How CPDM agents are destroying the credibility of the Interregional Coordination Centre for Maritime Security

Colonel Abdourahmane Dieng from Senegal, the Executive Director of the interregional coordination Centre (CIC) for maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, which is headquartered in Yaoundé, has been summoned by ECOWAS for consultation. The office of the Senegalese colonel is currently occupied by a Cameroonian captain, Emmanuel Isaac Bell. A financial scandal has rocked CIC involving a calamitous management of 310 million CFA francs granted by Cameroon including huge amounts that came from international donors. The situation was made public 6 months after the inauguration of CIC in September 2014 in Yaoundé.

The objective was to fight against maritime piracy, terrorism, banditry at sea. Cameroon has been accused by some countries of the Gulf of Guinea for disregarding her commitments in the operation of Centre. President Biya reportedly handed over the sum of 310 131 000 CFA francs to Edgar Mebe Ngo'o the then minister for defense for onward transmission to CIC. It a letter currently circulating in Yaounde, Minister Mebe Ngo'o via his Chief of General Affairs revealed how the amount was distributed: 254 010 000 CFA francs for operation, 14 400 000 CFA francs for premiums of international executives, 1 800 000 CFA francs for the fuel in international frameworks, 5 790 000 CFA francs for the salaries of support staff and 14 131 000 for the acquisition of data-processing equipment. This Money was never delivered to its recipients.

On the 2nd of October, Mebe Ngo 'o was transferred to the Ministry of Transport. That day, he signed another correspondence, concerning the same 310 million. This time around, it was not to the Executive Director of CIC but rather to the 'president of the operational cell of the national follow-up Committee, Rear Admiral Jean Mendoua including Colonel Dieng. A lot of tongues have been wagging on why Minister Mebe Ngo'o had to pay money to Jean Mendoua? and Why was the money not simply transferred in the CIC accounts? It is now widely believed that Minister Mebe Ngo'o, did not pay the money to Colonel Abdourahmane Dieng.

President Paul Biya ordered an inquiry into the matter and all those involved have been heard by investigators. The Senegalese colonel revealed during interrogation that money paid into CIC ended up in the pockets of Mebe Ngoó and Jean Mendoua.This case that has started generating political heat in Yaounde has also attracted concerns from the United Nations, France, the United Kingdom, the United States... and the partners of the countries of the Gulf of Guinea, in the fight against maritime piracy, terrorism and banditry at sea.