Cameroon says only a tiny fraction of the 285,000 Central African Republic refugees in the country have agreed to return to the CAR.  Despite a February peace deal and months of negotiations with Cameroon and the United Nations refugee agency, refugees say they do not feel safe enough to return home.

Forty-nine-year-old Florence Yaomby’s husband was killed in crossfire between rebels and government troops in the Central African Republic town of Mingala four years ago.

She fled to Cameroon for safety, where she has lived as a refugee ever since.

She says she spent her last three years studying in Yaounde to become an accountant.  Yaomby says if she returned to the CAR, she is not sure she would find a decent job.  She prefers to sell bottled water and soft drinks to university students in Yaounde, where there is peace, and take care of her three kids.  They are certain not to get a good education in her country, says Yaomby, because it is devastated by war.

The CAR has been rocked by violence since 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted then-President Francois Bozize, prompting reprisals from mostly Christian militias.

In February, authorities reached a peace deal with 14 armed groups following United Nations-sponsored talks in Khartoum.  It was expected to usher in a period of stability and led to an agreement between Bangui, Yaounde, and the United Nations refugee agency for the CAR refugees in Cameroon to return home.

But only 6,000 refugees have so far agreed to leave.  Most like Yaomby refuse to return to the CAR, citing fears of violence in some areas and a country devastated by war.

Viviane Baikoua is the CAR’s minister for humanitarian action and reconciliation.  She says her country needs its citizens to return and help develop their communities and the nation.

She says she is reiterating to her compatriots who agree to voluntarily return that they will be treated with dignity and that the CAR will protect them and respect all conventions it has signed to uphold their rights back home.

The UNHCR representative in the CAR, Buti Kale, says violence has declined since the peace deal, especially in the country’s western and southwestern areas.

“One would not say everything is perfect, but one would say for all those who are willing to go back, there are chances that they would be well reinserted into their areas of origin,” Kali said.

But several armed groups have rejected President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s cabinet because only six of the 14 armed groups that signed the peace are included.

Skeptics of the CAR peace deal point to similar agreements in 2014, 2015 and 2017, which quickly fell apart.

The U.N. says over 600,000 Central Africans remain as refugees in neighboring countries while over 650,000 are internally displaced.

Source: VOA

TOTAL LOCKDOWN OF AMBAZONIA AS OUR LEADERS GO TO LRC KANGAROO MILITARY COURTS TUESDAY 9th JULY 2019

Fellow Ambazonians,
I come to you with revolutionary greetings.
In September 2017, our people took to the streets to demand their civil and constitutional rights but were met with gunshots. Tens of our innocent armless citizens were murdered whilst engaging in peaceful protests. War was declared on us by the terrorist government of La Republique du Cameroun. Since then, hundreds of thousands of our people have been internally displaced, more than fifty thousand are living as refugees in Nigeria whilst more than three thousand have been brutally murdered. More than two hundred and ten of our villages have been burned down and thousands of our people are now living in the forests. The damage our innocent people have and are facing is unbearable.
On the fifth of January 2018, this terrorist government showed utter disdain for international law by abducting our leaders in Abuja, Nigeria. Their continuous detention at the Principal Prison in Yaounde is against international law despite the Abuja High Court Decision declaring their return to Nigeria and that they be paid Compensation by the Nigeria Government for illegally abducting and transferring them to Yaoundé. They have since been engaged in a mockery called a trial at the military court in Yaounde.
Last week’s visit of United States Congressmen and Congresswomen led by Mrs Karen Bass to Yaounde shows some of the work we have been doing in the background is paying dividends. It’s a small step but it’s in the right direction. As we continue exploring diplomatic and peaceful options to attain our independence, we MUST take all necessary measures to protect and defend ourselves.
Tomorrow, Tuesday the 9th of July 2019, our leaders will be appearing at the military court in Yaounde. We condemn their continuous detention and that of hundreds of our comrades detained unlawfully without trial in many prisons around La Republique du Cameroun.
Following tomorrow’s court appearance, your Interim Government in solidarity with our Ground Zero commanders and self-defense forces herby support and reinforce the Ground Zero tradition of complete shot down of the Ambazonia Territory each time our Leaders appear in Court. To this regard tomorrow, Tuesday the 9th of July 2019 be observed as a Lockdown all over our country, Ambazonia. This is to show solidarity with our leaders and contempt to the enemy. All business activities, schools, transportation services are called upon to respect this notice.
Monday remains our traditional Country Sunday until we free our land. The Interim Government thanks all Ambazonians on Ground Zero for all your sacrifices as we join efforts to free homeland.
As we continue to fight for our freedom, we would take this opportunity to remind you that it’s freedom or resistance forever.
God Bless You God Bless the Federal Republic of Ambazonia

Milton Taka SOS DCIT/IG SPOKESPERSON

One of the principal tasks of the Africa Forum (“the Forum”) (www.AfricaForum.org) of former African Heads of State and Government and other African leaders is to support the African Union as it works to guide our Continent to achieve the Objectives detailed in the Constitutive Act. In this context the Forum has done its best to follow the evolving but troubling situation in the Republic of Cameroon.

In this regard it has had the privilege to convey some of its views and suggestions to His Excellency President Paul Biya of Cameroon. The Forum looks forward to further contact with President Biya on this matter.

In the meantime the Forum has thought it very necessary that it should take all necessary steps further to inform itself about the situation in the Republic of Cameroon in as comprehensive a manner as possible.

To achieve this objective the Forum will therefore act to convene a Symposium on Cameroon to be held possibly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia or any other African country which will agree with the Forum to provide a venue for the Symposium.

The Forum will therefore take steps without delay to contact a broad spectrum of the people of Cameroon and invite these to attend what the Forum intends must be an inclusive and open dialogue.

The Forum is convinced that the Symposium will help greatly to empower it the better to assist the Government and people of Cameroon as they work to address the challenges facing this sister African country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Forum.

Cameroon president Paul Biya, whose presence in a luxury Geneva hotel caused protests and some diplomatic upheaval, has left the city.

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairsexternal link (FDFA), which instigated diplomatic contact with Cameroon over a reported attack on a Swiss journalist, said it was aware of the departure. It pointed to Geneva-based Tribune de Genèveexternal link, which first announced that a plane carrying the presidential couple had flown off at 12:30.

On Thursday six members of Biya’s staff were convicted by Swiss judges investigating a reported attack on a Swiss public television journalist in Geneva last week. Geneva prosecutors found the individuals (five men and one woman) guilty of coercion, damage to property, and illegal appropriation.

A journalist from public broadcaster RTS filed the complaint following an incident on June 26 outside the InterContinental hotel in the city. The journalist says he was assaulted by members of Biya’s security team who took his bag containing a mobile phone and wallet. The seized items were later returned.

Ambassador summoned

The incident took place during a demonstration outside the hotel, where Biya was staying. The alleged assault prompted Switzerland to summon the ambassador of Cameroon to Bern, where he was told that “such incidents are unacceptable, and that freedom of the press is protected and must be respected.”

At around the same time, the Swiss foreign ministry announced that Switzerland was acting as a facilitator in the crisis in north-western and south-western Cameroon.

Some 250 anti-Biya protesters returned to the hotel last Saturday and were dispersed by tear gas and water cannons after some tried to break through police lines.

A 2018 report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) accused Biya of spending a considerable amount of his time abroad since coming to power in Cameroon in 1982, much of it at luxury hotels in Geneva.

Source: Swissinfo

Cameroon’s National Committee on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (NCDDR) said Thursday its center in Far North region is hosting 150 ex-fighters of terror group Boko Haram who have voluntarily laid down their weapons.

Francis Fai Yengo, national coordinator of NCDDR, told reporters the ex-fighters will benefit from professional training in agriculture, livestock, business and handicraft during their stay in the center.

Yengo visited the center with officials from International Organization for Migration and United Nations Development Programme.

Cameroon is facing serious security challenges in the two Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest where separatists want to create an independent nation and in the Far North, where terror group Boko Haram is intensifying attacks on civilians and government forces.

NCDDR was created by President Paul Biya last year “to avoid the use of extreme measures” and supervise and manage the disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants of Boko Haram and armed separatists in the Anglophone regions.

A total of 56 separatist combatants have already dropped their weapons according officials of NCDDR.

Source: Xinhuanet

About seven people were killed when two cars collided Monday morning on the outskirts of Cameroon’s capital Yaounde, according to police.

The accident took place on the road linking Yaounde and economic capital, Douala.

“The driver of a bus was on high speed and lost control of the vehicle and collided face to face with another car. The seven people died on the spot and others were injured seriously. They have been transported to hospital. The death toll might increase,” police official Jean Magloire who witnessed the accident told Xinhua.

The local police will launch a probe into the accident, the official said.

Deadly road accidents are common in Cameroon often due to poor road conditions, reckless driving and overloading.

Source: Xinhuanet

A United States Congressional delegation visiting Cameroon has called for unconditional talks between the government and Ambazonian leaders on the country’s separatist conflict.  The two-year struggle, in which Southern Cameroons have fought to separate from La Republique du Cameroun, has killed close to 2,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.  But the Francophone dominated government says it will not engage in any talks with Southern Cameroons that includes the issue of separation from Cameroon.

California Congresswoman Karen Bass told journalists in Cameroon late Monday that the government and Ambazonia Restoration Forces should respect human rights, end all violence, and begin talks on the separatist conflict.

“We especially want to see a peaceful dialogue, a peaceful resolution without conditions.  We want to see all sides come to the table.  We recently passed a resolution in Congress saying this and we wanted to come and see first-hand what is happening in the country,” she said.

Bass made the comments after meeting with refugees and displaced people from the conflict in Cameroon’s English-speaking western regions as well as government ministers.

She is leading a seven-member Congressional delegation to Cameroon with a focus on health and human rights issues.

On Tuesday, the U.S. delegation is scheduled to meet with Cameroonian activists and rights groups.

The United States, United Nations, and rights groups have been calling for sincere dialogue between authorities and the rebels to try to resolve the deadly conflict.

Government spokesperson Rene Emmanuel Sadi says they are not against talks in principle.  But, he stresses that President Paul Biya has made it clear that splitting the country is off the table.

“At a time when Cameroon is resolutely moving towards its emergence, everything must and will be done to preserve peace and stability.  Cameroon is and remains a rule of law,” he said.

International observers and rights groups say Cameroon’s separatist conflict is getting worse by the day.

The United Nations says at least 1,800 people have been killed and more than half a million displaced in the two years since fighting began.

Cameroon’s aid workers in June said they feared travel to the region after suspected Amba fighters attacked and burned several truckloads of aid.

Congresswoman Bass says humanitarian needs are increasing in both the English-speaking western regions and in Cameroon’s north, due to the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

“We are concerned about humanitarian aid in the far north as well as in the northwest and southwest, making sure that there is access to aid, that the people that provide humanitarian assistance are able to provide that freely and fully to the population,” she said.

The U.S. Congress in a May resolution condemned abuses by Cameroon’s security forces and armed groups.

The abuses included extrajudicial killings and detentions, the use of force against civilians and protestors, and violations of the freedoms of press, expression, and assembly.

The Congressional resolution called on Cameroon’s military and rebels to cease the abuse, use of child soldiers, torture and kidnapping, and attacks on schools and teachers.

Reported by the VOA with additional editing from Camcordnews Group

Cameroon’s minister of communications (Mincom), published a communique. According to the document, On June 25, 2019, individuals claiming to belong to an organisation named “Brigade Antisardinards” decided to ransack a hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, to disturb the private visit of Paul and Chantal Biya. On June 29, the group protested in a street in the capital city.

“Due to the recurrence of these baffling and inappropriate acts perpetrated by a part of the Cameroonian diaspora, the government expressed the nation’s indignation and strongly condemned such unacceptable acts that damage Cameroon’s reputation,” M. Sadi wrote.

The ministry reveals that the protesters have been called to order by Switzerland’s public force and are being questioned on the motives that drive Cameroonians “to show the whole world their unpatriotic feelings and prejudice to the country.”

On January 26, 2019, the “Brigade Antisardinards” claimed responsibility for the attacks on Cameroon’s embassies in Paris, France and Berlin, Germany. During those violent acts in Paris, some of them removed Paul Biya’s picture from the wall, destroyed and replaced it with Maurice Kamto’s. The latter is the leader of an opposition party named Mouvement pour la Renaissance du Cameroun (MRC). MRC, on the other hand, rejected any links to the acts perpetrated by the so-called “Brigade Antisardinards.”

Maurice Kamto is currently being detained and prosecuted for organizing an unauthorized protest in Cameroon on January 26, 2019. He organized this protest to claim victory in the October 7, 2018, presidential election despite the results published by the constitutional council. This institution, last resort in such cases, declared Paul Biya the winner with 71.28% votes against 14.23% for the MRC’s leader.

Source: Business in Cameroon

It has now been revealed that the Swiss initiative in resolving the crisis in Southern Cameroons was a scam. However, the Ambazonia Interim Government and its Vice President Dabney Yerima are yet to establish if the Swiss government was involved in the dodgy process of getting some corrupt Ambazonian leaders in the US to travel to Switzerland for a so-called preparatory peace conference.

Switzerland reportedly appointed itself as a facilitator indicating that there are elements deep within the Swiss government having leverage over French Cameroun. As a facilitator, the Swiss were expected to build some kind of confidence with the people of Southern Cameroons.

Our chief political man observed that the first and obvious confidence measure the Swiss should have built would have been to procure the release of the Ambazonia leader, President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe et al to lead whatever the Swiss say they have offered to facilitate.

It is important to mention here that President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and what is now being referred to as the Nera 10 were abducted from a foreign country and are being illegally held in captivity in the French Cameroun capital, Yaoundé.

The shouting silence on the part of the Swiss including the European Union about their continued illegal imprisonment is tantamount to rewarding Biya and his criminal regime for their unlawful conduct.  Vice President Dabney Yerima who made the trip to Geneva but did not take part in the deliberations after very intensive and productive discussions with members of the Ambazonia Interim Government hinted Cameroon Concord News Group’s London Bureau Chief Asu Isong that calling off the unjust and illegal war and release of the Nera 10 must precede any engagement with whoever.

“These are not preconditions. They are a call for French Cameroun to respect international law. How does one engage with a country that has graduated from a police state to a terrorist state?”  Vice President Yerima was quoted as saying during a recent trip to London.

We now have intelligence that the Swiss peace initiative was a diabolic harsh ploy pushed by interest groups with strong ties to the consortium of CPDM criminal syndicates in Yaounde. Three Swiss Traders control 50% of the sale of Cameroonian oil.

The Glencore trader owns 70% of the Rio Del Rey oil in Southern Cameroons-Ambazonia, an area bordering the Bakassi peninsula, exploitable for 20 years. Contract signed in January 2019. This Glencore has just sold its shares, 75% he held in Matanda gas.

Furthermore, we gathered that Swiss chocolate which is one of the symbols of Switzerland which holds the first place in the world ranking for chocolate consumption ahead of Germany and the United Kingdom with an average annual consumption of 11.9 kilograms per capita in 2011 was also part of this failed Southern Cameroons peace process. French Cameroun President Paul Biya received the Swiss chocolate industry boss a few weeks ago in Yaounde.

By Sama Ernest and Rita Akana

London was decorated in the blue and white colours of Southern Cameroons. It was the Southern Cameroon National Council convention that held on Saturday the 29^th of June 2019. The SCNC Convention in London moved from a very successful Conference earlier in East London to a fundraiser in the Northof town. The sense of pride on the faces of the organisers and attendees was valiant. The chairman of SCNC UK, Mr Robert Tamanji, gave a strong welcome talk honouring Pah Njoh Litumbe, Fon Gorji Dinka and Nfor Ngala Nfor. These greats of the SCNC will never be forgotten he said. For his part, Dabney Yerima, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia who is also moonlighting as the acting Secretary General of SCNC spoke of the SCNC’s role in Southern Cameroon’s quest for freedom and independence through peaceful nonviolence action.

Also at the London SCNC event, was the much respected Hon Wirba Joseph of the Social Democratic Front. Wirba recounted his first meeting with some great SCNC pioneers over thirty years ago. He called on Ambazonians to pay respect to the true and brave heroes of Africa’s newest nation who have shed and continue to shed their blood for the freedom of the homeland. Wirba tempered undue excitement and cautioned that for the Ambazonia struggle to succeed; its foundation has to be based on the truth. Wirba referred to La Republique du Cameroun as the Evil Republic and explained that the actions of La Republique in their brutality over the last three years has left Southern Cameroonians with no choice but to make sure that Ambazonia becomes a reality. He observed that, the statement from French Cameroun President Paul Biya and his gang that Cameroun is one and indivisible remains an inaccurate stereotype.

Joseph Wirba indicted the Southern Cameroons diaspora for the disconnect with Ground Zero. As his audience celebrated his words and energy, he moved another gear into re-counting a series of conversations he had with the disgraced chairman of the Imaginary Restoration Council, Elvis Kometa. “Elvis Kometa called me to say he was under pressure to impeach President Sissiku Ayuk Tabe” he revealed. “I counselled Kometa against the decision and I told him that if the pressure becomes unbearable, he should resign as chairman of this ‘Imaginary Restoration Council’.

Wirba castigated the diaspora for creating imaginary political offices and attaching importance to positions thereby disremembering the reasons for the struggle. He said, in a revolution ‘if the enemy takes a brother or a sister, that person becomes a Saint’. The SCNC delegates were unanimous in their decision that rallying behind the ‘Saints in Kondengui’ as the focal point of the revolution is the only way forward. Calls for Hon Wirba to play a more active role in piloting the revolution were loud and clear. His next move in this struggle is eagerly anticipated.

Asu Isong London