News

7, March 2019

Yaounde: Mebe Ngo’o was in tears as he was being whisked from the court to prison ⁰

Cameroon’s ex-Defence minister Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o, often touted as as a possible successor to he long-serving President Paul Biya, has been remanded in prison over corruption allegations.

The Special Criminal Court in Yaoundé ordered that Mr Mebe Ngo’o be remanded at the Kondengui Maximum Security Prison while investigations continue into an alleged corruption and embezzlement case against him.

Mr Mebe Ngo’o, who had earlier been barred from leaving the country, was at the special criminal court on Tuesday for the second grilling in less than a month. Eye witnesses said he was in tears as he was being whisked from the court to prison.

Public funds

The erstwhile former minister was being investigated for alleged bribery and corruption over the purchase of military equipment from Magforce, a company that sells a full range of military clothing, equipment and vehicles.

The amount of money involved in the deal has not yet been disclosed, but the Special Criminal Court only handles cases of embezzlement of public funds that range from $86,000 (FCFA50 million) upwards, according to the 2011 law creating it.

Two top military officers, Col Ghislain Victor Mboutou and Col Maxime Leonard Mbangue and Mr Victor Emmanuel Menye, an assistant General Manager of SCB bank, were also remanded with the former minister for their alleged involvement in the scandalous deal.

Also implicated in the faulty transactions are Mr Mebe Ngo’o’s wife Bernadette Mebe Ngo’o and their two sons, who were expected to appear before a prosecutor at the Special Criminal Court in the capital later on Wednesday.

A demotion

Prior to his appointment as Defence minister in 2009, Mr Mebe Ngo’o served as Delegate-General for National Security (National Police Boss) for five years. After six years at the helm of the ministry of Defence, he was appointed Transport minister in 2015 in what critics described as a demotion.

The 62-year-old senior civil administrator has been jobless since his removal from government in 2017.

He joins many other former members of government either serving prison terms or in pre-trial detention at the Kondengui jail.

The East African

6, March 2019

Southern Cameroons War: 208 Ambazonians killed, 875 injured in 2019 ⁰

Cameroon government forces have killed 208 Southern Cameroonians in the Northern and Southern Zones of West Cameroon in the first week of February 2019, according to a Cameroon Intelligence Report and Cameroon Concord News monitoring group.

Four Cameroon government army soldiers were killed by Ambazonia Restoration Forces during the same period in the Mezam County in the Northern Zone. More than 875 Southern Cameroonians have been injured during 2019 clashes – the highest number of injuries in a single year ever since President Biya declared war against Anglophone Cameroonians.

Nearly 109 of those Southern Cameroonians killed and 600 of those injured were young university graduates and teenagers. Thirteen members of the Ambazonia Self Defense Council armed group were among the fatalities.

Approximately 90 percent of the fatalities and nearly 65 percent of the injuries took place after Defense Minister, Joseph Beti Assomo secretly ordered Francophone Beti-Ewondo soldiers to carry out an extermination campaign in Southern Cameroons.

According to eyewitness report, several hospitals were attacked by troops loyal to the regime in Yaounde as government soldiers searched for injured Southern Cameroonians. Hundreds of Southern Cameroonians have been injured by live ammunition with the crisis showing no signs of ending.

The Francophone dominated government has used deadly force against unarmed Southern Cameroons civilians, provoking serious condemnation from several human rights groups and an unprecedented action from the current US administration.

But in the absence of meaningful diplomacy, and with the blessing of the French government headed by Emmanuel Macron, Francophone soldiers continue to kill hundreds of Southern Cameroons citizens. Cameroon government soldier’s shocking use of force against English speaking Southern Cameroonians has resulted in the deaths of scores of innocent civilians.

Hundreds of Southern Cameroonians have sustained gunshot injuries, mainly to the limbs, and an estimated 569 people have devastating, disabling wounds that need specialist limb reconstruction treatment and long-term rehabilitation. That number continues to rise every day. 39 people have been paralyzed due to spinal cord injuries, and 77 people have permanent vision loss in both the Northern and Southern Zones in Southern Cameroons.

Four clergies including an American missionary were killed by Cameroon government forces and dozens of Roman Catholic seminarians injured. A senior political observer noted that:

“If someone had told me in 1982 that Biya could be this wicked, I would not have believed it. Why is he sending soldiers to burn down people’s houses in villages that do not even know anything about the rebellion that is taking place in the country? Has he got children? Does he know about the law of karma? There is no way that he and his collaborators will avoid the long hand of karma. They will live long to bury their children for their evil. The following will cry for years before dying.

Paul Biya
Joseph Beti Assomou
Rene Sadi
Fame Ndongo
Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh
Atanga Nji
Issa Tchiroma
Joseph Owona
Tabetando
Marcel Niat Njifenji
Cayaye Yegue Djibril
Achidi Achu
Nalova Lyonga
Peter Mafany Musonge
Laurent Esso

All CPDM parliamentarians in the Northwest and Southwest regions.

All Northwest and Southwest senators. Their silence in the face of this genocide is clearly an approval of it.

All army generals who are ordering these massacres.

The SDOs and DOs in the two English-speaking regions of the country

The foot soldiers who are blindly implementing the orders to kill innocent people. May they suffer from the worst form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The governors of the SW and NW regions.

I wish all of these people a long life for them to go through the most violent health disorders. Cameroon belongs to them. I hope they will never leave it behind them. I will want to see them buried with Cameroon.”

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

6, March 2019

US to suspend development assistance over Southern Cameroons crisis ⁰

In an interview granted the Paris-based Jeune Afrique magazine, Ambassador Tibor Nagy, President Trump’s “Mr. Africa” expressed American frustration with the Biya regime over its poor handling of the Anglophone crisis. Ambassador Nagy, who will be visiting Cameroon as part of an African tour told Jeune Afrique that: “I have received more e-mails about the Cameroon Anglophone crisis than on any other problem in Africa –at least 10 to 20 every day with photos and very disturbing videos of people be-headed with machetes; and other atrocities committed by Cameroonian security forces.” He expressed US concern Yaoundé authorities have either failed to realize the gravity of the escalating Anglophone crisis; or they are in denial there’s an insurgency and have refused to address it. [Read a synthesis of the interview below that was published in Jeune Afrique in French.]

Jeune Afrique-In Cameroon, the US recently suspended some military assistance…

“The USA announced that it has suspended its military cooperation with Cameroon and this is indeed unfortunate because Cameroon is an important partner in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the northern parts of the country. But we have very strict rules and regulations concerning military cooperation. America does not support militaries that commit human rights abuses. Some of the sanctions, especially those dealing with direct military assistance went into effect immediately after it was established that Cameroonian soldiers committed gross human rights violations. Generally, there has been a reduction of US assistance to Cameroon because of the way the government is handling the Anglophone crisis. We are worried that the government has either failed to realize the gravity of the situation; or is in denial, and refuses to address the crisis. This is particularly frustrating because we know there are certain things that the government could have done to defuse the tension.

Jeune Afrique-So, these targeted sanctions went into effect immediately…

“I have received more e-mails about the Cameroon Anglophone crisis than on any other problem in Africa –at least 10 to 20 every day with photos and very disturbing videos of people be-headed with machetes; and other atrocities committed by Cameroonian security forces. Granted, the government can legitimately claim that radical separatists’ forces have also committed atrocities; they are preventing schools and hospitals from functioning normally and even targeting people who violate their orders.

Jeune Afrique-Will America suspend all assistance to Cameroon?

“Generally speaking, US humanitarian assistance does not go through the government; what this means is that assistance in areas like HIV/AIDS prevention for example will continue to be delivered directly to those in need using partner NGOs. But the government must de-escalate the situation; failure which, the US will suspend all development assistance; in addition to military assistance that has already been suspended.“

Ambassador Tibor Nagy,

Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs

6, March 2019

Nigeria to expel Southern Cameroons refugees ⁰

Nigerian has accused Cameroon of violating UN Protocols after Cameroon expelled Nigerian refugees fleeing Boko Haram back to Nigeria. Nigeria violated the same Protocols when they kidnapped Ambazonia leaders and renditioned them to Cameroun where they are standing trial in a Kangaroo military tribunal. Biya has just paid Buhari back in his own coins, and Nigeria is threatening retaliation which puts the Anglophone refugees in Nigeria in jeopardy.

The Nigerian National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMIDP) has expressed concern over the ejection of Nigerian refugees by the government of Cameroon despite passionate appeals to Cameroon not to chase out the victims of Boko Haram attacks from Rann Local Government Area of Borno State.

In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, NCRMIDP Commissioner, Hajia Sadiya Umar noted: “It is highly regrettable and sad to note that despite the passionate appeal made by the Nigerian Authorities to the Government of Cameroon not to chase out the victims of Boko Haram attacks from Rann Local Government Area of Borno State, this appeal has been ignored.

“Information reaching us is that the Cameroonian Government has thrown out the displaced persons from Rann who ran into Cameroon for safety in total disregard for the appeal. And it’s a clear breach of the United Nations Charter and Convention on the protection of displaced persons which both countries endorsed,” Umar said.

According to her, the United Nations Convention on Refugees and its 167 Protocol states that no contracting state shall expel or return a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his or her life or freedom will be threatened on account of his or her race, religion or nationality membership of a particular social group or political opinion”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Jan.14, persistent attacks in Rann compelled residents of the area to run into Cameroon territories for their safety. The commissioner, however, noted that from the onset the Cameroon Government threatened to chase the Nigerian Refugees out. She said that the Nigerian Government had to remind its Cameroon counterpart of its obligation to the displaced Nigerians bearing in mind the UN convention.

“Unfortunately, today Cameroon Government has made good its earlier threat by throwing the Nigerian refugees back to the country in large number.” Umar also said that in due course, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs would take appropriate steps on the matter.

“Meanwhile, it is worthy of mention to state that Nigeria is currently hosting many Cameroonian refugees located at Cross River, Benue, Akwa-Ibom, Taraba states and some of them in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja since October 2017. And we continue to provide them with relief, care and maintenance items. This is a clear demonstration of our commitment to international community,” she said.

5, March 2019

UNDP says CFA 172 billion required for Cameroon relief aid ⁰

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said Monday CFA 172 billion is needed to provide emergency assistance to 2.3 million people in Cameroon this year.“In 2018, the humanitarian response in Cameroon was the least funded in Africa. At the beginning of this year, I appeal to everyone to redouble their efforts and support our plan for the people of Cameroon,” said Allegra Baiocchi, UNDP representative and humanitarian coordinator.

Quoted in the report, he called for the mobilization of the international community, considering that “a peaceful Cameroon where no one is left behind is not only essential for the country’s development, but also vital for the stability of the sub-region.”

The CFA172 billion must be used to ensure the protection, food security, education and access to health care of the men, women, girls and boys most affected by the crises.

“Considering the diversity of areas of intervention, needs and vulnerabilities, humanitarian actors have agreed to implement different strategies depending on whether they operate in the Far North, in the Northwest and South West regions or in those affected by the Central African, Adamaoua, East and North crisis,” the report noted.

Journal du Cameroun.Com

5, March 2019

Fire ravages about 200 shops in Yaounde ⁰

About 200 shops at Elig Edzoa market, one of the largest markets in Cameroon’s capital of Yaounde, have been ravaged by fire, according to a police report Monday.

It is reported that the fire broke out early Monday morning. “We still do not know what caused the fire. Almost all the shops in the market have been burned down. People also sustained injuries,” said the report.

Ruins from the fire were still scattered in the market.

“I have lost everything in my shop including household utensils, building material, electrical equipment worth millions of CFA francs. My neighbours have lost everything as well.” Lilian Muring who owns a shop in the market revealed.

Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji said the government has opened formal inquiries into the tragedy.

Xinhuanet

4, March 2019

US: Several dead as tornado leaves trail of destruction in Alabama ⁰

At least 22 people, some of them children, died after a tornado swept through Lee County, Alabama on Sunday, and the death toll was expected to rise as rescuers searched through the rubble of destroyed homes, authorities said.

Emergency workers faced a grim night of pulling the dead and injured from the wreckage of homes and businesses.

“The challenge is the sheer volume of the debris where all the homes were located,” Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said in an interview with CNN. “It’s the most I’ve seen that I can recall.”

Storms, including at least one apparent tornado, uprooted trees and destroyed homes in neighboring Georgia, initially knocking out power to 21,000 customers, said Georgia Power spokeswoman Meredith Stone.

That number was reduced by more than half later on Sunday evening, she said. On Twitter, U.S. President Donald Trump urged residents of Alabama and other areas affected by the storms to be “careful and safe.”

“Tornadoes and storms were truly violent and more could be coming,” Trump wrote. “To the families and friends of the victims, and to the injured, God bless you all!”

In Alabama, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said the death toll could rise. The East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika said in a statement that it was treating more than 40 patients as a result of the tornado and expected to receive more.

Some patients had been sent to other hospitals, it added. Severe weather unleashed one of many possible tornadoes that threatened the Southern United States on Sunday afternoon.

Tornado warnings and watches were in effect for parts of Georgia and Alabama through Sunday evening.

Video footage from the small community of Beauregard in Lee County showed homes reduced to piles of wreckage, felled trees, and debris from blasted buildings scattered across roads.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey warned residents on Twitter that more severe weather might be on the way. She said the state was working to help families who had been affected.

A state of emergency for Alabama, issued on Feb. 23 to deal with flooding, would be extended, she said.

Temperatures falling

Lee County Schools announced on Twitter that campuses in the county would be closed on Monday.

The National Weather Service office in Birmingham, Alabama, said it was sending three survey teams out on Monday to assess damage in Autauga, Macon, Lee and Barbour counties.

“Please stay out of damaged areas so first responders can do their job,” the NWS office said on Twitter.

The storm initially left 17,000 customers without power in Alabama, but crews were able to reduce that number to 6,000 by about 9 p.m. EST on Sunday, said Michael Sznajderman, spokesman for the utility Alabama Power.

As thousands faced a night without power, temperatures looked set to fall to near freezing following the storm.

“Colder air will sweep into the Southeast behind the severe weather with temperatures dropping into the 30s (1 C) southward to central Georgia and across most of Alabama by Monday morning,” AccuWeather meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.

“Those without power who rely on electric heat need to find ways to stay warm,” she added.

(REUTERS)

4, March 2019

Government official kidnapped in Southern Cameroons ⁰

The Northwest regional chief of Cameroon’s Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection was kidnapped early Sunday by “unidentified gunmen” in Bamenda, Cameroon’s largest Anglophone city, local authorities said.

“The regional chief, Mr. Henry Awah was abducted alongside his wife by unknown gunmen. We are still trying to locate their whereabouts and secure their safe release,” a government official who asked not to be named told said.

Awah is among about six government officials that have been kidnapped in the Northwest, one of the two troubled English-speaking regions of Cameroon, since the armed conflict started in 2017.

Early last year, two top government officials were abducted in the restive region and were later declared “missing” by the government.

Kidnappings have become rampant in the two troubled Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest where armed separatists are fighting to secede from largely French-speaking Cameroon and create a new nation they called “Ambazonia”.

The United Nations estimates that at least 430,000 people in Cameroon have been displaced internally by the conflict.

Xinhuanet

4, March 2019

Cameroon army said to massacre several Southern Cameroons civilians ⁰

About 10 people were killed and several others injured early Friday in three separate localities in Northwest, one of the two troubled English-speaking regions of Cameroon, local sources said.

“Three civilians were killed in Ntem, three others were shot in Mbaw and four boys who were apparently traveling to Nigeria were also shot dead. All the three villages are neighbors. Some of those killed are women,” a local resident, who asked not to be named revealed.

There were conflicting reports of who committed the killings. Locals claimed that they were shot by government forces but the army said they were armed separatists killed in their hideouts.

“The military identified their hideouts and attacked. All of those killed have been terrorizing the people in the areas. Several others were injured and they escaped,” a military source, who also opted for anonymity, said.

On Thursday, one soldier and one armed separatist were killed when separatists attacked army camps in the localities of Mbiame and Bafut of Northwest, according to the army.

Since November 2017, government forces have been clashing with armed separatist forces who want the two English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest to secede from the largely French-speaking nation and form a new country called “Ambazonia.”

Xinhua

3, March 2019

Douala: Biya donates 50,000 euros cash to traders ⁰

President Paul Biya made a “cash donation” of 32.5 million CFA francs, 50,000 euros, to traders of a market in Douala ravaged by fire in February, state owned radio and television reported.

“The Head of State, HE Paul Biya, offers 32.5 million CFA francs to the traders of the Congo Market in Douala, whose shops were ravaged by fire on February 24,” said Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV, on social networks.

“The cash donation was given to the beneficiaries by (the Minister of Territorial Administration), Paul Atanga Nji,” continues CRTV on Twitter.

In Cameroon, where Paul Biya, 86, has been president for 36 years, presidential donations are common deep within the ruling CPDM crime syndicate.