US President Donald Trump has pulled the country out of a UN compact aimed at improving migrant and refugee situations around the world.

The US mission to the global body announced the decision on Saturday, saying the Trump administration deemed the pact “inconsistent” with its policies.

“Today, the US Mission to the United Nations informed the UN Secretary-General that the United States is ending its participation in the Global Compact on Migration,” it said in a statement.

Known as the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, the compact is a non-binding political declaration that was unanimously adopted by the 193 members of the UN General Assembly in September 2016.

Under the compact, the members pledged to uphold the rights of refugees, help them resettle and insure they have access to education and jobs.

“The New York Declaration contains numerous provisions that are inconsistent with US immigration and refugee policies and the Trump Administration’s immigration principles. As a result, President Trump determined that the United States would end its participation in the Compact process that aims to reach international consensus at the UN in 2018,” read the statement.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Washington would continue its support of migrants and refugees around the globe, but noted that “our decisions on immigration policies must always be made by Americans and Americans alone.”

She said the US itself “will decide how best to control our borders and who will be allowed to enter our country,” calling the declaration incompatible with “US sovereignty.”

So far the US, under Trump and his “America First” policies, has withdrawn from several other global commitments made under the administration of former President Barack Obama, including the Paris climate accord.

More recently, Trump has pulled America out of the Paris-based culture and education body, UNESCO, accusing it of “anti-Israel bias.”

Source: Presstv

The new slave trade-human trafficking in Libya is being carried out by many nationalities, including Nigerians and Ghanaians, according to a Cameroonian returnee, who was abducted in the country. Foka Fotsi, who was trafficked twice, told Reuters that those in charge of one of the places where he was held included Ghanaians and Nigerians. Fotsi story corroborated another testimony by a Nigerian in the southern state of Edo, who identified one Charles, a Nigerian as the trafficking kingpin. Foka Fotsi- battered in a camp run by Nigerians and Ghanaians Unable to find work to support his family, Fotsi decided to leave Cameroon last year, but fell into the hands of a Libyan kidnap ring before reaching Europe. “There was torture like I’ve never seen. They hit you with wooden bats, with iron bars,” he said, removing the hood of his sweatshirt and showing the still raw red wounds on his skull. “They hang you from the ceiling by (your) arms and legs and then throw you down to the floor. They swing you and throw you against the wall, over and over again, ten times. “They are not human beings. They are the devil personified.”

Christelle Timdi, another Cameroonian recounted her  horrendous experience in the north African country. When uniformed men boarded the overloaded rubber dingy carrying her and her boyfriend to a new life in Europe, she thought the Italian coastguard had come to rescue them. But the men took out guns and began to shoot. “Many people fell in the sea,” the 32-year-old Cameroonian said as she described seeing her boyfriend, Douglas, falling in the water and disappearing into the darkness. The gunmen took Timdi and her fellow passengers back to Libya where they were locked up, raped, beaten and forced to make calls to their families back home for ransom payments to secure their freedom. Timdi, who flew back to Cameroon last week, told her story as international outcry escalated over a video which appeared to show African migrants being traded as slaves in Libya. Libya’s U.N.-backed government has said it is investigating and has promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Timdi said she had not seen the footage broadcast by CNN, but had witnessed the trade in humans while in Libya. “I saw it with my own eyes,” she said, describing how she had seen a Senegalese man buying an African migrant. Libya is the main jumping off point for migrants trying to reach Europe by boat. Timdi said many traffickers posed as marine guards, police officers and taxi drivers to ensnare victims. There were around 130 other migrants on her boat when the gunmen opened fire in the middle of the night, Timdi said. After being taken back to Libya they were locked in an abandoned factory building where men would grab and rape the girls and women – and sometimes even the men. “We tried to hide the younger girls among us,” Timdi said, describing the terrifying moments when the guards would scour the room with torches, searching for their next victims. “I was heavily pregnant – that’s why I wasn’t raped. And it’s all done in front of others – they say it’s so that you know what will happen to you if you don’t pay up.” Timdi said the facilities used by traffickers appeared to be well organised and guarded, adding that most people inside wore fake police or military uniforms. “The place was surrounded by army-style vehicles with guns ready to fire, so we didn’t dare try and escape.”

Timdi’s family paid 1 million CFA francs ($1,800), frantically collected from relatives and friends, to free her. But she said ransoms were no guarantee of safety. The traffickers work with a network of taxi drivers who are supposed to transfer released migrants to migrant camps – but who often re-traffick them, Timdi said. “If they send you a good taxi, you’ll arrive at your destination, but if it’s a bad taxi the driver will sell you on to someone else,” she said. “There are people who have been resold twice, three times. And when you call your family to tell them that you’ve been resold once again, no one will believe you, they won’t send more money to free you.” Timdi was released by her captors in October and gave birth to a baby girl, Brittanie, in a Libyan hospital just days later. Timdi and Fotsi were among 250 Cameroonians who were flown home this week by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as part of a voluntary return scheme for migrants stranded in Libya. The programme, funded by the European Union, provided returnees with clothing and medical checks. The most vulnerable, including pregnant women, also received around 400 euros ($475). IOM Cameroon head Boubacar Saybou said it was launching a programme to help migrants set up businesses, and will also provide start-up funding. “We need to create opportunities for them here. That’s what’s important,” he said. Fotsi said he hoped to follow up on the scheme. But for now his most pressing problem was finding a place to sleep. “I pray that God gives me work that I can do here,” he said. “If we don’t get work you’ll find many of us walking the streets again.”

Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation report

Intelligence reaching Cameroon Concord News from Yaounde indicates that the French Cameroun dictator, Paul Biya has ordered the Senior Divisional Officer for Manyu to ask Ambazonians to vacate 16 villages.

Our Yaounde city reporter who is very experience in intelligence gathering noted that the Biya intention is to take ammunition and explosives into those villages, then turn around and claim to have discovered arms brought in by the interim government headed by His Excellency President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe.

A senior aide to President Ayuk Tabe has also hinted that the Ambazonian chief executive will be commenting on this developing situation and the happenings in Ambazonia later today.

Stay with us for the latest in Southern Cameroons

Cameroon Concord News sources have hinted of a massive deployment of French Cameroun Special Forces in the Federal Republic of Ambazonia considered as two regions in La Republique du Cameroun. Yaoundé has come to the conclusion that  its men in uniform are now more at risk than civilians in Southern  Cameroons. Between the 6^th  and 30^th  of November 2017, Ambazonian militants have reportedly killed ten elements of the defense and security forces which includes (gendarmes, military and the  police).

The 84-year-old French Cameroun dictator who returned to Yaoundé yesterday Thursday, November 30, 2017 after a 72 hours trip to Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire declared war on the people of the Federal Republic of Amabzonia.

“I think things are now perfectly clear for everyone. Cameroon is the victim of repeated attacks. A band of terrorists claiming a secessionist movement. In the face of these acts of aggression, I wish to reassure the Cameroonian people that all steps are being taken to put the criminals out of harm’s way and to ensure that peace and security are safeguarded throughout the country.”

The French Cameroun Minister of Defense has convened  this Friday, December 1, 2017 in Yaounde, “a special meeting of security assessment of the entire national territory.” According to our Yaoundé city reporter, the Biya Francophone regime will deploy a large number of Special Forces in Ambaland.

By Rita Akana in Yaounde

Five soldiers and five policemen have been killed within 24 hours in Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions. Separatists have claimed responsibility. Cameroon’s Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma said armed men attacked a military convoy deployed from Yaounde on a peacekeeping mission to the English-speaking southwest town of Mamfe on the morning of November 29 and killed four soldiers.

One soldier who was severely wounded escaped. The attackers stole huge quantities of weapons. The second attack took place in Eyoumojock, not far from Mamfe early Thursday morning, leaving five policeman and a soldier dead.

Tchiroma confirmed that an armed group fighting for the independence of the English-speaking regions from the rest of Cameroon claimed responsibility.

“The assailants claim to belong the the armed wing of the secessionist movement called Southern Cameroon Ambazonian Consortium United Front, ” said Tchiroma. “How can we maintain dialogue with an interlocutor whose only ideology is the partition of a state that is legitimate and recognized as such by all international bodies?”

Tchiroma said Cameroon President Paul Biya has deployed more troops to the area to maintain peace and track the assailants. He said the government is asking people to share any information that could lead to the assailants’ arrest.

Schools have been closed in the English-speaking northwest and southwest since November last year when lawyers and teachers called for a strike to stop what they believe is the overbearing use of French in the regions.

Violence erupted when separatists joined in and started asking for complete independence. On October 1, they declared what they called the independence of the Republic of Ambazonia and asked the military to surrender and join them or leave their territory. They have so far killed 16 soldiers and policemen in the two English-speaking regions.

President Biya has said he is not open to negotiation on the form of the state and that Cameroon is one and indivisible. Separatist groups have said on social media they will talk with Biya only about the terms of their separation.

Source: VOA

US President Donald Trump has sharply rebuked UK Prime Minister Theresa May after she criticized him for re-tweeting anti-Muslim videos posted by a British far-right group.

Trump tweeted Thursday that May should focus on defending Britain from terrorism rather than criticizing him. His unprecedented attack on one of America’s closest allies sparked outrage in Britain’s political establishment.

Extremist groups have carried out several major attacks in the UK this year that have killed a total of 36 people, including two attacks on bridges in London and a bombing in Manchester.

May, who is on a trip to the Middle East, has not directly responded herself to Trump. Her spokesman said “it is wrong” for the president to re-tweet the inflammatory videos.

Trump’ belligerent response to May caused anger in Britain, with one minister describing Trump’s tweets as “alarming and despairing.”

London’s Muslim mayor Sadiq Khan said May should withdraw an offer of a state visit to Britain which has already been extended.

On Wednesday, Trump provoked a wave of anger and disgust from US human rights groups and UK politicians for re-tweeting three incendiary anti-Muslim videos posted by Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of the far-right group Britain First.

Earlier this month, Fransen was found guilty of religiously aggravated harassment after she verbally abused a Muslim woman wearing a hijab.

Fransen, whose group wants to ban Islam in Britain, is facing further criminal charges of racially aggravated assault.

“By sharing it, he is either a racist, incompetent or unthinking, or all three,” opposition Labour lawmaker Stephen Doughty said.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights group, condemned Trump for re-tweeting the inflammatory videos.

Source: Presstv

The Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the African Union and the European Union comes to an end today Thursday, November 30, 2017 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Highly anticipated are the resolutions taken after the debates on the migration crisis, the reform of the African Union, the future of the relations between the old and the dark continents, the necessary investments for the benefit of the African youth and the fight against terrorism.

The summit provided the French Cameroun dictator who has been in power for 35 years an opportunity to meet the new French president Emmanuel Macron. Both leaders exchanged words after the civic reception offered by the Ivorian leader Alassane Outtara on Wednesday, November 29.

It was the first ever meeting between the 84-year-old Paul Biya and his 39-year-old French counterpart.

By Chi Prudence Asong

The United Nations has begun actively addressing the abuse of refugees along Central Mediterranean routes from Africa to Europe, including the treatment of refugees as slaves in Libya.

The chiefs of two UN agencies briefed the Security Council on Tuesday on specific work that had begun to address the issue.

The international body stepped up action against the abuse of refugees after a report revealed how refugees were being sold as slaves at an auction in Libya.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi informed the Security Council about the grave abuses perpetrated against asylum seekers and suggested reception and protection mechanisms to stop the rights violations.

“The grave abuses perpetrated against migrants and refugees along the Central Mediterranean routes can no longer be ignored,” Grandi said. “Compelled to flee, but without legal pathways to safety, refugees are exposed to appalling harm, together with migrants, including torture, rape, sexual exploitation, slavery and other forms of forced labour.”

He said there was a need for “a comprehensive approach encompassing countries of origin, transit, and destination.”

Grandi said his agency was stepping up its work but was grappling with “dramatic” funding gaps, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

William Lacy Swing, the director general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), also told the Security Council that slave trade was an enormous problem that could nevertheless be stopped.

Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres instructed relevant UN authorities to investigate the matter and take measures against it.

“Slavery has no place in our world and these actions are among the most egregious abuses of human rights and may amount to crimes against humanity,” Guterres said.

Guterres said he had advised the authorities to act urgently.

On Thursday, the International Criminal Police Organization, or Interpol, said it had arrested more than 40 people involved in enslaving refugees.

Interpol said 500 people, including 236 minors, had been rescued in simultaneous operations across Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal.

France calls for targeted sanctions on traffickers in Libya

At the Tuesday Security Council meeting, French Ambassador to the UN Francois Delattre suggested that sanctions be used to help stop human trafficking in Libya.

He urged the Council members to consider imposing targeted sanctions on the human traffickers operating in the North African country.

During the meeting, Delattre requested that footage of a slave auction broadcast earlier this month by the CNN be shown. In the video, slaves are seen being sold to Libyan buyers as farmhands for $400 each. Several members of the 15-member Security Council expressed horror viewing it.

Libya plunged into chaos after the overthrow and killing of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Source: Presstv

Cameroon’s Head of State, Paul Biya, arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire,on Tuesday, November 28, 2017, with a huge delegation for the 5^th AU-EU Summit which opened today, November 29, 2017, in the Ivorian capital. The Cameroonian president who hardly attends international events organized on the continent was received by his Ivorian counterpart, Alassane Ouattara, who is expected to step down from office in 2020. The Summit of Heads of States and Governments traditionally takes place every three years alternately in Africa and Europe with the aim of taking stock of the progress made in the implementation of commitments and providing political guidance for further work.

The Summit is being held on the theme: “Investing in youth for a sustainable future,” and is being attended by the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, the President of the African Union and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

The event holds against the backdrop of Africans being sold in Libya as slaves. Images of Africans being sold as livestock in Libyan cities have shocked the world, with many experts blaming African leaders for not doing enough to create an enabling environment for their citizens. They blame this unfortunate event on corruption and poor governance which have become the hallmarks of African countries.

The issue of security will also be on the table, as the continent is facing a huge security challenge. Libya is today a magnet for many jihadists groups following the killing of Qaddafi, Somalia is yet to be back on its feet, Boko Haram is making its presence felt in Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, while the Malian situation is far from being addressed. The Anglophone crisis in Cameroon will also be discussed when Mr. Biya meets his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, as French business interests in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions are under threat.

Though the continent has made some impressive strides towards modern-day democracy, there is still a long way to go for some countries such as Cameroon where Mr. Biya has been presiding over the country’s destiny for thirty-five years, with no impressive economic and political outcomes; a situation that has resulted in unemployment and massive exodus of the country’s youths to other parts of the world.

The two-day event in Abidjan is also being attended by heads of multilateral institutions such as the African Development Bank whose president, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has launched a Youth Advisory Group.

The Jobs for Youth in Africa initiative aims to create 25 million jobs and benefit 50 million youth over the next 10 years by equipping them with the right skills to get decent and meaningful jobs. It is currently the largest effort for youth employment in Africa today.

The advisory group, inaugurated on the sidelines of the 6th EU-Africa Business Forum in Abidjan on Monday, November 27, will work with the Bank to create jobs for Africa’s youth.

“This is a huge opportunity for Africa. If we fix the youth unemployment challenge, Africa will gain 10-20% annual growth. That means Africa’s GDP will grow by $500 billion per year for the next 30 years. Africa’s per capita income will rise by 55% every year to the year 2050,” Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) said at the inauguration of the Group.

Dr. Adesina, who identified Africa’s greatest asset as its youth, observed that out of the 13 million youths that enter the labour market each year, only 3 million (about 33% of African youth) are in wage employment, while the rest are underemployed or in vulnerable employment. The annual gap of more than 8 million jobs is going to worsen, with the number of youth expected to double to more than 800 million in the next decades.

The AU-EU Summit will end on Thursday with resolutions and recommendations on the way forward on how both continents can work together to create opportunities for African youths.

By Kingsley Betek in Abidjan

North Korea has confirmed that it has now achieved full nuclear statehood after successfully launching a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which it said is capable of reaching anywhere in the United States.

Pyongyang launched a new type of ICBM, called the “Hwasong-15,” which flew high into space for 53 minutes before landing near Japan in the early hours of Wednesday morning local time, according to a statement carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

It said the missile reached an altitude of 4,475 kilometers, higher than any previous missile fired by Pyongyang.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared the test a success, the statement said.

After overseeing the launch, Kim “declared with pride that now we have finally realized the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force,” read the statement.

“The ICBM Hwasong-15 type weaponry system is an intercontinental ballistic rocket tipped with [a] super-large heavy warhead, which is capable of striking the whole mainland of the US,” the statement added.

In the statement, Pyongyang described itself as a “responsible nuclear power,” saying its strategic weapons were developed to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from “the US imperialists’ nuclear blackmail policy and nuclear threat.”

Meanwhile, the latest missile test, the first one in almost two months, has prompted strong condemnations, including from the United Nations (UN)’s Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called on North Korea to “desist taking any further destabilizing steps.”

“This is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions and shows complete disregard for the united view of the international community,” Guterres said in a statement.

Shortly after the test, the US, Japan, and South Korea all called for the holding of an emergency UN Security Council meeting for Wednesday.

Rattled by the early morning missile launch, South Korea almost immediately launched three missiles in a show of force. The South’s military said it had conducted missile drills on Wednesday in response to Pyongyang’s latest launch.

An Air Force KF-16 fighter jet and a Navy Aegis ship as well as an army missile unit took part in the war games, according to the military.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said at an emergency meeting in the capital, Seoul, “If North Korea completes a ballistic missile that could reach from one continent to another, the situation can spiral out of control.”

According to his office, Moon said, “We must stop a situation where North Korea miscalculates and threatens us with nuclear weapons or where the United States considers a pre-emptive strike.”

He also said that there was no choice but for countries to keep applying pressure and sanctions against Pyongyang.

Moon has said the US would have to obtain his country’s approval before potentially launching any military invasion of North Korea to stop its missile and nuclear programs. The South fears that any US attack on the North would trigger massive reprisal against South Korea, which is well within North Korean range.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon said that officials in the US, South Korea, and Japan, all agreed the missile did not pose a threat to the US, its territories, or allies.

The US-based Union of Concerned Scientists, however, said the missile was capable of reaching Washington DC. It explained that, based on its trajectory and distance, the new missile would have a range of more than 13,000 kilometers — more than enough to reach the US capital.

Source: Presstv