12, March 2017
Anglophone Crisis: Too much uncertainty inside the Biya regime 1
The plenary session of both the so-called Upper and Lower Houses of parliament begins on Monday March 13, 2017. As a tradition, the election of the bureau members takes place at the first session of every legislative year. This year’s maiden parliamentary sessions have been convened by both the President of the National Assembly, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril and the President of the Senate Marcel Niat Njifenji.
In the context of a crisis that has rocked the Anglophone regions of the country since the end of 2016 and the Francophone dominated government’s inability to find a solution, it would not be surprising to see some political adjustments in the Biya regime. However, the question that arises mainly is who should be sacrificed between Cavaye Yeguié Djibril and Marcel Niat Njifenji, if the head of state wants to satisfy the Anglophones?
Understandably, the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium has made it clear that the current Southern Cameroon political elites of the ruling CPDM no longer represent the aspirations of West Cameroonians. However, the Yaoundé regime still intends to try its last joker.
Using their old guerilla tactics, the Presidency of the Republic is already circulating the name of Peter Mafany Musonge as President of the Senate. The Biya men reportedly observed that Simon Achidi Achu is currently very old and weak. A reliable source hinted Cameroon Concord News that the post of Prime Minister will return to the Far North and added that the personality most foretold to this post Is Alamine Ousmane Mey, current Minister of Finance.
A journalist with a sister publication, Cameroon Intelligence Report quoted a source in Paris in the case of a constitutional revision, for the introduction of the post of Vice-President of the Republic. What we know is that several possibilities could arise for possible appointments which will have no impact on the Southern Cameroons quest for an independent state.
By Rita Akana
12, March 2017
Germany: Merkel to meet Trump in US visit 0
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to travel to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump and discuss with him issues of mutual concern. The meeting, due to take place at the White House on Tuesday, would be Merkel’s first face-to-face with Trump since he took office on January 20 this year. Merkel has been Germany’s chancellor since 2005.
The leader of Europe’s most powerful economy has emphasized that she would be representing the European Union (EU) in her meeting with the US president. “I will of course point out that for us, our country and our membership in the European Union are two sides of the same coin,” Merkel said at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, ahead of the visit.
Trump and his officials have previously questioned the institutional foundation of the EU. A spokeswoman for Merkel has said the two leaders would discuss “bilateral and international topics, and transatlantic ties.” US sources have said the two would discuss issues related to NATO, refugees, the EU, and Russia.
On almost all of those topics, Trump has adopted stances diverging — sometimes radically — from those of European leaders. One such area would be Russia. Trump has said he favors better, possibly even strategic cooperation with Russia. European leaders, on the other hand, have had serious reservations about ties with Moscow, particularly over the Ukrainian conflict.
Trump is “very interested in hearing her (Merkel’s) insights on what it’s like to deal with the Russians,” a US official said anonymously. Transatlantic trade is another area of concern for Berlin. Trump has said he plans to renegotiate the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
Presstv