Briefs

Compiled by TichaBizel-Bi Mafor, intern

New Governor for BEAC

                Former Chadian Minister of Finance has been appointed the new Governor of the Bank of central African states, BEAC. Abba TolliMahanat, nephew of Chadian strongman Idriss Derby Itno, was designated by the Heads of State of the CEMAC region during their 27th Extra-Ordinary Summit on 30 July 2016, in Malabor, Equatorial Guinea.

                Abba TolliMahanat replaces the Equato-Guinean, Lucas AbagaNchama who has come to the end of his mandate as governor.

                Cameroonian born DieudonneMevouEkou, also the nephew of the Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, was appointed the Vice-Governor.

The two officials will take office in January 2017.

Cameroon wins Award for Online Business Registration

                The government of Cameroon has won a prize for its breakthrough in online business registration. With its ‘my business.cm, Cameroon scored 7 on 10 beating 18 other countries to emerge first in the e-registration category. A certificate of “Highest Appreciation” was awarded to the Minister of Small and Medium Size Enterprises, Laurent Serge EtoundiNgoa, during the Global Economic Forum organized by the United Nations Organisation on 18 July 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya.

                The ranking for the Award is jointly done by the UN Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD and the Global Entrepreneurship Network of the US State Department.

                Minister EtoundiNgoa presented the award to Prime Minister Philemon Yang at the Star Building on 26 July 2016. The minister hailed the PM for instructing reforms in business registration in a bid to improve the business environment.

Abba Tolli and EvouMekou:

Management of BEAC now a family affair?

                The Bank of Central African states, BEAC, will be run by the nephews of the Presidents of Chad and Cameroon respectively. Appointed during the 27th Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State of CEMAC, on 30 July 2016, in Malabor, Equatorial Guinea, the new Governor of Beac, Abba TolliMahamat is the son of the elder sister to Chadian leader, Idriss Derby Itno. Before becoming Governor of BEAC, TolliMahanat had held important positions in his country including that of Minister of Finance; Director of Civil Cabinet at the presidency and Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works.

                Also, the new Vice Governor of BEAC, Cameroonian-born DieudonneEkouMevou is the son of the elder sister of Cameroonian President Paul Biya. A Civil Administrator by training DieudonneMekou was before his appointment the General Manager of the Debt Recovery Fund known in French as CaisseAutonomed’Armortissement, CAA, with head office in Yaounde.

                President Biya and Idriss Derby are among the longest serving presidents in Africa and perhaps the world. President Biya came to power in 1982 (34 years ago) and has stayed in office uninterrupted since then. He is said to give undue advantages to people from his native South Region. But the appointment of his nephew as the Vice Governor of BEAC is perhaps the only instance where he has been seen to particularly favour one of his siblings.

                For his part, the Chadian President Idriss Derby seized power through a Coup d’Etat in 1989 (27 years ago) and later became a civilian president after he resigned from the army, stood and won two successive elections in a row. He won a third successive election only recently. Though the vote was contested, Idriss Derby has stayed glued to power, using his acolytes and family members to consolidate his grip. 

Fake vegetable oils flood local markets

                The association of oil refiners in Cameroon has observed that imported vegetable oil of different brands have flooded the Cameroonian markets. These fake oils are neither certified nor do they have logos. Also, while some have exceeded their expiry dates, others have no expiry dates stamped on them. “We do not know where these vegetable oils are imported from,” says the president of the association of oil refiners, who notes that barely few months ago these imported vegetable oils had disappeared from the local market that is after they were outlawed by the authorities. He however laments that “today the oils are found on the counters of just every stall in the market.” The non restriction on importation of vegetable oils poses a serious threat to the survival of local producers.