The Oslo District Court in Norway has extended the preventive detention of Ayaba Cho Lucas, leader of the Ambazonia Defence Force, for an additional four weeks. According to the decision, the separatist leader will remain under detention until November 19, 2024. The extension aims to prevent tampering with evidence. The court has also imposed restrictions on the defendant’s mail and visitation.

Born Cho Lucas Ayaba on August 11, 1972, the separatist leader was arrested by Norwegian police on September 25 in Oslo, where he resides. His arrest followed a complaint filed by Cameroonian-born US lawyer Emmanuel Nsahlai. Ayaba Cho and other separatist leaders command armed groups in these regions, fighting for the creation of an independent state named “Ambazonia.”

 Ayaba Cho faces charges of incitement to crimes against humanity under the Norwegian Penal Code. The court found reasonable grounds for suspicion, citing his public statements that allegedly encourage attacks on those perceived as opponents of the Ambazonian independence movement.

Ayaba Cho’s statements are viewed as incitement to a “widespread or systematic attack” against civilians, including acts of murder, kidnapping, and persecution. The Norwegian judiciary referenced reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch documenting attacks on civilians, teachers, and students by separatist groups.

Under the Norwegian Penal Code, Ayaba Cho could face severe penalties, including long-term imprisonment. According to Article 108 of the Penal Code, penalties for incitement to crimes against humanity can reach up to 21 years in prison.

Source: Sbbc

At least three people were killed in a landslide in West region on Tuesday, according to Governor Augustine Fonka Awa.

Heavy rains triggered a landslide at a steep hill at La Falaise locality in Dschang town of the region, blocking road access. The authorities deployed excavators to reopen the closed roads, but a subsequent landslide buried emergency workers and vehicles that were waiting for the road to be cleared, Awa told reporters Tuesday evening.

“Three passenger buses, motorcycles and vehicles that were working on the site were buried in the debris. At the moment three corpses have been extracted. Rescue workers are still searching for missing people in the rubble,” Awa said.

The highway which links the commercial hub of Douala to the West region is temporarily closed.

Source: Xinhaunet

The heads of the five families that make up Manyemen village, Upper Balong in Nguti Subdivision have rejected the dubious selection of a non-native of their village Mr Williams Mbue Bisong, as traditional ruler of Manyemen a year ago by the Senior Divisional Officer for Kupe-Muanenguba.

On November 2nd, they or their representatives, led a delegation of villagers to meet the DO of Nguti, Etengeneng Kevin Oben and express their disapproval of the malicious shortcut procedure followed by the Kupe-Muanenguba SDO, Ekema William Mungambo to choose Bisong as chief of Manyemen following the death in 2022 of Chief Jacob Eben.

“As far as we are concerned, our village does not yet have a new chief,” said Manyemen family heads in a petition to the SDO of Kupe-Muanenguba dated October 7th.

The family heads explained: “(1.) No family designated Mr Williams Mbue Bisong for the throne. By the practice under our customs and traditions, the family designates a son as chief and presents him to village kingmakers for vetting before he is presented to the administration. Those steps were bypassed. (2.) Those you admitted as Kingmakers to enable the selection of Mr Williams Mbue Bisong as chief of Manyemen are not the kingmakers we chose to represent our families. Kingmakers cannot be self-declared nor chosen in any haphazard manner by whosoever except by us. (3.) Conducting the selection of the chief of Manyemen in your office in far away Bangem, outside our village was a traditional sacrilege as we can only choose our chief in the sacred forest which we call “Ntem”. (4.) Mr Williams Mbue Bisong is not a native of Manyemen. He is the son of a known man from another village, whose parents — duly married — were both not natives of our village. His father’s father was from a neighbouring village. He, therefore, cannot, under whatever condition, be the chief of Manyemen. (5.) The questionable process followed in selecting Mr Williams Mbue Bisong as chief of Manyemen has left a bitter taste in the mouth of our people and triggered widespread anger among villagers and elites. (6.) Your recognition of Mr Williams Mbue Bisong has apparently emboldened him to disregard both our tradition and even administrative orders, apparently sure that even you can do nothing to stop him, as if he is above the law. On Sunday, 11th August 2024, in violation of an order by the Divisional Officer of Nguti postponing all public manifestations, including Mr Williams Mbue Bisong’s announced coronation, Mr Williams Mbue Bisong went ahead and staged a so-called coronation, filmed by a TV crew and broadcast over television viewed all over Cameroon and the world. To do so, he again violated our traditional practices by causing the village patriarch (the oldest man in the village or Tanyie) to crown him, a highly sacred act reserved only for the village Chief of Tiger.”

In the petition signed by the family heads of Bafene, Nsuk ô Mbi, Njet, Ndong and a representative of Ntimbuk, the Manyemen family heads tell the Kupe-Muanenguba SDO, “Manyemen is a renowned and respected village with worthy sons we can place on our throne through our established traditional procedures. We shall not accept any process that disregards, violates and mocks our customs and traditions.”

They call on the SDO “to review your decision of 23rd November 2023 and allow us to choose our traditional ruler in accordance with our established traditional procedure.”

The delegation of the five families at the meeting with the DO of Nguti was led by Francis Ebenson for Ntimbuk, Stephen Chu Tabi for Bafene, Franklin Sone Bayen for Nsuk ô Mbi, Lawrence Diffang Tabi for Njet and Ashu Moses Mcmoi Ndi for Ndong.

Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze, who oversees Cameroon’s Customs, announced the seizure of 3,144 rounds of war ammunition at a checkpoint.

The ammunition was confiscated at the Tchabal checkpoint, at the northern entrance to Ngaoundéré, in a public transport bus traveling from Maroua to Yaoundé, according to the minister.

This significant seizure comes amid longstanding insecurity in the region. Adamaoua, in particular, has been a hotspot for kidnappings with ransom demands, a phenomenon also prevalent across the country’s three northern regions.

In response, the military has maintained Operation Adano for several years. Recently, elements from the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) freed 10 hostages in March, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat insecurity in the area.

Source: Sbbc

Less than two weeks since the country’s president, Paul Biya, returned from Switzerland where he was inflated with steroids, the 91-year-old dictator who was swollen like a dead fish has lost the weight that was almost crushing him.

Pictures of the incompetent dictator granting audience to the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, H.E. Paul Patrick Biffot, Gabon’s ambassador to Cameroon, clearly show that Mr. Biya has lost most of his steroids-induced weight.

The dictator, who was the picture of health on the day he returned from Switzerland, is gradually becoming thinner and scraggier.

It is also being reported that the dying dictator can no longer walk though pictures released show that he can stand. No other cameras are welcomed wherever the failed dictator finds himself.

By Soter Agbaw-Ebai

Cameroon and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration through arts, culture, and community development initiatives, marking 60 years of partnership. A recent ceremony in Yaoundé, attended by Minister of Forestry and Wildlife Jules Doret Ndongo and German Ambassador Corinna Fricke, highlighted the significance of their enduring relationship.

A Legacy of Cooperation

Since 1960, Cameroon and Germany have worked together to promote cultural exchange, preserve historical heritage, and support local communities. This partnership has yielded fruitful collaborations in various sectors, including:

– Cultural Preservation: Efforts to restore and promote Cameroonian artifacts and historical sites, showcasing the country’s rich cultural diversity.

– Community Development: Initiatives to improve living conditions, education, and economic opportunities in local communities, enhancing the quality of life for Cameroonians.

– Environmental Conservation: Joint projects to protect Cameroon’s natural resources and promote sustainable development, ensuring a healthy environment for future generations.

The German Development Cooperation (GDC) in Cameroon has been instrumental in fostering this partnership, working closely with the Cameroonian government to achieve sustainable development objectives. Additionally, the Goethe-Institut has played a vital role in promoting cultural exchange and language training.

Over the past six decades, Cameroon and Germany have made significant strides in:

– Promoting cultural understanding and exchange

– Enhancing economic development and job creation

-Protecting Cameroon’s unique biodiversity

As they look to the future, Cameroon and Germany remain committed to deepening their partnership, addressing emerging challenges, and exploring new opportunities for collaboration.

“Today, we celebrate 60 years of friendship and cooperation between Cameroon and Germany. Our partnership is built on mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to sustainable development. We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts, fostering a brighter future for both nations.” Corinna Fricke German Ambassador to Cameroon added.

Source: CRTV

On October 29, electric utility Eneo announced a “major incident” on the North Interconnected Network (RIN), causing a widespread power outage across the three northern regions of Cameroon: Adamaoua, North, and the Far North. The issue reportedly occurred around 5:40 a.m. on the transmission line connecting the Lagdo Dam in the North region to Adamaoua.

In response, Eneo has reactivated its fuel-powered thermal plants to restore electricity to the affected areas. Each region has a thermal power plant located in the main cities of Ngaoundéré, Garoua, and Maroua. However, Eneo confirmed that, for now, only these regional capitals are receiving electricity.

Eneo assures that repair teams are actively working to restore service “as soon as possible.” According to an Eneo representative, the situation is expected to return to normal by this evening.

Source: Sbbc

There are around 50,000 Cameroonians living in Canada, the Cameroon’s High Commissioner to Canada, Ngole Philip Ngwesse, estimated as reported in the government daily. However, he cautioned that this figure could be imprecise, as many Cameroonians don’t register with the High Commission for consular cards. Without a reliable census, determining the exact number remains challenging.

The main hubs for Cameroonian immigrants in Canada are Quebec and Ontario, particularly Montreal and Toronto. Citing Quebec government statistics, Ngwesse noted that Cameroon was the second-largest source of permanent immigrants to the province in 2023, behind only France. Cameroon’s business association reported that 6,000 Cameroonians emigrated to Canada between January and April 2024.

This significant migration has raised concerns on both sides of the border. The Quebec government recently expressed plans to limit the intake of Cameroonian nurses, reflecting the impact of the migration on the healthcare sector and broader bilateral relations.

Source: Sbbc

The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Cameroonian authorities to immediately release journalist Thierry Patrick Ondoua, publishing director of the privately-owned Le Point Hebdo bimonthly newspaper, after he was arrested on Tuesday in connection with a report on the minister of housing’s alleged mismanagement, and to drop all charges against him.

“Journalist Thierry Patrick Ondoua’s troubling detention, as well as the continued imprisonment of five other journalists for their work, underscores the urgent need to reform the country’s laws to ensure journalism is not criminalized,” said Angela Quintal, head of CPJ’s Africa Program, in New York. “Government officials should be able to respond to journalistic coverage and criticism without resorting to censorious legal proceedings. Ondoua and the other jailed journalists should be released immediately and not punished for doing their jobs.”

On Tuesday, October 22, the regional division of the judicial police (DRPJ) in Yaoundé, the Cameroonian capital, summoned and arrested Ondoua on charges of false news, defamation, and insulting “constituted bodies,” which includes ministers, deputies and certain types of state officials, according to a CPJ review of the summons letters, and Prosper-Rémy Mimboé, the newspaper’s managing editor, who spoke to CPJ. The arrest followed a complaint filed by Célestine Ketcha Courtès, minister of Housing and Urban Development, and Ondoua is still waiting for arraignment in the Yaoundé court, according to those sources. He faces up to five years imprisonment if convicted.

Mimboé told CPJ that Ondoua’s arrest was in connection with several reports published by Le Point Hebdo criticizing Courtès’ management of housing policies, including one published on June 18, 2024, a copy of which CPJ reviewed.

Cameroon, which is preparing for a presidential election next year that could see the 91-year-old current president Paul Biya run for his eighth term, has seen numerous arrests and suspensions of media outlets and journalists in recent weeks related to the delay of parliamentary and local elections.

Cameroon was ranked as sub-Saharan Africa’s third-worst jailer of journalists in CPJ’s annual prison census, with six imprisoned as of December 1, 2023. One journalist, Stanislas Désiré Tchoua, was released on December 28 after serving a prison sentence for defamation and insult.

CPJ’s messages to Bangté Talamdio, a member of Courtès’ cabinet, and calls to the public listed number for Cameroon’s Ministry of Housing, DRPJ and Yaoundé court of first instance went unanswered.

Source: CPJ

Cameroonian President Paul Biya has directed the dismissal of all state employees who have been absent without justification or suspended from the payroll following the 2018 Physical Headcount of State Personnel (Coppe). This decision, outlined in a circular on October 23, is part of the preparations for the 2025 state budget.

In the circular, President Biya orders the completion of the contentious phase of the Coppe operation by 2025, which will involve permanently removing all identified personnel from the state payroll. These individuals have either been absent without justification, resigned without reporting it, or passed away without official notification. He also called for continued efforts to clean up the payroll system, including removing employees who have resigned and closing salary or pension accounts that were improperly collected.

The 2018 census exposed thousands of irregular cases within the public workforce. By the end of the operation, 8,766 state employees were found to be in violation of payroll rules. Despite multiple warnings and notifications from the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Public Service, only 601 of these employees responded to disciplinary hearings, according to a statement by Public Service Minister Joseph Lé on October 13, 2022.

As of early 2024, many employees still had not complied and remained suspended by their respective departments. Among them were 2,326 teachers who had been flagged for “irregular absence” following various reports, according to a January 17, 2024, statement by Secondary Education Minister Nalova Lyonga.

This latest directive from President Biya aims to finally resolve the issue by removing these non-compliant employees from the state payroll system.

Source: Business in Cameroon