Southwesterners form SWELA Chapter in Belgium to strengthen bonds

6, April 2025

Southwesterners form SWELA Chapter in Belgium to strengthen bonds 0

At the residence of Chief Bate Arrengang in Antwerpen in the Kingdom of Belgium prominent citizens of the South West region gathered – some from Fako, others from Kupe Muaneneguba and Meme Divisions one common thread unites them –they are all from the South West region extraction.

This is the South West Elites Association, Belgium Chapter formed by South West indigenes to foster the culture and development of their region.

Ngoh Austine Itoe, Barrister Tabi Kefie, Penda Mwaka, Ewang Samuel and Bate Arreyngang all said the birth of SWELA in Belgium is to create a social space where the South West diaspora community can connect and re-connect to their culture and development.

Speaking exclusively to Cameroon Concord News, Chief Ewang Samuel, the supreme leader of the Bakossi people in Belgium noted that SWELA Belgium aren’t simply about culture and development of the home constituency but also a place where Bantus, Semi Bantus and the Tikars of Lebialem can become a family.

SWELA Europe was once a place for South Westerners to make new friends, create a community, and possibly even meet future partners.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai in Antwerpen

Pope greets crowds at Vatican in first appearance since leaving hospital

6, April 2025

Pope greets crowds at Vatican in first appearance since leaving hospital 0

Pope Francis made a surprise entrance to St. Peter’s Square during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick and health workers on Sunday, marking his first public appearance at the Vatican since his release from the hospital two weeks ago.

The pontiff waved at the crowd that stood and applauded as he was rolled unannounced to the front of the altar in the square.

“Good Sunday to everyone,’’ Francis said, speaking into a microphone, which he tapped to make sure it was working on a second attempt. “Thank you very much.”

The pontiff’s voice sounded stronger than when he addressed well-wishers outside of Gemelli hospital on the day of his release March 23, after battling life-threatening pneumonia during a five-week hospital stay. He has just completed two weeks of at least two months of doctor-ordered rest as he continues physical, respiratory and speech therapy, as well as treatment for a lingering lung infection.

The pope referred to his experience with illness in both the traditional Sunday blessing and the homily read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, organiser of the Holy Year that is expected to bring some 30 million pilgrims to Rome.

Addressing the sick among the crowd, the pope said in the homily read by Fisichella that “In this moment of my life I share a lot: the experience of infirmity, feeling weak, depending on the others for many things, needing support.

“It is not easy, but it is a school in which we learn every day to love and to let ourselves be loved, without demanding and without rejecting, without regretting, without despairing, grateful to God and to our brothers for the good that we receive, trusting for what is still to come.”

He also urged the faithful not to push the fragile from their lives “as unfortunately a certain mentality does today. Let’s not ostracise pain from our surroundings. Let’s instead make it an opportunity to grow together, to cultivate hope.”

In the traditional Sunday blessing, he offered prayers for doctors, nurses and health care workers “who are not always helped to work in inadequate conditions, at times the victims of aggression. Their mission is not easy and must be supported and respected.”

Source: AP

Yaoundé: Influential ex-defense minister Mebe Ngo’o jailed for corruption

6, April 2025

Yaoundé: Influential ex-defense minister Mebe Ngo’o jailed for corruption 0

The Special Criminal Court has sentenced a former highly influential defence minister to 30 years in prison for corruption, illicit enrichment, embezzlement and money laundering.

Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o was not ordered to pay any fine and his bank accounts and property in the capital Yaoundé and the commercial city of Douala will also not be confiscated by the state even though the judge said Mebe Ngo’o could not justify the origin of his assets.

At a hearing held late in the night of 4 to 5 April 2025, the former Defense Minister was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was accused of embezzling public funds to the tune of CFAF 196 billion.

The final verdict of the Special Criminal Court charged Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o with money laundering, over-invoicing and misappropriation of public assets.

Cameroon Intelligence Report gathered from a source close to the case that the charges are valued at 23.8 billion CFA francs.

The court also sentenced Maxime Mbangue and Colonel Ghislain Mboutou to 25 years’ imprisonment. The two main co-accused of the former Defence Minister were found guilty by the panel of judges of complicity in embezzlement, complicity in corruption and aggravated money laundering.

Depicting the Special Criminal Court established to prosecute alleged corrupt government officials and the several Alibabas responsible for pilfering from the public treasury as the President’s court is no misnomer.  We of the Cameroon Concord News Group call it the President’s court because it is one instrument of power through which the President is reining in on perceived opponents from within his CPDM power conduit. An attribute of a genuine court is the fairness of the trial proceedings in cases which are brought before the court for trial. It is not the number of convictions entered against accused.  A court is legitimate and recognized as such because of its exercise of judicial, executive, legislative and administrative independence.  A court that is independent must be accessible to all citizens after all, is equality before the law, not a constitutionally protected value? The Special Criminal Court is lacking in these attributes of impartiality, judicial independence and accessibility.  It is perceived more as the President’s Court than a Court of Justice.

Establishing this court was President Biya’s way of saving himself the embarrassment of being humiliated during his perennial trips abroad as the President of the most corrupt countries in the world.  This ranking of the country as the most corrupt or one of the most corrupt countries had a potential to hamper President Biya’s personal pecuniary interests far from the borders of Cameroon.  There was therefore a personal interest need to establish the court.  Another personal interest need was to avail himself of a legal tool under his direct control to consolidate absolute power, blackmail potential rebels and competitors within the system and to stifle any form of institutional opposition. He perceived the court as a tool with which to whitewash his more than thirty years of corrupt governance and the rape of the economy.  With the war against Boko Haram, the fight against corruption using the Special Criminal Court has afforded Paul Biya justification contest in the next institutionally flawed elections in order to eternalize power purportedly to direct the war against terror and the war against corruption.  True to the name the President’s Court, the President has exclusive preserve in referring cases to the Special Court and the power to terminate them. He decides who will be arrested, who will be investigated and who will serve time and who will not.

In one instance, he ordered a detained Minister Bapes Bapes released from remand custody at Kondengui when a warrant was issued for his arrest without the presidential fiat.  Titus Edzoa a former Secretary-General at the Presidency of the Republic benefitted from a purported Presidential pardon whose primary purpose was the release of a French citizen Thiery Atangana from jail.  The fear of a presidential referral to the Special Criminal Court on additional charges of corruption under a practice devolved under the supervision of Paul Biya called “rouleur compresseur” pushed Titus Edzoa   to rejoin the CPDM Party without a public resignation or repudiation of his membership of the party on which he intended to contest presidential elections prior to his incarceration.  Edzoa was a victim of this system of presidential justice when new charges were brought against him when his first imprisonment was about to end in other to maintain him in prison.

Cameroonians want the rule of law to be the guarding principle on which justice is administered in the name of the people of Cameroon and not that of the President.  To the extent that the Special Criminal Court functions at the pleasure of the President, it fails to meet this threshold.  The justice rendered in the court cannot be said to be free and fair nor independent.  Because the court serves the political interests of the President, it is institutionally unjust and thus an affront to the tenets of justice and fundamental fairness.  Cameroon needs to confront the scourge of institutional corruption, the abuse of public trust, the arrogance of power and the impunity of misrule.  The Special Criminal Court as presently constituted is the wrong institution to confront these systemic crimes.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Football: De Bruyne to leave Man City at end of the season

4, April 2025

Football: De Bruyne to leave Man City at end of the season 0

De Bruyne, 33, has won 14 major trophies since joining City from Wolfsburg in 2015, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023.

“Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first,” De Bruyne said in a post on social media.

“Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This City. This club. These people… gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And guess what – we won everything.”

The Belgian international has been instrumental in City’s rise to the dominant force in English football.

He was twice crowned players’ player of the year in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.

De Bruyne sits second in the Premier League’s all-time standings for assists on 118 and has scored 106 goals in 413 appearances for City.

‘One of the greatest’

“He’s one of the greatest we’ve ever seen,” said City manager Pep Guardiola.

“His assists, his goals, his vision in the final third, it’s so difficult to replace. What he’s done here for the past decade has been outstanding.”

De Bruyne’s contract is due to expire at the end of June but it remains unclear whether he will continue to see out his days as a City player at the Club World Cup, which runs from June 14 until July 13.

“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter,” De Bruyne added. “Let’s enjoy these last moments together!

De Bruyne has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League or Major League Soccer in the United States.

The City captain’s influence has diminished in recent seasons due to injury problems.

He missed five months last season due to a hamstring tear.

This season he has made just 21 starts in City’s 47 matches in all competitions despite the struggles of Pep Guardiola’s side to match the standards they have set over the past decade.

City sit fifth in the Premier League, 22 points behind leaders Liverpool, and were comfortably beaten 6-3 on aggregate by Real Madrid in the Champions League play-off round.

De Bruyne has won over 100 caps as part of Belgium’s golden generation that finished third at the 2018 World Cup and quarter-finals of Euro 2016 and 2020, but fell short of the country’s first ever major tournament win.

After breaking through at Genk in his homeland, De Bruyne’s first experience of the Premier League did not go well as he was discarded by Chelsea after just nine appearances for the Blues.

A move to Wolfsburg kickstarted his career as he was crowned German player of the season in 2014/15 as his side finished second to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

City’s £55 million ($72 million) move to bring him to Manchester was questioned at the time given De Bruyne’s struggles at Chelsea.

But he quickly proved his critics wrong and became an integral part of the side that under Guardiola enjoyed one of the most dominant stretches of success English football has ever seen.

City became the first English top-flight team to register 100 points in winning Guardiola’s first title in 2017/18.

A first ever domestic treble of Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup followed in 2018/19.

City then matched Manchester United’s feat as the only English side to win the treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in 2022/23.

They also became the first club to win four consecutive English top-flight titles between last season.

Source: AFP

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Brit missionary and assistant abducted, church begs for their release

4, April 2025

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Brit missionary and assistant abducted, church begs for their release 0

A BRIT missionary, 83, and his assistant have been abducted by a group of armed men in Cameroon, the church group revealed.

Huub Welters and his assistant Henry Kang were brutally captured in Bambui on Tuesday.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1G2Z0b_1090l7Zn00
Henry Kang has also been heinously snatched
https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=48Xfb9_1090l7Zn00
Huub Welters has been abducted
https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2ouASm_1090l7Zn00
The pair were on their way to the Ilung building site

The town is located in the country’s separatist conflict-hit anglophone northwest.

Welters and Kang were making their way to a project to build classrooms for underprivileged children in the nearby area of Ilung, The Catholic Mill Hill Missionary say.

In Wednesday’s update on the pair, the Catholic missionary said they have “no idea” where Welters is.

The organisation revealed in a statement: “They were abducted by unknown armed men, and as of now, no one knows where they are.

“What weighs heaviest on our hearts is his fragile health .

“He has already endured multiple joint replacements, a back operation, and now, on top of all that, the cruel mental and emotional suffering of being held hostage by those he only ever wanted to help.”

NGO African Conscience shared with AFP that it believes the pair have been abducted by separatist fighters.

The NGO added: “The authorities of the Archdiocese are currently working for their release.

“We pray. We plead. We wait.”

Violence and abductions in Cameroon ‘s Northwest and Southwest regions are a pressing issue.

The areas are mainly populated by Cameroon’s English-speaking minority.

Separatists have frequently targeted and murdered civil servants like teachers .

Elected officials have also been accused of “collaboration” with the central government in Yaounde – a French-speaking establishment.

The army and cops are also accused of carrying out raids against those who they accuse of being pro-separatists.

In 2016, conflict began after President Paul Biya violently squashed peaceful demonstrations by Anglophones in both regions.

He has ruled Cameroon chillingly unchallenged for a whopping 42 years.

At least 6,000 civilians have been heinously killed by government forces as well as separatist fighters since the unrest began, Human Rights Watch reports.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Q9AoI_1090l7Zn00
Members of the Cameroonian Police line up ahead of the May 20th parade marking the 51st celebration of Unity Day in Yaounde, 2023

Source: The US Sun

Prosecution of journalists in Cameroon: European Parliament says enough red flags have been ignored

4, April 2025

Prosecution of journalists in Cameroon: European Parliament says enough red flags have been ignored 0

On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted human rights resolutions on Cameroon.

Prosecution of journalists in Cameroon, including the cases of Amadou Vamoulké, Kingsley Fomunyuy Njoka, Mancho Bibixy, Thomas Awah Junior, and Tsi Conrad

The EU Parliament condemns the systematic violations of journalists’ human rights by the Cameroonian authorities and calls on them to ensure press freedom ahead of the country’s 2025 presidential election.

MEPs demand the immediate and unconditional release of Amadou Vamoulké, Kingsley Fomunyuy Njoka, Mancho Bibixy, Thomas Awah Junior, and Tsi Conrad.

They emphasise that their rights and access to medical care must be guaranteed. Parliament urges the EU and its member states to raise these cases with Cameroon’s authorities; as well as to apply diplomatic and economic pressure to improve the respect for human rights in the country.

 Additionally, MEPs demand an end to military trials for civilians and to the misuse of terrorism and ‘fake news’ charges against journalists. They call on the EU to support a UN fact-finding mission, and demand the offer of humanitarian visas for journalists at risk of persecution.

Race for the Unity Palace: Kamto’s strategy sparks clash ahead of election

3, April 2025

Race for the Unity Palace: Kamto’s strategy sparks clash ahead of election 0

A public spat has erupted within Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), with former party executive Armand Noutack accusing activist Wilfried Ekanga of labeling party founders “careerists.” Noutack’s comments followed Ekanga’s social media post criticizing those who sought legislative or municipal office, a move Ekanga attributed to “careerism.” Noutack, expelled from the MRC in July 2023 by leader Maurice Kamto, was reacting to Ekanga’s defense of the party’s 2020 election boycott.

Ekanga’s remarks came in response to Sosthène Médard Lipot, another former MRC executive, who, during an April 1 appearance on state broadcaster CRTV, criticized the boycott. Lipot argued that the MRC would continue to suffer from the decision, revealing he only learned of the boycott while filing his candidacy at the Yaoundé Urban Community. “The overwhelming majority of party officials, myself included, were surprised by Maurice Kamto’s decision,” Lipot stated.

Calling the unilateral decision a “major strategic mistake,” Lipot expressed shock and confusion. “You can imagine the emotional shock. I didn’t know how to explain to anyone that I had no idea what was going on,” he said.

Ekanga, however, defended the boycott, stating, “No one in the MRC regrets the boycott. On the contrary, we celebrate it every 1982 seconds. It was the best political decision of the last ten years! Especially since it in no way prevents us from putting forward a candidate in the elections.”

Noutack countered, mocking Ekanga’s stance. “While Maurice Kamto claims that the MRC has elected officials (one wonders how), Ekanga boasts about a boycott that supposedly eliminated the ‘traitors.’ Very well, but then where do the elected officials Kamto talks about come from? Jupiter?“

Noutack further questioned Kamto’s consistency, noting his past electoral attempts. “Since the party’s creation, Maurice Kamto has never missed an election: in 2013, he tried to become a member of parliament… failure. In 2018, he aimed for Etoudi… failure. In 2020, since it didn’t directly concern him, he chose to boycott, citing the Anglophone crisis and the electoral code.“

Former MRC executives and political opponents argue that Kamto should bear the consequences of the 2020 boycott, given that the cited reasons—the Anglophone crisis and electoral law criticisms—remain unresolved.

Beyond the internal disputes, questions remain regarding Kamto’s eligibility to run in the 2025 presidential election. Cameroon’s electoral code requires candidates to be nominated by a party with institutional representation or secure 300 endorsements. The MRC’s 2020 boycott complicates the first option.

Kamto claims his party has elected officials who joined post-election, meeting the legal requirement. However, legal experts dispute this, arguing only officials elected under the party’s banner qualify. Without a valid nomination, Kamto may be forced to seek endorsements, a process often hindered by political pressure.

This debate, dividing opposition and legal circles, casts uncertainty over the MRC’s electoral strategy and Kamto’s 2025 candidacy.

Source: Sbbc

CEMAC introduces new coins, including a CFA200 piece

3, April 2025

CEMAC introduces new coins, including a CFA200 piece 0

The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) has officially launched a new series of coins across the six countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). The coins will start circulating on April 5 and will be used alongside the existing ones.

The introduction of the new coins follows a March 24 meeting of BEAC’s Monetary Policy Committee in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. BEAC Governor Yvon Sana Bangui confirmed that distribution centers in all six member states had already been stocked in preparation for the rollout. The final step before their launch was an official presentation to CEMAC’s current chairman, Central African President Faustin Archange Touadéra, in Bangui on April 2.

A key addition to the new series is a CFA200 coin, which joins the existing CFA5, CFA10, CFA25, CFA50, CFA100, and CFA500 coins. BEAC has also modified the composition of the coins, using different metals and alloys to prevent smuggling.

“The metals and alloys we used will help stop the illegal export of coins, which has been a major issue in the region. In the past, the material used in our coins was worth more than the coins themselves, making them attractive for smuggling. We’ve addressed this problem and hope the new coins will be well received by the public,” said Governor Bangui.

The decision to introduce new coins was made on March 15, 2023, by the ministerial committee of the Central African Monetary Union (UMAC) at the request of BEAC’s board of directors. It follows the release of a new series of banknotes on December 15, 2022.

For years, CEMAC countries have faced a widespread coin shortage, partly due to an underground network smuggling them to an Asian country. Many of these coins were collected from gaming halls and informal trade circuits before being melted down for use in the jewelry industry. To combat this, BEAC redesigned the coins using materials that are no longer valuable for jewelry production, making them less attractive for smuggling.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Football: Real Madrid manager Ancelotti testifies in court over tax charges

2, April 2025

Football: Real Madrid manager Ancelotti testifies in court over tax charges 0

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said he “never thought about committing fraud” as he testified in court in Spain over tax evasion charges.

The former Chelsea and Everton boss is accused of failing to pay 1m euros (£830,000) in tax on his Real salary during his first spell in charge from 2013 to 2015.

Ancelotti began his second stint at Real in 2021.

Prosecutors are seeking a prison term of four years nine months and a fine of 3.2m euros (£2.7m).

The Italian is accused of paying tax only on his Real salary and omitting income from image rights on his tax returns.

“For me, everything was in order,” Ancelotti told the Provincial Court of Madrid.

Ancelotti said he was offered a net salary of 6m euros (£5.1m) by Real and that he left the structure of it to his financial advisors.

“I thought it was quite normal because at that time all the players and the previous coach had [done the same],” he said.

“For coaches [image rights] don’t mean the same as they do for players because they don’t sell shirts.”

Several high-profile figures in Spanish football have been charged with tax evasion in recent years.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was fined 252,000 euros in 2017 after initially being given a 21-month prison sentence.

In 2019 Real striker Cristiano Ronaldo accepted an 18.8m euro fine following an out-of-court settlement and Jose Mourinho was fined 2.2m euros relating to tax charges during his time as Real manager from 2011-12.

Source: BBC

Manyu Division: Ma Nchong Stella is the new Ekandim Nkanda of Ntenako

2, April 2025

Manyu Division: Ma Nchong Stella is the new Ekandim Nkanda of Ntenako 0

History was made in Ntenako, a village some few kilometers from Mamfe the chief town in Manyu recently as the indigenes united in one accord and crowned Ma Nchong Stella  daughter of late Eyambe Besong Meshack Enow as their new Ekandim Nkanda.

The event was reportedly a unity day for the people of Ntenako village as the Ekandim Nkanda title represents a special quality in the hearts of every Manyu woman of substance.

Ntenako village noted for heavy fines when things go radically wrong reached a unanimous decision that the Germany based Lady Nchong Stella had contributed positively towards the development of Boh Manyi quarter and she is working hard for a unified Ntenako diaspora at a time when nearly every Manyu group is facing internal squabbles, leadership tussle, non-transparency and accountability.

The Ma Nchong Stella celebration in Ntenako featured a well performed cultural dance that was watched by the regent chief Sessekou Besongngem Ferdinand and a prominent notable Sessekou Arrey Walter.

There was a fraternity of family meetings, cultural music dances and the ultimate coronation of Ma Nchong Stella as the Ekandim Nkanda of Ntenako.

Lady Nchong Stella is presently the Cultural Affairs Officer for the Manyu Women International Association-Nyene Mawn Worldwide

By Kingsley Betek with additional reporting from Soter Agbaw-Ebai

«< 91 92 93 94 95 >»