Politics
At the invitation of His Excellency BAN KI-MOON, Secretary General of the United Nations, His Excellency Paul BIYA, President of the Republic of Cameroon, left Yaounde on Friday 16 September 2016, by mid-day, accompanied by his wife, Madam Chantal BIYA, to participate at the 71st Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly to hold in New York, in the United States of America.
The Head of State is accompanied on this occasion by the Official Delegation as stated below:
-Mr. Lejeune MBELLA MBELLA, Minister of External Relations;
-Mr. Martin BELINGA EBOUTOU, Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic;
-Mr. René Emmanuel SADI, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation;
-Mr. Louis Paul MOTAZE, Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development;
-Mr. Paul ATANGA NJI, Minister in Charge of Missions at the Presidency of the Republic;
-Mr. ALIM HAYATOU, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Public Health, in charge of the fight against Epidemics and Pandemics;
-Mr. Luc SINDJOUN, Special Adviser at the Presidency of the Republic;
-Rear Admiral Joseph FOUDA, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic;
-Mr. Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA, Ambassador of Cameroon to the United States of America;
-Mr. TOMMO MONTHE, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Cameroon at the United Nations;
-Mr. Simon Pierre BIKELE, Chief of State Protocol.
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1) Absence of representatives at Haut Ogooue
Usually the incumbent uses all his power to make sure he wins by hook or crook and is able with his resources including state resources like case with Cameroon to send party observers in all polling stations. In the case of Gabon, opposition leader Jean PING was well represented in all polling stations but for the Haut Ogoue province, stronghold of ALI Bongo, with over 200 polling stations out of over 2500 in the country. By not having observers in these areas, Jean PING had given room for just anything to happen. The votes there were delayed and later brought to Franceville by plane.
2) Partial Coalition and Deadlock at CENAP
The coalition between Jean PING, Guy Nzuba and Casimir Oye Mba was a killer for Ali BONGO but they failed to take into consideration the other minor opposition leaders who could have decided for Ping when the time came. Gabon’s CENAP remain a blue print with small amelioration for Cameroons elections, if ELECAM can borrow from them. When the deadlock occurred during vote with Pings party contesting the results; the laws say members of CENAP who were eight will vote .Ping had a representative , other opposition members were represented by three members and presidential majority four. If the opposition had voted 4 against 4, it would have been tight. But since PING had neglected other opposition parties throughout the campaign, 2 voted in favor of the results including 4 from presidential majority, making it 6, 1 empty ballot and 1 absent, that representative of PING who left the hall in anger. That is how CENAP validated the results of Haut Ogooue.
3) Poor Campaign Strategy
The PING camp spent their time verifying the origin of ALI Bongo while at that moment, Mr ALI was campaigning trying to avoid using the name Bongo which many Gabonese say has taken them hostage for 50 years. PING camp also brandished foreign flags openly showing its affiliation with some foreign bodies and countries. PING was seen by many as candidate of France. Gabon 24 broadcast a report where PING describes the people of Haut-Ogooue as cockroaches and rats. This also played a great role in tarnishing his image. This piece is not seeking to justify that ALI Bongo won in a free and fair elections but to let readers understand how the opposition let power go from their hands because of some minor issues. ALI Bongo and France A renown Cameroon lawyer and presidential candidate of last 2011 elections, Jean De Dieu MOMO questioned why PING who knew that the process was not going to be fair, still went ahead as candidate.
Perhaps with support of France and the international community he has been calling to intervene. France has always supported late Omar Bongo and renewed the deal when they supported ALI Bongo in 2009 and made it clear to the opposition that he, ALI won the disputed polls. This same France which supported him comes in 2016 to declare that ALI did not win. The reasons are simple. When ALI took over power in 2009 he decided to change Gabon for better by reviewing the agreement of Total, a French Company which has about 44%of the SOGARA lone oil refinery, he also stopped the exportation of woods from Gabon.ALI urged French companies to process their Timber in Gabon before selling the finished products. This led to job creation about 3000.These two factors have vexed Paris to the extent that they decided to axe ALI.
The apparently lost remote control of the robot they created. Mr ALI has done what his father failed to do in his 42 years reign, in just seven years, taking Gabon to a different level. He reduced salaries of the president of Gabon's national Assembly who previously earned over 180 million Francs CFA, ministers who earned 30-40 million francs a month. It is obvious these changes will lead to massive resignation in his country. But ALI failed to preach by example, by cutting down cost; he failed to do same in his lifestyle and household. He continued to live a lavish life with private jets and other luxuries. In all, the current situation in Gabon is being fueled by former colonial master France which since independence has refused to leave Gabon’s socio-political, economic and cultural life. The world should hold France responsible is Gabon becomes another Cote D’Ivoire.
NFOR Hanson Nchanji Journalist, Social critic and Activist
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During a ceremony to hand over attestations to successful candidates at the Command for Gendarmerie School in Yaoundé, the representative of the grandaunts said they are physically and psychologically armed to efficiently contribute in the fight against insecurity particularly within the current context when the country is faced by multiple security challenges.
The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Jean Baptiste Bokam said the training comes at a time when the new penal code; the operational guide for gendarmes has been promulgated.
He added that the projection of two formed Police Units to the Central African Republic for a peace keeping assignment as part of the United Nations Integrated Stabilisation Mission, MINUSCA should serve as an eye opener for the future sub officers who will be evaluated on the field.
The grandaunts he noted will be evaluated in their respective stations based on their ability to draw up accident reports, carry out judicial investigations with a mastery of the legal proceedings and their capacity to command combat and law enforcement units.
They were also reminded to keep professional secrets and be of good morals in a bid to better preserve national unity and integrity and protect Cameroonians and their property.
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Three Ministers and a Special Advisor are still living at Hôtel Mont Febe in Yaounde, 11 months after President Biya appointed them.
Biya appointed the officials on October 11, 2015 through Decree No. 2015/434 of October 2, 2015; they are the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella, the Minister of Secondary Education, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe, and the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of the Supreme State Control, Mrs. Rose Mbah Acha.
Also still lodging at Hotel Mont Febe is the Former Government Delegate to Bertoua Urban Council, Dieudonné Samba, who was appointed as Special Adviser to the President.
The Post learnt that the four dignitaries are still cooped at Hôtel Mont Febe because the Minister of State Property and Land Tenure, Mrs. Jacqueline Koung à Bessike, has not allocated to them state-owned houses.
We gathered that the Minister has not been able to find suitable houses for these personalities because Government lacks houses to lodge its members. Tutu Muna Refuses To Quit
In a related story, The Post learnt that Mrs. Koung à Bessike allocated to the new Minister of External Relations the mansion where ex-Minister of Arts and Culture, Ama Tutu Muna, was lodged at Bastos.
But Muna reportedly refused to leave, claiming that she had made arrangements to buy the house.
According to reports, Tutu Muna reportedly said she had already started paying for the house hence; it had become her private property.
When the Minister tried to mount pressure for Muna to quit the house, Muna reportedly wrote a complaint to the Presidency where she ‘has a powerful contact’, forcing the Minister of State Property and Land Tenure to drop the issue.
Meanwhile, the four senior state officials had been living outside Yaounde before their appointment.
Mbella Mbella who was Cameroon’s Ambassador to France, was living in Paris; Ngalle Bibehe was based in Douala as an economic operator; Mrs. Rose Mbah Acha was the President of the Regional Administrative Court of the Northwest, living in Bamenda and Dieudonne’ Samba was part based in Bertoua.
These officials are said to be going through tough times, living in the hotel. For one thing, they have been separated from their families for 11 months now.
On the other hand, Hôtel Mont Febe is not lodging the dignitaries for free. A suit at the hotel costs over FCFA 150.000.
Even if the hotel has to make a reduction for long stay, it would not bill the Government less than FCFA 500,000 a day for the foursome.
Gov’t Houses For Grabs
Some years ago, Government constructed many houses in Yaounde at high-class quarters like Bastos, Mballa 11 and ‘Quartier Generale’, among others.
But it turned out that Government officials lodged in these houses later grabbed the facilities with the complicity of some corrupt officials in the Ministry of State Property and Land Tenure.
These dubious tenants-turned-landlords claim that they bought those state owned houses, even though officially, those houses were not constructed for sale.
It has in fact been a big racket in high places, by which some senior state officials share to themselves state properties. They allegedly bought some of the houses for as cheap as FCFA 10 million.
Marafa’s Case
The Government, for example, reportedly spent over FCFA 100 million to build a mansion close to the Gendarmerie Headquarters (SED) in Yaounde.
That house was allocated to the former Secretary General at the Presidency and former Minister of State for Territorial Administration, Marafa Hamidou Yaya.
The former Minister, who jailed at SED for embezzlement of funds, ‘bought’ that mansion.
Some sources claim that Marafa bought the house for a meager FCFA 10 million. This kind of mafia goes for Government vehicles.
For instance, it may buy a brand new Land Cruiser for a Ministry at over FCFA 50 million. But after barely two or three years, a Minister will compensate one of his loyal collaborators by ‘dashing’ him the vehicle for a small amount of FCFA 5 million or even FCFA 3 million.
Source:Cameroonpost
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On Sunday, September 4, SDF National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi, received some 800 new converts who decamped from the CPDM and the National Union for Democracy and Progress, NUDP.
The leader of the CPDM from Batibo, Mrs. Justine Atud, UNDP leader from Batibo, Edwin Keyaka and the CPDM team leader from Nwa, Elhajid Usmanu Magaji, said they decided to join the SDF because it has a bright future including the achievements registered this far both in parliament and councils.
The CPDM delegation from Nwa in Donga-Matung said deceit, lies telling, blackmail and neglect pushed them to decamp to the SDF.
“For over 30 years, CPDM top notches have been telling us President Biya will pay us a visit in Nwa. This has never happened.
Biya is growing too old to brave it to Nwa before God calls him home; but his opponent, Fru Ndi, has been to Nwa several times, slept there, ate and drank with his militants and he knows what we are going through. So, if we have turned our backs on the CPDM, nobody should blame us,” Usmanu Magaji said.
The Vice President of the National Assembly, Hon. Joseph Mbah Ndan, described the new SDF recruits as the finest and most reliable militants who are out for real political business.
“In the SDF, we debate, quarrel and remain focused always. This is where democracy triumphs. You are on the right path,” Hon. Mbah Ndam said.
The new SDF District Chairman for Batibo, Maurice Woriwum Mbah, expressed joy that the party is growing in leaps and bounds in Batibo.
“We have integrated all of you today, and there is still enough space for Doubting Thomases,” said Woriwum Mbah.
Earlier while welcoming the converts at his Ntarinkon residence in Bamenda, Fru Ndi praised them for their courage as he preached discipline.
“We are a people with a vision to build this country when we take over power. As such, we cannot afford to be unruly.
In the SDF, which you have willingly, from the bottom of your hearts, come to join, indiscipline is not tolerated.
You came on your own and we have opened our doors and arms so that we progress in nation building,” Fru Ndi noted and invited the leaders who resigned to attend upcoming NEC meeting as observers.
Cameroonpost
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It is alleged that the tablets are part of a modernization project in schools. A project initiated in 2001 with the introduction of digital lessons with the creation of Multimedia Resource Centres in some schools.
" In short, the 2016/2017 school year is on track and those students who are in classes of examinations should be aware that the examination is prepared during the first day of school, "said MINESEC .
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# Paul Biya and his regime
Explore the political landscape of Cameroon under the rule of Paul Biya, the longest-serving president in Africa who has been in power since 1982. Our Paul Biya and his regime section examines the policies, actions, and controversies of his government, as well as the opposition movements, civil society groups, and international actors that challenge or support his leadership. You'll also find profiles, interviews, and opinions on the key figures and events that shape the political dynamics of Cameroon.
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