Southern Cameroons Crisis: The struggle is struggling!

28, February 2022

Southern Cameroons Crisis: The struggle is struggling! 0

The Southern Cameroons crisis which started as a protest by teachers and lawyers became a millstone around the government’s neck as Southern Cameroonian fighters on the ground inflicted serious damage to the government’s war machinery and sent thousands of army soldiers to an early grave.

The Yaoundé government, which thought it was going to carry out a swift operation in the country’s two English-speaking regions, finally learned that there was no swift war and that anybody could be killed at the warfront including its so-called well-trained soldiers.   

The government may not have expressed its disappointment publicly with the way things have turned out following the death of some 4,000 soldiers, but its actions speak to war fatigue and frustration. It has reduced the number of army soldiers in the two English-speaking regions and the senseless killings of unarmed civilians by army soldiers just to prove a point are on the decline.

Over the last 12 months, English-speaking Cameroonians living abroad have begun visiting relatives in Cameroon without being scared that they could be arrested at the airport. The government has understood that its own actions were bereft of sound logic and commonsense and it is now working hard to make amends. 

Security is gradually returning to many parts of Southern Cameroons, and this could be attributed to some government actions, though schools in rural areas of Southern Cameroons are still closed. The military is working hard to win hearts and minds and this strategy seems to be working, although the core issues which triggered the fighting have remained unattended to.

However, if the government really wants to win more hearts and minds, then it must release many people arrested within the framework of the crisis, especially Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe and his team arrested in Nigeria. Their release will be an olive branch that might turn things around forever.

There are many things to be done to demonstrate that the government is prepared to work for a return to normalcy. Unfortunately, there is no sense of urgency on the government’s part. The marginalization of Southern Cameroonians is still ongoing, and the government is not doing enough to ensure its own decentralization policy is delivering the results desired. The ruling CPDM party is still running the country as if it is a family business, while corruption is threatening to ruin the country’s economy.

There is no economic planning in Cameroon and all decisions are still being taken by presidential decrees which clearly demonstrate that genuine democracy remains a distant tomorrow affair. Under the country’s current president, democracy has made giant steps backwards, with free speech taking a huge hit. The country’s president still appoints people based on loyalty and he even appoints ‘night watchmen’ across the country, something which makes the whole notion of decentralization look more like a joke.  

 But the most challenging problems are those Southern Cameroonians themselves are creating, causing the struggle to struggle. Divisions within the Southern Cameroons interim government have become a huge concern among Southern Cameroonians.

Ever since Dr. Samuel Sako Ikome and Mr. Chris Anu took over the reins, things have deteriorated, with Southern Cameroonians refusing to contribute to the war efforts because of massive allegations of financial impropriety by both men. Chris Anu and Samuel Sako Ikome who joined forces to humiliate Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe after his arrest are today at each other’s throat.

Today, both men cannot even talk to each other. They have been dismissing each other and forming governments which cannot even survive a day. The money is no longer flowing and both men have been accused of robbing the people of Southern Cameroons of their hard-earned money. My Trip To Buea (MTTB), a strategy used by both men to raise funds, has only caused them to be unpopular as both men have used the money for personal purposes and cannot even provide any account of the money.

The internal conflicts are really damaging and comments from both camps are unfriendly. Their surrogates are at work and are doing their best to destroy whatever little hope of reconciliation that exists. There seem to be no chance of reconciling the various camps. According to a Chris Anu supporter:

“Sako is an incompetent president, a thief and a scammer. He has proven that he can’t lead, we, the people of Ambazonia, reject his method of leadership, propaganda, lies, stealing of contributed money which has been invested in bitcoin. We will fight him for as long as he continues to occupy the position of a president. We can’t stay quiet anymore. The conman has been removed from office as president, he should give back the people’s ABC TV, it does not belong to him,” the leaked message says.

“We have freed ourselves from the Sako Scam. For 5 years, he has used all our contributed money and instigated a lot of infighting which has led to the killing of our fighters. Yes, it is Sako who is ordering the killing of fighters on the ground. He has been the president and head of military,” the Sako adversary said. 

“Sako is the worst thing that ever happened to this revolution. This jobless unrepentant conman is the biggest thief and embezzler in the history of liberation struggles. This criminal planted agents everywhere, and his ponzi enterprise has caused so much damage to this revolution. The sad thing is that this criminal was supported by supposed Men of God including Deacons like Tassang who used to write long essays defending this criminality. Why has he suddenly stopped writing? Until Ambazonians vomit these fake men of God, devils in pastoral garments, the road to independence will be long and hard,” another anti-Sako Southern Cameroonian said in an exchange with others. 

There are more messages coming through, but the most damaging comes from Tassang, a notorious Kondengui inmate who spends his time seeking to divide Southern Cameroonians. In his latest outing, he said that:

“Great has been my shock to live the problem rocking the Interim Government. From prison, I am as close to it as you all are, except that I cannot communicate freely. Before, I thought it was due to lack of communication but when I got closer, and tried to mediate, I discovered it was much deeper. But what is the problem?” 

His latest letter is not a cure to any of the issues. He has worked very hard to make the wound deeper as he keeps on supporting one bloc against the other. He is even accused in many communications of receiving USD 100 from Sako from time to time, making it hard for him to be neutral. 

The struggle is really struggling. Southern Cameroonians need new leaders. The current crop of leaders has been infected with the corruption bug. The only person who has been above this mess has been Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe and he remains the poster boy of the revolution. Southern Cameroonians should therefore rally behind Dabney Yerima who is the recognized Vice President of the Ambazonia Interim Government and who has remained loyal to Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe.

By Haggai Fung Achuo 

National Gendarmerie frees five Southern Cameroons IDPs held hostage in Centre region

28, February 2022

National Gendarmerie frees five Southern Cameroons IDPs held hostage in Centre region 0

Cameroon National Gendarmerie said on Saturday its forces have freed five hostages in the Centre region where the capital Yaounde is located.

The hostages, including three women and two men who had escaped from an armed separatist conflict in the country’s English-speaking region of Northwest, were kidnapped by unknown individuals in Sombo village of the region on Thursday, the gendarmerie said in a statement released Saturday night.

On Friday, security forces launched an operation to rescue the hostages in the Ndoupe forest where they were being held.

“This operation made it possible to release the hostages that same day at around 7 p.m. local time. The kidnappers had fled before the arrival of the gendarmes,” the gendarmerie said in a statement.

Security forces are grilling the victims and investigations are underway to arrest the kidnappers, according to the gendarmerie.

Cameroon has beefed up security in communities that host internally displaced persons who are facing persistent threats from unknown individuals, according to security reports.

Racist and unfair treatment of Africans at border crossings in Ukraine

28, February 2022

Racist and unfair treatment of Africans at border crossings in Ukraine 0

Nigeria, South Africa and other African governments scrambled on Monday to help their nationals escape the Russian invasion in Ukraine as reports emerged of racist and unfair treatment of their citizens at border crossings.

African nationals, many of them students, are among hundreds of thousands of people trying to flee into Poland and other neighbours.

Nigeria on Monday urged border officials in Ukraine and elsewhere to treat its citizens equally.

“There have been unfortunate reports of Ukrainian police and security personnel refusing to allow Nigerians to board buses and trains heading towards the Ukraine-Poland border,” said presidential advisor Garba Shehu in a statement.

“In one video widely circulating on social media, a Nigerian mother with her young baby was filmed being physically forced to give up her seat to another person.”

He said there are also reports of Polish officials refusing Nigerian citizens entry into Poland from Ukraine.

“It is paramount that everyone is treated with dignity and without favour,” said Shehu.

A group of South Africans, mostly students, have been stuck at the Ukrainian-Polish border, the country’s foreign ministry spokesman, Clayson Monyela, said on Twitter.

The South African ambassador to Warsaw was at the site trying to get them through, according to Monyela who on Sunday had said Africans were being “treated badly” at the Polish-Ukraine border.

Poland’s ambassador to Nigeria Joanna Tarnawska dismissed claims of unfair treatment.

“Everybody receives equal treatment. I can assure you that I have reports that already some Nigerian nationals have crossed the border into Poland,” she told local media.

She said Nigerians could stay for 15 days. Even invalid documents were being accepted to cross the border and Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, she added.

The Ukrainian embassy in Nigeria could not immediately be reached for comments.

‘Kept outside’

Some Nigerians who made it across the borders described frightening journeys in the dark to reach traffic-packed frontiers where they were made to wait as officials gave priority to Ukrainian women and children.

Stephanie Agekameh, a medical student now in Poland, said officials at the Medyka border crossing were responding first to Ukrainians.

“One of the officers came and told us it’s harder for us foreigners because they have to get in touch with our government in different countries,” she said by text message.

Speaking from Korczowa in Poland, Nigerian managerial sciences student Agantem Moshe, said Ukrainian police had pushed Africans out of the way to make way for women and children.

“From the Polish side it was smooth, they were professionals. In Ukraine, they kept us outside in the cold,” he said.

The UN said that more than half a million refugees from Ukraine had so far crossed into neighbouring countries.

Nigeria’s embassies in Bucharest said it had received 130 Nigerians from Ukraine. Another 74 were accounted for in Budapest, where another 200 were expected on Monday, the foreign ministry said.

Another 52 had arrived in Warsaw with another 23 being processed.

“We assure Nigerians that all hands are on deck and arrangements are being put in place to effectively evacuate our citizens in safety and dignity,” Nigerian official Gabriel Aduda said in a statement.

Ghana’s government said it would meet with parents of students stuck in Ukraine on Tuesday and sent embassy officials to border points to help.

Ivory Coast, which according to state media has 500 nationals in Ukraine, said it was also making arrangements for their evacuation.

Kenya’s foreign affairs ministry said 201 citizens were in the country, most of them students.

It said last week all Kenyans were safe and accounted for but that some were stuck at the Polish border because of visa restrictions.

Nigerian accountant Lukmon Busari was relieved his son, a fourth-year medical student, was already out after waiting for a day on the Polish border.

“Initially they didn’t allow them to move as they gave priority to Ukrainians, to women and children. Eventually they allowed them into Poland,” Busari told AFP by telephone.

“According to him, the Polish authorities did a marvellous job. He left on Thursday and got to the border on Thursday night, and he got into Poland on Friday.”

His son was currently resting in Poland before coming home.

“We are seeing how we can clear a flight for him to come back to Nigeria.”

Source: AFP

Samuel Eto’o inducted into Inter Milan Hall Of Fame

28, February 2022

Samuel Eto’o inducted into Inter Milan Hall Of Fame 0

Samuel Eto’o has been inducted into the Inter Hall of Fame. The Cameroonian forward, who was born in Nkon on 10 March 1981, is the fourth forward to join the illustrious club and brings the 2021 entries to an end, alongside Gianluca Pagliuca, Marco Materazzi and Wesley Sneijder in the fourth edition of the Nerazzurri Hall of Fame.

Eto’o is the latest goalscoring superstar to go down in Inter history, following in the footsteps of Ronaldo, Giuseppe Meazza and Diego Milito. The Cameroonian was crucial to the club’s stunning string of successes between 2009 and 2011.

The handover from the 2020 edition to the 2021 one is particularly reminiscent of the way Milito and Eto’o exchanged passes en route to treble glory in 2010. The magic from that glorious team is very much alive and kicking over a decade later, as shown by the fans choosing a third player from that era to be inducted into the Inter Hall of Fame.

After joining the club in summer 2009, Eto’o announced himself with a goal in the Italian Super Cup against Lazio in China that ultimately proved to be worthless. That was the first of his 53 goals in 102 appearances, during which the team racked up a stunning haul of no fewer than six trophies.

In 2009/10, Eto’o kicked off the campaign up front alongside Milito, firing Inter to Serie A glory, but it was in the Champions League that he made the biggest mark. The forward struck against Rubin Kazan to fire the Nerazzurri into the knockout stages where they took on a strong Chelsea side. Eto’o bagged the only goal of the game in the return leg at Stamford Bridge as Inter progressed. Jose Mourinho moved the Cameroonian out to the left wing, where he found more space and gave the team better balance. The nail-biter against Eto’o’s former Barcelona team-mates at the Camp Nou will always be remembered, along with the glorious final against Bayern Munich in Madrid in which Milito netted the crucial goals, but not without Eto’o causing havoc throughout.

Eto’o lifted the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Champions League with the club before notching a brace in an Italian Super Cup success. That wasn’t the end, however, as Inter reached the top of the world thanks to his goal in between strikes by Goran Pandev and Jonathan Biabiany against Mazembe. His joyous dance featuring a couple of plastic bags reached every corner of the Nerazzurri globe. There was still time for another Coppa Italia success in 2011 before his departure.

Samuel’s link with the Nerazzurri is incredibly strong and the mark he left on the club will never be forgotten. His class, power, strength and charisma ensured the number 9 has a special place in every Inter fan’s heart along with a deserved place in the Inter Hall of Fame.

INTER HALL OF FAME:

2018 edition: Walter Zenga; Javier Zanetti; Lothar Matthäus; Ronaldo.

2019 edition: Francesco Toldo; Giacinto Facchetti; Dejan Stankovic; Giuseppe Meazza.

2020 edition: Julio Cesar; Giuseppe Bergomi; Esteban Cambiasso; Diego Milito.

2021 edition: Gianluca Pagliuca, Marco Materazzi, Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto’o.

Source: Inter.it

EFL Cup final: Liverpool beat Chelsea in penalty shootout

28, February 2022

EFL Cup final: Liverpool beat Chelsea in penalty shootout 0

Liverpool have claimed the 1st domestic trophy of the season after edging out Chelsea in the Penalty shootout at Wembley.

It was a neck and contest as neither side managed to open the scoring during the regulation time and then extra time. So the match went into a penalty shootout, where both teams scored all their first 10 penalties, putting the fate of the match into the hands of their keepers.

Caoimhin Kelleher made it 11 from 11 for Liverpool but Kepa Arrizabalaga blazed wildly over the top as the high-class showpiece was decided by the finest of margins after 21 successful attempts. With the victory, the Merseyside Reds won the trophy for the first time since 2012.

UN Security Council calls for rare General Assembly meeting on Ukraine

28, February 2022

UN Security Council calls for rare General Assembly meeting on Ukraine 0

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) calls for a “rare emergency” meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) over the situation in Ukraine as the US and its Western allies keep up their efforts to target Russia before the world body.

The Council voted on Sunday in favor of the meeting of the 193-member General Assembly, Reuters reported. The resolution convening the Assembly was adopted with 11 yes votes.

Russia voted against it, but could not block the bid as the vote was “procedural” in nature. China, India, and the United Arab Emirates abstained.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” aimed at “demilitarization” of the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics in eastern Ukraine.

The regions broke away from Ukraine in 2014 after refusing to recognize a Western-backed Ukrainian government that had overthrown a democratically-elected Russia-friendly administration.

More than 14,000 people have been killed so far across the regions as a result of the conflict that ensued between the Ukrainian military and the pro-Russian separatists.

Announcing the operation, Putin said the mission was aimed at “defending people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime.”

The UNGA session is to be held on Monday, and is expected to vote in favor of an anti-Russian resolution as early as Wednesday.

Moscow will not be able to sway its veto power at the General Assembly, whose resolutions are non-binding.

At the request of the Western allies, the Security Council has met four times so far to address the situation in Ukraine.

During a session on Friday, it tried to pass a United States- and Albania-drafted anti-Russia resolution.

Russia, however, struck down the resolution by casting its veto against it.

Source: Presstv

Putin puts Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert after aggressive statements by NATO

28, February 2022

Putin puts Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert after aggressive statements by NATO 0

Russian President Vladimir Putin puts the country’s nuclear deterrence forces on “high alert,” reacting to aggressive statements by NATO’s leading members.

“Top officials of leading NATO nations indulge in making aggressive statements about our country,” Putin told a briefing on Sunday.

“Therefore, I am ordering the minister of defense and the chief of the general staff to put the deterrence forces of the Russian army into special combat duty mode,” he added.

The announcement came a day after Germany and other European countries said they would speed weapons and other military assistance to help Ukraine battle Russian forces. It also followed a warning by UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss that if Russia’s military operation in Ukraine was not “stopped,” it could lead to a conflict with NATO.

“…if we don’t stop Putin in Ukraine, we are going to see others under threat: the Baltics, Poland, Moldova. And it could end up in a conflict with NATO,” Truss said on Sunday.

NATO has escalated its war of words against Russia since Thursday, when Putin announced a “special military operation” aimed at “demilitarization” of the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics in eastern Ukraine.

The regions broke away from Ukraine in 2014 after refusing to recognize a Western-backed Ukrainian government that had overthrown a democratically-elected Russia-friendly administration.

More than 14,000 people have been killed so far across the regions as a result of the conflict that ensued between the Ukrainian military and the pro-Russian separatists.

Announcing the operation, Putin said the mission was aimed at “defending people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime.”

Sources

As war rages in Ukraine Abramovich hands over control of Chelsea to club’s foundation

26, February 2022

As war rages in Ukraine Abramovich hands over control of Chelsea to club’s foundation 0

Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich said Saturday he was handing over the “stewardship and care” of the Premier League club to the trustees of its charitable foundation.

The move comes with Russia under intense scrutiny following its invasion of Ukraine this week.

Billionaire Abramovich, who took over at Stamford Bridge in 2003, said in a statement: “During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities.

“I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.

“I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the Club, players, staff, and fans.”

It is understood Abramovich took the decision in order to protect Chelsea from continued links to the wider global political situation as war rages in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, using parliamentary privilege, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran named him as one of 35 “key enablers” to Russian leader Vladimir Putin who should be sanctioned.

Source: AFP

French Cameroun: Armed men kidnap 5 MSF workers in Far North Region

26, February 2022

French Cameroun: Armed men kidnap 5 MSF workers in Far North Region 0

Armed men have kidnapped five people working for Medecins Sans Frontieres in Cameroon’s Far North, the organization’s local branch said Friday.

Overnight Thursday into Friday, armed men broke into the organization’s base in Fotokol and abducted five people, MSF Cameroon said. Neither the identity nor the motives of the perpetrators are known at this time, it said.

Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province are known to launch attacks in the region that lies between Nigeria and Chad.

Source: ABC News

Momo County: Uncovering Chief Tassah Maurice connection with the Cho Ayaba-AGOVC kidnappings

26, February 2022

Momo County: Uncovering Chief Tassah Maurice connection with the Cho Ayaba-AGOVC kidnappings 0

The collapse of the AGOVC crime syndicate of Cho Ayaba Lucas, as well as the tragic images of its armed gang trying to flee the surging Ambazonia Revolutionary Guards in the Northern Zone, has left Southern Cameroons political elites and the Ambazonia Interim Government scrambling for answers.  The IG tolerated AGOVC’s corruption and crimes for years. The leadership of the Ambazonia Interim Government knew it.

Some have blamed Vice President Dabney Yerima for his open door policy. Others have blamed President Sisiku Ayuk Tabe’s current and past action, either for making ham-fisted deals with dubious Amba groups or for ignoring the lessons of South Sudan.

Cho Ayaba and his AGOVC swift collapse maybe attributed to many factors both in Ground Zero and in the diaspora. But one that crosses multiple media investigations yet is getting very little attention right now is the consortium of criminal syndicates linked to Ayaba Cho Lucas and his AGovC ADF kidnapping for ransom.

Specifically, the brutal AGOVC network has for over the last five years been aided and abetted by glad-handing crooked Southern Cameroonians including one Chief Tassah Maurice (based in the USA) and Tambe Celestine in Bamenda, who reportedly is the main agent between Chief Tassah Maurice and the kidnapping gang in Menka led by Aku Eric aka Pump-Action.

Aku Eric aka Pump-Action and his armed gang are pretending to be Ambazonia Restoration Forces but Cameroon Intelligence Report investigation revealed recently that for over four years, Pump-Action has never been on any Southern Cameroons Self Defense action but he has remained in Menka under the direct supervision of Chief Tassah and Cho Ayaba to terrorize civilians, other traditional rulers and retired civil servants.

It’s not like AGOVC was unaware of the kind of criminal activities of Pump-Action! Early last year, he announced the implementation of AGovC’s unpopular and inhumane tax policy of kidnapping and torturing the people of Ambazonia for ransom.

In December last year, Cameroon Intelligence Report in an investigation revealed that there was no Cameroon government gendarmerie or military post in Menka. CIR hinted in the December 2021 report that Amba fighters from Menka have all been deployed to the Bamenda-Bali-Mamfe Highway and concluded that AGOVC had made Menka a fertile ground for extended network of kidnappers for ransom. Not long later, reports began trickling out that Cho Ayaba was receiving money from Cameroon and had also begun negotiating oil deals with UK companies in London.

Chief Maurice Tassah and Cho Ayaba Lucas are now heading the biggest source of corruption in the Southern Cameroons liberation war. Chief Tassah Maurice like Cho Ayaba remains a prominent and very successful failure whose law firm was shut down because of his unprofessional and dubious tendencies towards his colleagues and clients in Bamenda. The cash trapped lawyer retired to his village Tabunchum and took over his father’s throne as traditional ruler while his father was still alive. How Tassah Maurice raised his status from a Sub Chief to a Fon is still under investigation. He is now, seemingly, on self-exile in the USA.

Cameroon Intelligence Report sources say he reportedly started a crisis with Chief Tambu Moses of Kwafong village over political control. He unsuccessfully petitioned the Chief of Kwafong to the North West Governor and he is presently taking advantage of the war in the Southern Cameroons to pursue his personal interest in Menka.

We understand that he sent money through his agent in Bamenda to Pump-Action and then instructed Pump-Action to tag the Chief of Kwafong village as a ‘blackleg’. Pump-Action ordered the Chief of Kwafong village to renounce his throne as Chief and the traditional ruler of Kwafong quickly moved to Bamenda where he resided for a short time.  

With support from Tambe Celestin, Pump-Action forcefully collected more than 1.5 million francs from the Chief of Kwafong and his family in different instances until he became ashamed to approach the Chief to demand more money. The Chief of Kwafong returned to his ancestral land and died of a heart attack and Pump-Action now has control and command over the villages and traditional rulers in Menka.

Pump-Action is now a rich man and he is growing wealthier and wealthier as ordinary Menka people are struggling and watching him building a house using the money he collects from kidnappings and from the poor villagers in Menka. The proceeds of his criminal syndicate are shared with the mother organization-the ADF of Dr. Cho Ayaba Lucas.

Cameroon Intelligence Report has documented a sea of criminal acts staged by Chief Tassah Maurice and Cho Ayaba against peaceful civilians in Menka since 2019 which include but are not limited to extortion, unlawful destruction of private property, subjugation, cruel treatment, and torture intentionally directed against peaceful civilians. These are war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The AGovC Ayaba Cho-Chief Tassah Maurice’s networks and accomplices shall face the arm of justice for these unlawful acts instigated and sponsored by them against peaceful villagers in Menka-Momo in the near future.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

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