Francophone government officials are multiplying their promises in order to ease the tensions in Southern Cameroons where for more than 8 weeks trade union demands have turned into a political crisis and paralyzed socio-economic activities in the two English speaking regions of the country.

The Francophone authorities are pretending that the socio-political crisis in the North West and South West are problems that affect the education sector in all regions in the country. As a result, the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo government has decided to give impetus to the education sector. The CPDM government has proposed new methods of examination into technical and scientific schools.

Yaoundé has also announced the creation of a new technical teacher training school (ENSET), – French-speaking, after that of Douala in order to reduce the presence of Francophones in the ENSET of Bambili (North- West) and Kumba (South-West). The government hinted of the establishment of new specialties in the technical education of the Anglophone sub-system and the creation of a polytechnic in Bamenda or Buea to reduce the deficit of Anglophone engineers.

The Francophone regime further announced that 2970 teachers will be contracted during the year 2017, with the objective of reducing the teacher deficit decried in rural areas.  However, the interim leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium have dismissed the Yaoundé gesture saying is too little too late. Ghost town operations have resumed all over Southern Cameroons today, Tuesday the 14^th of February 2017.

By Sonne Peter

Members of the North West Fons Union, NOWEFU have written a strongly worded memorandum to President Paul Biya on the situation of the Anglophones in Cameroon. In the document, the Union headed by Senator Fon Teche Njei raised a finger about the growing rate of insecurity in the two English speaking regions of the country.

According to the release, NOWEFU says the All Anglophone Conference I and II, SCNC and other secessionist movements were born because of the precarious conditions Anglophone Cameroonians have been going through since they joined French Cameroon in 1961.

In the Memorandum to President Paul Biya signed by the President General of NOPWEFU, the Unions SG, Fon Zofoa Ndofoa III and Treasurer General Fon Tekouh Simon, the traditional rulers said positive dialogue is the only way in which the people can come out of this impasse. They also regretted the fact that some senior government officials including journalists don’t still believe that there is an Anglophone problem.

Even though they applauded the creation of the Commission on Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, the custodians of the tradition said those appointed into the Commission should have good faith, be honest, patriotic and God-fearing. NOWEFU also trumpeted the call for amnesty to be given to all arrested and the withdrawal of Francophones judges from Anglophone courts.

Cameroun Info.Net

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front, NI John FRU NDI has urged the 83 year-old Paul Biya to intervene in the ongoing crisis rocking the two English Speaking regions of Cameroon.

Fru Ndi who was invited at the Unity Palace Wednesday February 8, 2017 in the reception ceremony for the Lions after their brilliant performance at the just ended African Cup of Nation, said it was time for the president to act fast and wisely by resolving the problem once and for all.

Asked what he discussed with Paul Biya during the handshake, John Fru NDI said, “I told Mr Biya, please can you step in and take a position yourself on what is happening.”

According to the Chairman, there are cases of gross human rights violation in the two regions with arbitrary arrest and torture, “The Lions age mates are being shot in the North West and North West. Teachers are being caught and locked up. They are arresting people and extorting money out of them. Ninjas have come with Camouflage and they are going around arresting people and intimidating them.”

The firebrand Chairman also met with some Government Ministers at the Unity Palace and without mincing words said, “I talked to Issa Tchiroma  Bakary over there and told him that he should not talk about things he does not know, he cannot stand to say that there is no Anglophone problem and he cannot be saying anyone who talks about Federation will be arrested and locked up.”

Cameroun Info.Net

Caven Nnoko Mbele who recently joined forces with former Prime Minister Peter Mafany Musonge and launched a vicious attack against the North West people and the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium has been uncovered as the most inconsistent Southern Cameroons political figure. Cameroon Intelligence Report understands that during Nnoko Mbele’s time as Secretary General of the South West Elites Association, he made the case for federalism-a position recently adopted by the Consortium.

To be sure, in November 1994, Caven Nnoko Mbele made SWELA’s case for  a ten-state federation. Caven Nnoko Mbele’s speech worried many political leaders including the leadership of the Anglophone separatist movement- the Southern Cameroons National Council.  Inside sources deep within the Buea province of West Cameroon say, Caven Nnoko Mbele’s dramatic U-turn against the demands made by Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium for federalism is frightening. Below is a synopsis of the Nnoko Mbele 1994 presentation:

1-That a ten-state federal structure in the Republic of Cameroon gives room for the authentic recognition of the genius in each ethnic group. It recognizes the capacities and potential in each culture, climate, history, language and tradition of thought and habit of Cameroon. It galvanizes all these traits into possibilities in the tasks of nation-building. It calls for a wider loyalty, a larger legitimate aspiration than any that has ever animated the Cameroonian. It repudiates the views of excessive centralization on the one hand and blights all attempts at apparent uniformity on the other. Indeed unity in diversity on a transparent administrative basis is better than unity in deception.

2-SWELA reaffirm that a Union of States in a federation along the carvings of the present 10 provincial structure should be our spring-board for the future and provide the solution for Cameroon to lay the foundation for national unity and prepare the way for peace and security-conditions vitally needed to release the potentialities buried in Cameroonians and to make a definitive step towards the full measure of our collective and individual destinies.

3-To the doubtful, skeptical and fearful of a Federation, we wish to reiterate that the ultimate goal of any government is to provide opportunities, possibilities and resources required to raise the quality of life of all its citizens through the judicious and efficient use of national resources, both human and natural.

Culled from CIR

The interim leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium have in a statement announced that steps aimed at intensifying the strike actions and the civil disobedience campaign throughout Southern Cameroons. Mark Bareta and Tapang Ivo observed in the press release that the coming week is going to be the most important in the Southern Cameroons struggle.

The leaders also reminded Southern Cameroonians to start sending text messages and making phone calls to love ones back home informing them of the new changes on the resistance plan of action. The modifications made public by the interim leaders include the following:

1- Monday the 6^th of February 2017: Ghost Town Operations observed in West Cameroon

2-Friday the 10^th of February 2017: Ghost Town Operations continue throughout West Cameroon

3-Saturday the 11^th of February 2017: Massive Ghost Town Operation including a total and complete boycott of the so-called 11 of February Youth Day Celebrations.

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium is asking Southern Cameroonians to keep their faith in the struggle and not be distracted by the failed politics and policies of some pro Paul Biya political elites. Schools will remained closed and dialogue will only begin with La Republique du Cameroun if all Anglophone detainees are released and justice for those killed by troops in Buea, Bamenda, Kumba and Kumbo.

By Sonne Peter

The trial of the leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium which was slated for the 1^st of February 2017 has been moved to February the 13^th by the Yaoundé military court. Barrister Nkongho Agbor Balla and Dr Fontem Neba including Mancho BBC were all handed eight counts charges by the Kangaroo court in Yaoundé.

The charges included hostility against the homeland, secession, civil war, revolution, armed band, propagation of false news, attacks on public agents of the state and collective resistance. The Biya regime has secretly agreed to dish out the death penalty under the Terrorism Act of 23 December 2014.

Article 2 of that law reads as follows: “The death penalty shall be punishable by any person who, in complicity or co-action, commits any act or threat that may cause death, endanger the physical integrity, Causing bodily injury or damage to property, damage to the environment “.

On the ground the strike continues despite the fact that the Internet remains cut.  The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium has embarked on a diplomatic push in the West and the body has also noted that schools will remain closed until all Anglophone demands are met.

By Sama Ernest

The only prominent female politician in Cameroon, Kah Walla has met with the detained leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium. Kah Walla issued a statement after the meeting which was sent to our London news desk some few hours ago. Below is the press release from Madam Kah Wall:

Very happy to report that we have seen Barrister Nkongho Felix Balla and Dr. Fontem Neba today. They are both well and in strong spirits. They report being literally kidnapped from the South West region on Tuesday 17 January and brought to Yaoundé by car, via Douala in the very early hours of Wednesday morning. They are being held at the SED (Sécretariat d’Etat à la Défense). Since their arrival there they have been treated humanely.

The charges brought against them are of extreme gravity including secession, treason, inciting rebellion and acts of terrorism. These charges require that we as Cameroonians mobilize and act swiftly, non-violently, but with mass determination, to ensure their IMMEDIATE RELEASE. If we do not mobilize quickly, efficiently and effectively, these leaders will pay a very heavy price.

Dr. Fontem Neba and Barrister Nkongho Balla have been part of the leadership of a movement that will forever change the perspective of how we determine the future of Cameroon. We must not let them pay the price of decades in prison or even their lives for these unfounded charges. The Deputy Secretary General of the Cameroon People’s Party and myself as President of the CPP joined a delegation of lawyers from the South West who had traveled to meet with Balla and Fontem.

We discussed the importance of mobilization with them. We are asking all political and civil society organizations and all citizens to follow the lead of the lawyers as they mobilize for the IMMEDIATE RELEASE of Dr. Fontem and Barrister Balla. We must not cede to the fear that the government is trying to instill in us. It is time to STAND UP! Stand Up for Nkongho Balla and Fontem Neba, Stand Up for all those who have sacrificed their lives in this movement. Stand Up for Bobga and Tassang, stand up for the many who stood in the streets of Buea, Bamenda, Kumba and throughout the SW and NW.

It is in the eye of the storm, that the strength of the people will be known. STAND UP, STAND UP, STAND UP! We must act without violence and with utmost determination to obtain freedom for these leaders! As we receive information on precise non-violent action to be taken, we will relay here.

Note: As we left the SED, we were informed that Mancho BBC had been brought there in the night. We were unable to see him, but will provide more information on his situation as we receive it.