Bokam Haram Threat: France Orders It Citizens to Quit Northern Cameroon

Paris on Wednesday called on French nationals located in northern Cameroon to leave this area "as soon as possible", following the kidnapping of seven French tourists which is suspected to be an act of the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram. Seven French, including four children were kidnapped in northern Cameroon and their captors crossed the border and are now in neighboring Nigeria, Cameroonian government revealed on Tuesday.
French Minister of Foreign affairs is quoted to have said that French nationals who find themselves currently in the extreme north of Cameroon should quit the area as soon as possible. This is the first kidnapping of French since the beginning of the war launched by France, January 11, Mali to dislodge armed Islamic groups who occupied the north of the country.
"We believe this is the Boko Haram sect that carried out the abduction, but has not yet signed," said Wednesday the French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, dismissing a possible link with French intervention in Mali. Nigeria has not officially responded to the information on the presence of the kidnappers and their captives within its territory.
It should be recalled that French forces and Chadian launched a vast movement to rescue Mali. Sources say there is an increased vigilance of French nationals being or going to Chad, near the place of the kidnapping of seven French nationals and four children.

More broadly, "the border regions of Niger, southern Libya, Sudan and the Central African Republic and the Lake Chad region is formally deprecated (red zone)," the ministry said.

On the other hand, President Paul Biya has also ordered intensification for the search of the French nationals kidnapped at Dabanga. Yaounde and Abuja sources hinted have launched a manhunt to locate the whereabout of the seven French nationals and the four children.

The Head of Joint Operations Centre at the Ministry of Defence, Colonel Eyebe Didier, assisted by the Head of the Communication Division of the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant Colonel, Badjeck Didier gave a press conference at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Defence, Yaounde on February 20, 2013. The defence officials said Dabanga where the tourists were kidnapped by terrorists is along the Maroua-Kousseri highway, near the porous borders with Nigeria, stating that the act took place 30 metres away from the border.
And sources also hinted the tourists had no local guide with them. However government has assured the population that security measures have been intensified to ensure the safety of tourists in the Northern Regions of Cameroon

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Former PM Inoni Pleaded Not Guilty of Embezzlement Charges

 Former Prime Minister of Cameroon who was arrested and is currently detained has pleaded not guilty. Chief Inoni Ephraim who doubles as the Chief of Bakingili village in the South West Region of Cameroon made his first appearance in Court today February 20, 2013. Sources hinted that former Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic Jean Atangana Mebara, the General Manager of APM Otele Essomba also pleaded not guilty before the judges of the Special Criminal Court in Yaounde. They are accused of embezzling over 1.8 billion FCFA. Though the hearing was brief, sources say the matter has been adjourned to March 6, 2013. It should be recalled that former Prime Minister Inoni Ephraim is accused of having embezzled a total sum of $582,557 in 2003 at the time he was Prime Minister and at the same time assumed the position of Board chairman of APM, a position he later dumped. He was arrested on April 6, 2013 and had been in detention at the Kondegui Prison. His arrest is linked to the acquisition of the famous Albatross ( the Presidential Plane) that never was.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

World Bank Rural Electrification Program to Energize Donga Mantung

Courtesy of Globinet

The Member of Parliament for Nkambe/Ndu constituency, Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian has just announced that the electrification of some villages in Mbum land is now a reality. In various letters addressed to some Fons and Sub Chiefs of Ndu Sub Division and Nkambe Central, Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian states that the World Bank has approved the plea for the mighty project for the extension of electricity supply to some needy villages in Mbum land.
Hon. Awudu, in presenting the good news, calls on the traditional rulers to mobilize their subjects to be ready to do the final maximum sacrifice and collaborate with general labour when the time will come. He further adds that the project will be awarded to a contractor soonest. He also specified that beside the villages of Mbum land, the World Bank Rural Electrification project will also be extended to Dumbo passing through Misaje. The villages so far earmarked to benefit from this project in Mbum land include Ngarum II, Ntundip-Ntunge axis, Njirong, Mbarsey-Mbipgo-Mbongong, Nseh Makop, Chup and Kup.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Nollywood icon Justus Esiri passes on

VETERAN Nigerian actor Justus Esiri has passed away after a brief and undisclosed illness in a development that has sent shockwaves across the entertainment industry.

Regarded as a pioneer in the Nigerian acting industry, Esiri's career spans back to the 1960s and up until his death, he was still a leading Nollywood figure. He came to the limelight in the 1970s when he featured in the sitcom Village Headmaster where he played the headmaster and up until last year, was one of Nollywood's leading lights, featuring in films like the Assassin's Practise. 

Declared one of the strong men of the African film industry, Esiri attended Urohobo College, Warri and later went to Germany to study engineering where he developed an interest for theatre.  It was in Germany that he began his acting career and during one of his stage performances there he was spotted by a Nigerian delegation that subsequently invited him to perform in a government sponsored programme back home.

After his performance, he decided to remain in Nigeria. Esiri, who was proficient in German, has since acted in over 100 films and television productions including Forever, Things Fall Apart and recently Foreign Demon starring alongside Yvonne Chaka-Chaka. 

He was the only Nigerian male performing on stage in 1968/69 and also worked for the Voice of Nigeria German Service as a translator.  Justus is the father of popular Nigerian musician Dr Sid.

A regular visitor to the UK Justus was a member of the Nigerian caste of stars who attended the London 2012 Olympics, where he last spoke to Nigerian Watch. Details of what ailment he was suffering from are still being awaited.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

7 French Tourists, 4 Kids Kidnapped

The seven French Tourists including for children were kidnapped on February 19, 2013 at about 9 am by four heavily armed unidentified individuals. According to Cameroon Government sources, they were kidnapped in the neigbourhoods of Waza in the Northern Region of Cameroon. According to the Governor of the Far North Region Fonkam Awah Augustine, the tourists were on their way from the Waza Park where they passed the night. On they way back government sources say they fell into an ambush laid by gunmen. The man, his wife and four children were kidnapped seven children were forced to change their direction. Government sources further intimidated that they were taken away by force to the neigbouring Nigeria.  However, classified sources say steps have been taken and search intensified to locate the whereabout of the French citizens. It is alleged that as they were to cross to Nigeria, the vehicle belonging to the tourists got stuck in mud and they were forced to move on bikes. On the other side, the gunmen suspected to be of the Boko Haram took the tourists to Maiduguri in Nigeria. A French military unit is reported to have arrived the Northern Region to help in the search yet Nigerians and Cameroonians have been working in close collaboration to localize the tourists.
It should be noted that the seven French citizens and four children were taken hostage at Daganga situated some 70 km away from Kouseri.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Cabinet Shakeup: Fru Ndi Reshuffles SDF Shadow Government

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front has made public the SDF Shadow Government. The shadow cabinet or call it shadow government of the main opposition in Cameroon is made up of 18 substantive ministers and 18 deputy ministers. Contrary to the Biya Government with over 60 ministers, the SDF Shadow cabinet has only 36 ministers. The information was made public after a meeting of the National Executive Council-NEC of the SDF of February 16-17 , 2013 that took place in Bamenda. The ministerial departments concerned are:

-Agriculture and Rural Development:
Minister : Ofon Mathias
Vice : Mendama Maurice

2.- Defence and National Secuirty :
Minister : Colonel Chi Ngafor
Vice : Sonewa Dominic Hans

3.- Economy, Finance  and Commerce :
Minister: Fopoussi Evariste
Vice : Nkembeng Edward

4.- Education and Training :
Minister : Takoungang Jean
Vice : Tasi Ntang Lucas

5.- External Affairs :
Minister : Hon. Awudu Cyprian
Vice : Dr Samuel Atungsiri

6.- Gender
Minister: Miss Zama Judith
Vice : Ekassa Margareth

7.- Health:
Minister: Joseph Nelson Fomulu
Vice : Dr Fomambu

8.- Information and the Media:
Minister: Wafo Jean Robert
Vice : Tientcheu Eliassou

9.- Industrial Development:
Minister: Kuete Jean Claude
Vice : Che Peter

10.- Internal Affairs :
Minister: Mochiggle Vaniganssen
Vice : Tantoh Dominic

11.- Justice :
Minister: Prof Kofele Kale
Vice : Me Manga Moussole

12.- Post and Telecommunication :
Minister: Chief Paul Nji Tumasang
Vice : Ambassa Mireille

13.- Science and technologies :
Minister : Wato Gabriel
Vice : Sayou Delphine Evelyne

14.- Social Affairs, Sports et Youth :
Minister: Prof Kwi Paul
Vice : Nji Mfoundoum

15.- Tourism and Culture :
Minister : Ebelle Din Michel
Vice : Effiti Tashi Hannah

16.- Public Works and Transports :
Minister : Achah Johnas Mbah
Vice : Edimo Ndoumbe Oscar

17.- Mines, Water and Energy:
Minister: Alexander Mulango C. Fortey
Vice : Nkembe

18.- Urban Development and Habitat :
Minister : Prof Ataga Nji
Vice : Kengo Manaseh When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Former SONARA GM Charles Metock, Six Others Arrested

Charles Metouck: Former GM SONARA

The former General Manager of SONARA has been arrested alongside six others. According to information gathered, Charles Metock and six of his former collaborators are detained at the Buea Prison. Sources say the former GM entered his office after he was sacked to carryout an obnoxious act which consists of destroying some document. Informed of the incident, the State Counsel ordered for an immediate arrest as well as the arrest of six of his former collaborators who are helping investigators to probe into the matter. Sources say many heads will roll at SONARA giving the nature of the act committed. However, some unconfirmed sources say the former GM tiptoed into his office to destroy the traces of some documents. More so, it is alleged he also signed some documents whereas at that particular moment he was no more the man in-charge. Besides, public opinion is wondering how someone who was sacked from office had access to the GM’s office with the tide security at SONARA. Whether he (Charles Metock) had the duplicates of the keys into his office is another trace investigators will uncover. Yet government sources say his arrest is not linked to Operation Sparrow Hawk, the anti-corruption drive that has been giving nightmare to barons of the Biya regime. Yet by destroying sensitive and administrative documents, Charles Metock classified sources hinted may find himself in serious trouble. A school of thought is of the opinion that a special audit should probe into his management before the new General Manager swings into action

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa