Politics

The United Nations (UN)’s Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the recent deadly terrorist attacks that killed over 40 people in Lebanon, saying the perpetrators must be “brought to justice.” According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, 43 people were killed and nearly 240 people wounded when two large explosions, claimed by the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, rocked a security post in the Borj al-Barajneh area in a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Thursday. Ban “is deeply saddened at the reported high numbers of fatalities and injured, and extends his condolences to the families of the victims, and to the people and government of Lebanon,” said a statement issued by Ban’s spokesperson on Thursday. 

The UN chief described the fatal bomb attacks as “despicable,” calling for the perpetrators to be “swiftly brought to justice.” He further reiterated the world body’s support for Lebanese institutions, including the armed forces and security services, in their efforts to protect the country, and underlined the need for all Lebanese parties to work together and preserve security and stability. Earlier in the day, UN Special Representative in Lebanon Sigrid Kaag also denounced “the heinous” assaults, saying, “Lebanon’s unity, stability and security need to be supported and shielded at all times.” Lebanon declared a day of national mourning on Friday following the terror attacks, which have drawn widespread condemnations from the country’s senior officials as well as different countries, including Iran, France and the United States.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah slammed the attacks as a “crime,” and vowed to continue its battle with terrorist groups. The Lebanese army and Hezbollah resistance fighters have been carrying out operations against the terrorist groups of al-Nusra Front and Daesh in the Lebanese town of Arsal on the border with Syria. Hezbollah fighters have also been assisting the Syrian army in the latter’s fight against the Takfiri militants in Syria.

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Ngwa Bertrand

13.Nov.2015

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The 36 ministers and junior ministers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s pioneer government spent the first day at work on Thursday, November 12, 2015 after they swore the oath of allegiance and were assigned formal roles in a swearing-in ceremony Buhari chaired in the capital Abuja on Wednsday, November 11, 2015. The new government finally got to work 166 days after President Buhari took over office on May 29, 2015 following his victory against incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria’s March 2015 presidential election.

Buhari during the ceremony reportedly described the appointments as a "milestone" and indicated it had taken so long to decide because of the need to put "round pegs in round holes" with the right people for the job. "I have been conscious of the need not to repeat the mistakes of the past," he is quoted as saying. He added the ministers had been chosen on the basis of their abilities and performance. Buhari who has been seeking to streamline government and cut endemic corruption, slashed the number of ministers from 36 to 24, making some nominees only junior ministers.

Prominent cabinet ministers in the government include, Kemi Adeosun, former investment banker and accountant who is the Finance Minister, Ibe Kachikwu, head of the State-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the junior Minister of Petroleum and will assist President Buhari in overseeing the day-to-day running of the sector. Retired Brigadier-General Muhammad Mansur Dan-Ali, is the Minister of Defence.

Former army chief Abdulrahman Dambazau was appointed Interior Minister. Former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola is the Minister of Works and Housing, while the former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi is Minister of Transport. Reacting to the new government, Mike Ejiofor, a security consultant and former director of Nigeria’s spy agency, the Department of State Services, said, “We have waited this long, but there seems not to be something new. “We will want the ministers to hit the ground running,” The Wall Street Journal quoted.

The appointment of the new government is said to be in compliance with Nigeria’s constitution which demands the appointment of a minister from each of Nigeria’s 36 States.

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13.Nov.2015

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U.S. President Barack Obama, in a phone call with South African President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday, expressed "deep concern" about the situation in Burundi, the White House said. Obama asked Zuma "to continue to work with other regional actors to call for calm and press for a dialogue that can bring about a long-term solution to the crisis," the White House said in a statement.

At least 240 people have been killed and tens of thousands have fled to neighboring states, during months of violence that began when Burundi's president, Pierre Nkurunziza seen here partying with the Obamas decided in April to run for a third term. He won a disputed election in July.

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12.Nov.2015

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New Ambassadors from Algeria, Tunisia, Japan and Spain presented their letters of accreditation on Wednesday 11 November 2015 to the Head of State His Excellency Paul BIYA, during four solemn diplomatic ceremonies at Unity Palace.

His Excellency Merzak BEDJAOUI, Algeria’s new Ambassador to Cameroon arrived Unity Palace shortly before 11 am, and was led by the Chief of State Protocol to review troops of the Presidential Guard who were on hand for the occasion. The military honours included the singing of the Cameroon National Anthem with the Cameroon flag in position. The diplomat was then led up to the third floor of the main building and introduced to the President of the Republic. He then handed over his letters of credence to President Paul BIYA. He also met with the close collaborators of the Head of State including the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune MBELLA MBELLA; the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand NGOH NGOH; the Director of the Civil Cabinet, Martin BELINGA EBOUTOU; the Commander of the President’s Special Commmand, General Emmanuel AMOUGOU and the Commander of the Presidential Guard, Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Charles BEKO’O ABONDO.

After a brief discussion with President Paul BIYA, the Algeria Ambassador once more had military honours in the courtyard of Unity Palace, this time with the execution of the Algerian anthem.

It was this same ritual that was undertaken later by the Ambassador of Tunisia to Cameroon, H. E. Jalel SNOUSSI; the Ambassador of Japan to Cameroon, H.E. Kunio OKAMURA; and the Ambassador of Spain to Cameroon, H.E. Jorge DE ORUETA PEMARTIN.

The elaborate diplomatic ceremonies confer full powers on the new Ambassadors to carry out their missions in Cameroon. The ceremonies are also a testimony of the very friendly cooperation ties between Cameroon and Algeria, Tunisia, Japan and Spain.

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12.Nov.2015

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Recent resignations and movements to other parties by politicians confirm a trend that has become recurrent since the advent of multi-party politics in the 1990s. It has become normal in Cameroon to hear of top political party officials and members resigning to join other parties. A recent case was in the Mfoundi II Section of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) following the arrival of over 80 former members of the Cameroon Democratic Union, CDU, of Dr. Adamou Ndam Njoya.

The militants were welcomed by members of the CPDM Mfoundi II Section in pomp and fanfare on Thursday, October 29, 2015. The new arrivals recalled that they decamped from the CPDM to the CDU several years ago and were now coming back. They said they were encouraged by the inclusive approach to development by CPDM Mfoundi II Section President and Yaounde II Mayor, Luc Assamba. While accepting CPDM party uniforms and gadgets, the carpet-crossers pledged commitment to the ideals of the CPDM party.

Four days earlier on October 25, 2015 in Bamenda, North West Region, SDF’s key activist, Dr Fomambu Lawrence announced that he was returning to the National Union for Democracy and Progress, NUDP, from which he decamped in 2003 to join the Alliance of Progressive Forces, AFP, of Bernard Muna; before ending up in the SDF. In the same vein, Maidadi Saïdou who left the SDF for AFP is now in the NUDP. Tayong Jacob and Mudoh Walters also crossed from AFP to NUDP.

Another resignation that made headlines recently was that of former Member of Parliament of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, party, Dr. Aka Amuam, who joined the CPDM party. Reasons given by political carpet-crossers do not seem to convince a critic like Dr. Eric Mathias Owona Nguini. He says the phenomenon in Cameroon is motivated by opportunism and the hope for political gains. “It shows that our political scene is not strongly structured around one of the fundamental principles which are the ideology, moral and technical orientation that political parties must uphold in running public affairs and ensuring political governance.

It also indicates that there exists a certain level of precariousness which obliges people to change parties,” he argued. However, the risks are obvious because resigning militants might be treated with suspicion in their new political parties, Dr. Owona Nguini warns. “So, they have to show proof of their loyalty and fidelity,” he advised, adding that this exigency could be very difficult because their new comrades will also have in their heads that “he who once betrayed will always betray.”

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Ngwa Bertrand

11.Nov.2015

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Recent resignations and movements to other parties by politicians confirm a trend that has become recurrent since the advent of multi-party politics in the 1990s. It has become normal in Cameroon to hear of top political party officials and members resigning to join other parties. A recent case was in the Mfoundi II Section of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) following the arrival of over 80 former members of the Cameroon Democratic Union, CDU, of Dr. Adamou Ndam Njoya.

The militants were welcomed by members of the CPDM Mfoundi II Section in pomp and fanfare on Thursday, October 29, 2015. The new arrivals recalled that they decamped from the CPDM to the CDU several years ago and were now coming back. They said they were encouraged by the inclusive approach to development by CPDM Mfoundi II Section President and Yaounde II Mayor, Luc Assamba. While accepting CPDM party uniforms and gadgets, the carpet-crossers pledged commitment to the ideals of the CPDM party.

Four days earlier on October 25, 2015 in Bamenda, North West Region, SDF’s key activist, Dr Fomambu Lawrence announced that he was returning to the National Union for Democracy and Progress, NUDP, from which he decamped in 2003 to join the Alliance of Progressive Forces, AFP, of Bernard Muna; before ending up in the SDF. In the same vein, Maidadi Saïdou who left the SDF for AFP is now in the NUDP. Tayong Jacob and Mudoh Walters also crossed from AFP to NUDP.

Another resignation that made headlines recently was that of former Member of Parliament of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, party, Dr. Aka Amuam, who joined the CPDM party. Reasons given by political carpet-crossers do not seem to convince a critic like Dr. Eric Mathias Owona Nguini. He says the phenomenon in Cameroon is motivated by opportunism and the hope for political gains. “It shows that our political scene is not strongly structured around one of the fundamental principles which are the ideology, moral and technical orientation that political parties must uphold in running public affairs and ensuring political governance.

It also indicates that there exists a certain level of precariousness which obliges people to change parties,” he argued. However, the risks are obvious because resigning militants might be treated with suspicion in their new political parties, Dr. Owona Nguini warns. “So, they have to show proof of their loyalty and fidelity,” he advised, adding that this exigency could be very difficult because their new comrades will also have in their heads that “he who once betrayed will always betray.”

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

11.Nov.2015

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