11, November 2024

Putin offers African countries Russia’s ‘total support’ ⁰

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered what he called “total support” for Africa, including in the struggle against terrorism and extremism.

The speech was read out at a summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to his African counterparts.

Several African governments have cut ties with traditional Western allies and are looking to Moscow for help in tackling frequent attacks by jihadists.

During the summit, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré said Russia was a more suitable international partner than the former colonial power, France.

It is a view shared by several of France’s former colonies – and was reiterated by Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, who contrasted the Kremlin’s “sincere” partnership to the “neo-colonial” relationship of Western powers.

He said that as well as military co-operation, Mali was exploring other joint projects in the energy, telecommunications, technology and mining sectors.

“Russian companies are working in all these areas with the Malian government and [private] partners in Mali to provide solutions to the challenges facing the Malian people. The two parties have agreed to step up the pace to ensure rapid results,” he said on the second and final day of the conference of African foreign ministers.

Wagner mercenary fighters – now rebranded under the Africa Corps banner by Russia’s defence ministry – were the preferred choice for the military leaders who ordered French and UN troops to leave.

Russia’s help, often in exchange for access to raw materials, also comes with a promise that there will be no meddling in a country’s internal affairs or lessons on how to run an election.

However, Russia’s military expeditions to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have helped protect the junta leaders there, but have failed to make much progress in the fight against Islamist militants.

Nonetheless, the Kremlin is trumpeting about these new-found friends, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying the conference had dashed Western hopes for Russia’s isolation.

The conference taking place on Saturday and Sunday comes after two Russia-Africa summits in 2019 and 2023

And Lavrov said Russia’s relations with Africa were strengthening “more and more” with progress “on all axes”.

Putin’s speech underlined this point.

“I would like to reiterate that our country will continue to provide total support to our African friends in different sectors: ensuring sustainable development, the struggle against terrorism and extremism, combating epidemics, food problems and the consequences of natural disasters,” it said.

Emanuela Del Re, the EU special representative for the Sahel region of West Africa, told the BBC the West needed to accept the shifting sands of allegiances.

While Russia was “certainly a very malicious actor”, the Italian diplomat explained it had a strong bond with Africa going back to before independence and was not alone in its interest in the Sahel.

“It’s largely a desert but in reality the region is very crowded: because at the moment you see Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran… all member states of the EU and the UK,” she said.

In fact, African leaders were pragmatic about their need to “diversify their partnerships”, Ms Del Re said, adding it was not a time for the EU to abandon what she called the “three difficult countries” of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which have all experienced coups in recent years.

Her point was that it should not be seen as a competition.

Rwanda, which has strong ties with the UK and the West, is one of several African countries that have already signed deals with Moscow to get help building a nuclear power plant.

Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, who is also in Sochi, told the AFP news agency hundreds of Rwandan students had graduated from Russian universities, including “those who specialise in nuclear science”.

“We hope to be able to train a certain number of scientific managers specialising in this field,” he added.

Five years ago, Putin promised to double trade with Africa – this has not happened.

But using other means, which the West sees as destabilising the continent, Russia’s influence has grown significantly.

Source: BBC

11, November 2024

ICC announces investigation into chief prosecutor Karim Khan ⁰

The International Criminal Court has announced an external investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct against its chief prosecutor.

Karim Khan said he would engage in the process and continue in his role while the investigation was ongoing. He denies the allegations.

The chief prosecutor had requested an investigation by the court’s watchdog, but on Monday the ICC’s governing body said it would pursue an “external investigation”.

The announcement followed media reports about a document outlining accusations against Mr Khan, understood to include unwanted sexual touching and “abuse”.

In a statement, Mr Khan said he “had previously called for an investigation in relation to this matter”.

“I welcome the opportunity to engage in this process,” he said, adding he would continue “all other functions as prosecutor” while the investigation is ongoing.

Any issues relevant to the investigation into allegations against him would be handled by deputy prosecutors not reporting to him, “so as to ensure that the rights of all persons are fully respected,” he said.

ICC prosecutor denies sexual misconduct allegations

According to the Guardian newspaper, a female lawyer who claims to have been subjected to unwanted sexual advances by Mr Khan had raised concerns about the competence of the Independent Oversight Mechanism (IOM), the ICC’s watchdog.

The paper also reported that Khan responded to a formal sexual misconduct complaint against him by trying to persuade the alleged victim that she should deny the claims, despite having been advised to avoid one-to-one contact.

Mr Khan denied asking the woman to withdraw any allegations, the Guardian reported.

Paivi Kaukoranta, the president of the body charged with overseeing the court, last month said the IOM had been in contact with the alleged victim, but said it was not in a position to proceed with an investigation at that stage.

In a statement on Monday, she defended the IOM’s ability to carry out the investigation but said that “given the particular circumstances,” she did not object to “exceptionally resorting to an external investigation”.

“An external investigation is therefore being pursued in order to ensure a fully independent, impartial and fair process,” she said.

It comes amid intense scrutiny of the ICC and Mr Khan after the prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants linked to the conflict in Gaza.

In May, Mr Khan said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-defence minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahiya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh bore criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity from the day of Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October onwards.

Sinwar, Deif and Haniyeh have all since been killed by Israel.

In an earlier statement, Mr Khan did not explicitly blame Israel, but did juxtapose the sexual misconduct allegations and efforts to undermine his position when he described this as “a moment in which myself and the International Criminal Court are subject to a wide range of attacks and threat”.

But the sexual misconduct allegations are understood to pre-date his request for arrest warrants linked to the conflict in Gaza.

A panel of three ICC judges is currently considering the arrest warrants requested by Mr Khan.

Source: BBC

11, November 2024

Martinez Zogo-Pierre Amougou Belinga Affair: Court decision expected today ⁰

Colonel Misse Njoné, head of the panel of judges in the military tribunal handling the high-profile case of journalist Martinez Zogo’s assassination, is set to rule today on procedural objections raised by the defense and the prosecutorial motions presented by the government commissioner. This case involves 17 defendants, including 12 agents from Cameroon’s powerful intelligence service, the General Directorate for External Research (DGRE). They stand accused of kidnapping, torturing, and killing Martinez Zogo in January 2023. Zogo, a prominent radio host at Amplitude FM in Yaoundé, frequently exposed corruption involving top government officials.

The judge’s decision on whether to accept the defense’s complaints regarding alleged irregularities in the preliminary investigation and the case’s instruction phase could significantly impact the course of the trial. If the judge upholds the defense’s objections, the investigation could be restarted from scratch, potentially resulting in the release of some of the accused. During the last hearing on October 21, the government commissioner opposed all objections and requested their outright dismissal.

In recent hearings on September 30 and October 21, defense attorneys raised multiple procedural challenges, particularly pointing to errors made by investigators during both the preliminary and instruction phases. For instance, lawyers for Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga—an influential businessman suspected of ordering Zogo’s murder—argued that the search of his residence was conducted without a warrant or notification to his attorneys. They also alleged that certain items disappeared during the search.

Furthermore, the defense claims that witness statements were illegally taken and that interrogation records were “regularized” only after the fact. This retroactive approval was reportedly granted by the government commissioner, who headed the joint police-gendarme investigative team. Defense attorneys contest the legality of this team, asserting that jurisdiction should have rested with the public prosecutor in Mfou, where Zogo’s body was found, or the Central Region tribunal prosecutor.

The defense also challenges a December 1, 2023, dismissal order issued by former investigative judge Sikati II Kamwo, which called for the release of Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga and former DGRE chief Léopold Maxime Eko Eko. Following an administrative dispute, the military tribunal deemed the dismissal order falsified, keeping both men in custody. The defense now insists the order was genuine and demands the immediate release of their clients based on this document.

Since the proceedings began in March, these procedural debates have delayed the trial’s progression to substantive issues. Today’s decision by the tribunal president will determine whether the case will finally proceed to the main trial phase or face further delays.

Source: Sbbc

10, November 2024

French Cameroun: 12 bodies recovered from Dschang landslides ⁰

Workers have recovered 12 bodies following landslides that engulfed a road in the west of Cameroon, a regional official said Saturday, adding there is no hope of finding survivors.

State television CRTV reported the comments by the governor of West region, Augustine Awa Fonka.

“In our opinion, there is no longer any possibility of finding survivors,” he told the station.

Only 12 bodies had been recovered from the site of the disaster, the last of them on Saturday morning, he said.

Dozens more people are still missing, and the search for bodies is still continuing, he added.

Two landslides hit the Dschang cliff road Tuesday — the second as emergency workers were using heavy machinery to try to clear the road.

Vehicles hit included three coaches with around 20 seats each, five six-seater vehicles, and several motorbikes said Awa Fonka in an earlier statement.

Cameroon’s roads are notoriously dangerous, with almost 3,000 deaths each year in accidents, or more than 10 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization, published in 2023.

In early September, a tractor-trailer carrying passengers plunged off a cliff road into a ravine near the town of Dschang, killing eight people and injuring 62 others, including eight children.

Source: VOA

8, November 2024

Paul Biya at 100 years old: it is Swiss life expectancy that counts ⁰

Paul Biya’s faithful supporters celebrated his 42 years in power in Cameroon this week. An official statement praised both his record and his discreet style of leadership, while also hinting at a potential candidacy for the 2025 presidential election.

With 91 years on this planet, 42 of which have now been spent in Etoudi Palace, the world’s oldest sitting elected leader continues to celebrate the anniversary of the day he took office – on 6 November 1982 – after the resignation of Ahmadou Ahidjo.

Born Paul Barthélemy Biya’a bi Mvondo, Cameroon‘s head of state is both elusive and anything but elusive.

In terms of longevity, he has certainly built a lengthy tenure that almost rivals that of his Equatorial Guinean counterpart, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, whose reign has lasted over 45 years. But unlike Obiang, Paul Biya operates under the radar, like a stealth aircraft, hard to track and difficult to find.

This political trademark may well explain Biya’s long political life. According to an editorial in Cameroon Tribune on 4 November, the “Biya Code” is defined by “absence, distance and silence.” While the lack of images of the president – between the China-Africa summit in early September and 21 October – had sparked much speculation, Paul Biya’s return has been as well publicised as the anniversary of his reign.

A low-profile workaholic?

While international media often refer to the president as the “lazy king”, the deputy secretary of the Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais (RDPC) interviewed this past weekend instead described him as a leader who “works tirelessly for his country” and “knows the issues well”.

It is a narrative that continues to unfold during this anniversary period. A letter from the ruling party praises a “fantastic record” as a guarantee of “stability and progress”; a documentary screened in the provinces is titled “Paul Biya, a great statesman with a remarkable destiny”; and the latest edition of Temps des Opportunités, the magazine published by the presidential civil cabinet, speaks of “intense” diplomatic activity with “Paul Biya as a metronome”.

Even the most robust cannot escape the wear and tear of time, and the burning question is: What happens next? Although the name of his son Franck was at one point circulating as a potential successor to the presidency, the issue remains taboo. Meanwhile the symphony of praise is not without calls urging Biya to run for an eighth term in the 2025 presidential election.

A motion signed by dozens of activists and supporters invites “all Cameroonians, regardless of their political views, to join us in our call for the candidacy of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.”

When mentioning the President’s 92nd birthday in 2025, the RDPC letter responds that the Cameroonian people are “a people of respect for age and elders” and that they must “continue under the leadership” of the head of state. If he were to stand as a candidate and be re-elected, Paul Biya would be expected to complete his next term in his 100th year.

Culled from The Africa Report

8, November 2024

3 Boko Haram militants killed in Cameroon military offensive ⁰

At least three members of the Boko Haram terror group have been killed in Cameroon’s Far North region, security sources said Thursday.

They were killed in a military offensive against the terror group in the region’s Walassa locality Wednesday night, a senior military official in the region said.

“They (Boko Haram) tried to fight back when our troops attacked, but they were overcome. Several of them escaped with wounds. Our forces will continue to secure the region and protect civilians against the terrorists,” the official, who asked not to be named, said.

Boko Haram has been operating in Cameroon’s Far North region since 2014.

Source: Xinhuanet

8, November 2024

Biya regime, Société Générale, Allianz lose CFA5 Billion in YUP mobile money collapse ⁰

Shareholders in YUP Cameroon, a mobile payment subsidiary of Société Générale, have lost nearly $8 million (around CFA4.8 billion) as the company shut down in 2022, according to a liquidation notice disclosed by Africa Intelligence. Société Générale Cameroon held over 80% of the company, while other shareholders included the State of Cameroon and Allianz Cameroon, though their stakes weren’t specified.

On March 1, 2022, Nicolas Pichou, CEO of Société Générale Cameroon, informed employees of YUP’s closure. Launched in 2017 across seven African countries Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea, Ghana, and Madagascar—the platform struggled to maintain profitability despite its reach. Pichou explained that despite efforts to expand market share and enhance customer experience, YUP could not create a viable model, and market conditions made its continuation unsustainable.

Following the announcement, YUP set a three-month deadline from March 15, 2022, to reimburse customer deposits. During an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on December 29, 2023, in Douala, YUP entered liquidation, with financial expert Manfred Penda appointed as liquidator.

YUP’s Mobile Market Struggle: 96% of Accounts Remained Inactive

Despite five years of effort in Cameroon’s dynamic mobile money market, YUP’s offering failed to achieve profitability. The dominant positions of established operators, MTN and Orange, posed a significant challenge. These two companies, having entered the market nearly a decade before YUP, established extensive networks with their MTN Mobile Money and Orange Money services, leaving little room for new players.

A 2022 report from the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) highlights the scale of YUP’s struggle. By the time it shut down in March 2022, YUP Cameroon had attracted 689,071 mobile money customers,pale in comparison to the more than 21 million accounts registered in Cameroon that year. Even more telling, only 22,332 of YUP’s accounts were active, meaning that over 96% of accounts saw little to no use after their initial setup.

Meanwhile, Orange and MTN continue to vie for dominance. In 2021, Orange Cameroon claimed 70% of the mobile money market with 10 million accounts and over 100,000 business partners. However, MTN Cameroon’s CEO, Mitwa Ng’ambi, countered this, stating that MTN’s Mobile Money Corporation now boasts the country’s largest active user base, solidifying its leadership in mobile financial services.

Source: Business in Cameroon

8, November 2024

Biya regime borrows CFA1 trillion in foreign currency in first nine months of 2024 ⁰

Cameroon’s public debt rose significantly in the first nine months of 2024. According to data from Cameroon’s debt management agency, the national sinking fund (CAA), the country’s Treasury borrowed CFA1.079 trillion from international lenders between January and September. Ten new loans were signed with various financial institutions to support development projects and help accelerate domestic debt payments.

Breaking down the figures, the largest borrowing occurred in July 2024 when Cameroon secured CFA323.8 billion from American bank Citi Group. These funds aimed to speed up the payment of overdue domestic bills that had been pending at the Treasury for over three months, in line with Cameroon’s economic program with the IMF.

Besides the international bond from Citi Group, Cameroon also signed project loans totaling CFA775.4 billion in the first three quarters. These project loans represent almost 72% of the total foreign borrowings so far, achieving 79.5% of the annual target set in the 2024 revised budget law, which capped project loans at CFA950 billion.

Higher Interest Rates

The CAA report highlighted that 60.1% of these loans were at non-concessional, market-level interest rates, amounting to CFA446.5 billion. In contrast, 39.9% were concessional loans, totaling CFA308.8 billion, which typically carry lower rates. This reliance on higher-interest loans means Cameroon is now borrowing more from commercial banks like Standard Chartered, Exim Bank USA, and Citi Group, which generally don’t offer reduced rates like multilateral institutions such as the World Bank or IMF.

This shift towards non-concessional loans increases Cameroon’s interest obligations, further straining public finances. For example, in just the first nine months of 2024, Cameroon’s Treasury paid CFA250 billion in interest to international lenders. To put this in perspective, this amount could fund projects like the construction of Douala’s second bridge over the Wouri River (estimated at CFA140 billion) and cover the CFA100 billion needed to rehabilitate the Lagdo Dam (72 MW) in northern Cameroon, which remains critical for electricity supply in the region.

Source: Business in Cameroon

8, November 2024

Football: Kylian Mbappé left out of France squad for Israel and Italy games ⁰

Kylian Mbappé has been left out of the France squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Italy, with coach Didier Deschamps insisting the absence of the Real Madrid superstar “is for the best”.

It is the second successive France squad from which the national team captain has been absent after he also missed the October double-header against Israel and Belgium.

“I have spoken with him and I have made the decision for this get-together because I think it is for the best,” Deschamps told reporters at a press conference in Paris.

The 25-year-old Mbappé was rested for last month’s matches in order to help him recover from a minor thigh injury suffered playing for Real.

However, that quickly became a source of controversy when he returned to action for Real days later, before France had even played.

Mbappé was absent for France’s 4-1 win over Israel in a game played in Budapest and a 2-1 win in Belgium, and instead travelled to Stockholm for a short break with members of his entourage.

It was following that trip that Swedish media reported he was being investigated for an alleged rape. Mbappé himself said those reports were “fake news” while his lawyer said the player would take action for libel.

A Swedish prosecutor confirmed that an investigation had been opened, without naming Mbappé.

“I am not going to set out my argument, but I can say two things. The first is that Kylian wanted to come,” Deschamps added.

“The second is that it is not to do with the off-field problems because the presumption of innocence exists.”

Since last month’s controversy, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain forward has made four appearances for his club, scoring one goal. However, he remains short of his explosive best form.

“I don’t want to say any more about it. I stand by my decision,” Deschamps added.

France are second in Group A2 of the Nations League, one point behind leaders Italy, ahead of their final two fixtures.

They host Israel at the Stade de France next Thursday, November 14, and then play Italy in Milan three days later.

France are five points clear of Belgium in third place and the top two teams will qualify for the quarter-finals, which will take place over two legs next March.

The semi-finals and final will be played next June.

Veteran midfielder N’Golo Kante, of Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, returns to the squad along with Adrien Rabiot of Marseille.

Meanwhile, there is a first call-up for highly-rated Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who takes the place of West Ham United’s Alphonse Areola in the squad.

Source: AFP

6, November 2024

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Norway extends detention of Ayaba Cho Lucas ⁰

The Oslo District Court in Norway has extended the preventive detention of Ayaba Cho Lucas, leader of the Ambazonia Defence Force, for an additional four weeks. According to the decision, the separatist leader will remain under detention until November 19, 2024. The extension aims to prevent tampering with evidence. The court has also imposed restrictions on the defendant’s mail and visitation.

Born Cho Lucas Ayaba on August 11, 1972, the separatist leader was arrested by Norwegian police on September 25 in Oslo, where he resides. His arrest followed a complaint filed by Cameroonian-born US lawyer Emmanuel Nsahlai. Ayaba Cho and other separatist leaders command armed groups in these regions, fighting for the creation of an independent state named “Ambazonia.”

Ayaba Cho faces charges of incitement to crimes against humanity under the Norwegian Penal Code. The court found reasonable grounds for suspicion, citing his public statements that allegedly encourage attacks on those perceived as opponents of the Ambazonian independence movement.

Ayaba Cho’s statements are viewed as incitement to a “widespread or systematic attack” against civilians, including acts of murder, kidnapping, and persecution. The Norwegian judiciary referenced reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch documenting attacks on civilians, teachers, and students by separatist groups.

Under the Norwegian Penal Code, Ayaba Cho could face severe penalties, including long-term imprisonment. According to Article 108 of the Penal Code, penalties for incitement to crimes against humanity can reach up to 21 years in prison.

Source: Sbbc