ to carry out ambassador’s role

The resignation followed days of embarrassing headlines and tweets which were sparked by a leak of British diplomatic cables that included Darroch’s assessment that the Trump presidency was inept.

The US president responded with a series of withering tweets, branding Darroch “very stupid” and May “foolish”. As the spat intensified, Trump said he would no longer deal with Darroch.

Citing reasons for his resignation, Darroch said his position had become untenable. “Since the leak of official documents from this Embassy there has been a great deal of speculation surrounding my position and the duration of my remaining term as ambassador,” said Darroch, who was due to step down at the end of the year.

“I want to put an end to that speculation. The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like.”

May backs Darroch

In his confidential memos dating from 2017 to the present, Darroch, 65, had said reports of in-fighting in the White House were “mostly true” and last month described confusion within the administration over Trump’s decision to call off a military strike on Iran.

“We don’t really believe this Administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction-riven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept,” Darroch wrote in one cable.

May told parliament that ministers had expressed their backing for Darroch, a career diplomat who was due to leave his post anyway at the end of the year.

“I have told him it is a matter of great regret that he has felt it necessary to leave his position as ambassador to Washington,” she said. “The whole cabinet rightly gave its full support to Sir Kim on Tuesday.”

May supports Darroch’s ‘full and frank advice’

The souring of relations between Britain and the United States comes at a particularly unwelcome time for London, which is mired in the details of how and when to leave the European Union, a departure currently scheduled for October 31.

Britain is hoping to strike a major post-Brexit trade deal with Washington as one of the upsides of leaving the bloc.

May herself is due to step down as prime minister by the end of July and while one of the two contenders to replace her, foreign minister Jeremy Hunt, had said Darroch should keep his job, the other, frontrunner Boris Johnson, had pointedly declined to do so.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)

11, July 2019

Cholera death toll in northern French Cameroun rises to 48 ⁰

The number of people killed by an outbreak of cholera in the North and Far North regions of Cameroon has risen from two in April to 48, officials of the Ministry of Public Health told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Arabo Saidou, an official of the ministry said 775 others have been diagnosed with the disease.

“The outbreak of the disease is caused by failure to abide with hygienic regulations. Access to drinking water is very difficult in this semi-arid part of the country and people tend to drink just anything.” Saidou said.

On Monday, Cameroon’s Minster of Public Health, Manaouda Malachie, said the situation was “alarming” stressing on the need for the population to respect “basic hygiene rules”.

“The public should take necessary measures to improve hygiene in their homes in order to help the government’s efforts to control the disease.” Saidou noted.

For many years, cholera has been a common occurrence in Cameroon’s northern regions where floods during raining season are recurrent.

In April, health officials of the country said cholera killed at least two people and 19 suspected cases registered in North region, barely four months after the government declared the country free of the disease.

Source: Xinhuanet

11, July 2019

Ambazonia: Disgraced former Acting President to launch book in Los Angeles ⁰

The disgraced former Acting President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia Dr Samuel Ikome Sako will be heading to Los Angeles to launch a book, come July 20, 2019. Cameroon Concord News Group understands the event will be staged in a church hall.

Ever since his ouster from the office of Acting President, Sako has been working tirelessly to destabilize the Ambazonia Interim Government. A senior Southern Cameroons academic in the US who spoke to our Washington Bureau Chief wondered aloud that “Who’s that leader who’ll be writing and launching books in the middle of a revolution?”

Another prominent Ambazonian who confirmed the Sako book launch news to us noted that “People are dying in Ground Zero, and all Sako can do is to launch books for money.” A family friend of the Sakos revealed that part of the money received from the launch will be made available to fund the struggle.

However, for a man who could not account for My Trip To Buea funds that’s supposed to be the people’s money, some political commentators have already opined that Sako intends to deceive Ambazonia public opinion and rally Southern Cameroonians to participate massively during the event.

Sako and the former Communications Secretary, Chris Anu are taking advantage of the spilled blood of Southern Cameroonians to make money for themselves.

The duties attributed to Dr Samuel Ikome Sako and Chris Anu from when they were sourced from their serious religious criminal gang underground world where they were crime kingpins to join the Ambazonian Interim Government were that of a junior Secretary and Secretary for Communications.

President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe strategically placed the men of God in the Interim Government from where both men had a meteoric rise in the Southern Cameroons exiled political system and were provided the resources to zealously advance the Southern Cameroons quest for independence.

The appointment of these crime kingpins as Acting President of the Ambazonia Interim Government and Communications Secretary respectively was intended to put some public faces to the struggle immediately after the arrest and illegal extradition of the Ambazonia leader and his top aides in Abuja, Nigeria to French Cameroun.

The Sako appointment from the shadows of the religious crime syndicate from where he operated, to the more visible role of Acting President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia was not intended to fundamentally change the nature of the duties he has been performing within the Pentecostal Church crime syndicate. It was intended to enable him to play a commanding public role within the Interim Government’s command structure to counter the French Cameroun’s genocidal machine which he failed woefully.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

11, July 2019

Trial of Ambazonia leaders: Yaounde Court of Appeal is making a mockery of French Cameroun judiciary ⁰

President Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe and the other 9 detainees were yesterday the 10th July 2019 notified with a decision of the President of the Court of Appeals Centre Region dated 02nd May 2019 in their petition recusing Magistrates MEM Michel, EDOU MEWOUTOU Fidele Arman and NGOUONGUE TIANI Sandrine.

Our senior political man, Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai observed that the court pursuant to their petition, received the Statement of Defense of the Respondents as well as the Submissions of the Legal Department and proceeded straight to judgment which they kept in their drawers until Counsel for the Petitioners raised the issue of non determination of the said application yesterday and they now rushed to notify them with certified copies of the said Judgment known in French as “Expedition” signed only by the Registrar of the court.

It should be noted that unlike the case of the matter against Lt Col MISSE NJONE JACQUES wherein the Petitioners were fined to pay a symbolic franc, in this case they’ve been fined to pay each of only two Respondents, to wit, Magistrates EDOU MEWOUTOU Fidele Armand and NGOUONGUE TIANI Sandrine the sum of Five Hundred Thousands francs CFA as damages for moral prejudice.

What is most disturbing which is peculiar to the Civil Law jurisdiction of French Cameroun is the fact that for a serious application of this nature and wherein by law the court sits as first and last resort with no possibility of appeal against its decision, the Petitioner is never served with the documents filed by both the Respondents and the Legal Department in response to their application …so they’re only served the judgment. This is an application which by nature is necessarily adversarial or contradictory in nature. This is purely a gross violation of the right to Fair Hearing.

By Rita Akana in Yaounde

11, July 2019

The U.S. Should Bid Biya Goodbye ⁰

It is not hard to find fault with Cameroonian President Paul Biya and his government. The overall stability of the country he has led since 1982, often from the luxury of the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva, has crumbled over the past three years. After last year’s deeply flawed election—the norm in Cameroon—Biya has done little to resolve increasingly violent demands for secession from armed groups fighting to carve out a new Anglophone state called Ambazonia from the country’s Northwest and Southwest regions. He has failed to give any indication that his regime will scale back its efforts to crush dissent, and there have been no signs that his family will rein in their lavish spending beyond the country’s borders.

Cameroon deserves better—from its 86-year-old leader, and from every foreign power that enables his enduring misrule. Increasingly, Cameroonians at home and abroad are demanding that outside powers examine their ties to the long-ruling Biya regime. On June 29, hundreds of protesters in Geneva endured tear gas from Swiss authorities to do just that. It is well overdue for the United States to fundamentally recalibrate U.S.-Cameroon relations.

The rise of violent Anglophone secessionist militias in Cameroon’s west and of Boko Haram in the Far North region has left 4.3 million people—roughly one-fifth of the country’s population—in need of humanitarian assistance. In addition, at least 1,800 people have been killed and 500,000 more displaced due to these conflicts, with regular reports emerging of war crimes committed by the government, including torture and the burning of villages.

Cameroon deserves better—from its 86-year-old leader, and from every foreign power that enables his enduring misrule.

Biya has exacerbated Cameroon’s multiple, cascading crises by further cracking down on political dissent and opposition voices. Beyond not taking credible steps toward resolving conflict in the country’s Anglophone regions, the Francophone government of Cameroon is actively constricting opposition to Biya’s policies and efforts to challenge his authoritarian grip on power. On June 1, an estimated 350 supporters of the country’s main opposition party, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, were arrested during demonstrations in which protesters demanded the release of party leader Maurice Kamto.

In October 2018, Kamto declared victory after the country’s presidential election, which resulted in Cameroonian authorities charging him with treason and a host of other major crimes, including “inciting violence” and “disrupting public peace.” Kamto has been in detention since Jan. 26 of this year, and if he is convicted in Cameroon’s notoriously biased courts, he could potentially face the death penalty. Kamto has already been denied access to legal counsel, a violation of both Cameroonian law and international legal norms.

Despite Biya’s recent clampdown on political dissent and his detachment from Cameroon’s multiple conflicts, the response from the United States and other foreign powers has been tepid up to this point.

Much more needs to be done to confront a regime that has routinely and unabashedly violated the rights of its own citizens.

The U.S. government has taken some incremental steps to reset the terms of its relationship with Biya’s government. In February of this year, the Trump administration suspended $17 million of military aid to Cameroon due to ongoing human rights abuses. And last week, Rep. Karen Bass, the top Democrat on a key subcommittee that focuses on Africa and the current chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, led a visiting U.S. congressional delegation to the country to assess the situation and call for peace talks between the government and separatists. However, much more needs to be done to confront a regime that has routinely and unabashedly violated the rights of its own citizens—one that relies on international disinterest and a steady stream of foreign lobbyists to clean up its image.

There are a number of concrete steps that the United States in particular should immediately consider.

Culled from Foreign Policy

10, July 2019

Migrants From Cameroon Protest Immigration Process In Tijuana ⁰

Over a hundred asylum-seekers from Cameroon blocked the path of Mexican immigration vans Tuesday morning in Tijuana, in protest of what they believe to be corruption by Mexican immigration officials.

The complaints of the Cameroonians stem from the Mexican authorities refusal to accept migrants from Africa for transport to the U.S. side of the border, where they can officially declare asylum. The Africans claim that days have gone by without Mexican officials calling any numbers from an unofficial “waiting list,” and yet Central American asylum seekers have been granted entry to the U.S. on those days.

“It’s corruption plain and simple,” said an asylum-seeker named Beatriz, who asked that her last name not be published. She said Central Americans have been paying bribes to the immigration officers. Beatriz has been waiting two months to cross into the United States and saw her number recently skipped over. “I can’t wait another two months.”

Asylum-seekers from Cameroon are, for the most part, members of the English-speaking minority in the country, and they have faced intense persecution since 2016. Many have traveled through South America, the jungles of Panama and Central America, only to run out of time and money south of the U.S. border.

Mexican National Guard troops monitor a group of asylum-seekers from Cameroon and Eritrea protesting Mexican immigration authorities in Tijuana, July 9, 2019. “We’ve been suffering for two months. We have nothing to eat. We’re sick. Everything is finished,” said Stanley, an asylum seeker.

He also asked that his last name be withheld.

Stanley was part of a group of eight African asylum-seekers that were asked to meet with Mexican officials in the hopes of ending the protest, which had drawn the attention of the newly-formed Mexican National Guard.

After an hour-long meeting, the asylum-seekers and Mexican officials emerged with a “deal” that the African asylum-seekers would be able to verify the unofficial list each morning, to make sure the correct numbers were being called. The group dispersed and let the immigration vans proceed, but not without a promise by many to hold the Mexicans to their word in the final stage of what has been a very long journey for them.

Source: Kpbs

10, July 2019

US designates Biya acolyte as corrupt ⁰

Cameroon’s government is so corrupt that today a minister was designated. The Secretary of State is publicly designating the Republic of Cameroon Inspector General of the Cameroonian Gendarmerie, Colonel Jean Claude Ango Ango, due to his involvement in significant corruption related to wildlife trafficking.

This designation is made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2019 (Div. F, P.L. 116-6) (“Section 7031(c)”). Section 7031(c) provides that, in cases where the Secretary of State has credible information that officials of foreign governments have been involved in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights, those individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States.

The law also requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate such officials and their immediate family members. In addition to the designation of Mr. Ango Ango, the Secretary is also publicly designating Mr. Ango Ango’s spouse, Ms. Engono Akomo. Today’s action sends a strong signal that the United States is committed to fighting corruption and combating the transnational crime of wildlife trafficking to preserve our world’s iconic species.”

Source: Inner City Press