Politics

9, December 2017

UN chief slams killing of peacekeepers in Congo, calls carnage ‘war crime’ ⁰

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has strongly denounced a deadly attack, allegedly carried out by a Ugandan-based rebel group, against the world body’s peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which claimed the lives of over a dozen UN troops in the African country.

“These deliberate attacks against UN peacekeepers are unacceptable and constitute a war crime,” said Guterres in a statement on Friday, adding, “I condemn this attack unequivocally.”

Late on Thursday, suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group attacked the Company Operating Base, run by the MONUSCO (the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC), at Semuliki in Beni territory, and engaged in a three-hour-long fierce gun battle with the peacekeepers at the base, killing at least 14 blue helmets and wounding more than 50 others, a number of them critically.

Most of the slain peacekeepers were from Tanzania while at least five of them were Congolese.

“These brave women and men are putting their lives on the line every day across the world to serve peace and to protect civilians,” Guterres added, extending condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

He also called on the DRC authorities to launch a probe into the brutal attack, which he described as the “worst attack” on UN peacekeepers in recent history, to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice. “There must be no impunity for such assaults, here or anywhere else,” Guterres added.

The restive North Kivu region, situated in eastern Congo, has experienced a number of attacks on UN peacekeeping troops. Back in October, two UN blue helmets were killed and 18 others sustained injuries when their base was attacked by the ADF armed group.

The DRC had one of the most brutal colonial rules before undergoing decades of corrupt dictatorship and back-to-back civil wars that left the mineral-rich country poor and politically unstable.

In 2006, the UN mission helped carry out Congo’s first free and fair elections in 46 years, paving the way for President Joseph Kabila to be elected for a five-year term. Kabila, however, refused to step down after his second elected term officially expired on December 20, 2016, prompting deadly violence across the African state.

Source: Presstv

8, December 2017

UK and EU reach historic deal on Brexit divorce terms ⁰

Britain and the EU reached a historic deal on Friday on the terms of the Brexit divorce after Prime Minister Theresa May rushed to Brussels for early morning talks.

The European Commission said it “recommends sufficient progress” had been made by Britain on separation issues including the Irish border, Britain’s divorce bill, and citizens rights.

The agreement paves the way for EU leaders at a summit on December 14-15 to open the second phase of Brexit negotiations, covering trade talks and a transition period.

Britain voted in June 2016 to become the first state to leave the EU, after more than four decades of membership, but the talks have been slow moving and often acrimonious so far.

“The Commission is satisfied that sufficient progress has been achieved in each of the three priority areas,” the European Commission said in a statement.

Negotiators worked through the night to seal an agreement on the terms of Britain’s departure from the bloc.

The EU had set a deadline of Sunday after the last talks on Monday broke down when May’s Northern Irish allies objected to terms for future arrangements for the Irish border.

Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker’s chief of staff Martin Selmayr tweeted a picture of white smoke — the sign used by the Vatican to signify the election of a new pope — shortly after May’s arrival.

Juncker spoke first with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar then with May on Thursday night in a bid to break a deadlock over the wording of a deal on future arrangements for the Irish border.

Border quandary

Britain agreed to pay a divorce settlement amounting to between 45 and 55 billion euros and to protect the rights of some three million European citizens living there after Brexit as part of the deal.

But Ireland’s demands that Brexit should not lead to the return of checkpoints on the border with Northern Ireland, which it said could jeopardise the peace process in the north, proved the biggest stumbling block at the end.

“In Northern Ireland we guarantee there will be no hard border,” May told a press conference with Juncker.

The pro-British DUP party which props up May’s government refused Monday’s draft deal over a phrase suggesting there would be “regulatory alignment” with the EU after Brexit — effectively putting Northern Ireland under EU law.

DUP leader Arlene Foster told Sky News there had now been changes following talks with May.

“We’re pleased to see those changes because for me it means there’s no red line down the Irish Sea and we have the very clear confirmation that the entirety of the United Kingdom is leaving the European union, leaving the single market, leaving the customs union,” she said.

On Thursday, EU Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas had dismissed British newspaper reports that the Sunday deadline could be extended into next week as “not correct”.

‘Totally and utterly incompetent’

Scotland’s nationalist leader showed little patience, accusing the British government of being “totally and utterly incompetent” on Brexit.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said “the real lesson” of the past week was that Scotland “will always be at the mercy of reckless decisions taken by Tory governments at Westminster” unless it becomes independent.

“The sooner we are in control over our own future here in Scotland the better, and this week has proved it,” she added.

Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem offered some calming words, saying Britain’s City of London financial hub “will not fall apart” after Brexit even if it loses the right to allow banks to trade freely across the bloc.

Dijsselbloem, the Netherlands finance minister who chairs meetings of his counterparts in the 19-country eurozone, said that some businesses would nevertheless have to relocate.

“I don’t believe that the City will fall apart and that everyone will flee. I don’t think that’s how it’s going to work,” he told a European Parliament committee.

His reassurances come at a time when Britain’s finance sector is anxious about losing the “passporting” rights which allow large international banks to trade throughout the EU while being based in Britain.

(Source: AFP)

5, December 2017

Spain withdraws arrest warrants issued for Catalan leaders ⁰

A judge in the Spanish Supreme Court has withdrawn European and international arrest warrants issued for leaders of an independence movement in northeastern Catalonia region.

A Supreme Court spokesman said Tuesday that former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and four members of his former cabinet will no longer need to fight extradition in Belgium, where they have stayed since a crackdown began in Catalonia against the region’s push for independence late in October.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the five were still subject to domestic warrants and they would be arrested if they return to Spain to contest a fresh regional election slated for December 21.

Supreme Court magistrate Pablo Llarena said that new evidence had been found suggesting that alleged crimes of rebellion by Puigdemont and allies were a group action, leading to the withdrawal of individual warrants issued against them.

Llarena said the domestic warrants stayed because the five had to still face rebellion, sedition and embezzlement among other charges. He added that diminished charges would be a “distortion” for other suspects already facing the probe in Spain.

Puigdemont, the main engineer of a controversial referendum of independence in Catalonia in early October, read an independence declaration on October 27 only to give Madrid the pretext to sack his government and launch a sweeping crackdown on those involved in the secession push.

There has been no indication that he will return to Spain from Belgium, where judges had been reviewing his extradition request.

“For the moment he stays in Belgium,” his lawyer Paul Bekaert said, adding that the new statement by Spain’s Supreme Court could mean that the extradition process against the five would be ended in Belgium.

Belgian prosecutor’s office, which had announced December 14 for a decision on the case, said it was assessing the new situation.

Source: Presstv

4, December 2017

After the Manyu SDO Order, Is there a role for traditional rulers? ⁰

Dear Editor,

I read on Friday the communique from the SDO of Manyu division asking inhabitants of many villages in his division to ‘relocate to safe neighbourhoods’ with repugnance and fury. When he was informed that his press release could land the despot of Etoudi in The Hague, the communique was withdrawn speedily and fittingly.

As he gave that interview on the Catholic Radio station in Mamfe withdrawing the Press Release, my mind took me back thirty years when I was growing up in Mamfe. I started asking myself about the role of the modern day chief in Manyu. As the seconds ticked by, my mind wondered about greats like Chief Mbeng Besong of Mamfe and Chief Arrey of Ossing just to name this two. I recalled the early days when Chiefs use to go to Etoudi for meetings. I recollected when it was breaking news that the Southwest Chiefs were holding a conference. This was because the Chiefs exerted power. They were esteemed and men who governed with authority and tradition.

Whilst hindsight is a great teacher, one thing I can safely say is that under the auspices of men like Chief Mbeng Besong or Chief Arrey, such an idiotic Press Release wouldn’t have been conversed. How on the face of this earth would a rascal from ENAM with such a pathetic understanding of the people he is administering come out with such absurdity? The SDO in the old days had a duty to meet and establish a great relationship with the Chiefs so the governing of the area was peaceful and lawful.

Traditional chiefs play an important role in rural communities. They are leaders or heads of groups especially of a clan or a tribe. Chiefs are involved in decision making on many aspects in the day to day affairs of villages. This CPDM regime clearly demonstrates scorn and insolence and a blatant disrespect for the norms and rights of the natives.

As if his actions and disdain were not bad enough, the public silence from the Chiefs of these villages have been very loud. This loud silence from the Chiefs leads me to one question- are the Chiefs a dying breed? If not, would they stand and be counted?

Nso John Bessong, Barcelona

Spain

2, December 2017

French Cameroun Military Operation: Biya has by this misadventure put a pistol on his own head ⁰

The military operation ordered by Paul Biya is an escalation of the genocide campaign that has been ongoing since French Cameroun invaded Southern Cameroon fifty six years ago and commenced a military campaign of terror and genocide that has claimed millions of Southern Cameroon lives and devastated the economy and way of life of the people.

With the public declaration of the escalation of the genocide campaign, targeting all Southern Cameroonians, Ambazonians must now declare the right to self defense and declare that any French Cameroon soldier, administrator or whosoever aids in its war effort or administration to vacate the Southern Cameroon. The Federal Republic of Amabazonia will protect all civilians and civilian targets and abide by the laws and customs of war in prosecuting this war of self defense.

French Cameroun soldiers who lay down their arms and refuse to kill Southern Cameroonians will not be hurt so also their families. Those who kill Southern Cameroonians or obey the criminal orders of Paul Biya will be hit even in their own territory and homes. They will have nowhere to hide. Ambazonia will win this last limp of the fifty six years war against its people.

No soldier of fortune of French Cameroun deployed to commit genocide, rape, maim and loot will return alive. With international law and justice on the side of Ambazonia, the enemy will soon learn the hard reality of history which the reckless ambitions of Adolf Hitler Paul Biya have brought unto the free world.

Like his mentors Hitler, Biya has by this misadventure put a pistol on his own head and that of his country French Cameroun. Ambazonia by the end of this campaign will prevail by totally liberating itself while helping Biya to terminate his satanic misadventure.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

1, December 2017

Southern Cameroons Crisis: ADF and Boko Haram Inch Closer to Agreement ⁰

The Southern Cameroons crisis which started in October 2016 with demands by Southern Cameroonian lawyers and teachers has taken a turn for the worse, as Dr. Cho Ayaba’s Ambazonia Defense Forces and Boko Haram are exploring ways of cooperating with a view to making things terribly messy for the government of Cameroon which still holds that the Anglophone problem which is a typical political issue can only be addressed militarily.

Speaking to an ADFmilitary official who elected anonymity, it is clear that the days ahead would be very unsettling for Cameroonians. The general advised that they were capable of striking fear into the minds of Cameroonians as a means of dragging the aging government to the negotiating table. He pointed to the killing of more than 20 government troops over the last month, especially in Manyu Division, advising that their hit-and-run tactics were paying off.

He stressed that they would continue to act like the Vietcong until the government of Cameroon found the need to call for inclusive dialogue as requested by the Vatican and the international community. He said the placing of bombs in markets, churches, mosques and social gatherings was not excluded, adding that all was fair in love and war.

He pointed out that the killing of many government army troops was proof that ADF was capable of inflicting significant damage to Cameroon’s forces that are neither well trained nor motivated to fight a war that is unconventional. He stressed that his troops would continue to hit the government where it hurt the most, adding that what will soon befall the country will reduce what has so far happenedto a dress rehearsal.

He urged government troops to resist killing ordinary Cameroonians as that would only lead to the killing of soldiers, adding that many more families would soon be without their loved ones as the conflict would be taking a different turn. He urged Cameroonians, especially Francophones, to join the struggle in order to rid themselves of a man who had robbed them of their dignity.

Asked about rumors of an impending alliance with Boko Haram, the ADF officer laughed off the rumor, adding that the most important issue facing Cameroon for now was the Biya government that was without a vision and no sense of direction. He stressed that while the main objective as stated by Dr. Lucas Cho Ayabawas to liberate Southern Cameroons from the exploitative relation with East Cameroon, it would be good if the minority in Cameroon could bid the Biya regime goodbye and restore real democracy in Cameroon.

In this regard, he said an alliance with other enemies of the system would be welcome and that there were efforts underway to establish strategic alliances with whoever wants to see the Biya government out of power. “We are ready and prepared for any alliance that will help us achieve our goal,” he said. He pointed out that Boko Haram that was very active in the North was the outcome of poor governance, adding that it would be hard to eradicate the insurgency in the North due to deep-rooted systemic corruption.

Asked about Mr. Biya’s statement upon arrival in Yaounde on Thursday, November 30, 2017, about the killing of soldiers in Agborkem and Otu in Manyu Division, the general laughed and said those were empty threats that would not help to bring about peace in the region. He said they had heard that before and would not yield to such noise.

He said if Mr. Biya was coming out to make such a statement, it meant their tactics were having the right impact. He said for more than one year, the Cameroon leader had been acting as if all was fine in the country. He stressed that the country should be ready for the worse, as ADF was prepared to shock the world to prove that Mr. Biya and his troops cannot really govern the country.

He said they were looking forward to the actions Mr. Biya had promised, adding that more troops in Southern Cameroons meant more body bags heading back to French Cameroon as his men would know how to handle the ill-trained troops who are not even motivated to fight a war they know nothing about.

He revealed that ADF was looking to recruit Liberians who are seasoned fighters. He said their experience in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire would surely come in handy in Cameroon. He also said that since most of them would be mercenaries and had no emotional attachment to Cameroonian troops, they would really achieve the goals that would be set for them.

He however called on the government to avert bloodshed by calling for genuine and inclusive dialogue. He said though both parties were still frozen in their positions, there was still an opportunity for things to be discussed at the negotiating.

He said time was fast running out, adding that it would be in everybody’s interest if a peaceful solution was sought, instead of using brute force that is sending many young men to an early grave. Cameroon could be an oasis of peace if its leaders could ensure that all grievances were dealt with in a democratic manner, he said.

Asked about their troops, he said they were doing fine, adding that Dr. Ayaba had just finished visiting their troops in Nigeria and other parts of the continent. He said their morale was high and that they were ready for action. He said for those who had a sense of history, they would remember that it was young men and women who had run into exile when Mobutu was slaughtering his own people who came back to chase him out of power.

“Our fighters may look like a ragtag military, but they are effective and reliable. We are not concerned about the government’s display of force. All of that is just grandstanding. We will continue to erode their confidence until they understand that we are a dangerous group that must liberate Southern Cameroons,” he stressed. He called on the government to look into the mirror of history so as to learn the lessons of life. He said Congolese (Zairean) rebels were once refugees and when they had learned the tricks, they had to come back to send Mr. Mobutu to an early grave.

He said those refugees in Nigeria would one day come back to bite the government of Cameroon as they are really bitter. He promised that before long, the world would be ridding itself of another African dictator who has brought death and destruction to his people. He said the attacks on the soldiers would be stepped up in the coming days, especially in Manyu Division, where there are no roads. He said those dirt roads would be booby traps that would consume army soldiers in the days ahead. He added that the vast border between Manyu Division and Nigeria provided them the perfect cover they needed to reduce the government to a laughing stock.

A Cameroon Concord News Production

1, December 2017

‘Merkel’s party, SPD agree to enter coalition talks’ ⁰

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, her Bavarian ally Horst Seehofer, and SPD Party leader Martin Schulz agreed during a meeting late on Thursday to enter into talks to find a way out of the recent political impasse in forming a coalition, a party official said on Friday.

The leaders of the three parties discussed various options for forming a coalition government, including a Merkel-led minority government, but they voiced skepticism about the latter option, said the party official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity and on the condition the party not be named.

Merkel has been looking for a coalition partner after her center-right bloc lost support to the far right in Sept. 24 elections and her attempts to form a three-way tie-up with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens failed.

Public opinion also appeared to be behind the new sides opening talks, with a poll commissioned by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung showing 61 percent of Germans wanted the SPD to enter coalition negotiations with Merkel’s conservatives.

Spiegel weekly noted that Thursday’s meeting was crucial for the chancellor.

“For Merkel, it’s a fight for political survival that’s starting,” said Spiegel.

“Merkel must do everything to forge this alliance — the only one that would ensure stable power,” it added.

(Source: Agencies)

1, December 2017

Zimbabwe: The Crocodile names military figures to cabinet posts ⁰

Zimbabwe’s new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, appointed senior military officials to top posts in his new cabinet and chose a veteran cabinet minister to head the finance ministry.

Mnangagwa was sworn in as president last Friday after 93-year-old Robert Mugabe quit under pressure from the army.

He named Patrick Chinamasa as finance minister, Air Marshal Perrance Shiri land minister, and Major General Sibusiso Moyo foreign minister, among other appointments.

He also brought back many faces from the Robert Mugabe-era, which could disappoint Zimbabweans who had been expecting a broad-based government and a break with the past.

Chinamasa, a former finance minister in Mugabe’s government, moved to a newly-created ministry of cyber security in a reshuffle last month. The cyber portfolio has been folded into the information ministry headed by a former deputy minister in Mugabe’s government, Supa Mandiwanzira.

Mnangagwa is under pressure to deliver, especially on the economy, which is in the grip of severe foreign currency shortages that have seen banks failing to give customers cash.

He told heads of government ministries on Tuesday that he was putting together a “leaner” government, which would see the merging of some departments to enhance efficiency.

(Source: Reuters)

28, November 2017

Understanding the Fru Ndi-Balla-Munzu Bamenda meeting ⁰

A gang of Southern Cameroons figures facing threat to their political existence met in the Bamenda County to demand a cessation of French Cameroun government sanctioned arrests of people in the Federal Republic of Ambazonia. Aside the arrests, the gang of five led by Ni John Fru Ndi asked the French Cameroun government to release Southern Cameroonians being held in connection with the uprising.

They called on the Francophone government to step up efforts to ensure return of people who fled the conflict, a general amnesty for those who are in exile and for an end to internet restriction imposed since late September. The undersigned political leaders and so-called leading members of the civil society met in Bamenda and claimed to brainstorm on the urgent need for frank, inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue on the ‘Anglophone crisis.’

A press release issued at the end of the meeting and dated November 26 read as follows: “The undersigned political leaders and leading members of civil society met in Bamenda today to brainstorm on the urgent need for frank, inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue on the ‘Anglophone crisis.’”

According to them, it is only dialogue that can serve as a ‘means of returning the Northwest and Southwest regions to normalcy’ and that it should be organized ‘without further delay.’

The Bamenda forum finally betrayed the unprecedented, but fledgling supply of huge financial resources by a cadre of President Biya agents in the political and diplomatic sectors of Southern Cameroons. It is abundantly clear that Prof. Munzu and Dr. Barrister Agbor Balla initiated the meeting.

As pointed out sometime ago, Barrister Agbor Balla is still in his pre detention mind set. The character of the Southern Cameroons conflict has shifted and Prof. Munzu, Fru Ndi, Balla et al needs time to understand that it has moved from lawyers and teachers strike to a popular revolt.

By arresting Barrister Agbor Balla in the course of dialogue, President Biya criminalized dialogue. Balla was charged for terrorism for advocating dialogue. The Bamenda forum means that Balla has still not understood the significance of his abduction, his eight months detention as well as that of hundreds of Southern Cameroonians, the annexation of the Southern Cameroons territory and the resolve of the people of Southern Cameroons to defend themselves.

Biya has made the country a large open air prison with poverty and unemployment as security guards. Southern Cameroons is a state of blood and constantly under pervasive climate of repression, fear, torture abduction, killings and forceful detentions. They have shut down the internet services and are committing war crimes inside Southern Cameroons territory. Yet, Fru Ndi, Munzu, Balla and Co still believes in the CPDM crime syndicate.

Apart from Fru Ndi, other signatories to the statement included Prof. Simon Munzu, Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor Balla, Prince Ekosso and Mrs. Ndi Christine.

By Soter Agbaw-Ebai, CCN

27, November 2017

China denies role in Zimbabwe’s coup ⁰

China’s Foreign Ministry has denied playing a role in the recent political developments in Zimbabwe that led to the ouster of long-time ruler Robert Mugabe.

“China always upholds the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs and this remains unchanged,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Monday while congratulating Zimbabwe’s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Geng also denied claims that a visit by Zimbabwe’s army chief General Constantine Chiwenga shortly before the political crisis erupted in Harare earlier this month was a sign of China’s role in the developments that led to Mugabe’s house arrest.

Geng said Chiwenga’s visit was pre-planned and had nothing to do with the political situation in Zimbabwe.

“It was planned long before and it was also approved by the former president Mugabe,” said the official, adding that the visit was a “normal interaction.”

For nearly half a century, China has maintained a huge influence in Zimbabwe as it originally supported anti-colonial guerrilla fighters in the 1960s and then helped their leader Mugabe rise to power in the South African country.

Beijing backed Mugabe during his 37 years in power and has been among Zimbabwe’s major trade partners.

Mnangagwa, who served as Mugabe’s deputy for years, also received training in China during the liberation struggle of the 1960s.

The spokesman said Mnangagwa, whose sacking by Mugabe sparked the political unrest in Zimbabwe, could further steer Zimbabwe toward progress.

“We congratulate President Mnangagwa on his inauguration … We firmly support Zimbabwe following a path that supports its own national conditions and we believe under the leadership of Mr Mnangagwa Zimbabwe … national development will make further progress,” Geng said.

Source: Presstv