President Paul BIYA, has received Letters of Credence from Gilles Thibault, Ambassador of France to Cameroon, and Mahamat Ahmat Karambal of the Republic of Chad. The ceremony held at the Unity Palace on Thursday, 10 November 2016.

Ambassador Gilles Thibault’s predecessor was Christine Robichon who spent three and a half years in Cameroon. Before his arrival in Cameroon Gilles Thibault was the French Ambassador to Burkina Faso and the West African Economic and Monetary Union.

The Head of State and the French diplomat seized the opportunity to make an overview of bilateral ties. A long-standing, dense, and multifaceted cooperation exists between Cameroon and France. This fruitful friendship has touched areas like governance, health, education, infrastructure, rural development, environment, higher education, research and culture.

Economically, Cameroon is the first trade partner of France in Central Africa and the second largest supplier of certain products like cash crops, aluminium, wood, etc.

Both countries have longstanding defence agreements. As the first partner of France, Cameroon plays a special role in the preservation of peace and security in Central Africa. Thus, Paris supports Yaounde with equipment and the training of defence forces engaged in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The second diplomat to hand letters of credence to President Paul BIYA was Ahmat Mahamat Karambal of Chad. Prior to his appointment in Cameroon, he was the Governor of the Moyen Chari region of Chad.

Bilateral relations between Cameroon and Chad are ongoing and have been diversified under the visionary leadership of Presidents Paul BIYA and Idriss DEBY ITNO. The Chadian leader paid a condolence visit to Cameroon last month after the Eseka train derailment.

Both countries are actively engaged in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorist group. Economically, studies and the sourcing of funds have been accelerated lately to realise projects like: the bridge over the Logone River between Yagoua (Cameroon) and Bongor (Chad); the extension of the railway from Ngaoundere (Cameroon) to Ndjamena (Chad); and the Ngaoundere-Touboro-Moundou road.

Culled from the Presidency of the Republic

President Biya has written his 9^th congratulatory message to the occupant of the White House in his 34 years in power as a Cameroonian democrat. The 83 year old leader has sent his “warm” congratulations to Donald Trump, the 45th president elect of the United States.

Biya stated that “I am pleased to extend to you my warm and sincere congratulations on your election as Head of State of the United States.” In the correspondence, the Cameroonian dictator acknowledged that the election of Donald Trump was a sign of Trump’s “vitality” to the American people and the “maturity” that exist in US politics.

President Biya Biya reassured his new counterpart of his availability to work to further consolidate and promote the excellent relations between the US and Cameroon. Biya came to power in 1982 and has successively congratulated Ronald Reagan in his second term (85-89) .G.H.W. Bush (89-93), Bill Clinton twice (93-2001). G. W. Bush twice (2001-2009) and Obama in 2009 and 2017.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai 

The Mayor of Belo, Ben Tosam has been defeated in the North West regional elections of the Social Democratic Front. Ben Tosam was humiliated by the incumbent Regional Chairman; Hon. Njong Evaristus Ndim of Njinikom. The SDF patriarch of Njinikom, Njong Evaristus scored 217 votes as against 192 for Mayor Ben Tosam.

Cameroon Concord News learned that the challenger ran a good campaign but unfortunately with militants who had left the SDF under controversial circumstances. Our senior political commentator in Bamenda observed that Fon Martin Yembe, deputy mayor of Ndu, a prominent member in the Mayor Ben Tosam Campaign was himself a Provincial Chairman who resigned from that position and also from the SDF.

Another chartered member of the Ben Tosam Campaign was Mrs Nyah Margaret, also a former Provincial Chair Lady who too had resigned from the SDF and joined Barrister Ben Muna’s AFP party. Chop Samuel who reportedly scripted most of the speeches delivered during the campaign season for Mayor Ben Tosam served as SDF Communication Secretary but later on resigned from the SDF and joined the ruling CPDM crime syndicate. We were also reliably informed that Nico Kubri, who moonlighted in the Ben Tosam team, had been on the communication desk of the SDF and faced out of the party for almost 20 years.

The SDF North West regional electorate saw the Ben Tosam team as CPDM mercenaries sent to destabilised the party if he won. The SDF-Boyo Division clash of the Titans is now over and Njong Evaristus Ndim has another deserving mandate. At the time of filing this report, our North West regional correspondent signalled that all those elected today were all in the Njong Evaristus list.

By Eyong Peter in Bamenda

The patriarch of Mfoundi, Emile Onambele Zibi has reacted to the crisis meeting held on Tuesday, October the 18^th, 2016 by four members of government from his native constituency over the alleged Memorandum against President Paul Biya. Emile Onambele Zibi openly attacked the main initiator of the crisis forum, Philippe Mbarga Mboa stating that their one year ban on him was inconsequential.

To Emile Onambele, Minister Philippe Mbarga Mboa who chaired the meeting is neither patriarch nor elite, or traditional leader, or anything in the Mfoundi Division. Onambele wondered aloud that, “In what capacity was Mbarga Mboa speaking?  Emile Onambele added that among the four minister of the ruling CPDM party who endorsed the decision against him, there were some that hail from Soa in the Department of Méfou-et-Afamba and have no right to rant on Mfoundi affairs.

The Mfoundi patriarch even made fun of the venue chosen to host the crisis talks. He observed that the four ministers were no longer sure of being in government pending a cabinet reshuffle to be announced soon. Emile Onambele Zibi plans to organize a press conference to unpack everything about this Memorandum affair. He revealed that the Mfoundi community have never written a memorandum to the Head of State and that what is now being discussed never came from him or the Mfoundi elites.

On Tuesday, October 18 2016, some elites of Mfoundi including four members of government, gathered and took a stand against a Memorandum from Mfoundi Division addressed to President Biya. The document carried vitriolic charges against President Paul Biya and had the signature of Emile Onambele Zibi in his capacity as president of  the indigenous people of Mfoundi.

After the meeting on Tuesday, the indigenous people of Mfoundi signed in return what they called “The Declaration of Mfoundi” and distanced themselves from their leader. They also decided to quarantine its presumed author, Emile Onambele Zibi for a period of one year. The four Ministers from Mfoundi who took part in the meeting were: Philippe Mbarga Mboa, Louis Mama Fouda, Laurent Serge Etoundi and Ngoa Seraphin.

By Rita Akana in Yaounde

In Cameroon, whenever a man or woman is appointed to any senior management position, a grandiose celebration follows showing widespread gratitude to the Head of State through numerous motions of support. This was the situation on Friday September 16, 2016 in Kribi in the Ocean Division in the South Region.

Militants of the ruling CPDM party had been summoned to deify President Paul Biya on the appointments of Charles Ndongo as general manager of the state owned radio and television and Patrice Melom as the CEO of the Autonomous Port of Kribi. The ruling elite, mobilized militants of the ruling party and some citizens of the South region, to say “Thank you” to the head of state, for the appointment of their “sons”.

By Rita Akana

The First Vice President of the National Assembly, Honourable Hilarion Etong has called on the Cameroonian youth to be more involved in the democratic process. The Parliamentarian made the call today the 15^th of September 2016 during a ceremony to launch activities to commemorate the International Day of Democracy under the theme, “Democracy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

To Hon Hilarion Etong, the youth must be included in order to meet the needs of the future generations. He used the forum to remind members of parliament of the fundamental role they must play in mobilizing more youth into the democratization process. He also emphasized that parliament must contribute towards attaining the sustainable development goals while working with government and the civil society to strengthen democracy by 2030.

Some cabinet ministers, opinion leaders and MPs were part of the session which was followed by a round table discussion. The International Day of Democracy was instituted in 2008 and is a day which provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world.

CRTV

The President of the Senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji has held talks with  the outgoing French ambassador, Christine Robichon and the new German diplomatic head, Dr Dr Hans-Dieter Stell.

During both audiences, discussions focused on bilateral and parliamentary ties between Cameroon and their respective countries. Christine Robichon who is at the end of her three-year stay in Cameroon hailed Franco-Cameroon relations.

For his part, the new German ambassador, hoped for improved partnerships as he begins his diplomatic mission in the country.

CRTV

Members and supporters of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) in Kupe Muanenguba Division of the South West Region have been urged to bury their differences and make the division a bastion of the CPDM. Prof. Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, CPDM Permanent Divisional Delegation Head for Kupe Muanenguba, made the appeal on August 27, 2016 in Bangem, while commissioning newly elected Section executives of Kupe Muanenguba I (Bangem), Kupe Muanenguba II (Nguti) and Kupe Muanenguba III (Tombel).

The event that took place in the presence of the SDO for Kupe Muanguba, Handerson Quetong Konge, was also the maiden visit of the recently appointed Central Committee Divisional Permanent Delegation. Addressing party adherents who converged on the Paul Biya stadium, Prof. Ngolle Ngolle underscored the importance of the Kupe Muanenguba permanent delegation which he said is made up of powerful people.

The Permanent delegation appointed by the CPDM National Chairman, Paul Biya, is not intended to take powers of the local party officials but rather to help in guiding and supporting them, he said. Prof. Ngolle Ngolle who is also member of the Central Committee and Coordinator of the CPDM Academy, emphasized the importance of working collectively in order to consolidate the party’s victories and win more supporters for the CPDM. “Together we are stronger”. “We should not allow enmity among ourselves because we are the party in power”, he stated. “What the National Chairman has put together, let no one put asunder”, he added.

The Kupe Muanenguba I Section President, Ambriose Mesumbe, in his welcome statement stated that the CPDM, WCPDM and YCPDM Section Presidents are determined to work as a team to consolidate the victories of the party as he counted the achievements of the New Deal. Party militants were also drilled on “the attributes of a good politician by Enongene Andrew Muabe during the CPDM get together that also saw the launching of Kupe Muanenguba Common Development Fund, with over 11 million raised in cash and pledges.

Cameroon Tribune

All the lights are now green in Cameroon for a possible re- election of the 83 years old Cameroonian dictator. After multiple calls teleguided by members of the CPDM crime syndicate and facing an opposition that has ran short of ideas and extremely lacking political finesse, President Paul Biya now has the backing of the student community.

The students have stormed the streets of the nation to say “thank you” to the head of state, for promising to make available 500 000 computer laptops to them.  The 75 billion CFA francs is a loan that the Francophone Beti-Ewondo head of state has contracted with the Peoples Republic of China, spread over a repayment period of 20 to 25 years.

Our source at the presidency of the republic hinted that the repayment of the 75 billion FCFA will run until 2036 and could be rescheduled in 2041.  Staff man Cham Victor Bama, who contributed to this report observed that in every country in the world, students are always in the opposition. He added that “The reaction coming from the student community is politically motivated.”  What is evidently clear is that President will seek another mandate soon.

President Biya is considering a cabinet shake up following pressure coming from very close family members in support of the demands of the Cameroonian first lady, Chantal Biya. Cameroon Concord News has learnt from highly placed government sources that some of the barons of the CPDM regime are on the alert for a possible reshuffle.

Joseph Le, Oswald Babouké and Remy Ze Meka have been listed by the ruling “Essingan” clan as possible replacement for Martin Belinga Eboutou, the current Minister and Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic. A source at the presidency hinted that apart from his poor financial dealings with many of President Biya’s acolytes, Martin Belinga’s health has been failing recently. We understand, he recently traveled out of the country for medical reasons.  Oswald Babouké is reportedly a cousin to first lady Chantal Biya and has been a silent force directing a large portion of the country because of the high trust placed on him by the first lady Chantal Biya and her husband

Remy Zé Méka, former Minister of Defense has always acted as a reserve general in the ruling Francophone Beti-Ewondo government.  He is often with the Head of State on private trips abroad and many have constantly referred to him as next-of-kin to the head of state.  Joseph Le, who hails from the East region in the Haut-Nyong Division, has always been a close pal to Martin Belinga Eboutou and replacing him will be a non event.

Rita Akana (Cameroon Concord News Group)