Divergent views on Killings in NW & SW:

Do Anglophone and Francophone Bishops read the same Bible?

-While the one talks of “genocide”, the other talks of violence

The Roman Catholic Bishops of Cameroon are no longer reading from the same script on the Southern Cameroons crisis. Two divergent views have recently emerged from two camps within the National Episcopal Conference following the massive killings of Ambazonians by government troops deployed to the Anglophone regions.

                Three days after the sad events on October 1 , the bishops of the Bamenda Episcopal Province spoke of “genocide”, “ethnic cleansing” and “irresponsible use of weapons against unarmed Southern Cameroons civilians “.

                The Anglophone Bishops enclosed their statement in a press release that was made public after a meeting of the Bishops chaired by His Lordship Bishop George Nkuo, the Bishop of the Kumbo Diocese, who is also president of the Bamenda Episcopal Province.

                But by some strange happenstance, this position of the Anglophone Bishops was not to the taste of their Francophone colleagues, who under the banner of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon issued another statement on the same events in Southern Cameroons. The Bishops talked simply of violence.

                “We bishops from Cameroon strongly condemn the violence, from whichever source, that has rocked the nation,” read the statement of the NEC issued on 6 October 2017.

Smear campaign:

Who wants K’ba Police Chief’s head?

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Wilson Elong Njumenjikang, Kumba Central Police Commissioner

It has now become clear based on our investigations that some agents of darkness arguably jealous of the good works of the Kumba Central Police Commissioner, Wilson Elong Njumenjikang, are championing a social media campaign to smear his reputation and rubbish the good works he has been doing since coming to Kumba and especially since the outbreak of the Anglophone crisis.

                In several social media outlets especially Facebook, a fake video has been in circulation spreading false and malicious content claiming that the Commissioner Elong shot and killed a young guy by name Enongene Basil in the Fiango neighbourhood in Kumba on Saturday 30 September 2017.

                Another social media scandal popped up on varied social media outlets claimed that the Kumba Police boss had arrested and locked up hundreds of youths in Kumba. Perpetrators of the mischievous campaign on social media also alleged that the arrested youths in detention at the Kumba central police station were being seriously tortured by Commissioner Wilson Elong.

                Contrary to what has been circulating on social media by the “alleged haters” of the Kumba Police boss, our independent investigations hold that the said Enongene Basil was never shot by the Commissioner and not even any element of the police force but instead by a military officer.

                We gathered that Enongene Basil was in a group of irate youths who took to the streets on that faithful Saturday 30 September, the eve of October 1, day that was set aside for the celebration of the Ambazonia independence and restoration of the statehood of the people of the Southern Cameroons. The irate youths attacked military men who were permanently placed to guard the Kumba II DO’s office and in retaliation, one of the military men shot Enongene on the leg but unfortunately he later died in the hospital.

Nigeria to Issue Visas to Africans Upon Arrival

Nigeria has decided to start issuing visas on arrival for all Africans, the African Union said Friday, in a major step toward the goal of free movement on the continent.

                The continental body’s deputy chairman Kwesi Quartey praised the action as a “laudable move towards Africa’s integration agenda” in a Facebook post.

                The AU has advocated for a “single African passport” that aims to improve intra-African trade and has called for “the abolishment of visa requirements for all African citizens in all African countries by 2018.”

                A spokeswoman for the AU chairperson, Ebba Kalondo, told The Associated Press they were waiting for details from Nigeria as the news was “announced verbally with no formal communication.”

                Africans need visas to travel to 55 percent of the continent, according to AU figures.

Liberia's election:

Ex-football star George Weah takes early lead

Partial results from Liberia's presidential election show former football star George Weah has taken an early lead. Figures from the National Elections Commission (NEC) put Mr Weah ahead in 11 out of 15 counties, although most votes have yet to be counted.

                His main rival, incumbent Vice-President Joseph Boakai, leads in one county and is second in most others.

                A candidate needs more than 50% of the votes for outright victory.

                If no-one achieves that, a second round will be held in November.

                The election is to choose a successor to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - Africa's first elected female president and a Nobel Peace laureate.

                As the results came in, the manager of Arsenal Football Club, Arsene Wenger, was apparently duped by false reports that Mr Weah had won.

                "I would like to congratulate one of my former players, who became president of Liberia," Mr Wenger told reporters.

                "It's not often you have a former player who becomes president of a country. So well done, Georgie."

Front page

Situation in North West, South West:

Security measures will be reinforced until law and order returns

Below is the declaration of the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary on the balance sheet of October 1, 2017 events in the North West and South West Regions

“Distinguished Journalists,

I wish you all a warm welcome to this meeting for an update on the crisis situation in the North-west and South-West regions in the aftermath of October 1, 2017, date on which the secessionists had planned numerous operations of violence and antisocial conduct with the apex being the proclamation of the independence of their fictitious state.

                I will also mention the situation on the front in the Far-North where our Defense and Security Forces continue to curb the terrorist moves of the Boko Haram criminal organization.

                As far as the Far North is concerned, I am announcing that this Monday morning at 5:10 a.m, a double suicide attack took place in Mozogo in the Mayo Moskota Subdivision in the Mayo Tsanaga Division.

                The bombing resulted in 03 deaths, including the two female suicide bombers and a civilian named Oumar Madi. As you can see, our Defense and Security Forces are still committed in the Far North facing an enemy now defeated on the battlefield, and reduced to acts of cowardice such as the latest attack.

                But as you know, with the terrorist turn of secessionist claims in the North-west and South-west Regions, our Security Forces have been facing armed attacks by insurgents claiming to be members of the secessionist movement.

Distinguished Journalists,

                As I said in my last two addresses on this matter – and I repeat it here: we are henceforth in the presence of a full-fledged terrorist undertaking.

Anglophone Crisis:

Francophonie concerned about escalating violence

Michaëlle Jean, the Secretary General of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), expressed on Monday her “deep concern about the violence that has rocked Southern Cameroons. Her reactions came after that of French President Emmanuel Macron.

                “The current tensions in these areas of Cameroon are very worrying. Violence must never be an option to be heard. I therefore urge everyone to show responsibility and restraint. It is crucial to privilege peaceful ways and dialogue at all times, at a time when Cameroonians are more than ever determined to stay together on the growth and stability of their country, “wrote Michaëlle Jean.