Model Credit Union By-laws Go Operational this Year, Musa Shey Nfor Confirms

Musa Shey Nfor

The President of Cameroon Co-operative Credit Union League-CamCCUL has declared that the final count of option of mandate and term of office of elected officials of Credit Unions in the CamCCUL Network was officially done in conformity with recommendations of the Minister of Finance.

In a Press briefing today December 4, 2012 at the CamCCUL Head office in Bamenda, Musa Shey Nfor revealed that the voting took place in 197 credit unions out of the 199 that make up the CamCCUL network. According to the President of CamCCUL, 159 credit unions voted for a three-year mandate renewal twice (representing 80.7%) while 38 credit unions voted for three years renewable once (corresponding to 19.3%).

According to Musa Shey Nfor, all the chapter of CamCCUL nationwide voted overwhelmingly for three years renewable twice and a “yes” for mandates to be brought to zero except the Nso Chapter that voted against the two options to harmonize the system.  

On the condition of eligibility of elected officials and on whether the existing mandates should come to zero and fresh elected organized, Musa Shey Nfor told the Press that out of the 199 credit unions, 171 credit unions voted for the mandates of all election officials to come to zero and for fresh elections to be conducted. He added that the MODEL CREDIT UNION BY-LAWS go into effect as of January 1, 2013, which implies that the harmonization process will go on inline with the adopted majority.

Fresh elections he said will be organized in all the credit unions under the supervision of CamCCUL while elections of the Board Members of CamCCUL shall be conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance.

He noted that considering the nature of the process, which required constant movements in the field, it is resulted to some members not paying their loans at the agreed moment. He also revealed that some clauses that hindered members to go in for elective positions would be harmonized to give all members equal opportunities to contest for elective positions. On the new approaches and modalities that come along with the harmonization process, he also talked elaborately on the ADR, (Alternative Dispute Resolution) which is intended to dialogue with delinquent members. He regretted that this committee is coming to wipe-off the notion of the credit unions knowing lawyers. “we will move from know your lawyer to neigbour” he added. Musa Shey Nfor also added that following the harmonization process, the biggest credit unions affiliates of CamCCUL shall be grouped under what would henceforth be known as G36.

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Guard Fires at Presidential Convoy?

The past two weeks have been extremely traumatizing within President Biya’s elite forces. An atmosphere of uncertainty reigns in Yaounde following rumours and allegations that a group of Presidential guards issued an open letter to the President of Republic denouncing some issues. Had the dust settled on the alleged open letter to President Biya that on December 23, 2012 at about 7:30 p.m, one of the Presidential guards allegedly opened fire at the President Biya’s convoy when he was returning from presiding at the final of the Cameroon Cup?

Yet, allegations are rife that all what has been said about the incident is bare rumour. But it goes again that some members of the elite force who were assigned to ensure the President’s security have been arrested and are being interrogated. Furthermore, it is aired that a certain Corporal Donald Abena Meba Klam, T09/1189-4 of the Presidential guard has been arrested after a burst of gunfire at the moment the head of state’s convoy arrived Elig-Edzoa on December 23. Another saying goes that he attempted opening fire at the President’s convoy, rumours claim. However, the same allegations say Donald Abena Mba Klam who "opened fire" was immediately overpowered by his comrades of the Presidential guard and was immediately transferred for detention at the headquarters of the Presidential guards before being moved to SED and is presently at the DGRE to help investigators in their investigations.

A few days before the incident of 23 December 2012, another school of thought holds that several arrests and detentions were carried out within the elite force. According to newspaper reports the incident took place before the visiting Equatorial Guinea President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. They were accused of spreading messages of a plan participant to attempt on the President's life. The reason we gathered is that Presidential guards have long complained of their ill-treatment by the military. This is the meaning given elsewhere in pamphlet written in the form of an open letter addressed to the Head of State about their living conditions, their bonuses and other benefits that (according to them) are diverted by senior officers. This is the same irreverent tone, unusual in military circles, according to another anonymous letter posted on the Internet. Classified sources also hinted that the head of the Presidential also received embarrassing messages from anonymous numbers. It is rumoured that some members of the elite force were identified as authors and have been arrested as well. More so, it is alleged that for sometimes, some Presidential guards went for months without potable water.

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Nigerian Journalists Freed, but Equipment Still Held

The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Nigeria's State Security Service (SSS) to return laptops and cell phones confiscated from two journalists who were illegally detained for more than a week without charge. Editor Musa Muhammad Awwal and reporter Aliyu Saleh of Hausa-language weekly newspaper Al-Mizan were released from the custody of the SSS in the capital, Abuja, early Tuesday morning, defense lawyer Sadiq Marafa told CPJ. "They are in good health. They were treated very well," Marafa said, but added that the SSS warned the journalists that they could be summoned again as investigations continue. "Throughout our detention we were not told our offense, but they still have our mobile phones and laptops, which they said would be returned to us as soon as they are done with their investigation," Awwal told Agence France-Presse. Soldiers arrested the journalists and searched their homes and office in the northern state of Kaduna without warrants on December 24, Marafa told CPJ. Their wives were also detained briefly, he said. The journalists were held incommunicado and were not taken to court despite a legal limit of 48 hours of detention without a court appearance, he said. Their release came after Marafa threatened to sue the government over illegal arrest and detention if the journalists were not let go within 24 hours, according to news reports.  Local journalists have said they believe Awwal and Saleh were arrested over a front-page story alleging extrajudicial detentions of 84 civilians suspected of affiliation with the Islamist militant sect Boko Haram, which has been fighting Nigeria's federal government in a bid to impose Shariah law in the country's northern, predominantly Muslim states. "After alleging that the government was engaging in widespread extrajudicial imprisonment, Musa Muhammad Awwal and Aliyu Saleh were themselves subjected to unlawful detention at the hands of state security forces," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. "While we welcome the release of the journalists, we call on Nigerian authorities to immediately return all confiscated equipment and to ensure that all journalists are able to report on matters of public security without intimidation." Security agents also raided the home of and launched a hunt for Al-Mizan Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Musa, who went into hiding, according to news reports. Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, and prominent public figures condemned the journalists' detention, according to news reports. The Commission also urged the government to probe the allegations of extrajudicial detentions. Al-Mizan is run by the Shiite organization Islamic Movement of Nigeria, according to news reports.

### CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.

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DR Congo M23 Rebels Placed under UN Sanctions

 Source (BBC)

The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on leaders of the M23 rebel movement in DR Congo.

Under the measures, those linked to the group will have their assets frozen and be barred from travel. Similar measures were taken against Rwandan FDLR rebels.

Made up of deserters from the army, the M23 captured Goma - on DRC's eastern border with Rwanda - from government and UN troops last month.

It later withdrew from the city, following international condemnation.

The New Year's Eve sanctions come the day before Rwanda joins the Security Council for a two-year term.

The UN and DR Congo government accuse Rwanda and Uganda of backing the rebels, an allegation they strongly deny.

Rwanda is widely seen as having backed armed groups in the east of DR Congo as a way to fight Hutu rebels who fled there after the genocide of the 1990s.

It has been accused of using militias as proxies in an on-going battle for the region, which is rich in minerals. The Rwandan government strenuously denies the accusations.

The M23 rebellion started when a militia that had been absorbed into the Congolese army mutinied and went on the rampage in the eastern part of the country.

Since then nearly half a million people have been displaced by fighting between the M23 and the army.
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Horoscope: See What Your Stars Have for You in 2013

By Barrie Dolnick
Feeling starry-eyed about love? Find your astrological sign in our list below to get your romantic forecast for 2013 — including a one-word description of your dating personality over the next 12 months:

Aries: Winning
You’re a flirty socializer on a mission during the first half of 2013. Uranus may toss you a few sudden, impractical relationships here and there, but you’re more likely to settle into your sofa with a romantic companion after Jupiter plops itself into Cancer in July. Contrary to your natural impulses, Saturn will make you very well-behaved — yes, you’re going to be nice this year!

Taurus: Charismatic
Absorbed as you are by money, work and living the good life, matters of partnership insist on grabbing your attention this year. You can’t buy your way out of trouble, either — and your old, reliable methods of distraction simply won’t work. Step up and embrace your feelings by trading stubborn habits for romantic impulses. With Jupiter’s move into Cancer during the second half of the year, your light touch will melt just about any heart you encounter.

Gemini: Captivating
A sluggish January will give way to a race toward glory — if you’re prepared to claim your prizes, that is. The final lap of expansion ends in July as Jupiter jumps from Gemini into Cancer, which is when your attention-deficit dating pattern transforms into a series of cozy, tactile flirtations fraught with meaning. Saturn in your house of discipline and routine will keep you in line, so remember: The word is honor, and the prize is love!

Cancer: Thrilling
Since you’re always one to bide your time, 2013 begins with premonitions of fulfillment and ends with a very real possibility of finding The One. Jupiter glides from your house of intuition into your house of new realities right around your birthday this year. The best presents to come include opening yourself up to new love and light. Saturn’s seat in Scorpio gives you the steady, capable energy needed to manifest a dream come true. Give up your mothering/smothering ways and take up romance instead — after all, it’s way more fun for everyone.

Leo: Profound
The deeper side of life beckons in 2013. Early in the year you toy with your love interests, basking in their attention and semi-earnest bids for your heart. As the year progresses, however, Saturn will move more insistently into Scorpio and Jupiter will get cozied up in Cancer, making your appetite for variety fade. The desire to find The One will be a new sensation for you — and you’ll find it to be a journey that you really enjoy, you lucky Leo! There’s a real possibility for big love to come into your life this year — the only question is: Are you ready?

Virgo: Intriguing
With an answer for every problem, you’re usually very busy sorting out everyone else’s life. But being preoccupied like this is no excuse for lacking a love life of your own, and this is the main lesson you need to learn in 2013. While work demands far too much of your brain power, Jupiter’s move into Cancer this summer places the needs of the heart above your intellectual demands. Date for pleasure in the first half of the year (let’s face it, you need it!), and then consider serious romantic options as they crop up closer to your birthday. With Jupiter in your house of hopes and wishes this year, you’ll have no choice but to explore love and joy. Yes, that means you!

Libra: Magnetic
If you could be paid to develop love interests, you’d be very rich indeed. But Saturn in Scorpio is stomping around money matters this year, and that means work, responsibility, and sharp-shooting problems will take priority. Jupiter in Gemini provides ample opportunity for adventure during the first six months of the year, so you won’t be without admirers. Jupiter’s shift into Cancer this summer makes you a very high-profile person of interest. This all means that you don’t have to actually work at finding love in 2013 — rather, it’ll come to you. Do your best, be kind, and enjoy life’s surprises as they appear one by one.

Scorpio: Undeniable
Feeling intense, passionate — and maybe a little bit worried? The universe is working on an upgrade for your life, and it isn’t possible for you to opt out this time. Saturn’s in your sign this year, urging you to be productive in all aspects of your life. For love, it’s doing the right thing: No shortcuts, no fibs, and no sneaking around (if you’ve been guilty of doing so in the past) — it’s serious stuff. Luckily, Jupiter in Gemini gives you lots of opportunities to flirt and experiment with what works best for you, and it will be clear when things don’t work. New adventures beckon in the second half of the year, so date with an open mind and love with an open heart.

Sagittarius: Nimble
Saturn in your house of whispers might make you a bit paranoid — possibly due to the untamed energy of your ruler, Jupiter, in your house of partnership, which encourages many romantic prospects to pursue you at once. Feeling guilty about juggling dates or not following through on your affections? That short attention span of yours should settle down this summer when Jupiter moves into Cancer. By then, you’ll be craving someone to explore the world with and more serious love interests will come into focus. Until then, be good — that way, you won’t be guilty.

Capricorn: Motivated
Getting what you want is normal for you, and working hard, taking on more responsibilities, and getting things done have usually paid off. Love, though, hasn’t always been so easy for you. You’ve been driven to work even harder as Jupiter has rested in Gemini, but when it arrives in Cancer mid-summer, your partnership prospects and romantic escapades will be rejuvenated. Saturn in your house of wish fulfilment takes itself very seriously, so stop working 24/7. It’s time for you to play, flirt, date and interview your potential mates — that’s what 2013 is all about.

Aquarius: Energetic
Career issues are vying for your attention, but Cupid’s sending haphazard, unpredictable arrows that are impossible for you to dodge. Give in to Jupiter’s lucky sprint through your house of romance during the first half of the year. You’re likely to discover significant love interests just as the planets shift back into a more serious work focus for your life overall. The challenge is finding the right work-love balance — it’s a fun game for you to play, as long as love comes first on your list.

Pisces: Dynamic
As the most romantic sign of all, you’re prone to having extreme expectations when it comes to love. The first half of this year is about you getting serious — what do you really want for yourself? Date as much as you can to find out, because this summer will bring on a one-year wave of ardent love interests. Be prepared to consider some serious relationship prospects — but your rose-colored glasses must stay in your pocket, not on your nose, if you want to be successful. For you, clarity is key in 2013.

* Executive Mystic Barrie Dolnick helps people find love and abundance by understanding their stars and their karmic energy. She is the author of twelve books, including Simple Spells for Success and The Executive Mystic: Psychic Power Tools for Success. Find out more at barriedolnick.com.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Ivory Coast in Shock as 61 Die at New Year’s Fireworks

Source (AP)

A crowd stampeded after leaving a New Year's fireworks show early Tuesday in Ivory Coast's commercial center, killing 61 people - many of them youths - and injuring more than 200, rescue workers said.

The death toll was expected to rise, the officials said.

Thousands had gathered at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan's Plateau district to see the fireworks. After the show, the crowds poured onto the Boulevard de la Republic by the Hotel Tiama at about 1 a.m., said Col. Issa Sako of the fire department rescue team.

"The flood of people leaving the stadium became a stampede which led to the deaths of more than 60 and injured more than 200," Sako told Ivory Coast state TV.

Most of those killed were between 8 and 15 years old, he said.

Desperate parents went to the city morgue, the hospital and to the stadium to try to find children who are still missing.

Mamadou Sanogo was searching for his 9-year-old son, Sayed.

"I have just seen all the bodies, but I cannot find my son," said a tearful Sanogo. "I don't know what to do."

President Alassane Ouattara and his wife visited some of those hospitalized and he pledged that the government would pay for their treatment, his office said.

The government organized the fireworks to celebrate Ivory Coast's peace, after several months of political violence in early 2011 following disputed elections. It was the second year that Abidjan had a New Year's fireworks display.

Hours after the stampede, soldiers patrolled the site, where victims' clothes, shoes and other debris littered the street.

State TV showed traumatic scenes: a woman sobbed in the back of an ambulance; another was bent over on the side of the street, apparently in pain; and another, barely conscious and wearing only a bra on her upper body, was hoisted up by rescuers.

There were also scenes of small children being treated in a hospital; one boy grimaced in pain and a girl with colored braids in her hair lay under a blanket, with one hand bandaged.

This is not Ivory Coast's first stadium tragedy. In 2009, 22 people died and over 130 were injured in a stampede at a World Cup qualifying match at the Houphouet Boigny stadium, prompting FIFA, soccer's global governing body, to impose a fine of tens of thousands of dollars on Ivory Coast's soccer federation. The stadium, which officially holds 35,000, was overcrowded at the time of the disaster.

A year later, two people were killed and 30 wounded in a stampede at a municipal stadium during a reggae concert in Bouake, the country's second-largest city. The concert was organized in the city, held by rebels at the time, to promote peace and reconciliation.

Ivory Coast is the world's largest cocoa producer, growing more than 37 percent of the world's annual crop of cocoa beans, which are used to make chocolate.

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