Politics

13, November 2017

“There is no Act of Union between La Republique and British Southern Cameroons” President Ayuk Tabe ⁰

The interim President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, His Excellency Sisiku Ayuk Tabe has told Cameroon Concord News Group that there is no document detailing the transfer of power from the British government to the indigenous government of the people of British Southern Cameroons. In a telephone conversation with our chief political correspondent, Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai earlier today, the leader of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia opined that there is also no Act of Union between the British Southern Cameroons and La Republique du Cameroun. “This does not exist,” said the president.

“How would it feel for a student to go to university for 4 years then on graduation, his/her certificate is handed to the roommate? This is similar to the situation of the British Southern Cameroons. After colonisation from 1919 to 1961 (42 years) her certificate of transfer of power was handed to the neighbouring La République du Cameroun,” noted Sisiku Ayuk Tabe.

President Ayuk Tabe further pointed out that La Republique du Cameroun has now recolonized the people of the former British Southern Cameroons for 56 years. “This nation is 2 years shy of a century of colonization. Did the world declare an end to colonization many years ago? Why are humans silent on the plight of the people of the former British Southern Cameroons?” President Ayuk Tabe wondered aloud.

“When two Nations decide to merge and form one Nation, usually with the two States equal in status, they must get together and negotiate the terms of their union. At the end of the negotiations, the two nations must sign an Act of Union. The people of the former British Southern Cameroons submit that there is no Act of Union between their Nation and La République du Cameroun. Therefore, La République du Cameroun has invaded the territorial integrity of the former British Southern Cameroons” added the Sisiku

On a serious note the interim head of state revealed that with a government now in place, Ambazonians are exploring all available options to redress this situation and send the occupier to her side of the UN defined and marked border.

By Chi Prudence Asong,

Europe Bureau Chief

12, November 2017

40 Conservative MPs ready to oust Prime Minister Theresa May ⁰

Nearly 40 Conservative MPs have agreed to sign a letter of no confidence in Prime Minister Theresa May, according to The Sunday Times.

A vote of no confidence means that May could be forced from office and replaced by another Conservative.

There is a need for eight more MPs to trigger a party leadership contest. That is not unlikely as the number of parliament members, who want to oust May, has increased in recent weeks.

One minister told the paper, “It’s a horrible thing to say… but we are getting closer and closer to the point whereby we need some time in opposition to regroup.”

Divided over how to pull Britain out of the European Union and hit by several sex scandals involving ministers, May’s government has been getting weaker in asserting control over the country’s chaotic political situation

On Friday, EU Brexit chief Michel Barnier handed Britain a two-week ultimatum to make concessions on a divorce agreement if it wants to unlock the next phase of talks in December.

Frenchman Barnier said it was “vital” for Britain to increase its offer on its exit bill — a figure senior EU officials put at up to 60 billion euros — to open up talks on a future trade deal.

Tory Brexiteers, however, warned May over the ultimatum, advising the premier against giving in to the EU demands.

One Conservative former cabinet minister called the demands “unacceptable,” while another prominent backbencher said any more concessions would be a “sign of weakness.”

May has also come under criticism after two lawmakers from the Labour Party and two from the Conservative Party were accused of harassing and propositioning young women inappropriately.

UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon has also resigned from his position after accepting his misconduct toward a female journalist in the past.

Source: Presstv

10, November 2017

Ambazonia: Hon. Wirba placed under house arrest ⁰

A well-placed source deep within the Ambazonia Governing Council has hinted Cameroon Concord News that SDF MP for the Jakari constituency in Southern Cameroons is now practically under house arrest. Our source further pointed out that Hon. Joseph Wirba is currently being interrogated by elements of the French Cameroun Secret Service over statements he made during a BBC interview some days ago.

We understand that trucks loaded with French Cameroun troops were sent to the Anglophone MP’s home in Jakiri yesterday. The Francophone soldiers have taken complete control of the building.

This item is still developing

By Eyong Johnson

9, November 2017

Revealed: Francophone gendarmes were killed in coordinated attacks ⁰

Cho Ayaba, a leading member of the Ambazonian struggle has confirmed that Southern Cameroons militants killed two gendarmes in two coordinated attacks in the Bamenda County. There are however conflicting reports on the incident in Bamenda.

French Cameroun authorities have issued 15 international arrest warrants against leaders of the Governing Council including the President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe. This is the latest development as tensions continue to escalate in the so-called one and indivisible Cameroon, with Anglophone secessionists upping the ante in what they say is their struggle against President Paul Biya’s Francophone government, and the French-speaking majority, for equality.

The deaths of the two gendarmes, who were reportedly ambushed by gunmen on motorbikes, was confirmed by Cameroonian security officials. English-speaking Cameroonians say they suffer social and economic marginalisation and are forced to work in French. The deaths marked the worst fighting between Ambazonian militants and government forces in the central African state following mostly peaceful protests during the course of last year.

However, the peaceful protests have solicited a harsh response by security forces, including the use of helicopter gunships to fire on civilians, resulting in dozens killed and hundreds arrested. Last month French Cameroun opposition leader Aboubakar Siddiki was sentenced to 25 years in prison by a military court on charges that his lawyer and Amnesty International said were politically motivated.

The court convicted Siddiki, the president of northern Cameroon’s main opposition party, of hostility against the homeland as well as revolution and contempt of the president over accusations he plotted to destabilise the country.

The military crackdown on protesters has been accompanied by political dissidents being detained without trial while the media has been muzzled, including banning the opposition English-language TV channel. French-speaking Cameroon gained its independence from France in 1960 and the linguistic divide has existed for ages underground, only resurfacing recently in response to government violence.

Reported by African Independent

9, November 2017

Americans losing confidence in Trump ⁰

American voters have less confidence in President Donald Trump a year after his surprise election victory and think he is doing a “poor job” in delivering on his campaign promises, according to a new poll.

The CNN/SSRS survey released Wednesday shows that 64 percent of American voters are less confident in Trump’s ability to serve as a president, up from 43 percent immediately after his election victory.

Additionally, 55 percent of the voters think he is doing a poor job keeping the important promises he made prior to the 2016 presidential election, compared to 40 percent who believe otherwise.

There was a 9-percent drop in the number of voters who say Trump can bring the kind of change the country needs, with only 40 percent thinking that he can still pull off the job.

The decline in confidence comes mostly among independents and Republicans. Compared to November 2016, confidence in Trump’s ability to bring the needed change was down by 10 points among Republicans and nine points among independents.

However, Republican confidence in Trump’s ability to deliver on his promises has remained unchanged, at 86 percent, since April, according to the poll.

Only 30 percent say Trump is able to unite the country as opposed to 43 percent last November. Among Republicans, the figure stood at 65 percent down from 81 percent a year ago.

Nearly 65 percent say Trump’s statements and actions since taking office have made them less confident in his ability to serve as president, up from 43 percent who said so a year ago.

Trump also scored low on trustworthiness as 34 percent call him honest and trustworthy compared to 64 percent who say he is not.

Another poll revealed earlier this week showed Trump’s overall approval rating stood at 36%, the worst of his presidency. Trump’s approval ratings have been noticeably lower than any of his predecessors.

The businessman-turned-politician has drawn fire at home and abroad for his radical measures, including a ban on Muslim travelers from entering the US, a plan to build a wall along the Mexico border and rolling back on enhanced relations with Cuba.

Source: Presstv

9, November 2017

Nigeria: President Buhari says no going back to Delta insecurity ⁰

Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari said the country “cannot afford to go back to dark days of insecurity” in the oil-producing Niger Delta region. In a speech to present the 2018 budget, Buhari called on all sides to maintain dialogue.

Last week, the militant group Niger Delta Avengers threatened a “brutal and bloody” return to the violence that last year slashed oil output. Oil minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu will visit the region this week in an attempt to maintain the ceasefire.

Buhari also said the country’s exemption from production cuts organised by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was a significant help to the country during its “most challenging time.”

Source: Reuters

9, November 2017

US Elections: Southern Cameroonian wins Alderman seat in Somerville ⁰

Another winner last night in the US elections was Wilfred Mbah, who won an alderman seat in Somerville, Massachusetts. Originally from Southern Cameroons now known as the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, he is the recipient of a visa through the diversity-lottery program that Trump announced he wanted to dismantle in the wake of last week’s attack in New York City.

In an interview about his experience as an immigrant, Mbah said of Somerville, “I feel like the city has helped me a lot. Right from the beginning, I had friends that were helping me with job searches, helping me with my résumé.” But, he added,

We cannot leave it up to the generosity of private citizens to look after people who are struggling. I don’t know how many people are out there struggling to live in this city: artists, immigrants, working class people, middle class people. The city government must take a more active role in looking out for people who care about this city, and want to live and grow here.

Democrats won big last night, but there’s an even more important lesson to learn here: Progressive Democrats won big last night.

Source: The Nation

8, November 2017

Ambazonian elected Chairperson of the Executive Committee of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association ⁰

An Ambazonian serving as deputy speaker of the national assembly of La Republique du Cameroun, Emilia Monjowa Lifaka has been elected as the next chairperson of the executive committee of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) for the next three years.

Lifaka got 107 votes out of 192 in the election held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Tuesday.

The other candidates for the CPA chairperson were Niki Raffle, speaker of Cook Islands, Pacific got 70 votes while Shirly M Osborne, MLA of Montserrat, got 17 votes.

All three candidates who contested for the chairperson post were female. CPA secretary general Akbar Khan announced the results of the election.

8, November 2017

Message to Ambaland: Catalonia on standstill amid pro-independence protests ⁰

Catalonia has been brought to a standstill as hundreds of pro-independence protesters blocked the main roads and halted transportation in the Spanish region.

On Wednesday, crowds blocked roads in the regional capital of Barcelona and caused heavy traffic jams on the highways leading to the regional capital. They also brought to a halt the high-speed train service in the region.

Holding Catalonia’s flags and banners, which read “Free political prisoners,” protesters also broke into police lines and gathered in front of Catalan and local government buildings in Barcelona.

Across the region, schools were closed, roads were blocked, and trains ran on a reduced service.

Catalans block a highway near Sitges, during a general strike, on November 8, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

The general strike was called by pro-independence groups and the CSC trade union to protest the imprisonment of members of Catalonia’s ousted government, which used to be headed by Carles Puigdemont.

The biggest labor unions, CCOO and UGT, said they did not support the strike but would hold protests outside their workplaces.

Pro-independence civil organizations ANC and Omnium as well as students are expected to take to the streets throughout the day.

The Spanish central government sacked Puigdemont and dissolved the regional parliament after legislators passed an independence declaration on October 27. It has called early elections to be held on December 21 to replace the sacked regional government.

Two secessionist parties fail to form coalition

Meanwhile, Catalonia’s two main secessionist parties have so far failed to form an alliance to contest the snap regional elections.

The two main secessionist parties, Puigdemont’s PDeCAT and the ERC Party, could not resolve differences that emerged after a declaration of independence last month.

“It has been impossible to form a joint list and we will therefore have to create a joint front from various candidacies,” said ERC lawmaker Sergi Sabria in a statement.

Protesters block the nudo de la Trinidat access road to Barcelona, November 8, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

On Tuesday, Puigdemont called on Catalonia’s political groups to unite against Madrid.

“The ideal would be a broad regional list of parties… that stand for democracy and freedom,” he said.

The ousted leader said that he might be in jail by the time of the elections, “but prison doesn’t deprive anyone of legitimacy.”

On Sunday, Puigdemont turned himself in to Belgian police. Spain had issued an arrest warrant against him on charges of rebellion and sedition. A Belgian judge, however, released him and four of his former ministers on bail.

Source: Presstv

7, November 2017

Biya fires top French Cameroun diplomats ⁰

President Biya has signed a decree today, Tuesday the 7^th of November 2017, appointing new officials in almost all embassies of La Republique du Cameroun. New ambassadors and high commissioners have been appointed to Cameroon’s diplomatic missions in Belgium, Russia, Nigeria, the United States, Canada, Germany and many other countries, as well as on the African continent.

In the Biya decree, we also note the arrival of new Consulate Generals in Paris and Marseille. In the same text, the 84 year old dictator retired several diplomats. In a typical CPDM pattern, Biya appointed the wife of Prof. Maurice Kamto, the leader of the MRC opposition party as Inspector General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It should be noted that this Tuesday’s decree came in a context in which Canada and Great Britain had called for Cameroonian diplomats to be recalled to Yaounde. Cameroon diplomats were accused either of sedentarisation or of activities contrary to their status. In Britain, the authorities openly accused Cameroonian diplomats in London of drug trafficking and feeding a network of illegal immigration.

By Eyong Johnson, CCN