23, December 2017

Anglophone Crisis: Bishop of Mamfe summons Christians to fervent prayer, Speaks of the abhorrent acts of hatred displayed by the Cameroon army ⁰

The Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe His Lordship Bishop Andrew Nkea has called on Christians in Manyu Division to pray for peace in the Anglophone regions of the country. In a diocesan press release issued yesterday Friday the 22^nd 2017 to all priests, Christians and people of goodwill in Manyu, Bishop Nkea spoke of the abhorrent acts of hatred displayed by the Cameroon army in Kembong and therefore summoned Christians to fervent prayer and peaceful action.

Bishop Andrew Nkea stands with all who were victims of the attack on Kembong village and entrust all who suffer to the prayers of the Blessed John Paul II as we approach Christmas.

In the two page document, Bishop Nkea outlined the reasons for the desperate need for prayers in Manyu Division. The Roman Catholic prelate observed that things have become more intractable in the Manyu constituency. He recounted some of the atrocities witnessed in kembong within the last seven days and appealed to all to make sure they dedicate 30 minutes each day to pray for peace.

In an interview the man of God granted the BBC, Bishop Nkea opined that it was extremely difficult at this stage to speak of a lasting solution to the crisis that has rocked the Anglophone regions. The Bishop of Mamfe also did confirm to the BBC that some 20 houses were completely destroyed by Cameroon government forces in Kembong. The attack by Cameroon government troops on the people of Kembong has been interpreted by some Anglophone barons of the ruling CPDM regime as “an attack on the unity of the nation.”

By Judith Fon in Mamfe

22, December 2017

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Biya regime denies Nigerian border incursions ⁰

Cameroon has denied allegations that its soldiers crossed into Nigeria without permission and attacked villages said to be hosting and training armed separatist groups.

The media has reported that at least one incursion has been confirmed by the Nigerian government and military officials. However, Cameroon says that since President Paul Biya declared war on armed separatists about a month ago, it has attacked only border villages in Cameroon where the groups were hiding.

“The terrorists had taken advantage of the dense forests at the border with Nigeria to set up secret training camps from which they organized raids against our defense forces,” said Cameroon’s communication minister and government spokesman, Issa Tchiroma. “Following the dismantling operation thus carried out, the hideout of these murderers were literally destroyed and the villages previously taken hostage were liberated.”

Two weeks ago, Cameroon said the armed separatists advocating independence for the English-speaking northwest and southwest portions of the country were being trained in Nigeria. Lawan Abba Gashagar, Nigeria’s high commissioner to Cameroon and special envoy of president Muhammadu Buhari, visited Cameroon’s president and said they would collaborate in fighting the terrorists.

This week, Reuters and Nigerian local newspapers reported that Cameroon troops had crossed into Nigeria in pursuit of the armed separatists without seeking authorization from Nigeria, causing a fallout between the two governments.

Cameroon says it attacked separatist training camps in three of its border villages around Mamfe and Eyumojock.

Ojong Anslem, a resident of Eyumojock, says the separatists are still gaining a lot of support from the borders.

“What is now on the streets in the northwest and southwest is secession,” Anslem said.

The UNHCR says the violence has pushed thousands of Cameroonians across the border to Nigeria since October 1, the day the separatists said they had declared their independence and their humanitarian needs were growing.

Source: VOA

22, December 2017

“Commonwealth Secretary General has no idea on the happenings in Manyu” ⁰

A group of Southern Cameroons political elites including human rights activists who met with the visiting Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland today in Buea, failed to deplore the atrocities committed by the Francophone dominated army in Manyu Division. Fru Ndi, Akere Muna and Co did not also urge for punishment of the perpetrators.

Our senior intelligence officer in Yaoundé revealed that President Biya and his gang of Francophone political elites approved the audience granted to the SDF Chairman Ni John Fru, the former Chairman of the outlawed Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium, Barrister Agbor Balla and the renowned Barrister Akere Muna by Mrs Scotland. None of the Southern Cameroonians reported the harrowing tales of torture, killings, abduction of women and children and sexual violence currently going in Manyu Division to the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

A well-placed source in the Roman Catholic Church hinted Cameroon Intelligence Report that, the Bishop of the Mamfe Diocese His Lordship Bishop Andrew Nkea is very deeply disturbed by what he witnessed and heard throughout his visit to Kembong village in Eyumojock Sub Division. The deprivation and range of sexual violence are hard to describe, people are targeted and suffering just for being Anglophone.

The Buea meeting is the last lapse of the Secretary General’s five day official visit to the divided nation. No deal, according to the interim government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia has come out of the Patricia Scotland trip which was interpreted by some political commentators as a “last chance” to stop the genocide going on in Southern Cameroons.

Fru Ndi and Akere failed to provide any accountability for serious crimes which is fueling impunity throughout West Cameroon. The leader of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe has said that those responsible for this war against Southern Cameroonian civilians must be stopped with the perpetrators of these horrific acts brought to justice.

In Dadi in the Akwaya Sub Division, a mother told CIR that her husband and her two sons were shot in front of her by Cameroon government forces and she was gang-raped by several soldiers. Young men in Otu village were forced to rape relatives in front of family members.

The interim government of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia will be releasing a detail report soonest. Southern Cameroons has been gripped by conflict ever since the 84-old President Biya declared war against Anglophone Cameroonians. Hundreds of Southern Cameroonians have been killed and thousands have fled to neighboring Nigeria.

Culled from Cameroon Intelligence Report

22, December 2017

Pope Francis slams ‘the corrupt’ in Holy See ⁰

Pope Francis has denounced the “corrupted” elements and the “cancer” of cliques in the Catholic Church who portray themselves as “martyrs” when they are removed.

The Pope said on Thursday that while there were many faithful elements working at the Holy See, there were also elements that were “corrupted.”

When they are removed, “they falsely declare themselves martyrs of the system, of an ‘uninformed pope’ or the ‘old guard,’ when in fact they should have done a mea culpa,” he said.

On that same day, the pontiff attended the funeral service of dishonored US Cardinal Bernard Law at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

Cardinal Law, who resigned as Archbishop of Boston after covering up years of sexual abuse of children by priests but was promoted at the Vatican, died Wednesday at age 86.

His funeral was held with about 200 people attending and no mention of what caused his downfall.

Pope Francis attended the funeral to recite blessings and conduct a brief service known as the Final Commendation and Farewell, which he does for all cardinals who die in Rome. The pope read out the Latin prayer of farewell and commendation to God without adding any comment.

About 15 cardinals were present, including Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Piero Parolin, but Law’s successor in Boston, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, did not attend.

Law was Archbishop of Boston — one of the most prestigious and wealthy American archdioceses — for 18 years when then-Pope John Paul reluctantly accepted his resignation on December 13, 2002, after a tumultuous year in Church history.

A succession of devastating news stories by Boston Globe reporters showed how priests who sexually abused children had been moved from parish to parish for years under Law’s tenure without parishioners or law authorities being informed.

Victim groups had expressed outrage that Law’s funeral would be held in St. Peter’s Basilica and that he would be buried in a crypt in a chapel of the Rome Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he served as archpriest after leaving Boston.

About a half dozen ambassadors to the Vatican attended the Mass. The United States’ official representative was Louis Bono, the current chief of mission at the US embassy to the Vatican.

US Ambassador-designate to Vatican Callista Gingrich and her husband Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House of Representatives, attended in a private capacity. Callista officially takes on her role as ambassador on Friday.

The ambassadors of Britain, Japan, and South Korea also attended.

‘New bishops worse than amateur Cardinal Law’

Law left Boston after revelations that he covered up for dozens of priests who raped and sexually molested children, moving them to different parishes without telling parents or police.

The scandal, exposed by The Boston Globe then spread throughout the US and the world, with thousands of people from all continents coming forward in ensuing years with claims their priests sexually abused them when they were children.

St. John Paul II’s decision to promote Law to head St. Mary Major in 2004 reinforced the impression that the Vatican — which had turned a blind eye to abuse for decades — still hadn’t grasped the scale of the problem, the trauma it caused its victims, and the moral credibility the church had lost as a result.

Rev. Thomas Doyle, a key whistleblower in the decades-old clerical sex abuse saga, said there were still bishops who have chosen to protect the Church and their priests more than children.

“One thing is certain: Bernard Law may be the remembered face of hierarchical cover-up and mendacity, but there are others who were far, far worse and carry a greater burden of guilt because they knew by then what the score was,” Doyle said in an email, ticking off a list of well-known bishops who have been publicly shamed — and in some cases prosecuted — for covering up for their priests.

“They make Law look like an amateur.”

Source: Presstv

22, December 2017

Four days to Christmas, Yaounde invaded by garbage ⁰

It is becoming extremely difficult in Yaoundé to take a step without falling on a pile of garbage deposited in the streets and not removed for ages.

This rubbish is now part of the decor to the chagrin of the people and the environment- a legacy of the Biya Francophone Beti-Ewondo regime.

Health and Safety Cameroun (Hysacam), the company in charge of the collection and management of waste appears overwhelmed by the tonnage of household waste.

The corrupt CPDM regime which recently liberalized the garbage collection and management sector is slow to find partners. As a result, garbage piles and trash cans are multiplying in the nation’s capital.

By Rita Akana

22, December 2017

Catalan separatists win absolute parliamentary majority ⁰

Catalan separatists won a crucial snap poll Thursday, plunging their region into further uncertainty after a failed independence bid rattled Europe and triggered Spain’s worst political crisis in decades.

With turnout at a record high and 99.6 percent of the ballots counted, the election handed a mandate back to the region’s ousted separatist leaders, even after they campaigned from exile and behind bars.

In a clear indicator of the huge gulf over independence afflicting Catalan society, anti-secessionist centrist party Ciudadanos was meanwhile on course to win the biggest individual result with 37 of the 135 seats in the regional parliament.

“It’s a strange feeling. We won the majority of seats, but we lost in votes. As such both sides will be able to claim victory,” 26-year-old doctor and separatist supporter Fran Robles told AFP after the results were announced.

“It’s a good reflection of the reality that Catalonia is politically divided,” he added. But unless the three pro-independence lists fail to clinch a deal to work together in the coming months, they will rule Catalonia with 70 of the 135 seats in parliament — two less than their previous tally of 72.

For Catalans on both sides of the divide the day had been a moment of truth, following weeks of upheaval and protests unseen since democracy was reinstated following the death in 1975 of dictator Francisco Franco.

“This is a result which no one can dispute,” deposed leader Carles Puigdemont said from self-imposed exile in Belgium, as he celebrated the separatists’ win.

“The Spanish state was defeated. (Spanish Prime Minister Mariano) Rajoy and his allies lost,” he told reporters.

Upset for Rajoy

The Spanish government called the election after it took the unprecedented step of stripping Catalonia of its treasured autonomy in the aftermath of an independence declaration on October 27 that rattled a Europe already shaken by Brexit.

At stake was the economy of a region that has seen its tourism sector suffer and more than 3,100 companies — including the largest banks, utilities and insurers — move their legal headquarters out of Catalonia since the referendum.

The declaration came weeks after a banned independence referendum on October 1, which saw a police crackdown that sent shockwaves around the world.

Rajoy and his conservative cabinet tried to nip the independence movement in the bud, sacking the regional government and dissolving its parliament.

In a further obstacle for the separatist cause, the judiciary pressed charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of funds against the secessionist leaders.

Puigdemont, who had fled to Belgium where he tried to rally international support for the separatist cause, has not since returned to Spain, where he faces arrest. His Together for Catalonia list nonetheless secured the best result of the three separatist groupings — in a major upset for Rajoy’s government.

“Puigdemont president!” chanted Puigdemont’s campaign manager Elsa Artadi at a rally celebrating the result.

“The result we have obtained is heroic, we have won, Mr Rajoy,” Together for Catalonia candidate Eduard Pujol said.

What still remains unclear, however, is whether Puigdemont will be renamed president, and if so, whether he will return from Belgium and how he might govern.

(Source: AFP)

22, December 2017

Hand-in-hand with few survivors, Bishop Nkea in historic visit to Kembong ghost village ⁰

The Bishop of the Diocese of Mamfe, His Lordship Bishop Andrew Nkea has visited Kembong village destroyed by the Francophone dominated armed forces recently in one of the most deadliest attack ever since the Southern Cameroons uprising.

Cameroon Concord News gathered the man of God was speechless as he walked across the numerous houses burnt down by the Francophone army. 6 Cameroonian soldiers were also killed, 6 riffles were seized by the Southern Cameroons militants and a pickup 4×4 hilux truck was damaged along the Mfuni road that left some of the passengers seriously wounded.

For a reminder, the village of Kembong in Eyumojock Sub constituency suffered casualties with the most pathetic being the burning down of the home of the late UNDP parliamentarian Chief Alfred Besong by government soldiers. The Cameroon government troops also set fire on the only hotel in kembong including five other buildings. A new brand Siena car was destroyed and a civilian shot on the leg. The villagers have all escaped to the forest and kembong is now a ghost village.

By Judith Fon

21, December 2017

Africa Cup of Nations: CAF renews warning to Cameroon ⁰

Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Ahmad, has reiterated his warning to Cameroon about their hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations. Ahmad Ahmad In response to a question about Cameroon holding on to the hosting of the tournament in its new expanded 24-team format in 2019 Ahmad wasted few words.

“If the host country is unable to organise it, we will find a country that will organise it,” he said. “The authorities in the country, up to the head of state, have always confirmed to us that they will be ready.” Before CAF approved changes to the format and timing of the Nations Cup, Cameroon’s sports minister Ismael Bidoung had been forced to deny preparations were behind schedule.

Cameroon once again insisted it would be ready to host the tournament soon after Caf moved it to June/July and increased it from 16 to 24 teams. In August Ahmad said: “Cameroon will have to work to convince Caf on its ability to host the event.” He again clarified that it will be down to an independent company conducting inspections to let Caf know if Cameroon are fit to host the event. “We will leave it to the host country to work with an independent private firm without any influence from us whatsoever,” “It is up to them to provide us with the information that will enable us to say that Cameroon will be ready or Cameroon will not be ready. But we won’t negotiate anything.”

Audit firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers was due to conduct an inspection in August but they withdrew at short notice without giving reasons. An inspection is now due to happen early in 2018.

Source: Vanguard

21, December 2017

Thousands flee violence in Southern Cameroons ⁰

Thousands of people are fleeing unrest in English-speaking areas of southern Cameroon into southern Nigeria.

The government has banned public gatherings, suspended transportation and shut businesses as activists seek a state independent from the majority French-speaking areas.

The more than 30,000 refugees now in southern Nigeria are being looked after by the Nigeria refugee agency and a few non-governmental organizations.

But many say they don’t have much to eat or anywhere suitable to live.

Source: Aljazeera

21, December 2017

Prime Minister Philemon Yang weighs in on ENAM scandal ⁰

Prime Minister Philemon Yang has said that he wants to know how a student who died months ago gained admission into the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM). Cameroon Concord News gathered that Mr. Philemon Yang has ordered an investigation to shed light on what appears to be a new scandal in Cameroon’s prestigious school, which is going to accommodate Junior and Brenda Biya, the son and the daughter of the President of the Republic for the 2018 academic year.

The controversy came to light after it was revealed the name of a candidate Njdomo Millsaints Claude, who died well before the entrance examination, ended up in the list of those admitted with a score of 14/20. The late Njdomo Millsaints Claude was among the 5 successful candidates into Cycle A of the Faculty of Administration.

The Prime Minister is aware that the late student did not do the oral session of the examination but came first in the scoring. Philemon Yang has created a commission of inquiry composed of representatives from the PM office, the Ministry of Public Civil Service and Administrative Reform (MINFOPRA), the president of the board of directors of ENAM and the rector of the school.

It is the third scandal that has rocked ENAM’s 2017 entrance examination process. On November the 16th, the results of the eligibility candidates published by the rector, Linus Toussaint Mendjana and announced over state radio and television were immediately annulled by the Minister of Public Service, Angel Michel Angouing. Following presidency arbitrations, other results were published on the 17^th of November by the MINFOPRA that were also affected by many inconsistencies.

By Sama Ernest