14, June 2018

Southern Cameroons War: Nearly 90,000 Ambazonian families separated ⁰

The war in Southern Cameroons has reportedly separated some 90,000 Ambazonian families ever since it started on October 2016, amid a crackdown on innocent Southern Cameroonians by the government of the 85 year-old President Biya.

The Communications Secretary of the Ambazonian Interim Government, Hon. Chris Anu told Cameroon Intelligence Report that the number of family separations have risen very sharply in the past weeks, largely because of the French Cameroun army onslaught in the Northern and Southern zones particularly in places like Belo, Kwa Kwa, Otu, Muyenge, Menji, Azi, Menka-Pinyin, Mamfe, Ekondo Titi, Tombel, Kumba, Batibo, Kendem, and Dadi. Speaking to CIR on condition of anonymity, a prominent Southern Cameroonian resident in Yaoundé noted that the situation is shameful, disgusting and disgraceful.

The numbers are the first comprehensive disclosure by the Acting President of the Interim Government, Dr. Samuel Ikome Sako of how many families have been affected by the war declared by the French Cameroun dictator against the people of Southern Cameroons. The United Nations revealed recently that some 160,000 Southern Cameroonians have been internally displaced while some 40,000 have fled the conflict into neighboring Nigeria.

President Biya has made his hard-line stance on the Anglophone uprising an integral part of his 35 years old presidency and has vowed never to negotiate with those he described as “separatists and terrorists”. Biya and his minister for defense, Joseph Beti Assomo announced a “zero tolerance” policy which has led to crimes against humanity being committed in Southern Cameroons by French Cameroun army soldiers. Many Southern Cameroonians apprehended ever since the crisis started have been criminally charged and hundreds are being held in detention facilities in French Cameroun which generally leads to children being separated from their parents.

The Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia in a statement released last week further pointed out that some Southern Cameroons 867 teenagers currently in the Cross River State in Nigeria were separated from their parents in the Manyu County precisely from the Akwaya and Eyumojock Sub constituencies due to the intense gun battle going on in the area. The United Nations is yet to make an appeal for an immediately halt to hostilities.

source: www.cameroonintelligencereport.com

14, June 2018

Revealed: Saudi Arabia ruined Morocco’s World Cup bid ⁰

Moroccans believe it was Saudi Arabia that ruined the North African country’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

Local press in Morocco said on Wednesday that it was Saudi Arabia that “led an all-out campaign” in favor of an opposite bid to host the 2026 World Cup by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The joint North American bid won 134 votes, compared to 65 for Morocco, at a FIFA Congress in Moscow earlier in the day to gain the rights for hosting the prestigious football tournament in 2026.

Moroccan officials said Saudi Arabia, a long-time ally of their country, was very influential in nixing the success of their bid to host the tournament.

“God protect me from my friends, my enemies I can deal with,” said Moncef Belkhayat, a member of Morocco’s bid committee and ex-sports minister, before the vote opened in Moscow.

Saudi Arabia apparently led other Arab countries, especially those wealthy states in the Persian Gulf region, to support the North American bid. The move came despite a promise in April by the Arab League to back Morocco’s bid.

Senior media figures in Morocco lamented the Saudi decision. Samira Sitail, head of public broadcaster M2, said the vote showed that Saudis were no more than a vassal state for the United States.

“The United States has a new state. It is Arab and Muslim, easily exploitable, and it loves to put knives in friends’ backs,” said Sitail, making an apparent reference to Saudi Arabia.

Morocco’s national football team is also present in Russia. The team is grouped with Iran, Spain and Portugal in the World Cup games while there is a very slim chance that it meets Saudi Arabia in the second stage of the tournament.

Source: Presstv

14, June 2018

FIFA World Cup: Traditionally dressed Senegal arrives in Russia ⁰

Senegal’s team has arrived in Russia ahead of their World Cup campaign which begins in Group H with matches against Poland, Colombia and Japan.

The team that features a potent attack led by Liverpool forward Sadio Mane flew in wearing traditional African attire, with dark blue tunics and matching pants.

The fashionable team follows the head turning Nigeria team that arrived in Russia on Monday wearing green and white traditional African attire, with matching hats and shoes.

Senegal won their last warm up game on Monday against South Korea, with goals from Pape Moussa Konate and Kim Young-gwon (OG).

Culled from Africa News

14, June 2018

Southern Cameroons Crisis: CDC shuts down key Estates ⁰

The Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC has executed an immediate shut down of 8 of its Estates due to increased insecurity. Cameroon Concord News gathered that these estates include Mbonge, Illoani, Mukonje, Mondoni, Tombel, Malende and Meanja. Our source who is a management staff also hinted that the affected workers would be paid 50% of their salary.

The Director of Human Resources who spoke to our undercover reporter confirmed the company’s decision and further pointed out that the agro industrial plant may be close down completely if the fighting intensifies in Southern Cameroons.

CDC is the second largest employer after the CPDM government. Yaoundé recently ordered an investigation into the management of CDC and reportedly bailout the corporation with the sum of 90 billion FCFA. Insiders say the Estates will remain shut down for as long as security procedures are not in place for the public and CDC personnel. The shutdown is likely to be indefinite as the crisis in the Federal Republic of Ambazonia is showing no signs of ending.

The shutdown will have a direct impact on the crisis noted a highly placed Cameroon government official contacted by our correspondent in Limbe. The management immediately told the government of its decision to close down some Estates earlier this week. Since the conflict started, the Yaounde government has made one mistake after another. In January 2017, it arrested and jailed Southern Cameroonian leaders who had called for a federal system that would guarantee that the people take ownership of their own development projects.

Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor-Balla, Dr. Fontem Neba and Mr. Mancho Bibixy were captured and hastily taken to Yaounde in the belief that the population’s anger would be doused. This only inflamed Southern Cameroonians, and things actually took a turn for the worse.

To ensure that its atrocities in the region were not captured on video, the government cut off Internet and other communication systems. In the process, many businesses were killed and the unemployment rate in the region reached alarming rates. Silicon Mountain, a hub for many start-ups in the South West regional headquarters of Buea, was put out of business. The disconnection of the Internet created many Internet refugees and ever since, Silicon Mountain has become a thing of the past.

Rather than seek to appease a people who have been hurting for decades, the Yaounde government proceeded to employing tricks in the hope that it will come out of the conflict victorious. After more than six months in jail for no crime committed, Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor-Balla, Dr. Fontem Neba and others were released, while Mr. Mancho Bibixy was left in jail. He was later convicted of many flimsy crimes, including terrorism.

Once the leaders were released in 2017, the ruling party’s propaganda immediately kicked in. It portrayed the releases as an act of magnanimity on the president’s part. But the tricks of the past could no longer work the miracles they had produced in the past. The people were sick and tired of the government’s manipulation and trickery. Southern Cameroonians no longer want to have anything to do with their unfortunate past. The calls for federalism have now developed into independence and secession.

By Tina Nene Nganda

Cameroon Concord News Group

13, June 2018

Confirmed: FIFA Unveil 2026 World Cup Hosts ⁰

Football governing body FIFA has confirmed that the US, Mexico and Canada’s United Bid has won the right to host the 2026 World Cup.

According to English publication The Guardian, the United Bid received 134 votes, while Morocco received 65 votes, and one country voted for neither.

The North Americans rode to victory on a wave of support from the Americas, Europe and Asia, plus a few votes from Africa.

The 2026 edition of the global showpiece will be the first time three countries host the World Cup, but a vast majority of the tournament will be played on US soil.

Of the 80 matches, 10 will be held in Canada, 10 in Mexico and the other 60 in the US, including the final, which will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The last time the men’s World Cup was held in North America was when the US hosted it in 1994, and before then it was also held in Mexico in 1970 and 1986.

Source: Soccerladuna

13, June 2018

Southern Cameroons War: Civilians caught in deadly unrest ⁰

Civilians are caught in a deadly escalation of violence in Cameroon between security forces and separatists seeking an English-speaking state, Amnesty International said in a new report Tuesday.

The human rights group called for an end to “unnecessary and excessive force” on both sides and for authorities to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Cameroon’s unrest began in November 2016 when English-speaking teachers and lawyers in the northwest and southwest began calling for reforms and greater autonomy, criticizing what they called the marginalization of the Anglophone population by French speakers. The English-speaking community accounts for about one-fifth of the country’s 25 million people.

A government crackdown, including arrests and an internet shutdown, followed. English-language separatists then picked up the momentum, calling for an independent state.

The fighters have burned down schools and killed at least 44 members of security forces in the past year, the report says. They have vowed to paralyze the country until their leader Ayuk Tabe, who declared himself the president of the English-speaking Republic of Ambazonia, is released. He was arrested in December with 48 others in neighboring Nigeria and extradited to Cameroon.

Security forces have responded with arbitrary arrests and unlawful killings, the new report says.

In interviews with more than 150 victims and witnesses, people told Amnesty International they were blindfolded, gagged and beaten with shovels, hammers, planks and cables.

“Security forces have indiscriminately killed, arrested and tortured people during military operations which have also displaced thousands of civilians,” said Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s deputy director for West and Central Africa.

For their part, the separatists have “also carried out attacks designed to strike fear amongst the population, going as far as burning down schools and targeting teachers who did not enforce the boycott,” Daoud said.

Cameroon’s government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary said the government was reading the report and would address it Wednesday.

Source: The Seattle Times

13, June 2018

Nigeria: Man buries deceased father in brand-new BMW ⁰

A wealthy man in Nigeria has reportedly buried his deceased father in a brand-new luxurious BMW to fulfill a promise he once made to buy him a car.

Pictures have gone viral on social media showing a group of men burying the deceased person inside of an 88,000-dollar BMW X5 in a deep grave in the remote poor village of Ihiala.

The man, who was identified only as Azubuike, had reportedly promised his father to buy him a car but lost his father before he could do so. He then decided to use the car as his coffin, according to locals.

The move, however, has struck locals as well as social media users with shock and anger, with some people describing it as a waste of money in the severely impoverished country.

“This is the sort of thing that keeps us poor as black people,” said a village resident, while another local described the move as an act of “insanity and selfishness.”

Social media news website Elite Readers even speculated that the images may have been staged. It argued that the “lack of information” around the ceremony suggested that it might have been a hoax.

A similar burial made headlines back in 2015, when a billionaire buried his mother in a brand new Hummer in the Nigerian state of Enugu.

Nigeria, the seventh-most populated country in the world — with a population of approximately 200 million — was declared the world’s poverty capital last year.

Culled from Presstv

13, June 2018

Southern Cameroons War: A Biya-Buhari miscalculation ⁰

In a perfect political scenario, the next head of state of the so-called One and Indivisible Cameroon should have come from the Anglophone regions of the country. 20^th May 2018 marks the 46th anniversary of the Cameroonian nation and President Biya was convinced Cameroon would boast the largest economy in the CEMAC region and the Eldorado of peace deep within the African continent. The Francophone dictator was also confident that the two year running conflict with the people of Southern Cameroons which has claimed 2000 lives since 2016, would finally be over. Now, the ground has shifted, in part due to Biya and President Buhari’s miscalculation that by abducting and extraditing the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Julius to Yaoundé, the Southern Cameroons resistance would quickly collapse, especially if Nigeria lent its full support to French Cameroun.

But, as we now know, the Federal Republic of Ambazonia and its leadership are still alive and active and Sisiku Ayuk Tabe by extrapolation is still in power and after two years of fighting, Nigeria is now home to more than 40,000 Southern Cameroonian refugees and facing growing crises in the Cross River and Benue States. In Yaoundé, the army is at war with itself combating internal disintegration. In addition, the Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia presently controls a large portion of the rural communities in Southern Cameroons – a concern for both the French government backing Biya and the international community. With age telling on Biya and succession palaver rocking the ruling CPDM crime syndicate, nobody in La Republique du Cameroun knows what Mr. Biya is most concerned with right now. The crisis in the Central African Republic has spilled over into the East region of Cameroon and the situation is becoming more intractable.

The current breakdown in Francophone and Anglophone relations in Cameroon is due to the Biya regime seeming indifference to the crime against humanity situation playing out in Southern Cameroons. Biya is running out of cash and can no longer handle the hydra-headed crisis in the Far North, East and in Southern Cameroons with arms and ammunition. The strategy now has been to blame it all on the US ambassador to Cameroon, His Excellency Peter Barlerin. Southern Cameroons has already fallen out of Yaounde’s control. What the two Cameroons need now is peace talks.

It will be an unfortunate situation if peace talks do not begin soonest. Recently, the mayor of Mamfe, John Ayuk Takunchong made an appeal for inclusive dialogue that depicted the deteriorating security situation in the Manyu County. The Biya’s senseless war in Southern Cameroons has cost more than 14 million dollars – money that could have been better spent on developing the economy and infrastructure. The bitter truth is the Ambazonian people were subjected to a systematic and often brutal assimilation policy after reunification. The outcome is the Interim Government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

Nonetheless, from the perspective of the US chief diplomat in Yaoundé, the time to achieve a lasting peace has arrived as a result of the 2018 presidential elections without Biya as a candidate. The reasons for both Cameroons to dialogue are in a multiple. Firstly, Biya and his ruling CPDM party no longer have a strong majority government and military support even among French speaking Cameroonians. Secondly, the Cameroonian economy is not performing well. The young populations in both Cameroons are migrating out of both French and Southern Cameroons in hundreds if not thousands. Furthermore, majority of the junior Francophone army officers now appear unwilling to support the Biya government and many are simply fed up with the never-ending deployment and unrest – especially when just across Cameroon borders they can see the important economic progress of countries like Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and even Congo-Brazzaville.

It’s ironic that Biya’s attempt to crush the Anglophones and destroy the Ambazonian Interim Government has unintentionally led to increasing unrest inside his own country – French Cameroun which could lead to more Cameroon government soldiers dying. Moreover, is it really in French Cameroun’s best interests to be killing innocent Southern Cameroonian citizens including women and children and prolonging the war? Certainly, there’s no easy way forward for the Yaoundé government no matter what choices are made including ousting Biya from power. However, we of the Cameroon Concord News Group can’t help thinking that the most realistic strategy for French Cameroun is to send Biya parking and adapt to the advent of Southern Cameroons autonomy and by doing so make it French Cameroun-friendly. Do it before “wata na wata” takes all of us away. A stitch in time saves nine

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

13, June 2018

Famous Footballers Pick Their Top World Cup Goal Celebrations ⁰

Every time a FIFA World Cup rolls around, iconic, everlasting moments are produced.

They’re delivered to us in a number of ways, from winning goals in extra-time (Mario Gotze in 2014), through crazy, self-destructive actions (Zinedine Zidane’s head-butt in 2006) and legendary celebrations.

It’s that latter category that we’re most interested in, so we asked a select group of professional footballers for their favourite goal celebrations on the world’s biggest stage.

Kevin Strootman, Netherlands: Roger Milla’s Dance in 1990

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STAFF/Getty Images

“Even though it is not my thing to dance after scoring a goal, I find it fun when African players come up with celebrations at a World Cup.

“The best one? I would have to say Roger Milla dancing by the corner flag for Cameroon in 1990. It is just an all-time classic.”

Hector Moreno, Mexico: Bebeto’s Baby

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Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

“One that really marked me was Bebeto’s in the 1994 World Cup finals.

“It was the first World Cup I watched consciously. Every player now who is having a baby copies his celebration. It was so spontaneous, such a natural thing to do.

“Now that I’m a father, I appreciate it was something spectacular—to show your daughter or son that you were thinking of them after scoring the goal. To dedicate it to them, it’s such a beautiful thing to do.”

Stephan El Shaarawy, Italy: Fabio Grosso Goes Wild

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MICHAEL SOHN/Associated Press

“Scoring at the World Cup would be a dream for anyone.

“Every player would love to do it, it’s so important, and it would be a truly special moment that you could never forget.

“So for me, it has to be Fabio Grosso in 2006. It looked like he thought all those things!”

Alisson Becker, Brazil: Ronaldo Seals Glory

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DUSAN VRANIC/Associated Press

“For me, it’s Ronaldo’s after his goal in the 2002 World Cup final.

“Brazil won, obviously, and we were on top of the world, which for us is the biggest thing in football, and as a young fan, I loved watching him enjoy what he’d done for all of us.

“It meant so much to him and to every Brazilian watching.”

Asmir Begovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Martin Rose/Getty Images

“I always really liked Miroslav Klose’s somersault flip. He’s the record [World Cup] goalscorer and a true class act.

“I grew up in Germany so have always followed them in the major tournaments. When Klose came on to the scene in 2002, he made an impact right away, and that just stuck with me.

“Great player, great goalscorer and a true class act with a great celebration.”

Culled from Bleacherreport

13, June 2018

Roger Milla remembers FIFA World Cup magic as history beckons for Africa ⁰

Cameroon great Roger Milla has told AFP that he never received the credit he deserved for his World Cup goalscoring exploits.

Milla, lured out of retirement at the ripe old age of 38, left an indelible mark on the 1990 finals in Italy.

Considered an intriguing addition to a Cameroon team expected to head home after the group stages, Milla turned the tournament, and the fate of African football, on its head.

Following a shock 1-0 win over Argentina, Milla came off the bench to score twice in the final minutes of a 2-1 win over Romania, his second a fierce strike from the right side of the area.

After a 4-0 drubbing by the Soviet Union, Milla, again, stepped up to the plate.

He came off the bench again to hit his second brace, in extra-time, to secure a 2-1 win over Colombia that sent Cameroon into the last eight, the first African side to make it to the quarter-finals.

In Russia, Cameroon will be absent but Milla can take pride from the presence of a record five African teams — Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia — in the 32-nation World Cup starting Thursday.

Thoughts of that strong African contingent got Milla reflecting on those heroics 28 years ago.

“The most beautiful goal was my second against Romania,” he told AFP.

“I hope you’re going to write about it, because no other player has scored a goal like that!”

He added: “I don’t know why you (the media) don’t talk more about Africans. For me, it’s because of racism!

“If a Brazilian, German or Frenchman had scored a goal like that, you would burst everyone’s eardrums talking about it.

“But since it was a Cameroonian, a black player, it was hardly talked about. Still, Europeans told me that it should be rated among the world’s best.”

Oldest World Cup scorer

Each of Milla’s strikes were followed by what would become his trademark celebration — running to the corner flag and shimmying his hips from side to side as if dancing to his own personal tune.

In the run-up to Italia 90, the striker who had played for French clubs Bastia and Saint-Etienne had been anticipating a life of retirement in the sun on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion.

But a last-minute request by Cameroon president Paul Biya, who urged him to grab his boots and get on a plane to Italy, made sure Milla, and African football, would never be the same again.

Milla’s magic was felt far beyond Italy.

“After that first qualification for the quarter-finals, FIFA’s eye were opened,” said Milla.

“The whole world understood that in Africa there are a lot of great players, and some great football-playing nations.

“Ghana (2010), Senegal (2002) went on to emulate our achievements. But that year, a door opened for African football.”

Aside from the 1990 finals, Milla had seen a “perfectly good goal” disallowed in a scoreless draw with Peru at Cameroon’s maiden World Cup at Spain ’82.

Then, at USA ’94, he became at 42, the tournament’s oldest ever scorer.

After a 2-2 draw with Sweden and a 3-0 defeat to Brazil, a 6-1 drubbing by Russia, in which Milla scored, capped a poor campaign by the Africans.

“I scored the only goal against Russia in our final match with technical ease and the strength of a player much younger than myself!

“I showed the whole world that, even at 42, if you’ve treated yourself well, you can do it.

“I’m a legend in Africa, and in South America, where ‘King Pele’ asked me why I wasn’t born a Brazilian!

“I did for my country and for my continent, I’d like it if they talked about it more in Europe, and in France, where I spent my entire career.”

Source: AFP