Politics

Cameroon defence forces will intensity the fight against the terrorist group Boko Haram in the course of the year 2016. Priority will be given to the fight against terrorism which has led to the death of scores of Cameroonian military and civilians despite major victories that has reduced the operational capacity of the terrorist movement. In order to attain the objective, the military hierarchy has recommended discipline within the ranks of the army. The Defence Chief of Staff, Lt General Rene Claude Meka presented the agenda of Cameroon’s defence forces for 2016 during a new wishes ceremony at the Ministry Head Quarters in Yaoundé. 

During the event he strongly condemned the September 9th, 2015 protest match staged by some soldiers who were part of the Cameroon contingent of the stabilisation mission in the Central African Republic. He described the demonstrations on the streets of Yaoundé as an unimaginable gross violation of the statutory text of regulating Cameroon’s defence forces. Lt General Rene Claude Meka in this light called on senior military officers to severely sanction all forms of indiscipline within the Cameroon army. “Pirate attacks, incursions in the East region resulting from the instability in the Central African Republic are not as preoccupying as the fight against Boko Haram which is now asymmetric” the defence chief of staff noted.

The enemy’s fire power has been seriously weaken and they have now resorted to suicide attacks. We don’t know when the war will end but we have upgraded our resources, logistics and equipment to efficiently eradicate the terrorist, he added. The Defence Chief of Staff used the occasion to salute the bravery of vigilante groups that have worked alongside the defence forces to thwart attacks by the terrorists. The ceremony which ended with a common meal began with a review of the just ended year by the deputy Army Chief of staff.

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Ngwa Bertrand

24.Jan.2016

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Cameroon defence forces will intensity the fight against the terrorist group Boko Haram in the course of the year 2016. Priority will be given to the fight against terrorism which has led to the death of scores of Cameroonian military and civilians despite major victories that has reduced the operational capacity of the terrorist movement. In order to attain the objective, the military hierarchy has recommended discipline within the ranks of the army. The Defence Chief of Staff, Lt General Rene Claude Meka presented the agenda of Cameroon’s defence forces for 2016 during a new wishes ceremony at the Ministry Head Quarters in Yaoundé. 

During the event he strongly condemned the September 9th, 2015 protest match staged by some soldiers who were part of the Cameroon contingent of the stabilisation mission in the Central African Republic. He described the demonstrations on the streets of Yaoundé as an unimaginable gross violation of the statutory text of regulating Cameroon’s defence forces. Lt General Rene Claude Meka in this light called on senior military officers to severely sanction all forms of indiscipline within the Cameroon army. “Pirate attacks, incursions in the East region resulting from the instability in the Central African Republic are not as preoccupying as the fight against Boko Haram which is now asymmetric” the defence chief of staff noted.

The enemy’s fire power has been seriously weaken and they have now resorted to suicide attacks. We don’t know when the war will end but we have upgraded our resources, logistics and equipment to efficiently eradicate the terrorist, he added. The Defence Chief of Staff used the occasion to salute the bravery of vigilante groups that have worked alongside the defence forces to thwart attacks by the terrorists. The ceremony which ended with a common meal began with a review of the just ended year by the deputy Army Chief of staff.

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Ngwa Bertrand

24.Jan.2016

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Senators of the Centre region have called on President Paul Biya to stand for the next presidential election scheduled for 2018. The Senators made their voices heard on Wednesday 20 January 2016 at the presentation ceremony of New Year wishes to the President of the Senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji. In a statement issued to the press Senator Bell Luc Rene observed that "We Senators of the Centre region, believe it is very important to communicate to the people the achievements of President Paul Biya. Biya is currently conducting several projects in our country. It is for this reason that we believe he should continue in this same direction to achieve his project of emergence." 

The President of the Senate promised to carry their message to President Paul Biya. After the South and the Centre ears remain open greatly on the next region that is also going to manifest in this direction. Presumably, the Etoudi tenant will respond positively to the call of his people especially since he famously said that " you don't remain in power because you want, but because you can."

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Ngwa Bertrand

22.Jan.2016

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President Paul Biya, 83 who is reportedly seeking another mandate come 2018 has handed two campaign vehicles each to the 10 regional governors in Cameroon. The governors were given the posh vehicles in Yaounde during a ceremony presided over by the Minister of Territorial Administration Rene Sadi. Each governor left with a 4x4 field and a hatchback city car. 

The governors in a typical CPDM pattern welcomed with smiles these so called work tools that will facilitate their contributions to Biya's continued stay in power. For the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization René Emmanuel Sadi, who handed the endowment, "It is no accident that Paul Biya has chosen to help regional governors. The head of state is very sensitive to the demands of administrative authorities. We decided to release a significant financial means to facilitate the acquisition of these vehicles for regional governors."

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Ngwa Bertrand

21.Jan.2016

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After three years of continued attacks by Boko Haram in their attempt to create an Islamic state, Muslims and Christians in Cameroon are now joining forces to protect each other.

Hundreds of Muslims gather each Friday for prayers at the central mosque in Mozogo near the border to Nigeria. In order to protect worshippers and the mosques from attack, the Muslim community has formed vigilante groups. But this means that those protecting the mosque would not be able to enter the building and pray, something that is required by their religion.

So the Muslim community has teamed up with Christian organizations to help protect each other. Joseph Klofou of the Protestant Church of Cameroon said that his church decided with members of self defense groups to guard mosques so believers do not have to miss their religious obligations.

"I feel frustrated seeing my brothers and sisters dying. I must act while praying to God to send his angels and warriors to fight Boko Haram because he is the merciful God of armies," said Klofou.

Djafarou Alamine of the central mosques said that they also stand guard in front of churches when Christians pray.

"I am out to fight because Boko Haram is a group of bad people. Islam condemns all that they have been doing to both Christians and Muslims who are all God's creatures even though they have religious differences,” said Alamine.

Hand in hand

Cameroon Christians and Muslims are uniting in the fight against the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram that has been attacking the central African nation in what it said were plans to create an Islamist state.

On Monday, a young suicide bomber detonated explosives at a mosque in Guetchewe, a town near Cameroon's border with Nigeria, killing five people. This happened only five days after another suicide attack which killed 12 at a mosque in the town of Kouyape.

Cameroon's population of over 23 million people is 40 percent Christian, 20 percent Muslim with 40 percent holding indigenous beliefs.

Midjiyawa Bakari is the governor of Cameroon's Far North region. He has congratulated Christians and Muslims for working together against a common enemy.

"We have applauded this initiative in which Muslims stand guard over Churches and Christians stand guard over mosques. We condemn the actions of Boko Haram and ask Cameroonians to all fight them,” said Bakari. “And we extend our condolences to families that lost their loved ones."

Common enemy

Boko Haram has been looting, killing, burning schools, markets and churches in Cameroon. In December 2015, the group said it was attacking Cameroon in order to create an Islamic state.

Cameroon's minister of communication and government spokesperson, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, congratulated Christians and Muslims for jointly defending the country.

"Cameroon is a country where priests and imams both go to churches and mosques to preach and pray during ecumenical services. It is a treasure to keep," said Bakary.

Bakary told reporters that Boko Haram has staged 315 raids in the border region since 2013 and carried out 32 suicide bombings.

"In total, 1,098 civilians, 67 of our soldiers and three police officials have been killed in these barbaric attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group," Bakary said.

(DW)

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Ngwa Bertrand

21.Jan.2016

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Nigeria's army chief of staff told an inquiry on Tuesday that his soldiers had acted appropriately during a bloody raid last month on a minority Shi'ite sect in which at least 60 people were killed. The army says the Islamic Movement in Nigeria had tried to assassinate its chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, when members of the sect blocked his convoy in the northern city of Zaria in December. The following day the army said it had raided several buildings connected to the sect. The Shi'ite sect said hundreds of its members had been killed. 

The army took most of the bodies away, making it impossible to verify the claim but the director of a local hospital said at least 60 people had been killed. "I'm here because I was there during the incident. I was involved and my officers and soldiers acted in accordance with the rule of engagement," Buratai told an inquiry panel of the National Human Rights Commission into the raid. "There is no way we would pick our weapons and deliberately violate what we have been tasked and paid to defend and protect," added the army chief. Members of the Shi'ite sect are also expected to give evidence to the inquiry panel, which was set up to establish what happened in the raid and sat for the first time on Tuesday.

It has the power to impose fines and payment of compensation. Most of Nigeria's Muslims, who number tens of millions, are Sunni, including the Boko Haram jihadist militants who have killed thousands in bombings and shootings, mainly in the northeast, since 2009. However, in the nation of 170 million people, there are also several thousand Shi'ite Muslims whose movement was inspired by the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Shi'ite Iran. Iran condemned last month's raid and summoned Nigeria's ambassador to Tehran.

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Ngwa Bertrand

20.Jan.2016

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