17, February 2022

Southern Cameroons Crisis: UN weighs in on Manyu school attack ⁰

The Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon, Mr. Matthias Z. Naab is deeply concerned by two more attacks against schools in the South-West region.

On 8 and 11 February 2022, armed men from non-State armed groups burned down two schools, respectively the public primary school of Molyko in Buea, and Queen of Rosary Catholic College in Mamfe, both in the South-West region of Cameroon. These two incidents are the latest of several attacks on students, education staff and premises, depriving more than 700,000 students from their right to proper and safe education in the North-West and South-West regions.

“Education is a fundamental right to all children, yet many have not been allowed to enjoy this right. Children are traumatized, parents are scared, teachers and school administrators are afraid. With education under attack, the future of thousands of young Cameroonians is at risk. This is unacceptable,” said Mr. Naab. “Education establishments should be safe spaces for all students and teachers. Therefore, I call upon all perpetrators to refrain from actions that impede access to education, in accordance to Security Council Resolution 2601 (2021),” he added.

The United Nations and humanitarian partners in Cameroon condemn in the strongest terms all actions targeting education.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

17, February 2022

French Cameroun: Two civilians killed in Boko Haram attack in Far North region ⁰

At least two civilians were killed when Boko Haram militants raided a village in the Far North region overnight into Tuesday, security and local sources said.

The attack took place in Gaboua, a locality in Koza subdivision of the region when locals were asleep.

The militants burgled the home of a respected community figure, killing him and his son, a military official who asked not to be named said.

Locals said, another group of the terrorists proceeded to loot several houses in Biguide, another locality of the subdivision. There were no casualties in the attack in Biguide.

The Boko Haram group has multiplied attacks against civilians in the region in recent weeks, targeting vulnerable impoverished communities, according to reports.

Source: Xinhuanet

16, February 2022

Champions League: Late Mbappé stunner gives PSG 1-0 home win over Real Madrid ⁰

Kylian Mbappé scored a stunning individual goal in stoppage time to give Paris St Germain a 1-0 home victory over Real Madrid and spare Lionel Messi’s blushes after he had missed a penalty in their Champions League last-16, first leg on Tuesday.

It took PSG 94 minutes to find the winner with a brilliant run by Mbappé, who danced in between two defenders and calmly slid the ball into the far corner to earn PSG a deserved victory after they had dominated the encounter.

PSG missed several chances and were thwarted by Real keeper Thibaut Courtois, who denied Mbappé on several occasions before superbly pushing away Messi’s spot kick in the second half.

“It was a great game for us and I’m always ready to help my team, there are no distractions,” said Mbappé, who has now scored 13 goals in his last 13 Champions League matches.

“We have to be humble and the second leg is still open. It will be a hard game but we will have the advantage and are very confident.”

Real Madrid finished the game with zero shots on target while PSG had eight, with almost 60% of possession.

Real will be without Casemiro and Ferland Mendy for the second leg at home on March 9. The pair were both shown yellow cards and will be suspended for collecting three yellows in the competition.

“Our counter-attack didn’t work today,” Courtois told reporters. “It’s hard to lose but the second leg is wide open. We have to win and we will try to do it in front of our fans, what is a great advantage.”

Courtois repeatedly frustrated Messi and Mbappé. His best save came early in the second half when Messi stepped up for the penalty after Mbappé had been fouled inside the area by Dani Carvajal. The Belgian stretched low to his left to stop the Argentinian’s shot with his hand.

But 30 minutes later Mbappé found the winner and Courtois could only watch as the ball went through his legs and into the corner of the net.

“Mbappé is the best player in European football,” Real manager Carlo Ancelotti said. “We didn’t play well but we are not dead yet.”

Source: REUTERS

16, February 2022

Who decides if President Biya is unfit to serve? Amougou Belinga ⁰

In Cameroon, the head of state is not required to pass mental health exams or psychological and psychiatric evaluations even after staying in power for 40 years. No Cameroonian psychologists and members of both the National Assembly and the so-called House of Senate have called for such mental health exams mindful of the fact that President Biya is now 89 years old.

The idea of requiring President Paul Biya to undergo mental health exams is considered a treasonable act. Consequently, there is no panel of physicians who would routinely evaluate the most powerful politician in Cameroon and decide whether his judgment such as the declaration of war against the people of Southern Cameroons was clouded by a mental disability.

This week, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the television channel Vision 4, Amougou Belinga fired Dieudonne Essomba, a senior political analyst who opined that President Paul Biya was no longer fit for office.

The French Cameroun political commentator had been invited to sing the normal CPDM praises on Biya who turned 89. However, the outspoken Dieudonne Essomba instead told the world via Club d’elites that Biya is now unable to lead Cameroon. Essomba furthered “At 89 years old, one cannot manage a country. Biya who is 89 years old is at 25% of his capacity.”

In a statement published by the Groupe L’Anecdote accompanied by Essomba’s picture, Vision 4 said Dieudonne Essomba’s contract had been terminated.

“We would like to advise the public that Dr. Dieudonne Essomba, who was a consultant, in the capacity of guest speaker in Club d’elites, is no longer a member of staff with immediate effect. Vision 4 disassociates itself completely with any statements, be they political or of any other nature, that he has made in the past or may make to the press in the future.”

Vision 4 also removed the video of the Club d’elites program from its face book and YouTube pages.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

16, February 2022

IG denounces Biya regime brutality in Southern Cameroons as war crime ⁰

The Ambazonia Interim Government has roundly condemned the brutal practices of French Cameroun army soldiers and pro Yaoundé Atanga Nji Boys against Southern Cameroonians in their homeland as war crimes, calling on the international community to put an end to the rising acts of the French Cameroun regime’s aggression.

“The Southern Cameroons Department of Foreign Affairs is following up on ferocious French Cameroun assaults being committed by Francophone troops against Southern Cameroonians in Ground Zero. The atrocities have claimed several lives and caused damage to property,” the department of foreign affairs said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Professor Carlson Anyangwe denounced the constant attacks on Southern Cameroonians that is forcing them to flee from their ancestral homes as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and a flagrant violation of international law and humanitarian principles.

Elsewhere in the statement, the Ambazonia Department of Foreign Affairs called on world states as well as international humanitarian organizations to immediately stop La Republique du Cameroun practices and prevent the Biya regime from killing more Southern Cameroonians and trampling on their rights.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

16, February 2022

French case closed over plane attack that sparked Rwanda genocide ⁰

France’s top court on Tuesday confirmed that a probe should be closed into the shooting down of a presidential plane that triggered the 1994 Rwanda genocide, ending a two-decade legal saga.

The Court of Cassation rejected the appeal by families of people killed in the missile attack on president Juvenal Habyarimana’s aircraft on April 6, 1994.

They had asked judges to reverse a lower court’s decision to abandon the case against people close to current President Paul Kagame.

Relations between Paris and Kigali had long been strained by the probe and its associated arrest warrants.

“The investigation was complete and sufficient charges did not exist against anyone for committing the alleged crimes, nor any other infraction,” the Court of Cassation found.

The Falcon 50 plane was carrying Habyarimana and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira from a summit in Tanzania, where they had been discussing the crisis in the two countries and continuing negotiations with Kagame, then leader of the mostly Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR).

Its downing is widely seen as the spark that ignited the genocide in which more than 800,000 people are believed to have died — most from the Tutsi minority at the hands of Hutus.

Rwanda’s representative at the UN said at the time that the plane was shot down by “enemies of the peace,” while the defence ministry said “unidentified elements” were responsible.

Relatives of the French flight crew turned to the courts in 1998.

French investigators long suspected that Kagame’s rebels fired on the flight as it landed in the Rwandan capital.

Later they chased up the theory that Hutu extremists unsatisfied with the moderate Habyarimana were behind the attack, with no more success.

But a French expert report found in 2012 that the plane was hit by missiles fired from a camp occupied by Habyarimana’s own presidential guard.

Defending their dropping the case in December 2018, the investigating magistrates said there was a “lack of indisputable material evidence,” and this left the charges resting on witness accounts that were “mostly contradictory or impossible to verify.”

They also underlined the “detrimental atmosphere” around the case, including killings, disappearances of witnesses and manipulation of testimony.

Source: AFP

16, February 2022

US: Trump’s longtime accountant cuts ties, says his financial records are unreliable ⁰

Donald Trump’s longtime accountants have ditched the former US president as a client, saying a decade’s worth of financial statements could not be relied upon, court documents showed Monday.

Mazars informed the Trump Organization in a letter last Wednesday that it would no longer work for the company, which is being probed by New York prosecutors for alleged fraud.

The letter was revealed in court by New York state attorney general Letitia James as she asked a judge to force Trump to comply with subpoenas seeking testimony in her investigation.

James announced last month that her civil inquiry into Trump’s family firm had uncovered “significant evidence” of misleading business practices, including the fraudulent valuation of assets.

Mazars wrote that James’s findings had contributed towards it deciding that accounts for Trump for the years ending June 30, 2011 to June 30, 2020 “should no longer be relied upon.”

The accounting firm added that an investigation of its own and “information received from internal and external sources” had also played a part in it reaching that conclusion.

“While we have not concluded that the various financial statements, as a whole, contain material discrepancies, based upon the totality of the circumstances, we believe our advice to you to no longer rely upon those financial statements is appropriate,” it said.

The letter added that in part because of the decision regarding the statements, Mazars “are not able to provide any new work product to the Trump Organization.”

The financial records are at the heart of James’s investigation and a criminal probe by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.

The twin inquiries are investigating whether the Trump Organization defrauded lenders into providing favourable loans.

James, a Democrat, said in January that her ongoing inquiry had found that the Trump Organization fraudulently overvalued multiple assets to secure loans and then undervalued them to minimise taxes.

She said the company had “misrepresented” the valuation of assets to financial institutions including the Internal Revenue Service, banks and insurers for “economic benefit.”

Parallel investigations

If James finds evidence of financial misconduct she can sue the Trump Organization for damages but cannot file criminal charges.

The probe, however, is running alongside a similar criminal investigation by the Manhattan DA for possible financial crimes and insurance fraud.

Last July the Trump Organization and its long-serving finance chief, Allen Weisselberg, pleaded not guilty to 15 felony fraud and tax evasion charges.

The DA’s office in January 2021 finally received roughly eight years of Trump tax returns from Mazars following a marathon legal battle that went to the Supreme Court.

Trump has slammed both probes as politically motivated.

A spokesperson for the Trump Organization said in a statement Monday evening that they were “disappointed” by Mazars’ decision to cut ties.

The firm’s “letter confirms that after conducting a subsequent review of all prior statements of financial condition, Mazars’ work was performed in accordance with all applicable accounting standards and principles and that such statements of financial condition do not contain any material discrepancies,” the spokesperson said, calling both investigations in New York therefore “moot.”

In her filing Monday, James repeated her request that the former president, Donald Trump Jr, and Ivanka Trump give evidence under oath. Her office has already questioned Eric Trump.

The legal woes could make a second White House run more difficult for the 75-year-old Trump, who has kept Americans guessing about his plans.

Source: AFP

15, February 2022

Yaoundé: Sp’Ash maiden event was a resounding success ⁰

The maiden edition of Sp’Ash, a celebration of Cameroon’s amazing talent in fashion, sport, visual arts, music and entertainment, was held on February 5th 2022 at the prestigious Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé, as a prelude to the TotalEnergies AFCON 2021 Finals in Cameroon.

A major highlight of this unique event which fused Sports and Fashion was the appearance of the 2010-2014 Vice captain of the Indomitable Lions – Eyong Enow – who graced the runway in clothes by outstanding Cameroonian designers. Also on the fashion runway was the reigning Miss Cameroon 2022 Samantha Edima, Miss Cameroon 2020 Audrey Monkam, Miss Cameroon 2015 Jessica Ngoa, with Miss Cameroon 2014 Valerie Ayena being the vibrant host.

The Cameroon designers selected for this special event included Inesta, Yves Tchinda, Eloli and Kibonen. Numero Uno department store also displayed a collection of the brands they carry, with a promise of eventually carrying products from select Cameroonian fashion designers in the near future. The eclectic band X Maleya provided the musical performance for the runway walk, whilst LoveNLive also kept guests enthralled with folkloric live music.

The symbolic presence and support of HRH Nfon Ekoko Mukete was a clear sign that Cameroon’s cultural landscape had endorsed Sp’Ash, further evidenced by the opening address of Mme Ewang Grace from the Ministry of Arts and Culture (SWR Regional Delegate).

Among the illustrious guests were: -Mrs Elizabeth Mbayu, wife of Minister Delegate at MINREX in charge of relations with the Commonwealth, Mr Ben Modo, CEO of Prime Potomac, Mr Moctar Ousman Mey, Board Chair of NASLA, Mr Kinge Monono of the Cameroon Embassy USA, Mrs Priscilia Monono of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Awasum E.M (JR), President of The Cameroon American Football Federation, Mr Donatus Ach, Inspector at the Ministry of Finance, Nkanya Nwai, renown movie producer and Mayor of Ako Municipality, Bah-Pna Dahane, international consultant for Sports, Arts and Culture

Echoes of this event led the meeting of some Cameroonian fashion stakeholders with Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, a South African fashion businesswoman and wife to CAF President Patrice Motsepe, and whose company, African Fashion International produces African Fashion Week in South Africa.

This edition of Sp’Ash was sponsored by Afreximbank through its Creative Africa Nexus program, represented on site by Mr Temwa Gondwe and Mrs Khanyi Mashimbe.

15, February 2022

Indomitable Lions coach to stay despite Africa Cup of Nations fiasco ⁰

Cameroon’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education Narcisse Mouelle Kombi said on Monday that national football team head coach Antonio Conceicao will not be sacked despite failing to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy.

“Every time we have won a trophy, it has been with a foreign coach. What is more important now is the [World Cup] playoffs in March. The priority is not to destabilize the team by decapitating it,” Kombi told reporters amid widespread calls to sack the coach.

After Cameroon finished third at the AFCON a week ago, some Cameroonians have demanded the sacking of Conceicao whom they blame for “very poor coaching” during the tournament.

“We are in a phase of rebuilding. When we look at the record under the Conceicao era, we have two defeats out of 23 matches, and 14 matches without conceding a goal,” said Kombi, adding that authorities were confident in his skills but will watch out for any managerial fault.

Source: Xinhuanet

15, February 2022

Biya at 89: Unemployed youth paid $5 each to take part in the birthday event ⁰

Cameroon held birthday celebrations across the country for President Paul Biya, who turned 89 on Sunday. Supporters wished Biya, who is Africa’s oldest and second longest-serving leader, a long life, while some opponents said it’s well past time for him to leave office.

The country’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic education said more than 2,500 young people turned out to celebrate at the sports complex.

Cameroon’s National Youth Council said it organized the birthday celebration in collaboration with the government of Cameroon.

Biya was not physically present at his Yaounde birthday celebration. His representative, Ferdinand Ngo Ngo, Secretary-General of Cameroon’s presidency said Biya is delighted that young Cameroonians love the president.

Ngo Ngo said other nations envy Cameroon because of Biya’s exceptional leadership qualities.

Similar activities were held in towns and villages throughout Cameroon.

The government said young people came out voluntarily to celebrate Biya’s birthday, but critics say they were paid $5 each to take part in the birthday event. During past election campaigns, critics also say Biya has used money to buy people’s votes.

Biya became president in 1982. He took over from Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahijo. Biya had served as prime minister since 1975.

He has won all multiparty elections since 1992, and the opposition has always complained of heavy election rigging by Biya.

In 2008, Biya abolished the constitution’s two-term limit.

Denis Nkemlemo, a spokesperson for the opposition Social Democratic Front, said Biya should leave power if he loves his people. Nkemlemo questioned Biya’s ability to lead as he is getting older.

“It beats everybody’s imagination. For 40 years somebody is president and nobody around him thinks that there can be a Cameroonian to take the relay baton,” Nkemlemo said. “This is somebody who is very old, who has not been able to physically attend many occasions that demand his presence because of his age and tiredness and all the other physical disabilities that go with age.”

The government says Biya is in excellent health. The last time Biya was seen in public was when he presided over an Africa Cup of Nations final game between Senegal and Egypt at Yaounde’s Olembe stadium. He spent close to 4 hours at the match and the closing ceremony of Africa’s top football event.

The 89-year-old Biya is Africa’s oldest president. He is the second-longest serving leader in Africa after his neighbor, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, of Equatorial Guinea. Obiang has been in power since 1979.

Source: VOA