Beti Assomo, Atanga Nji likely behind attack that killed 20 Southern Cameroonians in Nigeria

31, May 2022

Beti Assomo, Atanga Nji likely behind attack that killed 20 Southern Cameroonians in Nigeria 0

The head of Ambazonia Intelligence Units in Ground Zero says the Francophone Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense Beti Assomo and the Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji likely ordered the attack inside Nigeria that killed 20 Southern Cameroonians on Sunday night.

“The Francophone dominated Cameroon government army are known to have previously conducted several indirect fire attack of this scale against Southern Cameroons refugees in Nigeria,” the Ambazonia Department of Foreign Affairs quoting the Intelligence chief said on Monday morning.

Despite fleeing their homeland ever since the war started in 2017, the Ambazonia Interim Government says Francophone army soldiers deployed to Southern Cameroons continues its attacks against Southern Cameroons refugees in Nigeria.

The Ambazonia Department of Foreign Affairs says 14 additional refugees were wounded during the Cameroon government army attack in the Boki Community Local Government Area of Rivers State.

By Isong Asu

Federal Republic of Ambazonia: Yerima pays tribute to martyrs, Manyu commander

31, May 2022

Federal Republic of Ambazonia: Yerima pays tribute to martyrs, Manyu commander 0

The Vice President of the Ambazonia Interim Government on Monday paid glowing tribute to Southern Cameroons martyrs, including the Manyu Amba commander killed in Afab village in Eyumojock, for contributing to the liberation of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia from La Republique du Cameroun.

Dabney Yerima reportedly told the Ambazonia war cabinet that Yaoundé was losing its grip on Southern Cameroons.

Yerima singled out the Manyu commander for his huge contributions in his last days towards the Southern Cameroons struggle saying the people of Ambazonia will not just smile one day but will cry out of joy saying thank you to all martyrs.

Vice President Yerima said liberating the Federal Republic of Ambazonia will be the Interim Government greatest accomplishment and a constant reminder of the murderousness, barbarity of French Cameroun, which pretends to be normal, decent nation.

Dabney Yerima said through armed resistance the Federal Republic of Ambazonia will be able to take back its rights and freedom, and not wait for any special status or decentralization.

The Southern Cameroons liberation, Yerima pointed out was not a walk down the street but the result of blood, tears, and fingers hitting the triggers against the French Cameroun enemy.

After paying rich tribute to the martyrs, he said he would thank all the prisoners including President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and his top aides who are enduring the suffering of imprisonment in French Cameroun and Southern Cameroons refugees in Nigeria, Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.

By Chi Prudence Asong

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Senator Mundi is freed from AGOVC-ADF gangs

31, May 2022

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Senator Mundi is freed from AGOVC-ADF gangs 0

Senator Regina Mundi has been freed from AGOVC captivity, Cameroon Concord News has gathered from several administrative sources in Bamenda and Batibo.

There are conflicting reports on the circumstances which led to her release. However, Cameroon government military spokesperson Cyrille Serge Atongfack Guemo in a statement said she was freed during an operation carried out by troops loyal to the regime in Yaoundé in the locality of Ashong, Batibo, Momo Division, North West Region.

Serge Atongfack added that some members of the Cho Ayaba armed gang were trying to escape with several hostages during the heavy exchange of fire.

Cameroon Concord News understands the population which is becoming hostile towards AGOVC criminal gangs provided the intelligence to the military and the operation finally led to the release of Senator Elisabeth Regina Mundi including several other hostages.

A revolution which started so nicely has been hijacked by some criminal elements led by one Cho Ayaba Lucas.

Today, it has become a war wherein some people are using to settle scores and those who express contrary views get blackmailed, threatened or even get their online accounts hacked just to cook up stories about them.

This is not how the revolution was conceived. It was designed to bring about dignity, a sense of responsibility in the two English-speaking regions of the country and foster unity among Southern Cameroonians.

But the revolution has clearly lost its way. Schools are still closed in rural parts of Southern Cameroons and rogues and illiterates have become judges and law enforcement agents in that part of the country.

Senator Mundi is a Southern Cameroonian and she has a right to her political opinion. Cameroon has been designed in a peculiar way and only Mr. Paul Biya can make meaningful decisions regarding major political issues.

The fear these days is that Southern Cameroonians will be killing each other because of ideological divergences and many young men who sincerely want to fight for the total independence of Southern Cameroons might quit the fight.

The Ambazonia Interim Government under Vice President Dabney Yerima should reexamine their strategy. This action of the so-called AGOVC-ADF gangs is not helping the revolution. They know who they should be fighting. Killing and kidnapping other Southern Cameroonians is a disease that is heralding the death of the revolution.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai and Enowtaku Ebanghatabi Christelle

Football: Napoli sign Cameroon midfielder on permanent deal from Fulham

30, May 2022

Football: Napoli sign Cameroon midfielder on permanent deal from Fulham 0

The 26-year-old Indomitable Lion has officially sealed a permanent transfer to the Partenopei ahead of the new campaign

Fulham have confirmed the departure of defensive midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa to Serie A giants Napoli.

The 26-year-old Cameroon international, who featured for the Partenopei in most matches of the just-concluded top-flight season as they finished third on the table, has moved to make his loan move from the Cottagers permanent for an undisclosed fee.

Robbed, attacked and threatened by armed police: The Liverpool fans engulfed in a Champions League final ‘nightmare’

“Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa will join Napoli this summer for an undisclosed fee after the club exercised their option to make his deal permanent,” Fulham confirmed on their official website.

“The midfielder played 30 times this season on loan in Naples, as they secured a third-place finish in Serie A. Anguissa departs Fulham with 66 appearances to his name, and we wish him luck in the future.”

The Indomitable Lion transferred to Fulham from Marseille in August 2018, and was loaned to Villarreal in July 2019 following the Cottagers’ relegation from the Premier League.

He made his Villarreal debut on August 17, playing the full 90 minutes in a 4-4 home draw against Granada. On August 31, 2021, Zambo Anguissa signed a new three-year deal with the Championship club before heading out on loan to Napoli for the 2021-22 season.

At Napoli, he took part in the majority of the club’s Serie A matches, making 25 appearances overall and playing 1,925 minutes. He was selected in the starting XI in 21 of these matches across their 38 fixtures and entered as a substitute on four occasions.

He last featured in a competitive game on May 22, playing just 10 minutes for Napoli against Spezia in a 3-0 victory. In total, the midfielder registered two league assists this season. He debuted in a Serie A fixture for Napoli on September 11, 2021, as a starter versus Juventus aged 25 years and 299 days.

His displays helped Napoli to end the season with 79 points from 38 matches. Luciano Spalletti’s side won 24 matches, drew seven, and suffered seven defeats. They finished seven points behind champions AC Milan, who garnered 86 points while Inter Milan came second with 84 points.

Meanwhile, Fulham topped the EFL Championship table to earn promotion to the Premier League for next season. The Cottagers managed 90 points from 46 matches, while second-placed Bournemouth reached 88 points.

Source: Goal.com

Spanish shipping firm Marguisa unveils direct service to Cameroon

30, May 2022

Spanish shipping firm Marguisa unveils direct service to Cameroon 0

Leading international container and project cargo line Marguisa,has launched its new Cameroon service, the MARGUISA CAMEROON SERVICE (MCS). It will provide a direct weekly connection between the port of Malabo and the port of Douala, making Malabo a hub port in the region.

Driven by the need to ensure regular stopovers by the MAS service, affected by the operational limitations and the port congestion in West Africa, this service fully operated by Marguisa is 5 days faster than the current one. It serves Douala from any part of the world thanks to the Marguisa connection.

Source: Africa Logistics

Cameroon gov’t troops invade Nigeria, gun down 20 Southern Cameroonians

30, May 2022

Cameroon gov’t troops invade Nigeria, gun down 20 Southern Cameroonians 0

Cameroon government army soldiers disguised as Ambazonia fighters have reportedly killed at least 20 Southern Cameroonians in a community in Boki Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Cameroon Intelligence Report correspondent in Akwaya revealed that the Francophone soldiers crossed from Tinta on Sunday and raided the locality deep inside Nigerian territory in search of separatist’s fighters.

Nigerian authorities have openly blamed the attack on Southern Cameroons Restoration Forces saying the Ambazonian fighters crossed the Nigerian border Sunday morning to attack their compatriots who fled into Nigeria and refused to join their forces to fight in Cameroon.

Southern Cameroonians who speak Bokye language have now flooded the Bashu community area, not far from Danare, where Nigerian troops have a small camp.

Cameroon government troops passing for Ambazonian fighters regularly saunter into Nigerian territory, where there are many Southern Cameroonians to wreak havoc.

By Kingsley Betek in Mamfe

Cameroon’s missed foreign policy potential in Africa

30, May 2022

Cameroon’s missed foreign policy potential in Africa 0

In April, Cameroon renewed a military cooperation agreement with Russia as Moscow intensified its offensive in Ukraine. The timing certainly supports Russia’s claim that its international isolation is relative. It also raises questions about Cameroon’s foreign policy at a time when African countries’ votes in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly are under scrutiny.

The military agreement reflects a trend in Cameroon’s foreign and trade policy that entails keeping great powers at equal distances. While the Central African country is one of the largest recipients of French development cooperation in sub-Saharan Africa, its biggest creditor is by far China. Cameroon also maintains close foreign and trade ties with the United Kingdom, United States and Germany.

This international balancing act loses its appeal when it comes to Africa and the African Union (AU), however. In May, Cameroon chaired the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) after being re-elected to the council for a three-year term. The relative indifference to this rotating chairship by Cameroonian decision makers, opinion leaders and society contrasts with the substantial diplomatic efforts taken to secure the country’s re-election.

The PSC rotating chair usually helps a government push regional and thematic priorities, and demonstrate its diplomatic ability to address continental issues. For Cameroon, it’s difficult to identify clear goals in the AU, apart from preventing the Anglophone crisis from reaching the PSC agenda. The council’s discussion of the crisis could see a peace support operation deployed to the country, which Cameroon would consider intrusive.

Cameroon’s indecisive continental foreign and trade policy can also be seen in Central Africa

Yaoundé is also poised to guarantee constant AU support for the logistical base of the African Standby Force located in Douala and the regional Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin.

Despite the many contemporary transnational issues facing Africa – an expanding terrorist threat, activating the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the resurgence of coups – Cameroon’s policy towards the AU and Africa remains unclear. It’s also characterised by limited engagement at the heads of state level, where AU decisions are ultimately made.

President Paul Biya is notorious for missing AU summits. Despite this, Cameroon has managed to get its nationals elected as commissioners in the AU’s Konaré/Ping Commissions (2003-11) and the first Faki Commission (2017-21). But these political appointments hardly compensate for the few Cameroonians in the AU Commission’s senior leadership or the absence of shared guidelines for the country’s action in the AU.

Cameroon can sometimes mobilise political capital to secure positions in the AU – such as the current head of the Reform Implementation Unit. However the country doesn’t exploit its strategic and unique location at the crossroads between the Francophonie and the Commonwealth, Sahel and Equatorial Forest, and Western and Central Africa.

The focus on the president and his personal preferences prevents diplomacy from being led by principles

Cameroon’s indecisive foreign and trade policy can also be seen in Central Africa. Based on the size of its economy, demography and transport infrastructure, the country could play an anchor role in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), which comprises six countries using the CFA franc.

But the government rarely uses this position of strength to boost Cameroon’s regional interests. Despite being the gateway to the sea for Chad and the Central African Republic, Cameroon lacks the vision and strategy to harness the strong positions of its private companies in those countries.

In the wider Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Cameroon’s power is challenged by oil-rich Angola and the war-torn but mineral-rich Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Rwanda’s increasingly active security and trade diplomacy in the region will be interesting to watch as power relations are redefined.

While CEMAC comprises countries solely committed to Central Africa, ECCAS members also have regional allegiances to Southern and East Africa. Examples of the latter include the DRC, Angola, Burundi and Rwanda. The planned merger of the two regional organisations would probably move the centre of gravity east- and southwards, diluting Cameroon’s influence in the bloc.

Cameroon’s foreign policy is notoriously obscure because official documents are rarely made public

Cameroon’s foreign policy is notoriously obscure because official documents outlining its interests and strategic goals are rarely made public. Even Cameroonian diplomats struggle to give a unified view of the country’s actions in Africa and internationally. There is no single forum convened for diplomats and their hierarchy, and the last conference of ambassadors was held in 1985.

The heavy focus on the president and his personal preferences has prevented Cameroon’s diplomacy from being led by principles. It has also been the main obstacle to the Foreign Affairs Ministry driving foreign policy rather than the presidency. But as instability grows in Central Africa, clear guidelines for Cameroon’s regional and continental engagement will become more crucial than ever.

Cameroon’s foreign policy should start with designing a neighbourhood policy. As a leading trading partner in Central Africa, Cameroon has a vested interest in the region’s stability. This makes it surprising that other less affected states increasingly settle crises on its doorstep.

A clear vision based on Cameroon’s medium- and long-term interests in CEMAC, ECCAS and the AU could guide diplomats and other foreign policy actors. Taking more responsibility for settling violent conflicts in Central Africa would boost Cameroon’s stature in the region and build skills among its civilian and military cadres.

The government has tried hard to prevent the Anglophone conflict from being considered by the AU and UN. It could learn from Rwanda and Chad, whose regional military diplomacy has successfully shielded them from international criticism in recent years.

To reposition Central Africa and Africa in Cameroon’s foreign policy, the country also needs to rectify the widespread bias which sees only diplomatic postings in Global North capitals as prestigious. Neglecting the low-hanging fruit of African diplomacy will damage the country’s image.

Culled from Defense Web

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Prominent Amba commander among 3 killed in Manyu

30, May 2022

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Prominent Amba commander among 3 killed in Manyu 0

Troops loyal to the Biya Francophone regime said on Sunday that they have killed three Ambazonian fighters including a prominent commander in Manyu Division in the South West.

The Francophone soldiers reportedly launched an offensive on Saturday in Afab village in Eyumojock Sub Division habouring a Southern Cameroons Self Defense camp and killed a senior Ambazonian commander.

Cameroon Concord News gathered from reliable sources in Ekok town that two other fighters were also killed during the clashes while four government troops were seriously injured.

Last week, Southern Cameroons Self Defense Units in Eyumojock imposed a lockdown in the area, blocking the only trunk B road that links Cameroon to neighboring Nigeria.

Clashes between the Francophone dominated Cameroon government army and Ambazonia Restoration Forces began in 2017 after President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe declared the independence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

By Enowtaku Ebanghatabi Christelle with files from Kingsley Betek

Real Madrid win 14th Champions League title over Liverpool after late start in Paris

29, May 2022

Real Madrid win 14th Champions League title over Liverpool after late start in Paris 0

Vinicius Junior scored the only goal of the game as Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in Saturday’s Champions League final in Paris to become kings of Europe for a record-extending 14th time after a night marred by problems outside the ground that led to the kick-off being delayed by over half an hour.

Brazilian winger Vinicius turned in Fede Valverde’s enticing low cross in the 59th minute at the Stade de France and Liverpool could not find an equaliser as Jurgen Klopp’s side lost to the Spanish giants in a Champions League final for the second time in five seasons.

The Anfield side will wonder what might have been had the outstanding Thibaut Courtois not pushed Sadio Mane’s shot onto the inside of a post when they were on top in the first half, as they fell short of a trophy treble.

Winners of the English League Cup and FA Cup this season, they just missed out to Manchester City for the Premier League title and were denied a victory here which would have put them level with AC Milan on seven European Cups.

Instead Real have a fifth Champions League in nine seasons to go with their Spanish title, as Carlo Ancelotti becomes the first coach to win European club football’s greatest prize for a fourth time.

Ancelotti was also in charge of Real when they won the 2014 final having also triumphed with AC Milan in 2003 and in 2007, the latter victory coming against Liverpool.

Delayed kick-off

The match kicked off 35 minutes later than the planned 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) start in the French capital after chaos at entrances to the stadium led to fans being unable to get to their seats.

UEFA said it was “sympathetic” towards those affected and put the huge build-ups of supporters at gates down to “thousands of fans who had purchased fake tickets which did not work in the turnstiles”.

Tear gas was also fired by police as a small number of people could be seen trying to scale fences around the perimeter of the ground.

The final was only moved to the French capital after Saint-Petersburg was stripped of the game following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.

The delayed kick-off may have been responsible for the slow start to the game itself, as it took 16 minutes before there was an incident of note, Mohamed Salah turning a low Trent Alexander-Arnold cross towards goal only for Courtois to save.

Liverpool were seen as favourites to avenge their loss to the Spanish giants in the 2018 final in Kyiv and they began to take control of the game.

Mane came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute as he skipped his way into a shooting position inside the box only for Courtois to tip his net-bound shot onto his right-hand post.

Klopp’s side, with Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara starting in midfield after overcoming fitness worries, were on top but could not turn their superiority into a lead.

Outstanding Courtois

Real, meanwhile, created almost nothing in the first half with Karim Benzema quiet, but their captain briefly thought he had got the breakthrough two minutes before the interval.

The Frenchman prodded home after the ball broke back to him inside the area but the offside flag was raised.

The decision to disallow the goal was upheld after a lengthy VAR check, despite Fabinho deflecting Valverde’s touch through to Benzema.

Yet Ancelotti’s side kept their nerve and were rewarded with the goal as the hour mark approached.

Valverde drove forward down the right before firing a low ball across the face of goal for Vinicius to turn it in at the far post past his Brazilian national team colleague Alisson.

Just like in 2018, Real had drawn first blood, but this time there was no need for them to send on Gareth Bale in order to ensure victory.

Courtois was superb, flying to his right to keep out a Salah curler before two saves in quick succession late on.

First the Belgian got down low when substitute Diogo Jota deflected Salah’s effort towards goal, and then he produced a strong arm to turn a Salah strike behind.

It was Real Madrid’s night.

Source: AFP

Liverpool and Real Madrid ready for Champions League final rematch

28, May 2022

Liverpool and Real Madrid ready for Champions League final rematch 0

Liverpool and Real Madrid meet in the Champions League final for the second time in five years in Paris on Saturday, with Jurgen Klopp’s side aiming to end the season with a trophy treble while the Spanish giants will look to Karim Benzema to inspire them to a 14th European Cup victory.

A crowd of 80,000 will be inside the Stade de France for the final, which kicks off at 9pm in Paris (1900 GMT), including around 20,000 supporters of each side who have officially got their hands on precious tickets for the game.

The final promises to be a fitting climax to the European season, with Liverpool looking to win a second Champions League in four seasons since losing 3-1 to Real in Kyiv in 2018, when Mohamed Salah went off injured in the first half and Gareth Bale scored twice for the Spaniards.

Victory would round off a campaign in which Liverpool won the English League Cup and FA Cup, and finished just a point behind champions Manchester City in the Premier League.

“If you are a football person you know what my boys did so far this season was exceptional,” Klopp said on Friday.

“But we all know you are judged by the colour of the medal after a game.

“I’m more than happy and proud of what we did so far, it’s really special. I will feel better if we win the game and that’s all that I am concerned about,” added Klopp, who has been boosted by the news that midfield duo Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are fit to play.

Seventh heaven?

The Anfield club can win their seventh European Cup, a tally that would see them go level with AC Milan and leave only Real with more victories.

Indeed Madrid are looking to win their fifth Champions League in nine seasons and, ominously, have won on all of their last seven final appearances.

While Liverpool saw off Inter Milan, Benfica and Villarreal in the knockout rounds, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real produced a series of memorable comebacks to beat Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and then Manchester City.

“It is a great success for all of us to be here. We know very well the demands at this club, the history, but for us to get here is huge,” said Ancelotti, who last year was in charge of Liverpool’s local rivals Everton.

“We are convinced that the season has already been very, very good but now we are very close to getting the big one.”

Liverpool look to have the stronger side on paper, with Alisson in goal, Virgil van Dijk marshalling their defence and Salah and Sadio Mane leading their attack.

Yet Real are pinning their hopes on Karim Benzema, the 34-year-old Frenchman who has 15 goals in the competition this season.

Eyes on Benzema

He has scored 44 times altogether this season to lead Real to the Spanish title and is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.

“He is for sure one of the best players in the world, probably the best forward in the world, and I’m sure the most underestimated player maybe in history,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin told AFP on Friday when asked about Benzema.

“He has more personality and leadership on and off the field now but what has not changed is his quality and he remains as humble as ever,” said Ancelotti, who won the 2014 Champions League with Real in his first spell as coach.

Ancelotti can become the first coach to win the Champions League four times, having also triumphed with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007 — he is currently level on three wins with Zinedine Zidane and Bob Paisley.

Fans descend on Paris

This will be the third final between the clubs, who also met in Paris in 1981, when the English side triumphed thanks to Alan Kennedy’s goal at the Parc des Princes.

This final — which will be refereed by Frenchman Clement Turpin — is only being played in Paris after Saint-Petersburg was stripped of the game following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

There is some concern about the new pitch at the Stade de France which was only laid this week after the venue was used for a concert last weekend — Klopp suggested playing on a brand new surface was “obviously not the best news”.

Around 40,000 Liverpool fans without tickets for the game are also expected to be in Paris, while around seven thousand police will be on duty as part of a massive security operation.

Source: AFP

«< 371 372 373 374 375 >»