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Killing of Priest in Kembong:

Bishop Nkea Rebukes Issa Tchiroma for LiesTelling

-Maintains that Military Officers Killed Kenyan Priest

By Ojong Joseph Ojong in Mamfe

Rev. Fr. Cosmas Oboto Ondari, allegedly killed by

Military forces in restive Kembong in Southwest region

The Bishop of Mamfe, Andrew Nkea has accused Cameroon’s Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, for lies telling and lack of verification on the facts concerning the death of Rev. Fr. Cosmas Ondari of the Saint Martin of Tours Parish in Kembong.

                His Lordship, Andrew Nkea, in an interview with the BBC’s Focus on Africa, Friday, November 23, debunked the Minister’s claim that, the Priest was not killed by the Cameroonian Military officers.

“He does not live in Mamfe, I live in Mamfe, and this did not happen in the night, it happened during the day. We are not arguing over truth. I just beg Mr. Minister to verify what he is saying before he goes on the air.  Because it is very disheartening, we are Cameroonians, we are suffering and our Minister will be talking about something he does not know. I am on the ground. I live here, the Minister does not live in Mamfe; he doesn’t even know where Kembong is.” Bishop Nkea averred.

                According to the Bishop, the 33-year Kenyan missionary, ordained last year was killed by the Cameroonian military in Kembong, a locality near Mamfe, in Cameroon’s Southwest Region on Wednesday November, 21.

                “I went to Kembong myself to meet the Christians there who were with Father Cosmas at the time he was shot. They explained to me that, there was a military vehicle that was coming into the village and as they were driving into the village, they were shooting… Father tried to escape around the Church but he was shot at the door of the Church, the bullet got him and he fell there,” Bishop Nkea narrated.

                The military, as he explained, fired bullets, and pellets were littered in front of the Church.

                “They were actually shooting into the church. The other Christians managed to run away to the back of the church. There was a seminarian who was also there. They ran into the Fathers’ house and some ran into other places. Yesterday I was there; I counted myself 21 bullets on the front wall of the Church”

                As one who went down to the field to see things for himself, His Lordship Andrew Nkea described how the situation was and how the Priest was killed.

                “If you go to the place like I did yesterday, you will actually see some of the bullets that passed through the window and grasped the wall next to the Alter. It was around 3 o’clock in the afternoon, they were just a few Christians with the Catechist, cleaning the Church. Father was standing in front of the Church when they were passing. It looks like when they were entering the village, they were shooting in an attempt to scare people away or what I don’t know. As they were driving into the village, they were shooting at random..They continued shooting as they headed to their barracks. They did not stop shooting at the Church”

ENS Bertoua, University of Ngoundere:

Prof. Fame Ndongo Denies Admission to Anglophone Students

Less than six (06) Anglophone students were admitted out of a total of 230 students admitted into different departments of cycle II of the Higher Teachers’ Training College, ENS Bertuoa, for the 2018/2019 Academic year. The admissions decision was signed by Higher Education Minister, Fame Ndongo, on 22 October 2018

By Tanyi Kenneth Musa in Yaounde

Minister of Higher Education, Fame Ndongo

Anglophone students who sat the entrance exams into the Higher Teachers Training College, ENS Bertoua, have noted with bitterness the discriminatory treatment meted out on them with respect to admissions into the institution. The Higher Teachers Training College, ENS Bertoua, is affiliated to the University of Ngoundere.

                                The Anglophone students and their parents observed with disgust that of a total of 220 students admitted into cycle II of the institution for the 2018/2019 academic year, less than 6 Anglophone students were admitted, giving a percentage of about 2%.

                                The aggrieved parents and students remarked that by this lopsided and discriminatory admission policy, the minister of Higher Education has simply declared Anglophone students as personae non grata at ENS Bertoua.

                                Yet, the Anglophone students and parents at once noted that the same minister who denies admission to Anglophones, floods Francophone students in teachers training colleges and other recruitment colleges in English speaking Universities including notably ENS Bamenda, HTTTC Kumba, College of Medicine UB, College of Engineering, College Engineering UBa etc.

                                They noted that in ENSET Bambili for example, 53 Francophone students were admitted for a total intake of 211. What’s more, in the department of Mechanical Engineering at the ENSET, of the eight students taking the course, 5 are Francophones. This is idem for the department of mechanical design, while in the department of Mechanical Manufacturing there are seven Francophones out of the total eight students in the class.

Biya’s New Gov’t:

What Ration for Anglophone Regions?

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

President Biya is expected to announce a new government soon

Following the victory of President Paul Biya in the 7 October Presidential election and his eventual swearing in on 6 November, the entire nation has held its breadth and is now looking up to the Etoudi Palace tenant to redistribute the spoils of victory. All Cameroonians are now waiting anxiously for President Biya to form his new government which other things being equal should be out any time before Christmas. Recall that after the presidential election in 2004 Biya reshuffled the government on 9 December. After the election in October 2011 the President did the cabinet reshuffle on 7 December. So, will he stick to his tradition or will he not?

                The anxiety of the masses to see the new government is the more because the President in his inaugural remarks after his swearing-in said he would give more consideration this time to the youths. The President said he has finally understood that the youths want a more deserving attention from him, apart from their quest for a better representation in decision-making spheres of the polity. Whether the President’s remarks were mere political rhetoric or whether he meant business, will be seen in the days ahead, when his new government would be published.

                Yet, it must be noted here and emphatically, that, for very long years now, President Biya has always empowered ‘old people’ in his successive governments and this was in preference to and in spite of the youths, that form almost 70 percent of the country’s population (UN statistics). It is understood that this ‘disdainful’ treatment giving to the youths has been a source of real frustration in the country and the President is expected to make a noticeable turnaround from the past.

                Even though, some analysts say no number of appointments can satisfy the youths of the country today, giving that they too want to rise to the mantle of leadership of the country. The enthusiasm shown to Cabral Libi’s candidature was telling. It should neither be undermined nor underestimated.

                But these political bookmakers at once contend that the President will not make a radical change as to give the impression of a completely youthful government; he will proceed with his policy of “rajeunissement” gradually by injecting a few more youths to key ministerial positions.

                Yet though, some analysts observe that Biya had already given the youths some consideration in his previous governments. They cite cases such as the SG of the Presidency (Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh), the ASG of the Presidency (Elung Paul Che), the MINEPAT (Alamine Ousmane Mey), the Secretary of State for the Gendarmerie (Etoga), Secretary of State for Mines (Fuh Calistus), the MINDEL at the MINEPAT (Paul Tasong) etc.

                But the question observers are asking is how really young are these cited persons, all or most of whom are in their fifties? The observers recall that Biya was Prime Minister at 42. He became President at 49. As for the sitting Prime Minister, Philemon Yang, he was first made minister at 27. Bouba Bello was Prime Minister at 35 etc etc.

                However, some analysts contend that giving the government a youthful outlook may not necessarily entail appointing young ministers; it could also require that some of the old guards heading the many government parastatals and even institutions like the National Assembly should retire and make way for their children to also rise and crowd the top.

                Apart from the youths, the Anglophones are also anxiously waiting to see what chunk of the national cake Biya will hand to them in terms of ministerial appointments. It is needless mentioning that for decades now the Anglophone populations have been expressing dissatisfaction at the rather condescending treatment they get from the President especially in his redistribution of ministerial positions. Anglophones note albeit with dissatisfaction that for over three decades of Biya’s rule and until the last cabinet shake-up in March 2018 when two of theirs (Nalova Lyonga in Secondary Education and Atanga Nji in MINAT) were appointed to ministries of sovereignty, no Anglophone(s), except maybe the late E.T Egbe (former Minister of State for P&T) have ever held ministries of real power, not to mention an Anglophone being Minister of State.

6am to 9pm Curfew:

B’da Prostitutes, Business Owners Hail NW Governor

-Populations now beckon Ambazonia Leaders to also consider suspending the Monday Ghost Town or readjusting it to run from 6am to 12 noon so as to permit them to make the most of the festive X-mass season

By Njodzefe Nestor

After incessant supplications from the population, the Governor of the North West region Adolphe Lele l’Afrique Tchoffo Debben has finally adjusted the time of the curfew which ran from 6pm to 6am to now run from 9pm to 6am daily.

                The previous dusk to dawn curfew was forced down the throats of the population on Sunday 10 September 2018, after a driver was killed during an attack by gunmen on transport buses along the Bamenda-Mbouda road. The gunmen, with the use of a caterpillar, had also attempted to cut-off the road linking the Northwest region to the rest of the country.

                “The Governor of the North West region wishes to inform the entire North West population that the regional order restricting movements of persons and property within the North West region has been modified to run from 9pm to 6am with effect from Saturday, November 24, 2018,” a press release from the Governor reads.

                The Governor in the press release appreciated the “collaboration, high sense of discipline and sacrifice” exercised by the population in the fight against what he termed secessionist activists.  

                He also used the opportunity of the time adjustment decision to call on “misguided youths to drop their weapons, come out of their hideouts and regain normal life”.

                “The Governor finally counts on the peace loving, law abiding and God fearing population of the NW region to mobilize as one person to assist government towards the restoration of a healthy and serene socio-economic and security environment for the much cherished welfare of its citizens,” the release concludes.

                The populations of the region have reacted positively to the move by the governor which many described as timely especially as the festive period is fast approaching.

Awaited Gov’t of Great Opportunities:

Can Philemon Yang Be Maintained As PM?

When the sitting Prime Minister, Philemon Yunji Yang, was appointed to the Star Building on 30 June 2009, not many were Cameroonians who saw him keeping the job beyond a few years. But after staying 9 years five months and counting on the job, the tall, soft-spoken, self-effacing and taciturn son of Jikejem Oku, in Bui Division of the North West region, has proven political bookmakers, and especially, his detractors, both within and out of government circles, wrong. But today, no one can be sure anymore of Yang’s continued stay at the Star Building as PM. Bookmakers say his poor handling of the Anglophone crisis stands him in bad stead in Biya’s calculations for the future.

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

Philemon Yang is the longest serving PM in the history of Cameroon

With his over 9 years at the Star Building, Yang has created a record of stay as PM that may never be broken in Cameroon. He shattered Mafany Musonge’s 8 years and 4 months record (June 1996 to December 2004), and made nonsense of the 7 years and 6 months (May 1975 to November 1982) that Biya stayed as PM before becoming the president of Cameroon.

                For the very discreet persona that Yang is (some commentators say he sometimes overplays his discreteness to his disadvantage), it is difficult to say with certainty, what his true position is especially concerning burning issues of national interest.

So, the reason for Yang’s perennial stay as PM has remained a mystery to Cameroonians, many of whom thought he should have been off-loaded from the government long before now. But as it is the case with many of his trusted allies, President Biya alone knows why he has continued to maintain his confidence in Yang, even when popular opinion thought the latter had outlived his relevance.

                Reason why the political bookmakers are still not certain about Philemon Yang’s fate, even as the president is understood to be busy fine tuning his new government, which should be released anytime after the close of the present session of parliament. Recall that following the presidential elections of October 2004 and October 2011, the President published his new government before 10 December that is, on 7 December 2004 and 9 December 2011 respectively. Whether he would maintain this schedule is a matter of wait and see.

                Yet, it should be recalled that in his traditional end of year address to the nation, on 31 December 2014, President Biya took on the Yang-led government, criticizing it of inertia, red-tape and of being too spendthrift. After that public bashing of Yang by his mentor, Biya, many thought Yang’s days at the Star Building were numbered. But the pure-breed from Oku has stayed on, until now.

                However, commentators say if there were some arguments that motivated Biya to continue keeping Yang as PM even after he publicly lambasted his inability to ensure proper coordination and impulsion within the government, theose arguments have been watered down by Yang’s rather catastrophic handling of the Anglophone crisis, which has now transformed into a full-blown armed conflict and which has inflicted immeasurable losses in men and property to the state and people of Cameroon. That Philemon Yang was unable to travel to his native Oku, to vote in the 7 October presidential election only demonstrated how truly daunted and helpless he had become in the face of the raging conflict.

                Then, the scandalously low voter participation rate in the NW (the lowest nation-wide), in the election and worst of all, the very paltry contribution of the NW region to Biya’s overall victory, only leaves Yang standing in bad stead in bookmakers’ predictions about Biya’s next government.

Big Lesson for Cameroonian Politicians:

How Goodluck Jonathan Conceded Defeat & Preserved Peace, Unity in Nigeria

Goodluck Jonathan has published a book telling his transition story

In a book that he published recently titled “My Transition Hours”, former Nigerian Head of State, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, says that he had reasons enough to challenge the result of the election that ousted him from Aso Rock in 2015, but he did not want to plunge his country into chaos. Reason he called his challenger, Mohamadou Bahari, and conceded defeat, even before the final result was proclaimed.

I knew what was coming the day before I called General Muhammadu Buhari. I had reports on the polls around the country. It was clear the results were not going to favour me. Apparently, there were many instances of irregularities. There were series of problems with card readers, resulting from widespread technical hitches leading to the non-uniform application throughout the country,” Jonathan said of the 2015 presidential election in his country.

                “For some inexplicable reason, he independent electoral commission, INEC, had been able to achieve near 100% distribution of Permanent Voter Cards in the North, including the North East, which was under siege with the Boko Haram insurgency but failed to record a similar level of distribution in the South which was relatively more peaceful.

                “Social media was filled with all manner of stories, pictures and videos. I was settled in my mind that I was not going to be the sitting President pointing out these infractions and accusing the opposition and the very INEC I helped to strengthen.

“The world saw my ordeal at the polling unit in my community in Bayelsa State, where the card reader refused my PVC, even after we tried repeatedly during accreditation. And it was the same with my wife and my mother. It was a moment that exposed the shortcomings of INEC.

                “However, I was heading towards peace. Stopping the election on voting day would have been like detonating an atomic bomb. After we managed to vote upon filling the Incident Forms, I left Bayelsa for Abuja to monitor the elections and collation of results all over the country from the 29th to 31st March, 2015.

                “The country was tensed. I had to do something. I could no longer wait for the collation of the final results. The pressure on the country was palpable. In Lagos, people were ready to burst loose on the streets and in the North; the stage was set for envisaged violence. One of my party’s agents at the INEC National Collation Centre in Abuja, Elder Godsday Orubebe eventually got into a heated argument with the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega. That further raised the tension in the country. Everyone was expecting the worst. I knew it was time to douse the tension.

Why I conceded defeat

                “I was fully informed about the manipulations, intrigues, intimidation and betrayals. The consequences of not conceding were only better imagined. My natural instinct for peace automatically surfaced. I was going to make a decision which reflected my commitment to that ideal. This is the foundation of my essence. In my periodic projections into the future, I did not see how I would be presiding over any kind of chaos. I was prepared to promote the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria.

                “This is a huge sacrifice, but I hope my readers believe me when I say it turned out to be one of the easiest decisions I ever took while in office. With my mind made up, I knew it was time to inject peace into the tensed polity, especially before INEC completed collation.

                “I was in my living room with some ministers, aides and friends. Among them were the Coordinating Minister for the Economy/Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka and Waripamowei Dudafa, my Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs.

                “They were recommending sundry alternatives, but I was quiet in the midst of their discussion. I hugged my thoughts, figuring out how to do that which was best for the country. My personal interest was receding rapidly and the interest of Nigeria looming large. I excused myself and left the sitting room. I walked into my study. Even here, my mantra was a strong circle around me, supporting and comforting me. Let the country survive. Let democracy survive. My political ambition is not worth people being ‘soaked in blood’.

                “More reports flowed in and I could not wait anymore. The announcement of the final result could take issues out of all our hands. It was time for me to take action and bring peace to the nation. I felt I was destined by God at that point in time to inject the peace serum and douse the palpable tension in the country.

After Receiving his Campaign Funds:

UDP Chairman Hails Biya for Arm-Twisting Atanga Nji

By Njodzefe Nestor

Bochong El Hadj Lawan Bako

The National Chairman of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Bochong El Hadj Lawan Bako, has expressed his appreciation to President Paul Biya for arm-twisting the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji to pay his long delayed senatorial campaign funds.

                In a press outing recently at the UDP party’s headquarters at Ntarinkon in Bamenda, Bochong El Hadj Lawan Bako who is also spokesman of Cameroon’s presidential majority urged the head of state to sanction, the MINAT boss, Paul Atanga Nji, for his consistent “irresponsible acts”.

                “I want to take this opportunity to inform you that, at long last the Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji Paul, has paid the UDP campaign funds for 2018 Senatorial election without interest. It is regrettable that it has taken 8months to pay in this money into the UDP bank account on the 14th of November 2018 whereas we had long deposited our bank account number for that purpose since Mach 2018. We hereby urge the head of state to sanction Minister Atanga Nji Paul of MINAT for his irregular acts, which we describe as irresponsible acts,” Lawan Bako said.

Amba War in Brief

Ambazonia Camps Destroyed in Bali and Fundong  

Government Troops have destroyed at least three camps in several operations since Thursday November 22, 2018 in Bali village in the Mezam administrative area and Abu village in the Fundong administrative area in the North West region.

                According to Brigadier General Agha Robinson Ndong, Commander of the 5th Joint Military Region, the military seized a huge consignment of guns, ammunition, machetes, motorcycles and drugs. Unconfirmed reports say at least 43 separatist fighters were killed in the operation. 

                The military found the separatist hideouts after tracking one of the gunmen suspected of kidnapping 79 students and three staff members from a school on Nov. 4, Robinson said.

                “We are more than ever before determined to end these attacks on civilians and the destruction of property,” he said. “We count on the collaboration of the population that is fed up with the killings and kidnappings carried out by the armed gangs.”

                North West Governor Deben Tchoffo said there were no military casualties in the latest operations but The Median learnt that armed gangs ambushed a military convoy in Bali village.

Police Officer beheaded in Nkar

A police officer was on Monday November 19 beheaded in Nkar, Bui Division of the North West region by unidentified gunmen, sources have said.

                The officer, Mr. Ephraim Ngafei was pulled out of a vehicle at the weekend by a group of armed men and and taken to an unknown location, sources said.

                A source close to the family said, the kidnappers had demanded a ransom which the family paid in about 150.000FCFA but the men went ahead to behead the policeman and abandon his corpse on the street.

                Mr. Ngafei, who had reportedly worked in Kumbo for the past ten years waas reportedly heading to Yaounde to answer a summons from his hierarchy but met his doom on the way.

                On the other hand, another police officer who was kidnapped in Kumbo on Sunday Noveember 18, Kinkoh Anthony was reportedly released yesterday after paying a ransom which sources close to his family have estimated to be in the region of 3 million Francs CFA.

Sisiku Ayuk, Others Transferred To Kondengui Prison

Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and nine others

The leader of Ambazonia, Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and nine others who were arrested in Nigeria and jailed at the National Gendarmerie, Yaoundé have been transferred to the Yaoundé Kondengui Maximum Security Prison.

                According to the lead Counsel for the Ambazonia Leaders, Barrister Fru John Nsoh, the leaders have been effectively transferred even though the State did not officially notify them.

                At the moment, the Government has not made any official declaration and the matter is still being treated as top secret.

                This prison facility housed some VIP Anglophone detainees last year in the persons of Barrister Agbor Balla and Dr Fontem Neba.

                This recent move signifies a protracted struggle in the case of the jailed Ambazonia leaders since they are now being confined in a facility meant for those awaiting trial.

                It is now believed that the Government would in the days ahead press charges against the 10 Ambazonia leaders.

                After losing a Habeas Corpus appeal for their immediate release on November 15, Lawyers of the detained leaders have promised to exhaust all relevant national jurisdictions before moving to international instances for their release.

Frightening Insecurity:

USA Bars Its Citizens from Travelling to NW & SW

US Embassy tells its citizens ‘Do not travel to the Southwest and Northwest Regions’

The United States Embassy in Cameroon has warned its citizens and personnel against traveling to the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon following escalation in the ongoing conflict between the secessionist fighters and government back security forces in both regions.

                The security alert was posted on the Embassy’s website on Friday, 23 November. ‘The level of violence in the Southwest and Northwest Regions continues to increase.   In recent weeks, U.S. citizens have been the victims of violent crimes in both regions.  Due to the violence, many medical facilities in these areas are reported to be closed, inaccessible, or severely understaffed’ the Embassy said.

                This is the first time since conflict began that Embassy is put a complete ban on travelling to both regions. ‘All but mission-essential travel by U.S. Embassy personnel to these regions is prohibited:  our ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these areas is extremely limited. Actions to Take:   Do not travel to the Southwest and Northwest Regions’ the alert insisted.

Inciting & Sponsoring War:

Diaspora Anglophones told to Stop Destroying Cameroon

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

The Senior Divisional Officer, SDO for Meme has sent a grim message to Cameroonians living in the Diaspora to immediately stop sponsoring the ongoing war that has completely ravaged his hitherto beautiful and peaceful territory of command.

                Chamberlain Ntou’ou Ndong dished out the warnings on Wednesday, 21 November at the premises of the Kumba District Hospital, whilst presiding over an event to officially receive medical equipment donated to the hospital by the Association of Kumba (K-Town) boys living in Atlanta, USA. The equipments donated were estimated at about FCFA 300 million.

                The SDO told his hearers comprising a cross section of his collaborators, personnel of the hospital, patients and others that the populations of Meme Division have been suffering and crying a lot due to fighting and the donation from the brothers is a way to wipe the tears.

                While lauding the initiative of the K-Town boys in Atlanta, Ntou’ou Ndong at once warned other Diaspora Cameroonians spread across the USA, Europe and Africa to stop fanning the flames of the crisis and to stop sponsoring the ongoing armed conflict in the two English speaking regions in general and Meme Division in particular.

                “I want to warn Cameroonians in the Diaspora to stop sending guns, bullets, tramadol, and other weapons back home to be used in destroying our beloved fatherland,” Ntou’ou Ndong cautioned, while calling on the few misguided youths still in the bushes to lay down their arms as instructed by the Head of State and to reintegrate into society and start a new and meaningful life that will help in the reconstruction of Meme and Cameroon.

                The SDO urged all traditional authorities in Meme to immeasurably pray to the gods of the land to show more favour and blessings to the K. Town boys in America and to caution those back at home to give peace a chance by laying down their weapons.

Business Creation & Dev’t:

Two Limbe Startups to Compete for $10000 Deal in Nigeria

  By Ticha Melanis in Limbe

Zixtech promoter standing with laureates for Nigeria expedition

Limbe-based startups developer, Zixtech, has offered the opportunity for two start-ups in Limbe to represent the organization in a start-up event in Nigeria for a 10,000 dollars investment. The two startups are part of the Zixtech Hub and were chosen because of their progress, commitment, inputs and possibility of growth in their businesses.

                This was disclosed by the CEO of               Zixtech, Mr Paul Mbua, on Saturday 24 November, during a pitch by the two startups at the Zixtech office in Isokolo, Limbe.

Mbua said the chosen ones have showed great devotion to their work and willingness to grow in their businesses. He said he was encouraged by their pitch which shows they have done a lot even though there are a few things that need to be worked on.

                Paul Mbua said if the entrepreneurs succeed in pitch in Nigeria, it will help them take their businesses to another level and they will have a chance of getting up to fcfa 40 million investment from other investors who might be interested in their ideas and potentials. This will be a great step in encouraging entrepreneurship in Cameroon, he said.

                According to him the young entrepreneurs will also get to meet strategic partners and other investors who will help expose them to the world.

                Zixtech has trained over 5000 startupers since its creation, 50 of which are fully operating companies and enterprises in the country today, Mbua boasted.

                He called on youths to follow their dreams and stop seeing entrepreneurship as a taboo subject.

                “Anyone can be an entrepreneur. You just need proper training and a good mindset to handle the issues and face challenges.”

Three Arrested for Trafficking Ivory to Nigeria

Ivory discovered at Douala Port des peches

Three people have been arrested in connection to ivory trafficking during an operation carried out by the Douala Port Maritime Brigade. The three were arrested during attempts by a wildlife crime syndicate to smuggle 125 tusks and dozens of ivory pieces to Nigeria.

                A 31-year old man who was about transporting bales of clothing at the Port des Peches in Douala was stopped by gendarme officers and questioned on the contents of the cargo following prior investigations that revealed that ivory was hidden inside second hand dresses and smuggled to Nigeria.

                His reaction raised further questions and the gendarmerie officers decided to check the seven bales of clothing. The contraband was found carefully concealed inside the illicit cargo. He was arrested and taken to the gendarmerie office where two of his accomplices were later arrested as they came attempting to bribe the brigade commander for his release. One of the traffickers who is connected to this ring is still at large.

                The case was forwarded to the state counsel who returned the file to wildlife officials of the Littoral Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife with the competence to handling such matters. The legal proceedings in prosecuting wildlife traffickers was carried out  with the technical support of a conservation group called LAGA and the traffickers returned to the state prosecutor who indicted them on charges ranging from corruption attempts, illegal possession of parts of protected wildlife species to the killing of protected wildlife species.

                Priori investigations provided insights on how the ring operates with connections found in the South Region and Gabon. They were equally connected to traffickers arrested in previous operations including big pangolin scales operations carried out in the past, in Douala. One of the three, is a Nigerian national and several illicit wildlife products heading to Nigeria have in the past been intercepted during crackdown operations

2018 WAFCON:

Cameroon Face Nigeria in Semis

The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon will face the Super Falcons of Nigeria in the semi finals of the 2018 Women’s African Nations Cup currently being staged in Ghana. The Lionesses picked their ticket for the semis after securing 7 points to top their group in the group stage of the competition.

                They beat Mali and Algeria in their first two games before pulling a draw with hosts Ghana in the third and last group game.

                Hosts, Ghana were bundled out of the tournament, after they collected just four points in three games. They came behind Mali that harvested six points to qualify for the semis alongside Cameroon.

                In the other pool, Nigeria occupied second position, behind South Africa. The Super Falcons will thus meet the Lionesses while the Banyana Banyana of S.A will face Mali.

                In their last Group A game against Ghana, the Black Queens opened play by dominating much of the first half of the game. With the emphatic gestures and manoeuvres of the team led by Captain Elizabeth Addo, the Ghanaian ladies mounted pressure on the Cameroonian side and in three different occasions, through free kicks and onside shots came close to scoring, but for some clinical saves from long serving Cameroonian goalkeeper, Annette Ngo Ndom.

                However, their pressure paid-off at the 27 minutes following a monumental error from keeper, Ngo Ndom as she tried to deflect the ball from a Portia Boakye’s free kick. With their desperation to win the match which was synonymous to qualification for the semis, the Black Queens tightened their defence and continued on their offensive move until a penalty from a goalkeeping error cost them the game.

The keeper tried to stop striker, Gabriel Onguene and gave away a penalty in the process. The penalty was later transformed into a goal by team Captain, Christine Manie.

Front page

CAMTEL’s SAIL Infrastructure to Boost Nigeria’s Telecom Sector

By Ning Gaston in Yaounde

CAMTEL GM, SPARKWEST director, other Camtel officials during Friday’s ceremony

The Cameroon Telecommunications Company, CAMTEL has penned an agreement with Nigeria’s SPARKWEST Company Ltd for the commercialization of the intercontinental submarine cable dubbed South Atlantic Inter Link, SAIL infrastructure linking Cameroon and Brazil.

                The deal that was sealed in Yaounde Friday follows a similar agreement signed with Equatorial Guinea.

                It was CAMTEL General Manager, David Nkotto Emane who took the engagement on behalf of Cameroon while Niyi Oyedele, the Director of SPARKWEST did same for his company.

                By engaging CAMTEL via the SAIL infrastructure, Nigeria’s over 160 million telephone subscribers will now be enable to make direct calls to South and North America, it was said at the signing ceremony Friday in Yaounde.

                Until now, such calls were made via Europe and at very high costs, it was further disclosed.

                To CAMTEL’s General Manager, the signing of the agreement was a milestone with regards to the SAIL project which links the towns of Kribi in Cameroon and Fortaleza in Brazil.

                He praised the Nigerian company for committing itself to doing business with Cameroon.

                “It is a very important agreement. If you look at international traffic into Africa from America, Nigeria accounts for a minimum of 10% of the traffic. So if Nigeria accounts for that kind of volume, it means the marketing of SAIL should focus a lot on Nigerian operators,” said SPARKWEST Director, Niyi Oyedele shortly after signing the agreement.

Big Catch for Separatists:

British Lords Lobby Picks Up Ambazonia Case File

By Ning Gaston in Yaounde

Lord Paul Boateng raised the Anglophonecrisis in the UK House of Lords

The crisis rocking the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon was the subject of heated debate at the British House of Lords, last week.

It was the first time that the issue was raised at the UK Upper House of Parliament since the Crisis in Anglophone Cameroon began.

                It was Labour party politician, Honourable Lord Paul Boateng who raised the issue.

                During the session, the British lawmakers had urged the country’s authorities to take urgent steps towards ending a conflict which they say is fast becoming a full blown civil war.

                They said it was time the UK government moved from mere words to “concrete actions” in order to help resolve the lingering crisis which they regretted has now left about 3.3 million people in the two troubled regions in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

                 “…Cameroon is in the grip of a humanitarian disaster that threatens to affect it and indeed the whole sub region…This crisis has its origin in a plebiscite of 1961…which was of significance to members of this house. It was a flawed referendum… because the people (Anglophones) were not given the choice to form their own independent state” said Lord Boateng.

                On some of the consequences of the ongoing crisis, Boateng, who once served as UK High Commissioner to South Africa, recounted: “My lord, we live with the legacy of that plebiscite in the plight of the peoples of Cameroon and the English-speaking people of the country in general, to this day...

                And the horrific figures speak for themselves: 460,000 people displaced, 3.3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, hundreds of innocent civilians killed, countless separatist fighters and government forces murdered in horrendous circumstances…

Anglophone Conflict:

Tumi’s AGC Dealt Blow as Munzu Quits

By Boris Esono in Buea

Dr. Simon Munzu steps out as spokesman for AGC due to threats to his life

The All Anglophone Conference scheduled to take place in Buea from November 21-22, 2018 has been hit with a set back as the spokesperson for the conference, Dr. Simon Munzu has withdrawn from the conference.

                The organizers have been quick to put in place a replacement in Elie Smith which was made know last Wednesday 14 November in a press conference to assess preparations for the conference so far.

It has been reported that he pulled out of the organizational committee after several reported threats on his life. Munzu’s federalist stance as a solution to the crisis in the NW and SWRs has been heavily criticized by a section of Anglophones advocating for secession, forcing to step aside from the organizing committee.

                To the chief organizer, Christian Cardinal Tumi, the conference will go on no matter what. I a press conference he said “He told us that Ambazonians want to kill him so he will not be in Buea. I told him I did not agree with his decision but I respect it. He is a great person for us with a rich experience”.

                In a conference in Douala last Wednesday November 14, 2018, Elie Smith made it known that he is ready to step in to see to it that the conference goes on. “Sincerely speaking, I cannot replace Dr. Munzu… it is outof the situation, the persistent attacks, threats on Mr. Munzu and he also felt that it needs to come to the wheel of progress and anything that could bring peace and stability in the Anglophone regions then he has the courtesy to bow out for water to flow”.

Likely NW and SW Candidates to Succeed Yang

By Essan-Ekoninyam in Yaounde

With growing speculation that President Paul Biya will name a new government anytime soon, a maelstrom of anxiety gushed into Cameroon’s political arena. At stake is the post of prime minister, which naturally should be handed to an Anglophone, after the presidencies of the Senate, National Assembly, Supreme Court, Constitutional Council, Economic and Social Council have all gone to Francophones.

                According to Cameroon’s unwritten geo-political power-sharing arrangement, the posts of President of the Republic, President of the National Assembly and Prime Minister are shared among the Grand North, the Grand south and the Anglophones.

                With the advent of the Senate, President Paul Biya decided to draw in the Grand West into the power-sharing arrangement, when he made Niat Njifendi Marcel the senate president. The Grand Littoral has also for decades now kept the post of Supreme Court President (Alexis Dipanda Mouelle and now Mokube Sone).

                So, with the Presidency of the Republic (Paul Biya from the Grand South), Speaker of National Assembly (Cavaye Yeguie from Grand North) and President of the Senate (Niat Njifendi from the West) already occupied by Francophones, the only post now open to the Anglophones is that of Prime Minister. Anglophones have kept the PM post since 1992 when Achidi Achu replaced Sadou Hayatou from the North.

                With Anglophones still hoping to keep the PM post after the awaited post-election cabinet reshuffle, the trouble among CPDM bigwigs of the two Anglophone regions is who should take the baton from the sitting PM, Philemon Yang.

                In 2013, after the joint legislative and council elections of 30 September that year, the North West laid claim to the coveted post, arguing that the CPDM had made enormous gains in the region after grabbing all ten senators and claiming seven out of the 20 MPs and 19 out of the 35 councils.

                For their part, the South West region in 2013 also claimed to be the more deserving of the post, arguing that she harvested more gains for the CPDM in the joint legislative/council elections, as well as the senatorial election. In the SW, CPDM had a crushing majority in the legislative and council elections, sweeping all but one of the 15 parliamentary seats (all except Kumba) and all but four of the 32 councils (all except Kumba I, II, III and Tiko).

                Today, however, the context has changed markedly, and these arguments by the NW and SW no longer hold water. Firstly, the very low voter participation in both regions during the 7 October 2018 presidential election (5%) and the paltry contribution of both regions to Biya’s eventual victory (1% for NW and 3% for SW) makes it such that neither of the NW nor the SW can beckon Paul Biya with confidence.

                Secondly, the raging Anglophone crisis which has transformed over time into a full-blown armed conflict, has exposed Biya’s CPDM allies in the two restive regions as unrepresentative of their people at best, and totally rejected at worse. This therefore pushes one to ask the question whether Paul Biya will continue to recycle his old allies of the NW and SW or whether he will look for new and more popular and acceptable ones who can penetrate the masses and put across his proposed solutions to the ongoing conflict.

                Be it as it may, the fact remains that you can never predict President Biya in matters of appointments. And nobody can say with exactitude what criteria the President uses to pick persons for some of the most sensitive and strategic positions in the country.

                Recall that sequel to the senate election in 2013 the press went awash with speculation that Mafany Musonge would be made the president of the upper house of parliament. But it emerged that President Biya landed his choice on Niat Njifendji, even though the latter’s name had hardly featured as a potential occupant of the post.

If You Work on Mondays I’ll Uplift my Ban:

Mayor Ekema’s Indecent Proposal Riddles Buea Bike Riders

Mayor of Buea, Patrick Ekema Esunge

The Mayor of Buea, Patrick Ekema Esunge, has told bike riders in his municipality that for him to effectively lift the ban on their activities, they must promise to resume work on Monday, 19 November, the day which separatists have announced as the start of a weeklong ghost town.

                Speaking at the Buea Council Chambers, Mayor Ekema Patrick said resuming work on Monday is the only precondition for the lifting of the municipal embargo on bikers and their activities.

                However, the Municipal authority’s precondition has been termed “a suicide mission” by bikers, considering the significance of ghost towns in the two Anglophone Regions.

                Since the Anglophone Crisis took an ugly twist, all Mondays were decreed as ghost town days.

                On such days, everybody is expected to be indoors with all activities in the two Regions grounded.

                The bikers said they cannot hid the Mayor’s pre-condition because most of them will either be killed, their bikes burnt or they may even be kidnapped by gunmen who have been enforcing the ghost towns.

                “I can never respect the decision of the Mayor to work on Monday. The Mayor cannot protect me from the rage of the Ambazonia Fighters, who kill without mercy. They will not only burn my bike, but they will kill my entire family. So I think it’s a polite way the Mayor is using to refuse to grant our request. We have been dying of hunger and starvation for months now,” one of the bike riders, whose name we are withholding told The National Times News.

Anglophone Teachers Reject Decree on GCE Board

Five teachers trade unions in Cameroon have petitioned the Head of State, Paul Biya, to revert an October 22 decree he signed reorganising the General Certificate of Education( GCE) Board that has sparked controversy within the Anglophone part of the country.

                In a four page memo made public over the weekend, the Cameroon Teachers Trade Union(CATTU), the Baptist Teacher Trade Union(BATTUC), the Catholic Workers Trade Union(CEWOTU), the Presbyterian Education authority(PEATU) and the Teachers Association of Cameroon(TAC) sanctioned the missive.

                Afuh Stephen Kwah of PEATU, Valentine Semma of CATTU, Gilbert Likanyu of CEWOTU, Emmanuel Ngam of BATTUC  and Tameh Valentine of TAC signed the document of behalf of their respective trade unions.

                In the memo, the teachers tell Biya that individuals take upon themselves to craft laws which violate State laws. The petitioners are banking on Law No 98/004 of 14th April 1998 on the guidelines for education in Cameroon as a substrate. They cite article 15 (1) and (2) which states that, the country has two educational systems -English and French sub systems of educations that will operate side-by-side with their unique methods of evaluation and award of certificates.

                They query the absence of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea(UB) on the board of trustees of the GCE Board. They argued that, the institution has played a vital role in vetting certificates.

                “ There is also the  exclusion of education agencies, worthy dependable partners in education… some who have been in business longer than the government and whose counsel contribution can never be underestimated. Equally Biya’s decree irrationally excludes parents whose children are the consumers of the board’s products….Teachers and parents like the agencies played the role of veritable watchdogs in the old dispensation”. The memo reads in part.

                The teachers Memo to Biya is at odds with the reduction of the board from 17 members to seven. The authors said, “we consider the reduction and all the exclusions to be irrational and expressive of a hidden agenda your Excellency”.

                To the five teachers’ trade unions, the GCE Board has been given a political connotation. The suspect the constitution of the Board with a representative from the presidency, Prime Minister’s office, Higher education, finance and Secondary education ministries.

Developing Under-Privileged Communities:

British Envoy Praises SHUMAS and Partners for Impacting Lives

By Njodzefe Nestor in Bafia

Handing over of Borehole at EP Kalong

The British High Commissioner to Cameroon Rowan Laxton has expressed satisfaction to endeavors made by Strategic Humanitarian Services, SHUMAS, Cameroon in fostering development and her fruitful partnership with United Kingdom Charities with whom SHUMAS has been working with over the years in building schools for underprivileged communities in Cameroon.

                The British Diplomat made the appreciation during the handing over of 3 newly constructed classrooms, 1 office and store, 27 benches, 3 tables and a toilet block of three compartment and provision of hand washing facilities to Ecole Publique Bape Mondial and a borehole to Ecole Publique Kalong in KomYabetta sub division, Mbam and Inoubou Division of the Centre region by SHUMAS.

                The project started in 2016 was handed over on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018 and before the intervention of SHUMAS and her partners, the school had only a thatched building which made the teaching learning process difficult especially during rainy seasons.

                Commissioner Rowan Laxton particularly thanked Building Schools of Africa represented in the event by Marianne Johnson and the UK SUNESIS building company represented by a powerful team of seven officials for sponsoring the project and SHUMAS likewise the Kom Yabetta population for effectively executing the project.

Anglophone Conflict:

Biya Soothes DOs of Restive Divisions with New Vehicles

The new four-wheel drive vehicles were symbolically handed to the governor of the SW region, Okalia Bilai, by the minister of territorial administration, Paul Atanga Nji, on Thursday 15 November in Yaounde

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

The Minat, Paul Atanga Nji personally tested the new 4-wheel-drive vehicles before handing them over to SW Governor

DOs of Divisions and sub-divisions of the South West region have been provided with new 4-wheel-drive vehicles to enable them do their work with relative ease. The vehicles were Thursday 15 November handed symbolically to the governor of the SW region, Okalia Bilai, for onward transmission to the beneficiaries.

                Handing the keys of the vehicles to the SW governor, the minister of territorial administration, MINAT, Paul Atanga Nji, said the vehicles were a special offer from the head of state Paul Biya.

                “Mr. Governor of the SW region, on behalf of the head of state and on a symbolic note, I hereby hand to you this key. It symbolizes a special donation of new vehicles that the head of state has provided for administrative authorities of the ten regions.”

                Atanga Nji said with the all-weather vehicles (Toyota Prado and Toyota Fortuner) the head of state expects the Dos to swing to action and be more anticipative in their work.

                “The head of state has by this gesture demonstrated the interest and attention he has for the working environment of “Chefs terres”, Atanga Nji said further, nothing that this first consignment of 50 vehicles is meant for the Dos of the SW region. Those for the 9 other regions will come progressively, the MINAT assured.   

Abakwa & Kumba in Brief

Compiled by Njodzefe Nestor  & Doh Bertrand

Religious sisters released one day after kidnapping

Three Franciscan sisters and 13 novices travelling from Bamenda to Shisong in Northwest Cameroon have been released, after they were captured by separatist fighters in the small village of Bamessing on November 15.

                The hostage-takers were positively identified by an ecclesiastical source as the separatist fighters. The kidnappers held the religious sisters and their novices hostage in a remote bush overnight, as negotiations took place between an official of the Diocese of Kumbo and the hostage takers.

                A source at the Diocese of Kumbo confirmed that the kidnappers had taken the sisters hostage because of what they perceived to be the support of the Church for a peace conference convened by Christian Cardinal Tumi.

The sisters and the novices were released unharmed on the afternoon of November 16. They were handed over to representatives of the Diocese of Kumbo. The conditions of their release were not clear.

Amba ‘General’, nine others killed in Belo

At least ten suspected separatist fighters were killed on Friday November 16, in an operation carried out by Cameroon security forces, sources have confirmed.

                Security sources say an operation launched in the early hours of Friday enable security forces to ambush the fighters including their kingpin popularly called “General Amigo”.

                However, local sources say they were set up by an insider at a funeral before they were ambushed by security forces in Belo.

Agro-pastoral Farming:

PCP-ACEFA Finances More than 206 Projects in SW

By Boris Esono in Buea

PCP-ACEFA, planters, insurance companies anduniversity students at the end of the workshop

The statistics were made known last Wednesday November 14, 2018 during the observatory family planning agro-pastoral farm enterprises in Buea for the year 2016 organized by the program for the consolidation and sustainability of Agro pastoral counseling, PCP-ACEFA.

                The Regional coordinator PCP-ACEFA Aloleko Fabien said “during ACEFA 1, 380 projects were financed for a total of almost FCFA 1 billion for GP projects while for PO projects, 10 were financed for a total of FCFA 109 million.  During ACEFA II, 204 GP projects have already been financed for a total of FCFA 955 million and 2 PO projects have been financed for FCFA 30 million.  In the area of counseling, 1625 GP projects and 30 cooperative are followed”.

                He added that the impact of financing and counseling can be seen in the activities of producers as their margins have increased. Hear him: “It is important as some producers can pay the school fees of their children and pay hospital bills when sick”. “We cannot really say everything is ok. Counseling is a continuous process. We are continuing to do the maximum we can do to achieve the objective ACP-ACEFA set in the beginning”. 

                Responding to the question on producer’s complained on the lack of funding from banks, the coordinator said “during our counseling, we called on producers to solicit help from banks to take care of their running cost. Inside the presentation we realized that piggery has some higher margin and if banks have documents to finance a project, they are going to recover their money and from the results can easily finance those projects. 

Exit of a Committed Servant:

Baptist Mission, Fako CPDM Mourn Sondi Quan

By Ticha Melanis in Limbe

 Sondi Quan Moses was a man of the people

The mortal remains of Sondi Quan Moses the CPDM Fako 1 C section president and one time principal of Baptist High school Kang-Barombi, Kumba was on Saturday 8 November laid to rest in his native Bonabile, Bimbia village, in Limbe 111 sub division. Sondi Quan died on 14 October 2018 of an undisclosed illness. He was aged 55. His funeral service took place at the Njalla Quan sport complex in Man O' War Bay, near Limbe.

                Rev Dr. Samuel Ndeley delivered the sermon on the theme "cry no more". He read from the book of John 14:1-6 which calls on Christians to believe in Jesus Christ and to not let their hearts be troubled for, in God's Kingdom there are many mansions. The pastor said before Jesus went up to heaven, he gave mankind remedies to a troubled mind which are; his presence, promise and his word. He called on Christians to open their hearts to the word of God so that if death comes for them or their loved ones, they will be comforted by the word of God.

                Representing the CPDM Central Committee, CPDM Fako 1 A Section President, Andrew Motanga Monjimba, who doubles as the government delegate to the Limbe City Council, expressed the party's deepest condolences to the bereaved family. He said the deceased was one of the most active and loyal members of the party in Limbe 111 in particular and Fako Division in general.

Limbe, Fako Division:

Former CBC Education Secretary T. Bodylawson Buried

By Ticha Melanis in Limbe

T. Bodylawson

Tetevi Bodylawson, one time principal of Saker Baptist College Limbe and Baptist High school Buea has on Saturday 11 November been laid to rest at the New town cemetery in Limbe. The deceased aged 69 died in Douala on 13 October 2018 after a protracted illness. The corpse was removed from the Limbe regional mortuary and a funeral service offered him at the MISPAH Baptist church Limbe where he was chairman till his demise.

                At the church the parish pastor Rev Teke John delivered a sermon drawn from Psalm 68:19-20 which says "Our God is the God of salvation: and to God the lord belongs escapes from death". He called on Christians and mourners to be steadfast in prayers and trust in God for he is the way, the truth and the light. "There is no need to pretend about our burden with bear" said the pastor. He went further to advice Christians to b free spirited like the deceased who to him was an exemplary figure to many. He ended by telling Christians to make their path straight with Christ because death is inevitable and no one knows when death is near.

                Mr Tetevi Bodylawson put twenty seven years and nine months of meritorious service in the educational department of the Cameroon Baptist Convention. The greatest part of his professional career was dedicated to CBC. His teaching career started in 1976 and he served the CBC in different capacities as a teacher, principal, president of CBC and Education Secretary.

Ambazonia War:

Slain Batibo Court Registrar Buried in Limbe

By Ticha Melanis in Limbe

Sakwe’s mother and wife comforted by the MP & Fako I A WCPDM president

The mortal remains of Sakwe Cardinas Elangwe, the assistant registrar of the Batibo Court of First Instance, who was beaten to death by unknown gunmen at Nguzang, in Batibo subdivision, has Saturday 10 November, been laid to rest in Limbe.

                Sakwe, who was also the chief of bureau for execution of penalties at the Batibo court, died on 4 November 2018 alongside a friend. He left his house that faithful day to fetch some money through clandestine transportation, but little did he know he would meet his death on the way, a family source narrated.

                His head was chopped off by his assailants, a colleague told mourners at the funeral ground. He said the hardworking Sakwe was so unfortunate to be at the wrong place and at the wrong time.

                After a funeral ceremony offered him at the court of appeal in Bamenda, Sakwe’s corpse was transported to the Limbe Mortuary, from where it was removed on Saturday and a funeral service organized at his family residence in Limbe.

                The sermon of the day was delivered by Pastor Jack Ngando the Assistant Pastor of winners Chapel Limbe. He took the message of the day from Mark 4:11 under the theme "Understanding the mystery of death". He said it only takes wisdom to understand the mystery of death stating that death is the gateway to glorification.  "To have eternal life, one must understand death and prepare for when it comes knocking" said the pastor.

Yaounde II Mayor Luc Assamba Dies

By Ning Gaston in Yaounde

Mayor Luc Assamba dies

The Mayor of the Yaounde II Council, Luc Assamba has died. He gave up the ghost Friday at the Yaounde Emergency Centre after a brief illness, family sources have confirmed.

                Besides being a well known politician, Mayor Luc Assamba was also a sports promoter.

                He served as member of FECAFOOT executive committee and President of Centre regional League of the same body.

                His demise Friday comes barely days after his colleague of the Nwa council in Donga Mantung division was shot dead by unknown gunmen in the North West region.

                Mayor Ngomfe Loma David Moloh was discovered dead last Tuesday.

                The circumstances leading to his demise remain unknown but some sources on the ground say he was killed by suspected Ambazonia separatist fighters.