31, December 2016
President Paul BIYA will address the Nation today evening at 8 p.m. in a message on radio and television 0
President Paul BIYA will address the Nation today evening at 8 p.m. in a message on radio and television
31, December 2016
President Paul BIYA will address the Nation today evening at 8 p.m. in a message on radio and television
31, December 2016
The ringleader of the Nigeria-based Boko Haram Takfiri terrorist group has urged the militants to beef up extreme violence against people, denying recent claims by the government that the group has been crushed.
In a video posted on YouTube purportedly by Boko Haram on Friday, a man, standing in front of almost a dozen armed men and a couple of pickup trucks in an undisclosed location, identified himself as Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the terror group, and read a statement, calling on his fellow militants to “kill, slaughter and abduct all the infidels… and detonate bombs everywhere.” “I am here, well and alive,” he said, rejecting the Nigerian government’s earlier reports that he had been fatally wounded in anti-terror air raids.
He also denied that the army had ultimately defeated terrorists after it captured Boko Haram’s last major stronghold. “The battle is just beginning.” “You should not be telling lies to the people,” he said, referring to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who announced on Christmas Eve that the Takfiri group had been defeated and driven away from its last known bastion deep inside the thick Sambisa Forest in the northeastern volatile state of Borno.
President Buhari, who came to power in 2015, under the motto of crushing Boko Haram, also said the terrorists were on the run and no longer had a place to hide. The group, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” has pledged allegiance to Daesh, a Takfiri terrorist group operating mostly in Iraq and Syria. Back in early August, Daesh reportedly terminated Shekau’s seven-year-long leadership by replacing him with Abu Musab al-Barnawi, a former spokesman for Boko Haram. Shortly after the announcement, Shekau released an audio message saying, “People should know we are still around,” apparently defying Daesh and the decision to oust him.
Presstv
31, December 2016
A statue of former French President, Charles de Gaulle has been destroyed in Douala. The attack on the statue was carried out by Andre Blaise Essama, the Cameroonian activist who recently built a statue of the late Dr. John Ngu Foncha and generated a national controversy.
Andre Blaise was recently released from prison after he orchestrated an attack on the statue of French General Le Clerc. Police said the incident, which was reported was being treated as criminal damage.
Andre Blaise Essama is now being considered the greatest Francophone Cameroonian of all time in a nationwide poll.
By Sonne Peter
30, December 2016
The outgoing administration of US President Barack Obama is under extreme pressure to release evidence confirming allegations of cyber attacks by Russia to influence the presidential election before leaving office.
The Obama administration has only provided little documentation to support its official assessment in October that Moscow was attempting to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. The White House has also failed to confirm subsequent leaks from anonymous officials contending that the CIA believes Moscow’s interference was an attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to help President-elect Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.
Obama has ordered the intelligence community to conduct a full review of alleged hacking by the Russians before he leaves office on January 20. The White House has said it will make as much of the report public as it can. But officials have warned that the document will contain “highly sensitive and classified information” and it is unclear how much evidence it will be able to release.
Trump has rejected assertions that the Russian government was involved in the hacks on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, which published the stolen emails, has denied that the Russian government provided the files. The US claim has also been rejected by Moscow.
On Thursday, Obama ordered a series of economic sanctions against Russia, as well as expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats over hacking allegations. “I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government’s aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election,” Obama said in a statement.
According to statements from the White House and the Treasury Department, the sanctions target Russia’s FSB and GRU intelligence agencies, four individual GRU officers, and three companies who allegedly provided support to the GRU, and two Russian individuals for using cyberattacks to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information.
Presstv
29, December 2016
Dozens of militants with the Takfiri Boko Haram terrorist group have surrendered to Nigerien authorities, less than a week after Nigeria announced that its troops captured the group’s last key bastion in the country’s northeast.
“Thirty one young people from Diffa, who were enrolled a few years ago in Boko Haram, decided to surrender,” Nigerien Interior Minister Bazoum Mohamed said. The troubled Diffa region, located in the southeasternmost part of Niger, borders Nigeria’s volatile Borno State, where Boko Haram hides in the dense Sambisa Forest.
One of the deserters appeared on a Nigerien public television program and recounted why they had decided to give themselves up to local authorities. “We have deserted Boko Haram because we found that what the organization stands for is not acceptable. We expect a pardon from the government so that we can participate in the development of the country and help us get rid of the trauma,” he said.
The Nigerien government has reportedly assured that it will grant an amnesty for all the deserters providing that they undergo a de-radicalization program, after which they will be enrolled in socio-economic reintegration projects.
Back in June, tens of thousands of people were forced to abandon their homes in Diffa as Boko Haram terrorists launched a sweeping offensive across the region, and in September, at least five Nigerien troopers were killed by the terror group near the village of Toumour, about 65 kilometers northeast of Diffa.
Niger has been one of the countries affected by the more than seven years of Boko Haram militancy in Nigeria. The Takfiri terrorist group has routinely launched attacks across Nigerian borders into Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Presstv
28, December 2016
The Cameroonian government was on Tuesday, December 27, at the negotiating table with the leaders of the Anglophone teachers trade unions. The Bamenda meeting was a complete and total failure and the unions have announced a continuation of the strike. The interministerial committee set up by Prime Minister Philemon Yang accused the trade unionists of “extremism”. The Francophone government delegation criticized the unions for making claims that had no connection with education.
The three Francophone ministers responsible for Basic Education, Secondary Education and Higher Education presented an empty government plan to the Anglophone teachers which included the recruitment in progress of high school teachers for deployment in order to fill the deficit observed in Southern Cameroons.
After three hours of very intensive dialogue at the governor’s office in Bamenda, the Anglophone trade unionists of the North-West stated that trade unionists of the South West should and must be included in the talks. The North West leaders also demanded the release of all protesters arrested in Southern Cameroons. For the government, such claims “have no connection with education”. The government, which wished to work with all the stakeholders, called the demands of the English-speaking trade unionists “manipulation”.
The Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo government says it has taken the failures of these negotiations seriously and will use all means possible for the normal resumption of the schools in the North West and South West regions. The anti Anglophone minister of higher education boasted that so long as Biya is in power and they Francophones are the majority, the Anglophone and francophone subsystems are condemned to coexist in Cameroon. The Francophone authorities have promised to severely crush the Anglophone teachers trade unions for making demands that are unrelated to education.
By Rita Akana
28, December 2016
I am minded to give you a synopsis of what has transpired since the setting up of this ad hoc committee by the Prime Minister. You all know those who were named in the committee and how myself and Balla were left out. On the 24th I received a call from an attaché in the prime minister’s office informing me of our inclusion in the list. I considered it a non event. Because of the teachers meeting in Bamenda on the 27th a consortium meeting was summoned for the 26th. I left my family on Christmas day traveled to Buea and met Balla and we both left for Bamenda at 8.30 pm. We arrived Bamenda at 5pm. We had a heated meeting that lasted almost 8 hrs. It was in the said meeting that the consortium agreed that we should attend the ad hoc committee meetings in Bamenda and Yaounde but with guidelines. We were to table a preliminary objection on certain issues and stage a walk out.
Gentlemen you all saw the communique. We were asked by the teachers to be part of an enlarged meeting with the teachers who had some issues to sought out. Because the meeting rose late the communique of the consortium could not be ready that same day. We had to travel to Yaounde early morning at 3 am. The ad hoc meeting started late because we arrived late and those who were there informed the minister that the meeting cannot start without I and Balla. When the meeting commenced we raised the PO agreed on by the consortium orally because we could not have the written resolution of the consortium. All common law lawyers spoke on the PO like one man. We told the minister the meeting can not continue until the composition of the committee is adjusted to our satisfaction, the children who are under arrest release unconditionally, the ban on Mela, Fakla and Nowela uplifted and many others. The meeting rose for a break because the minister wanted to make some consultations. We could not stage a walk out as planned because the government was bending towards our pressure. We were in contact with the other members of the consortium with regards to the situation.
Upon resumption the minister said the government was ready to give us our demands except federation. Meanwhile we were presented with an agenda which we amended to be able to raise the PO. The minister kept insisting on going ahead with the agenda. I am the one who kept on hammering the fact that in our Anglo Saxon tradition once a point is raised, the threshold issues must be ascertained before we can move forward. I move for the meeting to be adjourned to a further date until when this issues had been resolved.
Gentlemen the minister got upset and asked me not to speak again until the end. Pressure now came from the others. The minister excused himself for 20 mins. Upon return he conceded to my motion but pleaded that we adjourn to this morning. As I post there are words that the children arrested and taken to Yaounde are being released. When we resume today, we have our next plan of action which I can not post here for security reasons. Gentlemen I took this pains to give you these details because I want you to trust and believe in your leaders. The strike continues and there are no plans to call it off despite the fact that the government seems to be playing into our game. We shall soon get on the negotiations table where the topic will be FEDERALISM.
Aluta Continua.barrister Eyambe MELA
27, December 2016
The consortium of Anglophone teachers trade union have demanded the inclusion of South West representatives in the dialogue and the released of all detainees before any talks could go ahead. The presence of the anti Anglophone Minister Fame Ndongo reportedly made the situation in Bamenda more intractable. The teachers have made it clear that the strike will continue until a return to the 1961 federal structure.
This story is still developing
27, December 2016
The members of the Francophone interministerial committee responsible for dialogue with Southern Cameroon teachers are presently in Bamenda for the resumption of the so-called dialogue scheduled for Tuesday, December 27, 2016.
They include the Minister of Higher Education Jacque Fame Ndongo- noted for his anti Anglophone stance and Ministers of Secondary Education and Basic Education. They are led by a certain Paul Ghogomu, who some French speaking media outlets have revealed is the Director of Civil Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s office.
The union of Southern Cameroon teachers has already warned that it will not back down if its main demands are not taken into account. Among these demands initially linked to the improvement of the conditions of teachers has been grafted the return to the 1961 federal status.
The Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime has made it public that federalism is not on the agenda. The regime’s controversial Minister of Communication and spokesman reiterated recently that Cameroon is “ONE and INDISIVIBLE”. Our cream of reporters in the North West region have all opined that there are no signs of an exit from the crisis.
On the ground in Bamenda, where the resumption of dialogue is set to begin, the Yaounde regime has ordered the reinforcement of security for fear of any overflows.
By Sama Ernest
31, December 2016
Biya speaks to the nation 0
Fellow Cameroonians,
My Dear Compatriots,
The year 2016 which is drawing to an end was marked by many events of great significance for our nation. This year we got off to a good start. Donors, including the International Monetary Fund, hailed the resilience of our economy despite an unfavourable context. Our defence and security forces beat back Boko Haram and put it on the defensive. Our country resolutely embarked on a new phase of its grand project to accelerate growth and create jobs and wealth.
As the months rolled by, circumstances put this positive momentum to the test. Similarly, some social and political unrest occasionally seemed to undermine the very foundations of our togetherness; but, ultimately, we were able to hold our ground. Therefore, I would like, first and foremost, to solemnly state tonight that, more than ever before, Cameroon is standing on its feet. A country that is ONE and INDIVISIBLE, proud of its cultural diversity and jealous of its freedom. A country that is replete with talented and enterprising people. A country that is endowed with abundant resources. A country that is looking to the future with confidence and determination, resolved to meet the challenges of ensuring social progress and prosperity for all. As the year 2016 draws to a close, I must recall the unprecedented bereavement our country suffered during the Eseka railway disaster. It was a time of profound grief for the entire nation. Our people demonstrated solidarity during that tragedy. The probe I have ordered will reveal the truth. I will draw the conclusions thereon, as promised.
My dear compatriots,
I would now like to dwell on the events that have unfolded recently in the North-West and South-West Regions. Physically and emotionally, we are deeply concerned about these events. Due to the acts of a group of manipulated and exploited extremist rioters, Cameroonians have lost their lives; public and private buildings have been destroyed; the most sacred symbols of our nation have been desecrated; economic activities have been paralyzed momentarily.
You would agree with me that all of this is UNACCEPTABLE. Our country does enjoy political and trade union freedoms which are guaranteed and governed by our laws and regulations. Against this backdrop, every citizen can rightfully opine on any aspect of national life, including through duly declared peaceful strike action. This is a fundamental civil right as desired by the Cameroonian people given that it is enshrined in the Constitution. This right is inalienable in the model of democracy which I proposed to the Cameroonian people and which, TOGETHER, we have been building daily, patiently and resolutely. It is unbecoming of some people to use this context of freedom to commit acts of violence and try to undermine our country’s unity. Under such circumstances, it is the State’s bounden duty to restore order, in the name of the law and in the interest of all. To act otherwise is to jeopardize our democracy and allow anarchy to prevail over the rule of law.
I strongly condemn all acts of violence, regardless of their sources and their perpetrators. We will fully draw conclusions from the various inquiries being conducted on the matter. Let me make this very clear: it is not forbidden to voice any concerns in the Republic. However, nothing great can be achieved by using verbal excesses, street violence, and defying authority. Lasting solutions to problems can be found only through peaceful dialogue. All the voices that spoke have been heard. They have, in many cases, raised substantive issues that cannot be overlooked. I have enjoined the Government to engage in frank dialogue with the various parties concerned to find appropriate solutions to the issues raised. I urge them to participate, without any bias, in the various discussions. However, we should never forget that we are walking in the footsteps of our country’s founding fathers, our national heroes, who shed their blood to bequeath to posterity a nation that is united in its diversity. Cameroon’s unity is therefore a precious legacy with which no one should take liberties. Any claim, no matter how relevant, loses its legitimacy once it jeopardizes, even slightly, the building of national unity.
All Cameroonians, without exception, have embarked on building a united, inclusive and bilingual nation. This is a unique experience in Africa. Like any human endeavour, our experience is not perfect. There are aspects that can be improved. We should therefore listen to each other. We should remain open to constructive ideas, to the exclusion,however, of those that would affect the form of our State. Besides the bodies that I instructed the Government to set up and which are already at work, we are ready to go an extra mile. We are willing to move in the footsteps and spirit of the architects of Reunification, and put in place a national entity which will be tasked with proposing solutions aimed at maintaining peace, consolidating our country’s unity and strengthening our resolve, and our day-to-day experiences of LIVING TOGETHER. And this should be done in strict compliance with our Constitution and our Institutions.
Do I need to repeat this? CAMEROON IS ONE AND INDIVISIBLE! It shall so remain. Its wealth and strength are derived from the diversity of its people, its cultures and its languages. Such is the pluralism that has earned our country the esteem, respect and admiration it enjoys. Cameroon is a democratic country, a State governed by the rule of law. Its problems should be resolved within the ambit of the law and through dialogue. Our compatriots want to live in peace and harmony. They should not be disturbed! That is also why our country is engaged in the war against Boko Haram.
In this regard, I can safely say that in 2016, this terrorist group was driven to the wall. There seems to be hope that this shady terrorist group may not recover from the setbacks it has suffered. However, there is a need to remain vigilant; the possibility of isolated suicide attacks, like that of 25 December last, cannot be ruled out. Credit for this positive development goes to our national defence and security forces, the Joint Multinational Task Force and cooperation with the Nigerian authorities. We should also commend the support given us by our international partners to whom I extend my thanks.
Also, I should mention the key role of vigilante committees which, thanks to their courage and devotedness, were, on many occasions, able to foil planned attacks. I must once again commend the Cameroonian people for their steadfast patriotism during these difficult times.
Yes, ordeals help forge national unity.
We must now ramp up internal security, reconstruct, organize the return of displaced persons, and revive the local economy. In short, bring back life and tranquillity to the affected areas. To that end, the State will do its utmost, while counting on the dynamism of the people and support from development partners. Despite the burden of security spending, the Government has not relented in its effort to promote our economic growth. Many of our major first-generation projects such as the Kribi Port, the Lom Pangar Dam and the Memve’ele and Mekin power plants are virtually operational or about to be commissioned. To bridge the energy gap and end load shedding, other major projects such as the Bini à Warak, Menchum, Song Dong and Nachtigal power plants will supplement this programme. Our power transmission and management problems will be resolved with the establishment of the National Electricity Transmission Corporation.
The development of our road network is also progressing. An extensive road construction or rehabilitation programme is ongoing nationwide. I will mention only the most notable of them, such as the Yaounde-Douala and Nsimalen-Yaounde motorways where work is going on normally, but also the east or west entryways to Douala and the second bridge over the Wouri. In the longer term, there are plans to create an inter-regional road and rail network to ease access to our mineral deposits and stimulate trade with neighbouring countries. Cameroon lies at the crossroads of two major economic blocks, namely West and Central Africa. Why therefore should it not seek to become the hub it is geographically predisposed to be?
The main objective of boosting our energy capacity and extending our road network is to create the best conditions for our country’s industrialization. This is our major challenge for the coming decades. It will also confirm the positive employment trends observed in recent years. For instance, as at October 2016, 320 000 new jobs were recorded, representing an increase of nearly 20% compared with the previous financial year. Given the overall gloomy economic situation, this performance is commendable.
However, we should do better. To that end, we must improve the management of all the economies of our sub-region. That is why I deemed it necessary to convene a meeting of all CEMAC Heads of State in Yaounde recently. This meeting enabled us to take measures to revive growth in our zone, while accelerating the integration of our economies and the free movement of goods and people. Cameroon will fulfil its duty to that end.
In keeping with our ambition of achieving emergence by 2035, we are relentlessly working to increase our agricultural production, ensure the industrial processing of our raw materials and expand the digital economy. The 2017 State budget truly reflects this resolve to increase momentum on these highly strategic sectors.
My dear compatriots,
There are many ongoing projects designed to promote social progress and prosperity in our country. Our assets are known to all. However, we are still having difficulty unlocking our potential. It was in a bid to reflect on such difficulty that in May 2016, I initiated the International Economic Conference on the theme “Investing in Cameroon: Land of Opportunities”. Besides important business meetings held during the conference, this unique initiative which was hailed by our development partners, enabled us to share extremely valuable experiences on the path to economic emergence. In this interconnected world, we sought, in all simplicity, to get others’ views on our capacity to access the global economy. The harvest has been bountiful in terms of the principles of the actions adopted to improve the business climate in Cameroon. This will be reflected in our institutions in the near future. I have already expressed my view on this issue on many occasions: our progress is constrained by various forms of resistance or inertia. We should remove such obstacles and create a sound and attractive business environment that accelerates progress in our country by aligning with the appropriate global dynamics. Responsibility here lies with the government. I will see to it resolutely. Though I believe that the State should play the role of regulator and facilitator, and even investor in some specific domains, I also believe that the private sector should invest wherever there are opportunities. At a time when diversification is a veritable lifeline for CEMAC economies, our investors should, for instance, take advantage of the opportunities offered by regional integration or various economic partnership agreements to which Cameroon is a signatory. I am therefore appealing to the creators of our wealth to fully play their role in stimulating our economic growth in everyone’s interest. The Cameroonian people who are beginning to reap the benefits of the sacrifices made over the years do not wish to return to austerity. I see with them. This requires us all to put our hands on deck in perfect patriotic fervour, like our heroic Indomitable Lionesses.
For many years they gave their all without seeking vain and early glories; they demonstrated hard work, resolve, talent, and bravery; they won hearts through the quality of their performance in the game; they appealed through their moral quality and the ethics of the game which earned them the fair play trophy; they reflected Cameroon’s great diversity as they defended the national colours; and though they did not win the coveted trophy of the 2016 women AFCON, they brought joy and pride to an entire nation.
Such an excellent demonstration of patriotic fervour is an appeal to everyone, each in his or her specific sphere, to defend Cameroon’s future everywhere, in an exemplary manner.
My dear compatriots,
Before concluding, I would like to invite you to spare a thought for our soldiers and civilians who fell while defending our fatherland in 2016, as well as for the victims of the recent Eseka railway disaster. I would now like to express the wish, for our nation, that the year 2017 would abound with the fruits of peace and harmony, progress and economic prosperity for everyone.
Happy and Prosperous New Year 2017
Long Live Cameroon