Politics

Jean Marie ATANGANA MEBARA former Secretary General at the Presidency has just been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for embezzling the sum of 5 million dollars,about 2.9 billion francs.
This adds to 15 and 20 years jail sentence in separate verdicts over embezzlement.
This sentence comes when the Human Rights arm of AU asked Cameroon government to pay the former S G 400 million francs as reparation for damages.

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Prince Nfor Hansen

23.Jun.2016

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Cameroonian ministers going by article 127 of the revised penal code, will have immunity just like MPs and President. SDF MPs walked out of Parliament in protest. According to Hon.

Esther Ngala, appointed ministers cannot have same immunity with the People's representative, this means the power of MP has been reduced. 

Joshua Osih, 1st National Vice Chairman at Social Democratic Front  had this to say:

Because the immunity of Ministers (Article 127) is contrary to good governance and transparency of public finances,

Believes imprisoning citizens because they have two months of unpaid rent (Article 322) is a dispute that can be resolved by civil remedies instead of inserting drastic sanctions in our criminal code;

Because several provisions are contrary to our international commitments;

Because the death penalty (ART 18) is contrary to all our commitments and our humanity,

I cannot afford in the state to vote this law on the penal code currently under debate.

It will take a change in diet to bring Cameroon in modernity.

For best Cameroon,

Hon. Joshua Nambangi OSIH

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Rita Akana

23.Jun.2016

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Militants and sympathisers of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) thronged the ruling party’s birthplace at the Bamenda Congress Hall to be witnesses to the commissioning of pioneer Permanent members of North West Regional and Divisional delegations of the Central Committee on June 22, 2016.  

While enjoining them to improve the quality of political work and increase performance, the Secretary General of the Central Committee, Jean Nkuete, prescribed solidarity among the new structures conceived to accompany and support grassroots militancy.

Leading the North West Delegation was H.E. Philemon Yang with members and Chargé de Missions who include; HRH Aneng Francis, Mrs Regina Mundi, Alhadji Baba Ahmadou Danpullo, Dr Nwana Sama Bernard and  Okie  Johnson. Hon. Waingeh Albert Ndim, Shey Jones Yembe, Nji Fidelis, Uphie Chinje Melo, Prof Daniel Lantum and Atanga Nji Paul respectively head the Boyo, Donga Mantung, Menchum, Ngoketunjia, Bui and Mezam delegations.

Going back to the December 9, 2015 and May 19, 2016 appointment decisions by the CPDM National Chairman, Paul Biya, Jean Nkuete said it is all about a vast modernisation exercise which involves major political and strategic operations to firmly sustain the CPDM party. Setting the tone for the event, Mezam 1B Section President, Cletus Anye Matoya appealed for party Chairman, Paul Biya to launch the next Presidential elections in Bamenda, North West region whose party faithful have stated preparedness to stand by him as their candidate.

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Rita Akana

23.Jun.2016

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Where is the President of the Republic of Cameroon? It's been over 21 days now that the Cameroonian president left the country. Cameroonians are without news of him, according to close sources at the presidency who opted to be annonymous in passing over this information to Cameroon Concord.

On May 27 2016, a statement from the presidency indicated that Mr Biya had left the country for a brief private stay in Europe. No further details were given.
In the delegation accompanying the President were the following officials: Martin Belinga Eboutou, Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic, Admiral Joseph Fouda, Special Advisor to the Head of State and BIKELE Pierre Simon, the Chief of State Protocol to Mr Biya. All close associates of the President.

But now, it is more than 21 days that Cameroonians are plaqued with the fate of Mr Biya and his whereabouts, including the reasons for this secretly kept trip, or better say his prolonged absence from the country.

In neigbouring Nigeria, the approach is different. Recently President  Buhari went on a medical trip to London for treatment for an ear infection,before leaving Nigeria, the media and public all knew of the reasons why he was leaving.Buhari gave the reasons for his trip and explained to his compatriots the reasons for the extension of his stay.

In Cameroon it is the opposite, communications on private trips of the Head of State, is particularly opaque and evasive.Mr Biya sees no reason to tell the public where he goes or what he does.

Paul Biya's holiday  in southern France in 2009  was the subject of articles in the Cameroonian and French press which alleged Mr Biya was spending $40,000 a day on 43 hotel rooms. Officials at the time defended the president's right to spend the money allotted to him the way he wished.

Because of his lengthy absences - sometimes two or three months at a time - he is known by his critics as the "absentee landlord".

When the Paul Biya lion died at Mvog Beti zoo in 2007, many said it was bad omen for the president.

Not long afterwards there were rumours that he had died in a Swiss clinic.

When he returned home after what had been a 43-day absence, he boasted on state television that those wishing him dead must wait for another 20 years.
Image caption Chantal the lioness at the zoo in Yaounde is now a widow

The late veteran reporter Pius Njawe spent a year in prison for suggesting the president was suffering from a heart problem when he appeared to faint while watching a football match some years ago.

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Jackson Tantoh

22.Jun.2016

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French citizens residing in Cameroon with support from Association pour la Diffusion Internationale Francophone” (ADIFLOR), have joined the Government to support pupils studying in the Far North Region of the country. Visiting French Senator Louis Duvernois, handed a consignment of 12,000 books to the Minister of Basic Education, Youssouf Hadidja Alim last Friday June 17, 2016 in the presence of French Ambassador to Cameroon, Christine Robichon and Consulate Adviser of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Pierre Clerfeuille.

Senator Louis Duvernois said the books meant for 89 school libraries in the Far North Region are reserved for children to promote their level of education and improve their reading skills especially at home. He noted that the books will be of great importance to the children who are unable to go to school due to constant terrorist attacks in the region. The French Senator said while at home, the books will help the children make up with studying time.

While thanking the French community for their support, the Minister of Basic Education, Youssouf Hadidja Alim said books are useful items for pupils both in class and as individuals at home. The books, according to the Minister of Basic Education, will be distributed to some schools in the Diamare, Mayo Tsanaga, Mayo Sava, and Logone et Chari Divisions in the Far North Region. Youssouf Hadidja Alim explained that the donations have been packed in such a way that transportation will be safe and distribution made easier. She called on the children to make good use of the books.

Cameroon Tribune

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Rita Akana

20.Jun.2016

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Two weeks after an attack by the Islamist group Boko Haram left at least 30 people dead, the border community of Bosso, in Niger, has become a ghost town. Most of its population left and the area remains at risk to violence.

A shoe, a half-full suitcase strewn in the backyard, the house doors left open… Most residents of Bosso left everything behind two weeks ago when the first gunshots rang through the town.

Among them is El Hajj Abba.

Yes, we are scared. We don’t have weapons, so it’s normal to be scared, he says as he stands on top of his car, strapping a pile of belongings he can bring to the IDP camp he and his family now stay at.

Abba is Nigerian. He fled to Bosso, in Niger, after Boko Haram militants wreaked havoc in his home country, only a few miles away. But the armed group has been attacking several neighboring towns in Niger as well, in the past couple of years, forcing populations to move back and forth between towns and makeshift camps located in the bush.

It’s not the first time that Bosso has been targeted. The most recent attack was on June 3. It was a Friday, just after 8 PM, remembers resident Abdelaziz Zembada, who lived next to a police station that was targeted.

I took one of my kids, my wife took two, he says. By the time we put them to safety and came back to fetch my daughter, a mortar hit my house. My neighbor’s children and my daughter were killed.

Officially, there were no civilians killed during the attack, only soldiers. But some bodies can still be found inside houses and the smell of death is everywhere.

Most of Bosso's estimated 25,000 residents left town. Two thirds were refugees and internally displaced persons. Alarmed residents in the general area also left their homes, leaving an estimated 50,000 people displaced.

On a deserted market street, the decomposing body of a goat dries under the scorching sun, next to a ransacked stall. There is no water, no electricity or phone network, and very little food left in town after Boko Haram looted most of it.

But despite all that, resident Souleyman Salissa decided to stay.

He says we can tell it’s going better. Yesterday, we heard gunshot, but we were not worried.

Salissa says the heavy military presence reassured him. And, as a hairdresser, they are his only customers.

There are not a lot of people left. It’s disheartening, he says. We would like more residents to come back, and we need assistance with food, water and electricity.

That day, an official delegation led by Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum visited the town for the first time since the attack and organized a meeting to reassure the population.

VOA

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Rita Akana

18.Jun.2016

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