25, June 2017

‘Build bridges, not walls,’ British Labour leader tells Donald Trump ⁰

British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has asked US President Donald Trump to, “Build bridges, not walls.” Corbyn made the remarks during a speech he delivered at England’s famous, huge Glastonbury Festival on Saturday.

“Look on the wall right over there that surrounds this wonderful festival. And there’s a message on that wall for President Donald Trump,” the liberal politician said as the crowd booed at the mention of Trump. “And you know what it says? Build bridges, not walls,” Corbyn said. The Labour leader was referencing to Trump’s plan to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border to stop immigrants.

Building a wall on the US-Mexico border to stop the influx of refugees and undocumented migrants coming from Central and Latin America was a hallmark of Trump’s presidential campaign. During his campaign, Trump also characterized Mexican migrants living in the US as murderers and rapists and pledged to build a wall that he said Mexico would pay for.

Source: Presstv

25, June 2017

Confed Cup: Cameroon to play for Marc-Vivien Foe ⁰

The memory of Marc-Vivien Foe who died during the 2003 Confederations Cup remains in the hearts of Cameroonian players, says midfielder Arnaud Djoum. The African champions returned to the competition after a 14-years absence; the last time being when the sad incident occured.

Foe collapsed and died during Cameroon’s semi-final against Colombia in Lyon, with an autopsy later revealing that the 28-year-old suffered from the rare heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Djoum who now plays in the same position for the Indomitable Lions and wears the same jersey number late Foe wore revealed that the team carries the memory of the player with them as they compete in this year’s Confederations Cup.

“Our side, we also play for him because he was a really good person, a big player for our country and someone really important,” Djoum told Omnisport ahead of Cameroon’s final Group B game against Germany, where they must beat the world champions to have any chance of progressing.

“We try not to speak too much about it because it was a tragedy, but we know we are here also for him, for his family and for everybody. “So we try to show good football and performances for him. Of course, I was only young [when Foe played] but I looked up to him. He was a big player.”

Source: Vanguard

24, June 2017

Yaounde: National Assembly has essentially made political corruption legal ⁰

With only 6 out of the 150 members still alive, the so-called Economic and Social Council paradoxically has seen its budget increase over the years. What is the real essence of the Economic and Social Council? Indeed millions of Cameroonians are not even aware of the existence of this body in the Cameroon government’s structure. Many do not even understand the role of this institution which is the 4th in the nation’s protocol.

To be sure, the Economic and Social Council was established on the 5th of July 1986 and according to the substantive texts that accompanied its creation, the organ is suppose to be consulted by the President of the Republic on matters relating to studies or opinions concerning program bills or economic plans.

After it went operational in 1986, President Biya and his Beti Ewondo gang abandoned the Ahmadou Ahidjo tradition of the Five-year Development plans and started the implementation of the IMF’s structural adjustment program. Consequently, the Economic and Social Council immediately after it was created, was made irrelevant by the same regime. Of the 150 founding members, only 6 are still there enjoying billions of FCFA Cameroonian tax payer’s money.

Interestingly, the boss of the Economic and Social Council, Ayang Luc some few years ago, initiated the construction of a building not far from the presidency in Yaoundé which he revealed will host the members and staff. Cameroon Concord News sources hinted that the CPDM regime approved a trifle sum of 44 billion FCFA for the project. Luc Ayang’s organ has grown exponentially over the years including its budgetary allocation that moved From CFAF 413 million in 1986 to 2 billion CFA francs in 2007.

Recently in the current June plenary session of the Lower House, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, René Emmanuel Sadi defended before the MPs a draft law fixing the powers, organization and operation of the Economic and Social Council. The bill was passed on June 21st. The Luc Ayang institution will now function fully.

A Southern Cameroon member of parliament for the Bafut-Tubah Constituency in Mezam North West region, Hon Fusi Namukong has strongly advocated for a complete shut down of the Economic and Social Council saying that the members have been wasting Cameroon’s financial resources. His appeal met with a stone wall erected by National Assembly Speaker, Cavaye Yeguie Djibriel. The SDF Member of Parliament said the remaining six members from over 150 who have all died, are given a yearly budget of FCFA 2 billion with no accountability.

By Sonne Peter
Cameroon Concord News

24, June 2017

Far North Region: 2 young girl “suicide bombers” blow themselves up in Mora ⁰

Two suicide bombers died in Mora, in the Mayo-Sava Division on Friday morning during prayers in the Guirbala district, at the entrance to the city. The two suicide bombers blew themselves up by making two light casualties. Another kamikaze was killed in Kolofata, an important locality of Mayo-Sava.

Cameroon Concord News learnt that the kamikaze woman was shot by elements of the defense forces some few seconds before she set off her bomb. The missed attack followed that of June 22nd in Kolofata, where some 8 people were killed and 4 others seriously wounded in a double explosion.

Cameroon is facing a resurgence of attacks attributed to the Nigerian Islamic sect, Boko Haram, which has allegedly pledged allegiance to the Organization of the Islamic State and is now called the Province of the Islamic State in Africa.

The Nigerian sect, although militarily weakened by the Joint Multinational Force, continues to stage regular attacks deep inside the Lake Chad region. In its recent annual report on Central Africa, the UN, acknowledged that Boko Haram, “remains a threat to the countries of Lake Chad and their people”.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai
Cameroon Concord News

24, June 2017

EU, Britain clash over Brexit citizen plan ⁰

A first item in talks between Britain and the European Union on the so-called Brexit, Britain’s exit from the EU, has appeared to be very problematic as EU leaders slam London’s plan to ensure the rights of EU citizens after Britain leaves the bloc. European Council President Donald Tusk warned on Friday that offers by British Prime Minister Theresa May on how the EU and Britain should ensure the rights of each other’s citizens risked leaving the two sides on more disagreements in the ongoing Brexit talks.

“My first impression is that the UK’s offer is below our expectations, and that it risks worsening the situation of citizens … It will be for our negotiating team to analyze the offer line by line,” Tusk said during a summit of EU leaders in Brussels. Tusk and other EU leaders urged Britain to give more details on its proposal to guarantee the rights of the three million EU citizens who now live in Britain.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said “there is a long road in front of” the EU and Britain and that the plan introduced by May was “not yet the breakthrough.” Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said May’s initial proposals were “extremely vague,” which lacked the requirements to deal with the “incredibly complicated” issue of the rights of citizens.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker described May’s offer as a “first step” but said it was not “sufficient.” Many expected May to use her immense leverage on issues such as citizens’ right to make an immediate impact on a negotiation process, which could become very complicated on other thorny issues such as how much Britain should pay to quit the EU and how its access to the EU’s single market would be after the withdrawal.
May, however, described her proposals on citizens’ right as “fair and serious”, reiterating her previous conditions that the EU should guarantee equal respect in the post-Brexit scenario for about 1.5 million British citizens living in EU countries. She vowed that under her plan, the fate of EU citizens will be a priority, laying out a series of benchmarks, which she said could shield the citizens from excessive harm because of the political divorce between Britain and the EU.

“I want to reassure all those EU citizens who are in the UK, who’ve made their lives and homes in the UK, that no one will have to leave, we won’t be seeing families split apart. This is a fair and serious offer,” May said.
Under May’s plan, those EU citizens that have legal status of residence in the United Kingdom will have the chance to regularize their situation after Brexit. They should fill an 85-page form to declare if they want to stay in the country. Authorities have vowed that they would significantly reduce the paperwork needed for the process. More details of her plan would emerge on Monday in the British parliament.

Brexit narrowly won the vote of British voters in June last year. The breath-taking process, which is expected to drag on for two years, officially kicked off on Monday as top negotiators, Michel Barnier for the EU and David Davis for Britain, gave a “positive” start to the talks in Brussels.

Source: Presstv

23, June 2017

After 34 years of crime, cruelty and corruption, Biya regime only wants Mebara’s blood ⁰

The Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara legal battle is still alive and active before the Supreme Court of Cameroon. The former secretary-general at the presidency of the republic filed appeals against two of his three convictions for embezzlement of public funds.

The famous “Albatros” case has not yet been scheduled. However, the “Cameroon Airlines” case was the subject of a hearing on June 13th, 2017.

In their pleadings, the defendants’ lawyers requested the annulment of the sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court in 2013, based on eight grounds … which the Court’s rapporteur immediately moved for a rejection. However, the prosecution ruled in favor of a cessation.

In its decision on the 27th of June, the Court could confirm the sentence (twenty years’ imprisonment), reduce it, or aggravate it. Whatever the verdict, the former Biya acolyte, Jean Atangana Mebara will always face two other convictions, of twenty-five and fifteen years’ imprisonment, in two parts of the “Albatros” case. He has been held in the central prison in Yaoundé since 6 August 2008.

By Sonne Peter
Cameroon Concord News

23, June 2017

Spain: MPs vote down Catalan independence plebiscite ⁰

Spanish lawmakers on Thursday as expected threw out a Catalan bid to hold an independence referendum which a court had already ruled illegal. Pro-separatist regional president Carles Puigdemont presented a bill calling on Madrid to “respect” the wealthy northeastern region’s attempt to hold a vote in October.

But 250 out of 350 lawmakers, led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservatives and backed by the main opposition Socialists and centrist Ciudadanos, voted down the move. Regionalist and pro-independence parties as well as the far-left Podemos group cast 92 votes in favor of a referendum.

Backed by a majority of pro-separatists in the Catalan regional assembly, Puigdemont wants to hold a referendum asking voters if they want their region, population 7.5 million, to be an independent republic.

Madrid has rejected the move as unconstitutional. Catalans appear divided on the issue, with 48.5 percent against and 44.3 percent in favor according to latest polls, although some three-quarters back holding a referendum.

(Source: AFP)

23, June 2017

Confed Cup: Cameroon, Australia hopes look tenuous after tie ⁰

Australia and Cameroon played out a 1-1 stalemate at the Confederations Cup on Thursday that further dents both countries’ hopes of progressing in the eight-team tournament in Russia.

Andre Franck Zambo Anguissa had Cameroon ahead with the last touch of the first half, but a Mark Milligan penalty on the hour mark ensured a first point for both in Group B at the new Saint Petersburg Stadium.

Australia play Chile in Moscow on Sunday and Cameroon face off against Germany at the same time in Sochi in their final pool matches.

But the chances for both the African and Asian champions to finish in the top two and progress to the semifinals look slim after they lost their opening encounters at the start of the week.

Culled from DNA

22, June 2017

Boko Haram Kolofata attack: 8 dead, 4 injured as terrorists target Minister Amadou Ali residence ⁰

8 people were killed on Wednesday afternoon in a suicide bomber attack in Kolofata, Mayo-Sava Division in the Far-North region. Eyewitnesses said that the eight people included six civilians and the two suicide bombers. 4 people were seriously injured.

Cameroon Concord News gathered that shortly after 17:30, local time, two young teenagers foiled the surveillance of the members of the vigilance committee, infiltrated Kolofata and found themselves in the vicinity of the residence of Amadou Ali, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of relations with the Assemblies.

One of the two suicide bombers staged the attack killing 6 people including his companion. The wounded were rushed to a hospital in Mora, the chief city in the Mayo-Sava Division where they are currently receiving treatment.

The locality of Kolofata, bordering Nigeria, is among Cameroonian settlements which have been under constant Boko Haram incursions. The Nigerian Islamic sect reportedly paid allegiance to the Organization of the Islamic State and is now called, Province of the Islamic State in West Africa.

By Rita Akana
Cameroon Concord News

22, June 2017

Cameroon vs Australia: Ange Postecoglou says Cameroon has Socceroos’ style wrong ⁰

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has laughed off Cameroon’s idea of Australian football as the two nations prepare for their first meeting on a football pitch. The African and Asian champions meet in the Confederations Cup in St Petersburg on Friday (1:00am AEST).

Both suffered first-up losses in the tournament. Another defeat will send that team home. With no first-hand history and such high stakes, it is only natural that both sides would engage in opposition research for the match.
But Postecoglou feels Cameroon coach Hugo Broos’s scouting report has Australia all wrong. In his press conference on Wednesday, Broos raised a few eyebrows with his description of the Socceroos’ mode of play. “Australia likes to play very direct with not many combinations and they try to be ASAP at goal,” Broos said.

That line is at odds with any assessment of recent Socceroos matches — and the opinion of Germany coach Joachim Loew. Loew praised Australia’s development after their tournament opener, won 3-2 by the Germans.
“I think they have developed very well in the last three or four years,” Loew said. “They do more combinations, not playing the long ball … it’s a team that is courageous and sometimes cheeky enough to challenge the opponents and attack very boldly.”

Postecoglou’s response to Broos suggested he knew which side of the debate he fell on. “I don’t know what [Broos is] watching but from our perspective we certainly know how we want to play our football,” he said. “The World Cup-winning coach saw it differently. You’ve got two contrasting opinions, you can choose to believe him or not.”

Source: ABC