Minister Paul Tasong, head of the steering committee for the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North-West and South-West Regions (PPRD-NO/SO), revealed during the 14th session of the North-West Regional Assembly that only 50 billion CFA francs of the 154 billion CFA francs expected since 2020 have been raised. Initially, the plan was scheduled to last two years. 

Since its launch in 2020, the Presidential Plan has struggled to attract significant support from Cameroon’s international partners. Countries like France and the United States conditioned their participation on the implementation of a genuine dialogue to resolve the ongoing armed conflict in the separatist regions. As a result, only a few partners, such as Japan and the United Nations Development Programme, have released funds to support infrastructure rehabilitation projects in these regions.

Paul Tasong, who also serves as Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development, reported that 258 projects have been completed in areas such as providing agricultural inputs to farmers, building schools, and setting up water supply systems. Additionally, 38 projects are still underway, while 2 have been suspended.

He thanked the partners who have contributed to the Presidential Plan, noting that an estimated 2,500 billion CFA francs would be needed for the complete transformation of the North-West and South-West regions, according to a communication from the North-West Regional Assembly.

Source: Business in Cameroon

In a memo dated September 10, 2024, Martin Mbarga Nguele (photo), Director General of National Security (DGSN), reaffirmed the importance of free movement of people within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). This reminder was directed to the Director of Border Police, regional security delegates, port and airport commissioners, and immigration officers at border posts.

“In accordance with the Additional Act No. 05/19-CEMAC-070 U-CCE of April 1, 2019, which establishes a common immigration policy and border protection, I want to reaffirm our guidelines regarding the free movement of people within the CEMAC zone. Citizens of member states traveling to another community country are not required to obtain visas, provided they have a valid biometric passport or national identity card,” wrote Cameroon’s police chief in the leaked document.

The directives aim to ensure the principles of free movement are fully respected, reflecting Cameroon’s commitment to fostering regional integration and facilitating exchanges within CEMAC.

This communication came just days before the 4th Ordinary Session of the Committee of Central African Police Chiefs (CCPAC), scheduled in Yaoundé from September 17 to 20. The session will focus on implementing community policies regarding the free movement of people and goods, a responsibility given to CCPAC following an institutional reform in 2020.

Since 2017, free movement has been an established principle for the six CEMAC member states (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Chad), allowing passport holders to travel without restrictions. This process began in 2000 with the introduction of the CEMAC passport, followed by an additional act in 2005. In 2013, visa requirements were lifted for regional citizens, allowing for visa-free stays of up to 90 days in any member state.

However, countries like Gabon and Equatorial Guinea have faced challenges in fully implementing these provisions. This prompted Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, to call for effective free movement during the 13th edition of CEMAC Day on March 16, 2022. “Our community regulations have clearly established this. Additional efforts are nonetheless needed to ensure its successful implementation, to the satisfaction of our people,” Biya said in a speech delivered by Luc Ayang, President of the Economic and Social Council.

Source: Sbbc

At least 97 Southern Cameroon civilians were arrested in Bonakanda in Fako Division by gendarmerie officers from the Buea legion, Barrister Lyonga Ewule confirmed on Saturday through a statement released by Legend Law Offices, as Vice President Dabney Yerima of the Ambazonia Interim Government ordered an investigation into the latest in a series of such deadly raids in Anglophone zones.

Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered from an official in the governor’s office in Buea that the raid on Bonakanda took place late on Saturday night while residents were preparing for Sunday church services.

At least 20 of the men arrested were humiliated in front of their wives and children and several were given haircut with broken bottles, Barrister Lyonga Ewule said in the statement.

Since 2016, hundreds of Southern Cameroon civilians have been arrested by the Francophone dominated Cameroon government military on lame and ridiculous reasons that the military is targeting armed groups in the deadly security crisis in English speaking Cameroon.

“The incidence of continued arrest of innocent Southern Cameroonians is assuming a worrisome dimension in Ambazonia,” said Dabney Yerima, the current vice-president of the Ambazonia Interim Government.

Francophone gendarmes often conduct raids on many Southern Cameroons villages leaving civilian casualties.

Barrister Lyonga revealed that among those arrested were two disable and two Autistic persons identified as Lisongo Njume and Emmanuel Nyoki.

By Rita Akana and Kingsley Betek in Buea

In recent weeks, relentless heavy rains have battered Mayo Danay in the Far North region of Cameroon, with the city of Yagoua bearing the brunt of the unprecedented downpour, Report informs referring to Africa News.

The damage is extensive, with reports indicating at least ten fatalities, entire neighborhoods submerged, 185 primary schools and 13 high schools flooded, and the loss of over 1,100 livestock.

Residents are struggling to survive amidst the disaster, with many unable to meet basic needs such as food and shelter. Litassou Daniel, a local victim of the floods, described the dire situation: “The rain took us by surprise in the middle of the night. Our kitchen utensils are gone—pots disappeared, and our sheep, chickens, and goats are nowhere to be found. I’m now in the water, trying to cope, but we can’t even light a fire.”

The humanitarian toll is staggering. Over 200,000 people have been affected, with 8,000 homes destroyed. Those displaced by the disaster have been relocated to temporary camps outside the city. However, the victims are urgently calling for more aid, as they have lost everything.

Source: report.az

No sitting MOWAH chapter president is known to have formally visited any foreign country before joining another Manyu women’s association. That is, till now.

Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh’s visits to France, Belgium and Holland before her likely return to Abuja, Nigeria to launch Nyene Mawn have garnered extensive coverage. Nchemty Boh Manyu Face Book Page in particular have hyped up Chief Arhewoh’s European Union check-in, focusing on the fact that Nyene Mawn’s first leader in the Federal Republic of Nigeria decided to visit Europe first.

While prominent Manyu royals like Prince Julian Ebai in the United Kingdom are cautioning against reading too much into the rivalries that have rocked the leading Manyu women association, MOWAH, Alfred Bate Bawak, a top Manyu elite in Leicester UK say the developments – especially the visit of Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh to Europe – provide further hints into the likely direction Manyu women at home and abroad are taking towards development.

Alfred Bate Bawak believes that even with the present difficulty and the creation of Nyene Mawn and Eyumema, engagement with the Manyu girl child will always remain firmly on the radar under a Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh’s Nyene Mawn presidency in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Last week Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh at the invitation of Nyene Mawn Holland less than three weeks after her participation in the launch in Belgium was in Rotterdam.

The Saturday September 14 reception saw Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh meeting with the President of Nyene Mawn Holland Lady Frida Enow and prominent Nyene Mawn members in Rotterdam, where she reaffirmed productive ties and pledged cooperation for closer relations with all Nyene Mawn chapters in Europe. Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh also held talks with Holland’s Nyene Mawn senior adviser Lady Emilia Mbeng.

Midway through Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh’s stop in Holland, Nyene Mawn France announced that the former MOWAH Nigeria leader would be swinging by thereafter for a day before departing for Abuja.

Her EU visits have generated plenty of media buzz, with outlets highlighting how it is Chief Stella Arhewoh first European tour since the beginning of the MOWAH Global crisis that is showing no signs of ending. Some also pointed out the novelty of a female Manyu leader making formal overseas visits.

Analysts say the focus by Nyene Mawn Europe on Chief Stella Ntui Arhewoh is deliberate, especially as Nyene Mawn is currently vying with the sinking MOWAH Global for influence.

“It is Nyene Mawn’s way of posturing, to show that they move faster than any other Manyu women’s group in dealing with Manyu women in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” said Chief Eyong Paolo former MECA Nordrhein President in the Federal Republic of Germany.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

President Paul Biya has allocated 350 million XAF (about 591,809 U.S. dollars) for flood relief after rainstorms caused severe flooding across the Far North region, a senior official said Friday.

The flooding has claimed 11 lives, destroyed 40,000 homes and displaced 180,000 people, Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji told reporters Friday in the capital, Yaounde.

“It is unfortunate that we have casualties, but we have to assist the population. We need to anticipate and put in place preventive measures in cases of flood. The vulnerable population or those impacted by the floods must receive assistance in the fastest possible way,” Nji said.

He added that within 48 hours, about 50 trucks loaded with relief materials would be dispatched to the region.

In response to mounting pressure from heavy rains, local authorities had earlier requested urgent aid for flood victims. In August, Cameroon’s meteorological center warned of continued turbulent weather, predicting that heavy rains and strong winds would persist in the region, which has already experienced devastating downpours.

Source: Xinhuanet

South Korea Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun held bilateral talks with his counterpart from Cameroon on Wednesday to discuss the security situation, and ways to broaden defense and arms industry cooperation, his office said.

In what marked the first defense ministerial meeting between Korea and Cameroon since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1961, Kim and his counterpart, Joseph Beti Assomo, agreed to seek cooperation in the defense and arms sectors, including in the state communications network business of Cameroon, according to the South’s defense ministry.

The meeting came on the sidelines of the annual Seoul Defense Dialogue that kicked off its two-day run earlier in the day. Some 900 security officials and experts around the world joined the forum for discussions on regional and global security issues and challenges.

Source: Korea Times

The issue of who will succeed Biya is always on many Cameroonian lips but the answer is slowly emerging.

While Cameroonians are focused on alcohol and football, the ruling elite is gradually grooming Franck Biya for him to take over once his father quits.

Franck Biya has never held any official government position, but has been making slow inroads into the political arena.

He is sometimes sent on secret missions where he serves as the president’s emissary.

Recently, he has been taking the lead on many ruling party activities and this is designed to gradually introduce him to the public.

Though many ruling party members clap for the inexperienced Franck Biya in public, behind the scenes, there is a lot of grumbling.

Contacted by the Cameroon Concord News Group’s editor-in-chief, a ruling party stalwart could not hide his disappointment and frustration of what he has been noticing.

“We all know what Biya and his men are selling, but not many of us are buying it. Cameroon is not a monarchy and there will be a lot of infighting once Biya dies. There is no part of our constitution which allows for Franck Biya to become the next president,” our source which elected anonymity said.

“Cameroonians must show their teeth. Biya and his men are taking the population for granted. I am a ruling party official, but I disagree with so many things which are happening in our country,” our source said.

“I know there will be bloodshed when Biya dies. Many of our party members cannot accept Franck Biya as the country’s next president. He knows very little about management and administration and being a president’s son is no criterion for being the country’s president,” he added.

While Paul Biya is discussing with Chinese government officials on how the Asian giant can help Cameroon, Frank Biya, for his part, is seeking business deals from established Chinese businesspeople.

Many doubt if he will be able to get any as Chinese businesspeople know that there are serious governance issues in Cameroon and that the country’s legal framework leaves much to be desired.

By Alain Agbor Ebot

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with President Paul Biya, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The two leaders announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Biya’s attendance at all previous editions of the summit demonstrated the great importance he attached to China-Africa friendship and cooperation, as well as his profound amity with China, Xi said.

China is ready to work with Cameroon to foster a more substantive and significant partnership and advance the bilateral ties to a higher level, Xi said.

He noted that China has always supported Cameroon in safeguarding national unity and ethnic solidarity, fighting terrorism, as well as achieving peace and development. ■

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cameroonian President Paul Biya, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Source: Xinhuanet