News

27, November 2016

Former UN Secretary Kofi Annan pays tribute to Fidel Castrol ⁰

“Today I mourn the loss of a friend, the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Securing the welfare of the Cuban people and ensuring the independence of his nation shaped much of Fidel Castro’s thinking and many of his actions. Whether one shared his political views or disagreed with them, Fidel Castro was one of Latin America’s most remarkable leaders.

In the course of his long life he overcame countless adversities and rarely chose the easy and comfortable path. I met Fidel Castro many times over the years and came to appreciate his extraordinary intellect, sharp mind, and his ability to engage in constructive dialogue. Farewell Fidel.”

27, November 2016

2016 Women’s AFCON: Cameroon knows how to throw a party ⁰

A walk into the courtyards of the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex tells the story of how the nation knows how to celebrate. A giant screen stands tall on which visitors watch football matches simultaneously played in Limbe and Yaoundé respectively. There is also a podium where promotional entertainment and playbacks are ongoing especially during the 15-minute half time period.

Somewhere in the same courtyard, children are being entertained with music and dancing competitions. At this section, the kids are given the opportunity to mount the podium and compete in dancing for the award of varied prizes. Exhibition stands have also been erected at the AFCON village; Cameroonian traditional regalia, jewellery, foot wear and cuisine are all on display.

Food and drinks are also available in huge supplies to spice up the entertainment. As people discuss and move around the courtyards of the AFCON village the police is on hand carrying out the necessary checks and ensuring safe movement. Either the cries from football fans, the sound of music, the smell of good food or the beautiful lighting from the AFCON village in Yaoundé is sure to catch the attention of those within the vicinity and beyond.

CRTV

26, November 2016

Another Camrail train derails, no casualties reported ⁰

A CAMRAIL freight train derailed today the 26^th of November 2016 in the district of Ndokotti, located in the economic capital of Douala.

No loss of human life has been reported so far. The Cameroon Railways (CAMRAIL) train experienced the derailment in the early hours of the morning at the Ndokotti Bridge in Douala. Police say the material damage was not huge.

Today’s incident whose causes remain unknown for the moment, brings to mind the terrible train tragedy at Eseka on October the 21st, 2016 that claimed the lives of 76 people and injured 599 people, according to official figures.

By Chi Prudence Asong with cables from CIN

26, November 2016

Fidel Castro of Cuba dies aged 90 ⁰

The legendary leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, has died, Cuban state television has announced. He was 90.

25, November 2016

Southern Cameroons Statehood Question: What the UN should Do ⁰

The Southern Cameroons Statehood Question falls squarely within the terms of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The people of the territory have the inalienable right to freedom and independence.

The United Nations still has at least a residual moral and legal obligation towards the people of the Southern Cameroons until they achieve sovereign statehood. It has the right to take appropriate action in this matter. Such action includes the right to revert to itself the interim administration of the territory, until such a time that it can conduct a referendum that will reflect the true aspirations of the peoples.

It is accordingly recommended that the United Nations should take the following actions:

1) Call on the government of La Republique du Cameroun, to refrain from any further action calculated to deny or deprive the peoples of the Southern Cameroons of their unquestionable and inalienable right to self determination.

2) Call on La Republique du Cameroun to forthwith withdraw its colonial administration, civil and security from the Southern Cameroons.

3) To take precautionary measures to safeguard life, property and the wealth and resources in the Southern Cameroons, including the deployment of a peacekeeping mission; and

4) To set up a two-year interim United Nations administration in the Southern Cameroons leading up to democratic elections and independence for the territory.

25, November 2016

UN says Boko Haram hindering relief operations in Cameroon ⁰

The United Nations says the Boko Haram Takfiri terrorists are hindering relief operations meant for tens of thousands of Nigerian refugees living in dire conditions in northern Cameroon. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday that one of its teams had earlier this month been able to visit previously inaccessible border areas of Cameroon’s Far North Region. Leo Dobbs, a UN spokesman, said the team had managed to help pre-register more than 21,000 refugees who had fled acts of terror by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria in a span of two years and had been living for months with mainly impoverished host families.

“It was the first time we have been able to visit these people and there are believed to be many more,” he said. Dobbs said the refugees in northern Cameroon “urgently need assistance.” UN figures show about 27,000 refugees are living outside of camps in areas such as Fotokol, Makary and Mogode districts in the Far North Region. Dobbs said the UNHCR “would like to help and have helped in a little way, but the continuing Boko Haram threat is a hindrance to regular access.”

The UN official said that while some of the refugees in northern Cameroon were staying with poor host families, most were sleeping outdoors in the open, in makeshift shelters or on dirt floors in classrooms. “Others were in abandoned villages whose residents had fled Boko Haram attacks earlier,” he said. The UNHCR is encouraging people to relocate to Minawao camp further from the border, which is home to nearly 60,000 refugees, Dobbs said.

Cameroon has been fighting Boko Haram since 2014. A joint regional force from Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon has helped retake swathes of territory from the militants, who come from northeastern Nigeria. However, the terrorist group still poses a security threat to civilians in the four littoral countries surrounding Lake Chad.

Presstv

25, November 2016

28 Boko Haram fighters killed in Sirdawala by Cameroon elite forces ⁰

28 Boko Haram terrorists were killed in Sirdawala some 8 km inside Nigeria by Cameroon elite troops acting under the banner of the Joint Multinational Force. Cameroon Concord News learnt that the militants were killed on the night of the 22^nd and 23^rd of November 2016 following intelligence provided by Nigerian special forces operating in the area.

Cameroon government spokesman and communication minister who confirmed the report during a press briefing on Thursday also revealed that 2 assault rifles, 2 fragmentation grenades, 8 boxes of mines, hundreds of ammunition, arches, sabers, spears, arrows, axes, knives, fighting suits, 5 motorcycles, various objects used in the manufacture of explosive devices, as well as propaganda vehicles of the terrorist group were recovered.

By Sonne Peter

25, November 2016

6 months jail term for undocumented Cameroonians in Qatar ⁰

Since the announcement of a change of labour and social laws to take effect on the 13th of December 2016 in oil rich Qatar, uncertainty has rocked the undocumented Cameroonian community. In late 2012 and early 2013 there was a great influx of Cameroonians in Qatar many of whom did not obtain resident permit.

The president of the Cameroonian Diaspora Community in Qatar whose name we are withholding reportedly exploited the undocumented Cameroonians and enriched himself. Cameroon Concord News gathered that the said individual collected aid from Qatar Charities and in return supplied them with cheap Cameroonian work force.

As from the 1st of December 2016 any Cameroonian living illegally in Qatar faces a six months jail term and will pay a heavy amount of fine to be decided by the government. Our informant has hinted that there are hundreds of undocumented Cameroonians living in the country.

25, November 2016

Prime Minister Philemon Yang calls on cabinet ministers to respect the bilingual nature of the country ⁰

Prime Minister Philemon Yang chaired a cabinet meeting yesterday the 24^th of November 2016 at the Star Building. Focus during the political discourse was on Cameroon’s commitment to implementing the international decisions in relation to climate change.

State radio and television reported that as early as nine am, the members of government were at the conference room in the Prime Minister’s Office to begin exchanges. The session opened with a presentation from the Minister of the Environment and Nature Protection on the conclusions from the just-ended COP 22 Conference in Morocco.

The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of the Economy and the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External of Relations in charge of relations with the Commonwealth also made submissions during the meeting.

The Premier and Head of Government Business, Philemon Yang insisted on collaboration and a team spirit among cabinet members. He also urged them to respect bilingualism as stated in the law especially with the publication of official information.

CRTV

24, November 2016

Southern Cameroons War of Independence: One killed, 100s arrested, several wounded ⁰

One person has been killed in Bamenda, capital of the Northwest Region during protest against La Republique. The identity of the victim is not yet known but Cameroon Concord News gathered that at least 100 people were arrested during demonstrations against the introduction of French education and legal systems in the Anglophone part of the country.

Several people were also wounded as a result of the demonstrations. Since Monday, teachers in the English-speaking regions (North-West and South-West) have been protesting against the appointment of Francophone colleagues to head technical schools in British Southern Cameroons.

The teachers protest follows the demands of the Cameroon Common Law lawyers who have been on strike since October 11. The lawyers have demanded a translation into English of Cameroonian laws and all international treaties and agreements linking Cameroon with other French speaking nations and above all, a return to the 1961 federal structure.

By Sama Ernest