Politics

This is a picture from Mr Biya's recent visit to Nigeria. Nigeria's President, Mr Buhari shows Paul Biya the various Presidents Nigerians have had since independence in 1960. Mr Biya is laughing out his lungs. He could be saying to himself how foolish Cameroonians are.

He should be thanking his stars for being lucky or maybe he should be proud for being the smartest African Presidents. However, the Cameroons people are the only factor to be blame.

No end to African strongman era

Biya  has ruled Cameroon since November 1982, he is the oldest sub-Saharan African president after Robert Mugabe. The Zimbabwe leader, who turned 92 in February, has headed that country since late 1987.

The end of the African strongman era was predicted back in 2014, when mass protests in Burkina Faso ousted President Blaise Compaore after 27 years in power.

Biya became president on November 6, 1982 after serving seven years as prime minister. In 2008, revised the constitution to remove presidential term limits.

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Mark Bareta

06.May.2016

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The two-day State visit President Paul Biya accompanied by his wife, Chantal Biya paid to the Federal Republic of Nigeria ended Wednesday, May 04 with a dual press conference at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel. Not only did the press conference enable the two leaders to clarify certain issues on relations between the two countries, it was equally occasion to make brief assessments on the visit.

In his preliminary speech, President Biya underscored the importance of his coming to Nigeria, describing it as “very useful and friendly.” The visit, he told reporters, was useful because it enabled them to discuss different issues of mutual concern and friendly because it was occasion to underscore and take note of each country’s position on bilateral, regional and international issues. The meeting in Abuja, he said gave them another opportunity to lengthily examine problems concerning Boko Haram and to assert their determination to eradicate the phenomenon right to the end.

He said the military and security components of cooperation between Cameroon and Nigeria was quite important but that it was equally necessary to focus on the economic development component. Against this backdrop, they came to the conclusion that efforts have to be made to ensure that economic programmes see the light of day or are enhanced. 

President Buhari on his part, said the issue of security and economy will remain topical for the two countries. Nigeria, he said is experiencing the effect of the fall in the price of oil on the international market because it has not very well diversified its economy in spite of the country’s  rich natural resources. In this light, he told reporters, his country is envisaging enforcing its turn towards other sources of income notably agriculture which will help the country step up its employment. 

Going back to the basics will mean working together with neighbours such as Cameroon, he said. On security, he expressed his gratitude to the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the Multinational Task Force that has worked tirelessly in the fight against Boko Haram and for occasionally coming into Nigerian territory and securing it against Boko Haram.

Clarifications

The question and answer session was virtually characterised by clarifications and putting things in their rightful perspectives for the two leaders. President Biya in answering to the question from the Nigerian press on media reports and accusations on Cameroon for lack of cooperation with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and for “harbouring” terrorists chased from Nigeria, said Cameroon has never been indifferent at any moment on issues that concern Boko Haram. He expressed his surprise on this accusation which he said, he had equally heard during a conference in Europe.

“What can bring us close to Boko Haram; ideology, financial interest or religion? This is unimaginable”, he said, dismissing that as wrong information. Cameroon, he assured has always fought terrorism and has amplified this action and today everyone can see that Cameroon is fully engaged in the fight in collaboration with Nigeria, Chad and Niger.

The Nigerian leader on his part assured reporters while responding to the question on why Nigeria has continued to tap maritime resources in the Bakassi area, notably hydrocarbon, that his country is law abiding and respecter of international law. The International Court of Justice made its ruling and gave the disputed part of the peninsular to Cameroon. But the technical part of the extent of international waters is being worked upon by the Cameroon-Nigeria commission of experts whose recommendations are being awaited for a decision to be taken. “I will like the government and the people of Cameroon to put their mind in peace on this issue”, he said.  

Cameroon Tribune

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Elangwe Pauline

05.May.2016

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A giant red banner proclaiming, “Let’s not forget” goes up in a Yaoundé neighbourhood in the heart of the Cameroonian capital. The fine print below the headline lists 1,200 names of Boko Haram victims.

Pointing to a name, Eric Benjamin Lamere, a member of the activist group United for Cameroon, explains that the youngest victim was just four days old and the oldest was 87. “These are not the only victims in Cameroon, but we managed to gather enough information on those ones so that they could be identified accurately," he explains.

Accurate statistics of Boko Haram victims across the Lake Chad basin do not exist – a reflection of the remote regions the jihadist group target as well as the weaknesses of the West African governments struggling to cope with the crisis.

But the humanitarian toll has been huge. The Washington DC-based Council on Foreign Relations estimates around 28,000 people have been killed in Nigeria alone since 2011, while 2.8 million have been displaced in the Lake Chad region, which includes Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.

‘We're there – finishing the war’

In Yaoundé, far from Cameroon’s northern border, the Boko Haram threat seems remote – and that’s why the activists at United for Cameroon are on a national awareness mission.

At a military hospital in Yaoundé though, the conflict feels all too real.

A group of special forces officers are visiting Cameroonian soldiers wounded on the frontline. Around 700 soldiers are being treated at the hospital, many of them amputees injured by landmines planted by Boko Haram militants.

"Our hearts are with you. Even if you don't see us, we're there – finishing the war,” a senior Cameroonian military officer tells a wounded soldier lying on a hospital bed. 

Too early to proclaim victory

On May 14, the four Lake Chad basin states and their international partners are meeting in the Nigerian capital of Abuja for a regional security summit. The meeting is an opportunity for the affected states – as well as international partners such as France, the US, UK and the EU – to address vital policy issues including the humanitarian situation.

Cooperation between the affected countries in recent years has seen some success in the military counter-insurgency targeting Boko Haram. The number of attacks have decreased with the jihadist group going after smaller, softer targets with reduced success, according to a recent report by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG).

In December 2015, for instance, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari declared that “technically” Nigeria had “won the war” against Boko Haram.

But the ICG has warned that although “the military response to Boko Haram has become more cogent, the Lake Chad states should not too quickly proclaim 'mission accomplished'."

The report, titled, “Boko Haram on the Back Foot?” noted that even if the militant group was forced to “abandon all territorial pretensions in Nigeria’s northeast and the Lake Chad area, or are forced to abandon their guerrilla war, some Boko Haram militants at least are likely to seek to continue their insurgency in some form, probably through terror attacks.”

Joseph Vincent Ntuda Ebode, head of the Centre for Political and Strategical Studies in Yaoundé (Centre De Recherche Des Études Politiques Et Stratégique de Yaoundé), agrees with the assesment. "This is a nonconventional war and even if we defeat the enemy nobody will come to sign a treaty or peace agreement. Also, you know that this war against Boko Haram has another ugly face: the terrorist attacks. And nobody knows for certain if they'll ever stop."

Boko Haram is not the only jihadist group threatening the region.

The January 15 Ouagadougou attack in Burkina Faso – which killed 30 people – and the deadly March 13 shooting in the Ivorian resort town of Grand-Bassam have heightened security concerns across West Africa.

The two attacks were claimed by al Mourabitoun, a militant group allied to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Coming in the wake of the November 2015 attack on the Radisson Blu in Bamako, Mali, the recent terrorist surge has underscored the rise in Islamist violence across West Africa.

Experts warn that regional capitals are particularly vulnerable to terror attacks by jihadist groups targeting poorly secured “soft targets”. The solution, the ICG maintains, would be for authorities to “move beyond military cooperation and design a more holistic local and regional response, lest Boko Haram or similar groups remain a long- term threat.”

France24

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Elangwe Pauline

05.May.2016

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This picture represents just about 2 percent of the very long Kumba-Mamfe-Ekok road. Those travelling this road from Kumba are giving early pictures. These are early pictures. A lot of work is still to be done. Most parts of the road remains in the usual style we know of. The sad thing is that the corpse of Prof Agbor Tabi might not be able to be transported through this road. It will surely go through Bamenda. By every indication, the corpse will be beaten by the road before it arrives his village.

We are told this project funding comes from so many sources with the government providing a very small chunk of its funds. While this is good for a start, the government must start thinking of making double lane roads if Cameroon must emerge. It would also lead to less accidents. Recall that once this road is completed, Kumba, which used to be the economic capital of Southern Cameroons might regain it lost status and competes with Douala.

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Mark Bareta

05.May.2016

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Father George Nkeze has declared that if he was made Bishop of the newly created Kumba diocese, he will be killed. He made the declaration in an extensive interview with the Sun newspaper. It should be recalled that prior to the creation of Kumba diocese, priests in Buea Diocese were largely fragmented in two or three different Camps: Bishop Bushu/Nkeze camp Vs Anti-Nkeze camp (a camp which thinks Father Nkeze has lorded over the Bishop) Vs the traditional/liberal camp. This also fragmented the Buea Diocese Christians and parishioners into pro and anti Nkeze camps.

Information were rife that Father George Nkeze could be named the Bishop of Kumba Diocese. His Holiness Pope Francis went instead for an outsider. Father Nkeze just confirmed that his life would have been in danger if he was appointed Bishop.

I am a bit saddened that even as I write some priests in the Diocese of Buea do not greet each other. Some could not even stand the sight of others. Some have resulted in white collar scamming (BaretaNews had earlier written on this and would bring this later). God should bless and protect our priests.

Information reaching BaretaNews say most of the so called recalcitrant priests have been transferred and would remain under Kumba Diocese probably sanctifying Buea Diocese again.

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Mark Bareta

04.May.2016

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Cameroon’s First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya and the Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, May 3, 2016, at the office of Mrs Buhari had a get-together which was termed “Family Reunion”. During the meeting that lasted over two hours, Mrs Buhari told her sister from Cameroon whom she was meeting for the first time that Mrs Chantal Biya’s fourth sojourn in Nigeria will be the best time she has ever spent in Nigeria. As the women shared niceties, it was an opportunity for both First Ladies to talk about their common vision which is that of accelerating ongoing efforts to improve the living standards of their compatriots, end preventable maternal, newborn and adolescent deaths through advocacy and humanitarian actions.

The meeting which was meant to take place between Mrs Chantal Biya and Mrs Aisha Buhari turned out to be a family gathering between African sisters. Besides both First Ladies, there was the wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, wives of Nigeria State governors, former female deputy governors, former female ministers, party women leaders, female politician and business women. These women came from across Nigeria not only to welcome their sister from Cameroon, Mrs Chantal Biya, but also to express their joy of having her amongst them while ensuring that she enjoys her stay in Abuja. The women told their sister from Cameroon to feel at home and discuss whatever she had in mind.

A visibly happy Chantal Biya told the women how happy she was to be treated to such an exceptional welcome. To Mrs Chantal Biya, it was some kind of a family encounter which she appreciated so much. “Thanks for the hospitality. I am very happy,” Mrs Biya told her Nigerian sisters. Mrs Buhari, on her part, said although the Constitution does not have a specific role attached to a First Lady, as First Ladies, they have to established activities that will have an impact on the population. She noted that the humanitarian services they carry out as First Ladies are out to build a bridge between the government and the people in a bid to construct a stronger nation. While mentioning the remarkable job Mrs Chantal Biya is doing in terms of humanitarian works in Cameroon and Africa, through her Foundation, the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC), African Synergy Against AIDs and Suffering, Mrs Buhari said through her Foundation called “Future Assured”, she too is determined to use her privileged position to become an advocacy champion for raising attention and resources necessary to make a difference to improve health outcomes for mothers and children.

The Wife of the President of Nigeria hoped that her meeting with Cameroon’s First Lady will create a platform through which they will build stronger humanitarian works for the benefit of their compatriots. As she thanked Mrs Biya for her visit, Mrs Buhari wished that they could start establishing common humanitarian goals. The meeting which ended with merrymaking was graced with an exchange of gifts between both First Ladies.

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Elangwe Pauline

04.May.2016

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