24, May 2023

French Cameroun: Tribal tensions spill onto the streets of Sangmelima ⁰

The tribal tensions which have been high for years in Cameroon have begun spilling out in Sangmelima, the economic capital of the South Region which is the region of the country’s president, Paul Biya.

It is being reported that a native of the West region murdered a native of Sangmelima and the locals have decided to take the law into their hands, sowing chaos and destroying anything in their path.

Shops and other businesses owned by the Bamilekes of the West Region are being ransacked and non natives are being asked to leave the region.

Recent reports hold that the government has sent troops to clean up the mess but a lot of damage has already been done with hundreds wounded, especially young men who want to protect their businesses.

Since coming to power in 1982, the Biya government has been using divide and rule tactics to keep a stranglehold on Cameroonians and this has resulted in identity politics.

By Rita Akana

More will be yours as we get the reports

24, May 2023

Southern Cameroons: No option for arrogant Biya and La Republique gang ⁰

The Vice President of the Ambazonia Interim Government Comrade Dabney Yerima said on Tuesday that the arrogant 90-year-old President Paul Biya of French Cameroun now has to accept the complete and total independence of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia with its resistance mentality.

Speaking to a group of Ground Zero commanders late on Tuesday, the exiled Southern Cameroons leader pointed out that “so long as Ambazonia Self Defense Forces remain resolute on resistance and independence, the entire Federal Republic of Ambazonia shall be liberated.”

Yerima warned that Southern Cameroonians should focus on the liberation struggle and ignore the happenings and current going-on in Yaoundé. He furthered that the French Cameroun enemy seeks to take advantage of the division in the Southern Cameroons diaspora by using some pro La Republique agents to sabotage the Ambazonia Interim Government.

Dabney Yerima noted that the much publicized Babanki kidnapping of some 50 Southern Cameroons women was teleguided from Yaoundé.

He added that the French Cameroun enemy has been irked by its failure since 2016 and Ambazonia’s refusal to accept the French Cameroun arrogance known popularly as “Special Status.”

Amba fighters, Vice President Yerima went on, have always proved that they have no fear of La Republique threats and are ready to carry out missions deep inside French Cameroun.

By Chi Prudence Asong with files from Haggai Achuo

23, May 2023

Football’s racism protocol obsolete: Ancelotti after Vinicius abuse ⁰

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti’s said on Tuesday that FIFA’s racism protocol in football was “obsolete” after Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior was abused by Valencia fans.

The 22-year-old forward suffered vile racist taunts at Mestalla on Sunday in La Liga, with three fans arrested by Spanish police on Tuesday.

Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea activated the racism protocol after Vinicius squared off with fans, singling out one whom he saw abuse him.

FIFA’s three-step process involves the match being paused until a stadium announcement is made asking for racist abuse to stop, which happened at Mestalla.

The second step, after any further abuse, is to temporarily take players off the pitch and the third step, if it continues, is to abandon the game and give three points to the opposition.

“The protocol is obsolete,” Ancelotti told reporters.

“The protocol had to be applied when the team bus reached the stadium, because the insults started there.

“Two hours before the game, and it was not an isolated case — someone from Valencia said it was — sure, it was not 46,000 people but it was not one or two.”

Video emerged Monday of Valencia fans chanting “Vinicius, you are a monkey,” when Real Madrid arrived at Mestalla.

“The protocol has to start there,” continued Ancelotti.

“If you start the protocol in the 70th minute, you have made a mistake.

“It has to start two hours before the game, and then during the game. It’s obsolete, yes.”

Vinicius was sent off later in the game for hitting Valencia’s Hugo Duro and will not be able to face Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.

Ancelotti said the player did not train on Tuesday because he felt some knee discomfort.

The striker said Spain was viewed as a “racist country” in a statement he made on Instagram late on Sunday, which Ancelotti disagreed with, but he called for drastic action to combat racism.

“Spain is not racist, I have to say that too, but there is racism in Spain, like in other places and that has to end,” Ancelotti said.

“It’s a moment to take drastic measures. Institutions have chances, above all now, to take radical measures on this important subject.”

Source: AFP

23, May 2023

Southern Cameroon Crisis: Six CPDM members kidnapped ⁰

Six members of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party have been kidnapped a day after they took part in activities marking the 51st National Day in the restive Anglophone region of the country, a member of parliament has confirmed.

Stephen Ujambeng- a local CPDM party official and Member of the North West Regional Assembly and five others including two secondary school principals were returning from the locality after taking part in National Day activities when armed men kidnapped them, Hon Philip Awuta a Member of Parliament for the area said.

“They (the kidnappers) are asking for FCFA 50 million (over $82,000) ransom only for Stephen Ujambeng and have given a three-day deadline for the money to be paid,” Hon Awuta said.

“They have not said anything yet about the five others”, he explained.

Among those kidnapped, the Member of Parliament said are a local official of the youth wing of the ruling party, two secondary school principals and two other civil servants who were returning together with Mr Ujambeng.

The North West is one of two English-speaking regions of Cameroon where gunmen pushing for the separation of English speakers from the majority French-speaking country have been battling government troops since 2017.

The separatists say they want to form an independent country called Ambazonia – made up of the two English-speaking regions.

Cameroon celebrated its 51st National Day on Saturday May 20 amidst growing tension in English speaking regions where a separatist conflict has killed over 6,000 people since 2017.

May 20 or National [Unity] day commemorates a referendum organised in 1972 by then president Ahmadou Ahidjo to change the then two state Federal Republic into one country that was baptised the United Republic of Cameroon. It was rechristened the country as Republic of Cameroon 12 years later.

The separatists had called on people in the Anglophone regions to boycott the National Day which according to them has no significance and denotes the enslavement of the people of two formerly British-administered regions to the predominantly French speaking Republic of Cameroon.

But president Biya’s government called on all citizens to come out massively and celebrate the date as a sign of unity.

Fighting between government troops and militia groups in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon has claimed over 6,000 lives since 2017 and uprooted 800,000 others from their homes – 60 percent of them being women and children who now face differentiated risks, including gender-based violence and child trafficking, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG).

Source: Nation.Africa

22, May 2023

Cameroon Football: Coton Sport crowned champion 2023 ⁰

Coton Sport has done it again. For the third year in a row, the Garoua-based club has been crowned Cameroon Elite 1 champion. After beating Gazelle (1-0) and Bamboutos de Mbouda (1-0), the Green and White finished the job by crushing Canon Yaounde (2-0) on Sunday 21, on the last day of the playoffs. Coton Sport Garoua now has a total of 18 Cameroonian championship trophies.

The party will be beautiful in Garoua, as this title seemed destined to Bamboutos de Mbouda. But the machine of the Cotonculteurs, skillfully built by Jean-Baptiste Bisseck, recruited less than two months ago, has opposed its solidity and determination until the end. Everything could have changed on Sunday but the northern club did not tremble against a rusty Canon.

Certainly the club of Yaoundé showed desire, but Coton Sport was more realistic. In search of a draw to be crowned, Patient Wassou and his teammates went on the attack. Abdouraman Daman, who had already scored in the previous match, opened the score for the Coton Sport (1-0, 23rd). Patient Wassou added to the score (2-0, 82nd) at the end of the game, allowing Coton Sport to achieve a perfect record of 3 wins in as many games. The club finishes first ahead of Bamboutos (6 points), Canon (3 points) and Gazelle (0 point).

Play-offs-3rd day

Bamboutos 4-1 Gazelle

Coton 2-0 Canon

Official League classification

1- Coton Sport 9 pts

2- Bamboutos 6 pts

3- Canon of Yaounde 3 points

4- Gazelle de Garoua 0 pt

Source: Sports News Africa

22, May 2023

Cameroon, Nigeria beef up security in Bakassi ⁰

Nigeria and Cameroon have beefed up security in the Gulf of Guinea and maritime borders as the 14 days ultimatum by the Biafra Nations League (BnL) to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi kanu, expired on May 20.

Recall that BnL had, on May 6, through its National Leader, Princewill Richards, given the two countries 14 days to release Kanu and withdraw troops from South East, as well as the Bakassi Peninsula.

Sources said there is heavy military presence as Nigeria and Cameroon have deployed heavy gunboats to the maritime borders in Bakassi Peninsula.

They noted that military presence on the major road to Calabar from Ikang has increased, while soldiers engage in stop and search operations.

The Guardian, however, observed that people were going about their normal businesses, as everywhere was calm and peaceful except for security men who were on red alert for any uprising.

An army personnel, who does not want to be mentioned, at one of the check points, said they were on a normal military exercise to forestall any violence, but declined to comment on the BnL ultimatum.

Operational Commander of BnL, Henry Edet, reacting to the reinforcement of troops, said: “They will end up intimidating indigenes, but they can’t stop anything that wants to happen.”

He noted that the BnL Chief of Staff in Ikang was alarmed that he received a call from Department of State Services (DSS) about the ultimatum, warning him against any violent action.

As part of efforts to check any violent situation, it was gathered that Richards was arrested and allegedly brutalised by police operatives in Ikot Ekpene, in Akwa Ibom State, as he was returning home after addressing the press in Calabar.

It was learnt they accused him of sending his boys to kill police operatives in Orlu, Imo State, and Essien Udim, in Akwa Ibom, as well as sending militants to vandalise pipelines in riverine areas, which he, reportedly, denied.

He has since been released on bail.

Source: The Guardian Nigeria

22, May 2023

May 20 Bonaberi- Bonanjo bomb attacks: Who or what caused the explosions? ⁰

A lot of tongues have been wagging on what caused Saturday’s dramatic explosions in Bonaberi and Bonanjo in Douala the economic capital.

Cameroon Intelligence Report chief correspondent in Douala noted that there are plenty of theories, not all of them very credible.

Yaoundé was quick to report that the bomb attacks were carried out by Ambazonia fighters from the South West region.

The Governor of the Littoral Region accused Southern Cameroons Self Defense Forces of attacking Bonaberi and Bonanjo in an “act of terrorism”.

The Bonanjo attack was staged in Bessèkè, a district in Douala 1 hosting military and civilian parade organized as part of the 51st National Day of Unity celebration.

This is not the first time reports have circulated suggesting that Ambazonia fighters have access to explosive devices and bombs.

The bomb attack on Bonaberi in the fourth district targeted “Grand Hangar” and injured many people.

According to a source at the national gendarmerie, it was homemade bombs, specifically improvised explosive devices hidden in bags.

By Haggai Fung Achuo in Douala

21, May 2023

Football: Mbappe goals secure PSG Ligue 1 title ⁰

A brace by Kylian Mbappe propelled Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-1 win at Auxerre on Sunday that effectively secured a second straight Ligue 1 title and a ninth in the last 11 seasons.

Mbappe’s goals, his 27th and 28th of the season in Ligue 1, both came in the first eight minutes at the Stade Abbe-Deschamps and set PSG up for victory.

Auxerre pulled one back early in the second half through Lassine Sinayoko but Paris held on for a victory which leaves them six points clear of second-placed Lens with two games remaining.

They require just a draw away to Strasbourg next weekend to officially be crowned champions for a French record 11th time.

However, a goal difference advantage of 16 over Lens means they are almost certain to win the title even if they end the season level on points with their rivals.

Mbappe opened the scoring in style, collecting a Fabian Ruiz pass and turning home defender Gauthier Hein inside out before shooting high into the net.

It was 2-0 two minutes later, as Hugo Ekitike left a Lionel Messi pass for Mbappe to rifle in a shot from the edge of the area.

Rayan Raveloson hit the bar late in the first half for the hosts, who reduced the deficit six minutes after the break when Nuno da Costa headed on a long clearance downfield for Sinayoko to run through and score.

Christophe Galtier’s PSG team had hoped to celebrate winning the league on Sunday, but a 3-1 victory for Lens in Lorient earlier ensured they would have to wait at least another week regardless of their result in Auxerre.

The result left Auxerre still one point and one place above the relegation zone with two matches of the season to play.

Source: AFP

21, May 2023

Southern Cameroons and La Republique celebrate National Unity Day ⁰

Cameroon has been celebrating 51 years as unified nation with a military and civilian parade on National Unity Day in its capital Yaoundé.

For all but 10 of those years it has been ruled by just one man, President Paul Biya.

And at 91 years old he is now the oldest head of state in the world.

The country is now less united than ever: Thousands of people have been killed since 2016 and over a million people displaced after a group of Anglophone Cameroonians began to fight Biya’s Francophone government.

Some of those who watched the parade sounded optimistic about their country’s future and welcomed the day.

“It is to remind that we are one people, it’s to remind that it’s together that we can build and develop, it’s to remind that it’s together that we can be happy, it’s together that we can live in peace,” said Therese Temgoua, a Francophone Cameroonian who is a bank executive.

“I think it’s a happy day, and what I’ve seen today shows that Cameroon’s democracy is actually in the right direction,” Enobi Akepe, an anglophone Cameroonian who is a university lecturer, said.

But one francophone journalist described the unity of the country as a “facade.”

“Today, Cameroonians agree that we are living in a certain facade of unity. First, because in the North-West and South-West, you know that there are secessionists who do not let us breathe. On the other hand, we see the rise of hatred in the country,” said Pierre Youte, a journalist and the director of Soleil d’Afrique newspaper.

This rainy season Cameroon is also facing a cholera epidemic which has spread to all of its regions and is known to have infected around 20,000 people.

The figure is likely to be higher as only those infected people who manage to reach hospital are counted.

On Friday, on the eve of National Unity Day, the authorities closed down some of Yaoundé’s food markets to prevent the spread of the deadly bacterial disease.

Source: Africa News

20, May 2023

Football: Chelsea eyeing a swap deal for Andre Onana ⁰

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is looking to swap Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic with Inter Milan’s goalkeeper Andre Onana over the summer. The Blues are impressed by the development of the Cameroonian goalkeeper, who is set to play the Champions League final against Manchester City.

According to the reports from Inter Live, the Blues are optimistic about landing the Inter Milan goalkeeper. The hierarchy has expressed displeasure on Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy’s inconsistencies. Hence, they are looking for a fresh face in the middle of the sticks.

Onana has been linked with a £40m move to Chelsea. However, the transfer is not in advanced stages, as it emerged before the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as manager. The board feels that a signing before the official appointment of a manager could bring a conflict of interest between them and the manager. Hence, they hope to receive the green light from the former Tottenham Hotspur manager.

Despite involving Kovacic in the deal, the Blues are also looking to bolster their midfield options for next season. There are links with Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo as partners for Enzo Fernandez in the middle of the park. However, Boehly’s main priority is reducing the club’s wage bill.

Chelsea have had a horrific 2022-23 season, as they are on course to finish outside the top 10 in the Premier League for the first time this century. Manchester City also knocked them out of the FA Cup and League Cup, respectively. Lastly, they lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. Now, the board hopes to right the wrongs of last summer and have better options to compete next season.

Source: Clutch points