Viettel Pleadges 6,300 Direct and Indirect Jobs

Vietnam’s Viettel the third mobile operation network to operate in Cameroon has announced that it one of its priorities will be to connect all schools in the country. It a public statement this week, Viettel officials also said that at launch, the new mobile network would cover at least 81 percent of the population especially in rural areas with communication deficiency. According to the statement, Viettel also announced that its services would be 20% lesser than others. Considering that the high cost of some mobile services, mobile phones still remain a luxury in Cameroon. As a matter of fact, this statement has ignited a lot of hope in farmers who could not afford a mobile phone due to high prices.

More so, Viettel also “pledged to create some 6,300 direct and indirect jobs.”

It is aired that this week, Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essam, the Minister of Telecommunication, Viettel’s CEO and deputy CEO, Ho Viet Hung and Nguyen Khan Duy, discussed the company’s plans to co-ordinate its fiber rollout with Camtel.

Public opinion however holds that the coming of this new company is timely and that it will go a long way to foster development and a healthy atmosphere of competition. Analysts are also of the opinion that no matter the taxes levied on telecommunications in Cameroon Viettel will still succeed.  Many have agued that they are delighted that the competition will compel Orange and its wife MTN to surely reduce cost too to a level that will benefit the rural poor. Welcome Viettel!!

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

Fru Ndi Declares Senatorial Ambitions

The National Chairman of the leading opposition in Cameroon has declared his intentions to contest in the upcoming Senatorial elections in Cameroon. SDF Chairman made the declaration while addressing SDF militants at Ndu in Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region. SDF chieftain who was on a regional tour to galvanize potential voters to register massively ahead of the municipal and legislative elections used the occasion to declare own senatorial ambitions. However, he made it clear that he will not accept senatorial elections to hold with councilors whose mandates have all expired. Fru Ndi added that he rejected going into the council and Parliament but this time he is ready to contest to go to the senate if Mr. Biya respects legality. Ni John Fru Ndi it should be recalled during his tour of Donga Mantung Division stormed Tabenken, Nkambe, Lus and Ndu where hundreds turned out to listen to SDF National chairman. 

While in Tabenken village in Nkambe Central, one of the speakers who attracted  alot of admiration was Chris Mbunwe. Chris Mbunwe, in his capacity as SDF Regional Communication Secretary thrilled the people of Tabenken on the various  political malpractices orchestrated by the CPDM to rig elections. The rigging machinery, Chris said is actually in difficulties with biometric registration. Thus, Chris Mbunwe urged his people of Tabenken to register massively in order to vote because "no single vote will be stolen". He also used the occasion to bief the population on the 14 points the SDF submitted to the Biya government. He said the SDF pressed for transparent ballot boxes, biometric registration and that the SDF is still on fighting for single ballot papers.

What if Fru Ndi is appointed Senator?

Popular opinion holds that Nfi John Fru should be appointed as Senator giving his contribution to the political process in Cameroon. Base on the fact that the Constitution gives the head of state the right to appoint 30 of the 100 to make up the senate, many see no reason why Ni John Fru Ndi should not be appointed as well. Eventhough Ni John Fru Ndi is of the opposition, he  represents the aspiration of majority of Cameroonians. As a matter of fact, a senate without Ni John Fru Ndi will automatically means the collapse of democracy in Cameroon. However, it is not yet clear whether SDF chieftain will accept if appointed as senator. Notwithstanding,  the cordial relationship that Fru Ndi has been enjoying with his friend Paul Biya could be consolidated with his appointment into the senate. Yet the secrecy of the meeting held between Paul Biya and Fru Ndi before the head of state could leave Cameroon for Paris has been interpreted in different ways by bookmakers. Pundits are of the opinion that Fru Ndi's declaration to become senator is a no nonsense one. Yet it is difficult for him to become senator with the present councilors in place reasons why Fru Ndi himself told militants in Ndu where he made that declaration that he can only contest provide the feild is level. If senate elections hold before municipal and legislative elections, then Fru Ndi will not make it. This because SDF won 14 councils while the CPDM won 18. The number of councilors of the CPDM will be more than those of the SDF. Since the head of state will appoint 30, Fru Ndi can be one of the lucky ones to be appointed.

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

Biometric Registration: Dr. Fuh Calistus, Others in Difficulties

By Shey Marco

When the recompilation of voter’s registration using the biometric system kick-started in Cameroon, the President of Elections Cameroon-ELECAM said ELECAM's target is to register at least seven million Cameroonians. Yet latest national statistics as of last weekend portray that if biometric registration were to end by February 28, 2013, that figure will not be realized. Dr. Fonkam Azu’u will surely be on the wrong side of history if ELECAM cannot realize at least 75% of it projection. Notwithstanding, indicators are rife at that only 3.3 million Cameroonians have registered on the electoral list. However, it becomes a nightmare when Dr. Fonkam Azu’u says Elections Cameroon should be judged from their determination and not figures, sad indeed. Even President Biya himself is alleged to have donated 25 million FCFA to galvanize voters in his own region. February 28, is just few weeks away yet some politicians are still hoping that the date will be extended. 
Electoral fraud is a widespread phenomenon, especially in Cameroon. Despite abundant qualitative and anecdotal evidence on its existence from around the world, there is very limited quantitative evidence on the extent of electoral fraud. Eventhough democratic societies are built around the principle of free, fair, transparent and credible elections as Ntumfor Nico Halle usually says, and that each citizen's vote should count equally, some CPDM militants in Donga Mantung Division are yet to understand the meaning of democracy. The case of Donga Mantung Division where Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry is the leader of the CPDM Central Committee to sensitize the population to register massively is pathetic. Judging from the state of registration, it is no doubt very clear that the machinery that in the past use to fabricate figure is in serious difficulties. Donga Mantung that registered over 100.000 voters is yet to realize 50.000 voters. The question many have been asking is where are the voters who two years ago voted President Biya to power? Considering the fact that no disaster took place in Donga Mantung Division, everyone is looking at Dr. Fuh Calistus to explain whether the people of Donga Mantung have rejected his team.  If this is not true, where have the people gone to?
However before the recompilation of the voters registers, the potential voters in the 2011 Presidential elections in the division stood as follows; Nkambe 28,703 yet Nkambe has only been able to register 16,391 voters with biometrics. Ndu which registered 28,116 voters has only been able to register just a meager 13,696, while Nwa has dropped drastically from 30,296 to 11,700 voters. The situation of Ako is pitiful that out of the 14,247 voters registered during the 2011 Presidential elections only 4,831 voters have registered. In Misaje, allegations are rife that the 6,416 voters already registered is the summit Dr. Calistus and co could afford down from the 10,624 voters in 2011. Biometric registration may not be the panacea but the way it has exposed electoral malpractices in Misaje and Ako speak volume. In Misaje for example, another strategy to rig with the complicity of ELECAM officials has been unmasked. Minors are reported to have been registered. The trick we gathered is that since the kit will reject anyone below 20 years, while keying in the date of birth, it is inflected.
Even though confidential sources hinted that Dr. Fuh Calistus held a crisis meeting with the administration and even disbursed funds to cajole for support, the trends are not favourable at all. Chunghe village (Dr. Calistus’s own village) which in 2011 registered over 700 voters is yet to register 200 voters. It is intriguing and flabbergasting with all these lapses these Yaounde cronies are always ready to assassinate the truth though bitter. But since truth is like a stone that when thrown into the air must finally fall down, Hon. Kwalar acknowledged while presenting his report during the evaluation meeting in Nkambe recently accepted that complete absence of double registration has impacted on registration. It was like a joke but deeply into it, that statement is a fact.
Implicitly, it is alleged that in the past photocopies of identity cards were collected from students at a pay of 1000 FCFA and today such practices may not be attained.
Meeting on Saturday February 3, at the Nkambe Community Hall CPDM bigwigs from Yaounde were all dumbfounded to the point that none was able to explain why a drastic drop in voters registration. The evaluation meeting that was chaired by Madame Regina Mundi (CPDM Poliburo member) was the first of it kind that brought members of the Regional coordination to Donga Mantung Division. Dr. Fuh Calistus in his speech acknowledged that many people still find it very difficult to get to Donga Mantung Division due to the deplorable state of the Ring Road; he however convinced himself that very soon the situation will not be the same. But yet, he (Dr. Fuh Calistus) failed to state how soon is very soon. Reports from Nwa Sub Division revealed that the population of that part is yet to benefit from the issuing of free identity cards due to the fact that there is only one identification post. According to Hon. Genesis Mbuksek, the topographic nature of the area makes movement very difficult. As the process draws to it end, more than six villages in Nwa are yet to receive the visit of Elections Cameroon mobile team. Ako sub Division on the other hand is also hindered by the fact that there is no identification center. To benefit from President Biya’s largess of free identity cards, the people must travel to Nkambe.

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

Paul Biya-François Hollande: The Unexpected at Elysée

President Biya who is on an official visit to France has not had a face-face meeting with French President François Hollande as predicted by bookmakers. The unexpected that President Biya could not hold a face-face meeting with French President is about to enter into books.  Although President Biya has been to Elysée, sources say the French Protocol opted for a meeting between the two delegations at the Elysée. According to a statement from the presidency of the Republic of Cameroon President Biya is visiting France at the invitation of French President François Hollande. President Paul Biya is in France since Monday, January 28, 2013 where he held talks with his French counterpart January 30, 2013 and took part, January 31, 2013, the World Economic Forum Franco-Cameroonian ... with a strong delegation of more than 20 people, including 12 ministers.As days go by, it is not yet clear why French President could not have a face-face meeting with President Paul Biya.
Yet allegations are rife that François had no regard for his visitor reasons why a lightweight protocol was put in place when President Biya arrived  Elysée for the two delegations to discuss on economic issues and others.  Sources hinted that the embarrassment of the Cameroonian delegation was so great that they wondered why French President could only sit and discuss with them for only 32 minutes.
However, President Biya is also reported to have had fruitful discussions with some key personalities especially those in charge of economic and the private sector. More so, he also held another meeting with more than a hundred French entrepreneurs, led by the former Minister Michel Roussin. With a hundred branches and about 200 businesses owned by French citizens, France has one of the largest foreign investors in Cameroon. As part of his efforts to push investors to flock the country, Paul Biya also granted series of audiences to French political leaders and individual business magnets including Olivier STIRN of Cabinet Conseil Edifice on February 1, 2013. 
President Biya also granted audience with Cameroonians based in France who according to what we gathered are lobbying for the creation of a Ministry for the Diasporas.

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

Special Criminal Court Burgled

 The office of the Chief Registrar of the newly created Special Criminal Court in Cameroon has been burgled. According to classified sources, the burglary took place on the night of Saturday March, 2, 2013. Even though no valuable docuements were stolen, reports say the thieves carried away a Television set and a computer screen. However, the President of the Special Criminal Court, Yap Abdou is said to have ordered for an immediate investigation into the burglary. Allegations are rife that the thieve(s) could have been looking to steal confidential documents incriminating some state officials. But yet they were stopped by the guards on duty that night, and therefore could not take with them their precious booty. However, other reports say the thieve(s) tried to force the safe where all valuable documents are kept but could not succeed. A hidden place which contains records of pending proceedings which have strong tendencies to criminalize the concerned. Unable to access the safe, the robbers found solace into the Office of the Chief Registrar, where they entered and carried away a tv set and computer screen, sources have confirmed.

Unfortunately for them, this office does not actually contain records of procedures, they are kept in another room. At Press time we also gathered that the President of the Special Criminal Court also ordered for security measures to be strengthened.

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

Senatorial Showdown: Biya Ignores Fru Ndi, Dispatches Party Officials to Regions

 By FC Ndi

President Biya &Ni John FruNdi

CDPM Central Committee delegates have invaded CPDM ruled council to prepare councilors for the upcoming Senatorial elections in Cameroon against warning signals emitted by the Chairman of the Social Democratic Front-SDF. According to classified sources at the Central Committee of the CPDM in Yaounde, the some party officials are still in the field holding seminars with councilors to prepare their minds for Senatorial elections. Yet SDF Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi, the leader of the main opposition in Cameroon has been vocal these days on the illegality of such an election and its effect if Senatorial elections were announced. Last January, Ni John Fru Ndi told President Biya in his face to postpone it giving that the mandate of the present councilors expired since June 2012. Yet, President Biya seemingly has ignored Ni John Fru Ndi’s call.

While addressing SDF militants in Nkambe a week ago, Ni John Fru Ndi said the Social Democratic Frint will not give room for the Biya regime to exercise illegality. Ni John Fru also told the crowd that when he last met President Paul Biya last month at the Unity Palace, he told him that by conducting Senatorial elections with councilors whose five years mandate had expired, he (Paul Biya) would have massacred democracy. He said “as usual Mr. Biya replied that he will see about it”. Without mixing his words, Ni John Fru Ndi said if President Biya organizes Senatorial elections the SDF will go on the offensive with the Biya regime. “It would mean the end if such a thing is to happen” SDF chieftain hammered.  Never had the SDF chairman ever been so censorious, contrarian and stained in his declarations. This is an aspect of our emergent democracy that expands on the growing freedom of expression, thought and association but there is need for caution and vigilance when Mr. Biya wants to take decisions, he warned. Ni John Fru lamented that for the past years the Biya regime has taken hostage democracy. Cameroonians he said must not allow any group of individuals to hold this country and no one alone should correct the right to decide what is best for Cameroon. “I told Mr. Biya that we must sit and discuss on this issue”.

It should be recalled that the Biya regime is expert in pushing through policies, duping the public, telling outright lies, manipulating figures by changing the game in the name of advanced democracy. However, it is in fact becoming a massive public deception as corruption is at it peak with former Ministers of state, Directors and others are caged in prison cells. As Fru Ndi rightly puts it to the people of Ndu Sub Division in Donga Mantung Division, “this government is corrupt and guilty of crimes against humanity, crimes against their own people for plunging the entire nation into abject poverty”. While calling on the population of Donga Mantung Division to register massively for the upcoming municipal and legislative elections, SDF chieftain also emphasized that a distinguishing failure of Biya’s administration in Cameroon is that everything is collapsing.

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

Hon. Awudu Takes Parliamentary Largess to Youths, Church & Sub Palaces

By Kimbi V Muku

The SDF Member of Parliament for Nkambe Central cum Quaestor at the National Assembly, who is also the Executive Coordinator of Pan-African Parliamentarians Network on Climate Change-PAPNCC, Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian has taken his Parliamentary largess to youths and sub palaces in Mbabi-Wat of Nkambe Central in the North West Region of Cameroon. Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian stormed Mbabi-Wat a forthright ago where he made a significant donation to sustain efforts aimed at putting in place two halls. Hon. Awudu Mbaya’s Parliamentary largess also landed at the premises of the Mbabi Baptist Church where he made another significant material donation for the roofing of the CBC Pastor’s residence. For the first time, Hon. Awudu Mbaya defied all the myths and established an innovative dimension that even sub palaces are also legible to benefit from his Parliamentary Grants. The sub palaces of Fai Ndikobia and Fai Ndikwentou we gathered will be given a face-lift thanks to Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian.

Before handing the donation to the beneficiaries in front of a gargantuan crowd estimated in hundreds, Hon Awudu Mbaya cautioned that the gifts should be used for the purpose that it was intended.  In other words, Hon. Awudu also cautioned the population of Mbabi that it is difficult for anyone to negotiate with visionaries who always think that what is mine is mine and what is yours is negotiable. Underscoring the importance of registering in the voters register for the upcoming elections Hon. Awudu Mbaya called on all and sundry to register massively so much so that they could elect their local officials to Parliament and the council. Harping on electoral malpractices and the machinery of the ruling party, he questioned the raison etre of some local party officials collecting receipts of potential voters. He said someone voiced out that he would empty his bank account to wink him from Parliament but he is aware that his people cannot accept to be bought as if they are goods. “Are we goods that someone can buy? He questioned. He reminded the population of Mbabi that those who have the privilege to know also have the duty to act. Hon Awudu also told the people that what he has given them is what he has worked for and not kolanuts that are picked under the pear tree. There was jubilation and fanfare when he announced that he is lobbying for the next phase of the rural electrification project to get to Chup and Mbabi.

On her part, Madame Mary Awudu who accompanied the husband to the field warned that “if you are picking a kolanut, look up the tree and see whether it has fallen from a pear tree or kolanut tree”. She also warned that the Wimbum people need another wiser and or perhaps a more numinous concept of politics, maybe remote from the universal nature because “therein those who had the opportunity to play politics erred” yet that is how some evolve and move with all the errors that have gone before us, she emphasized. “Let us avoid living by the voices that we shall never hear” she reiterated. She reminded the population that in blowing out the other persons candle cannot make thires to shine reasons why she is convinced that the marriage between the SDF and the people of Mbabi is inseparable.

Speaking on behalf of the youths of Mbabi, Ndi Godlove thanked the Member of Parliament for his timely gift. He said when they started the construction project, they were wondering how they would raise funds to buy zinc and fortunately for them, he has come to their rescue. He said the youths will spare no effort to always support the MP in all his endeavours. Comparing the support to the love the youths have for Hon. Awudu Mbaya, he echoed that real men do not love the most beautiful girl in the world but on the contrary, real men love girls who can make their world the most beautiful meaning that after all is said and done, Hon. Awudu remains their hope and aspirator.

Speaking for the sub palaces of Mbabi, Fai Ndikobia said no amount of influence can divert hem front being focus and objective. He recalled that the SDF is like a religion reasons why nothing will hamper on the 90% votes the party has gotten in every election. Fai Ndichentih on his part went memory lane recalling the people that if today they can farm their crops without any destruction it is thanks to Hon. Awudu Mbaya who fought to remove cattle from farmlands. He also reminded the population that life has three reasons: that is to be kind, to prove to be kind and to always be kind. This he said is the dress that the people of Mbabi can dress the Member of Parliament with. Rev. Pastor Tansa in his sermon also dressed Hon. Awudu Mbaya with Psalms 67. Accordingly the Man of God concluded that Hon. Awudu works are like the affects of a beautiful flower with irresistible fragrance.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Plebiscite Puts Musa Shey Nfor at the Helm of BAPCCUL

The Annual General Assembly of the Bamenda Police Cooperative Credit Union LTD-BAPCCUL took place today Saturday January 27, 2013 in Bamenda. Top on the agenda was election of members of the various management organs in conformity with the new workbook adopted by credit union delegates at the Cameroon Credit Union League-CamCCUL General Assembly of last December 2012.

Musa Shey Nfor Bestowed Confidence for Accountability, Transparency

Musa Shey Nfor was during that AGM voted unanimously as the President of BAPCCUL in what analysts described as a plebiscite. The elections that took place under the watchful eyes of the Divisional Officer for Bamenda II went into records as a “Referendum” whereby members had to choose someone who is up to the task, transparent in management, accountable and a leader who will ensure continuity.  Nkudu Jean Pierre in his remarks insinuated that BAPCCUL any person or group of persons who would try to temper with the future of the growing microfinance institution will not receive any support from the administration. With this said, the Divisional Officer for Bamenda II went further to appeal for unity and not disunity in the credit union movement. Using the very words of the cooperators, Nkudu Jean Pierre called on BAPCCUL members to “save regularly, borrow wisely and pay promptly”.

On his part, Musa Shey Nfor presented a vivid account of the Bamenda Police Cooperative Credit Union LTD.  He however observed that the year 2012 was full of challenges yet BAPCCUL amidst it triumphed giving that it registered a geometric rise in membership, capital, loan consumption as well as members’ savings. In a bit to crystallize facts, Musa Shey Nfor revealed that membership moved up from 21,072 in 2011 to 23,430 in 2012. On the other hand, members’ savings also rose from FCFA 418.028.560 to 500.988.725 in 2012. It therefore implies that BAPCCUL after all, has been growing from strength to strength. Before taking an oath of office, he reaffirmed that “ I will rather sacrifice my life like the gendarme officer did in Yaounde than BAPCCUL to crumble”. He used the opportunity to extend warm gratitude to legal experts, CamCCUL officials and other credit union delegates who made a significant contribution towards building a new workbook for the credit union movement in Cameroon known as the “Model Credit Union By-laws”.  It should be recalled that during the meeting at the Bamenda pastoral center, the ministries of Finance, MINATD, MINADER and MINJUSTICE provided their guidance in the harmonization process that reduced the mandate of all elected officials to zero. During that meeting, it was revealed that 197 out of 199 credit unions of the CamCCUL network successfully voted for the harmonization process. And on the issue of mandate of elected officials, 159 credit unions voted for a three years mandate renewable twice and only 38 voted for a three years mandate renewable once. And on the eligibility of elected, that is, that whether all existing mandates should come to zero and fresh elections conducted for everyone (yes or no), a total of 171 credit unions voted for a yes representing 86.8%.

Following the above harmonization process, the newly elected board of directors of the BAPCCUL is made up of the following.

Musa Shey Nfor (President), Tumasang Florence (Vice), Ngwang Elvis Musa (Secretary), Djam Richard (Member), Asana Felicia (Member), Ngu Regina(member).

It should be noted that Musa Shey Nfor was elected by acclamation reasons why it was not just a Referendum but was a Plebiscite by over 3000 members

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

Suspected Ritual Killing of Young Girl Creates Panic in Nkambe

Sidone Mabah (Suspected killed by boyfriend)

There is panic and pandemonium in Nkambe town; the Divisional headquarters of Donga Mantung Division in the North West Region of Cameroon after a young man was napped by police for alleged involvement in the ritual killing of a young girl. The young girl’s dead body was discovered in the bush in the outskirt of the town in an advanced decomposing state beyond recognition. It is suspected the corpse could a young girl named Sidonie Mabah. Sidonie Mabah we gathered was last spotted with his boyfriend, Gamnje Ivo last January 1, 2013 and since then she had never returned home. On January 10, 2013, the population of Nkambe was taken aback when the corpse of a young girl was discovered in an advanced discomposing state. Thousands stormed the area yet the scene was the most shocking ever witnessed in Nkambe. Many who took the pains and the courage to go closer to the unidentified corpse went home wondering who would have done such a sacrilege in Mbumland….Rumours were bound that some parts of the body were cut-off.However, a week a go, a young man by name Gamnje Ivo was arrested by police for alleged involvement in what the population say is “ritual killing” of Sidonie Mabah.  We gathered that members of her family and friends had tried to get to Sidonie by phone but every time a male voice would always tell them on phone that she is out of the house. “Sometimes the trick was that she had gone to the market” we learnt. The male voice had also been telling some of her friends that they should not panic because she was in Yaounde. Other friends also said they got the same response when they tried to find out where she had disappeared to. However, last week, police investigation unmasked that the person in keeping of her phone. Gamnje Ivo was arrested in Nkambe with Sidonie’s phone. The shocking news is that the man who claimed was in Yaounde was also found with seven sim cards. Gamnje Ivo, who thought he was smarter could not play the trick for long. When Gmanje Ivo was picked with Sodonie’s phone in hand responding to another call, he told the police that he doesn’t know the whereabout of the owner of the phone. He is quoted to have told the police that Sodonie was a former girlfriend and when they separated, he took back the phone he bought and gave to her as a gift. When quizzed why he had been saying that they were in Yaounde and that the owner of the phone had gone to the market every time they called the number, he said he had never made such a statement before.

Sidonie's corpse?

It is even alleged that the young man killed her in his house and later paid an okada rider to deposit the corpse in a nearby bush. Yet, allegations are also rife that Gamnje Ivo in order to destroy the traces of blood on his bed set the “matelas on fire” and (other beddings). More so, it is also alleged that the young man started beating up the girl on the night of January 1, 2013 and took her away to an unknown destination. And since then, she was never seen. Yet, the corpse was buried without an autopsy conducted on it to really identify whether the dead body was that of Sidone or someone else. Notwithstanding, Gamnje Ivo is still in police custody where he is claiming that he is innocent of the allegations.  As of now, there are so many stories in “sha drinking spot” in Nkambe. Some allegations are rife that Gamnje Ivo started beating the girl at the night club yet it is not clear why the young boys and girls or even her friends who witnessed the scene had remained mute over the issue. While others are saying that he killed her in his home and latter hired the services of an “okada rider” who helped him to transport to corpse. 

At present Sidonie's family is pleading and crying everyday to that Gamnje Ivo should confirm that their daughter is dead so that they know.  It should be recalled that since the corpse was in an advanced decomposing stage as could be seen in the picture, the corpse was handed to the council for burial. More so even the dresses were beyond recognition. There is total confusion in Nkambe...... as members of the girl's family are in a confused state and some of them still continue to have hopes that Sidonie Mabah is still alive somewhere...yet some are asking that if the corpse is not that of Sidonie, who could it be giving she is the only girl that has not been seen.

(Below is a comprehensive report by Nsom Joseph on Ritual Killings)

Phenomenon of Ritual Killings (written by Human Rights Defender Nsom Joseph)

The most pathetic thing is that despite the Charter on Human and People’s Rights’ stipulating that each individual is entitled to respect for his/her life and integrity of his/her person, human beings are slaughter everyday in various forms.  Ritual killing is becoming a common phenomenon in Cameroon. The phenomenon of ritual killings and the practice of human sacrifice tend to occupy a comfortable position in most African countries. These practices entail the hunting down, mutilation and murder of the vulnerable people in society, including people with disabilities, women, and children. Those who practice sacrifice and ritual killings believe them to be acts of spiritual fortification. Motivations to carry out these acts include the use of human body parts for medicinal purposes and the belief that some human body parts possess supernatural powers that bring prosperity and protection.

Ritual killings in Cameroon

This phenomenon is very common in Cameroon, especially from the believe that an individual could be offered as a sacrificial lamb to a spiritual realm by another. It is common to hear that some accidents on our highways are provoked by some spiritual powers so as to recuperate the deaths thereof. The numerous deaths often registered at the end of the year (November-December) in Cameroon are often interpreted as deaths pertaining to individuals who have been offered by fortune seekers to these powers. As if this may not be enough, Cameroon since December 2012 has registered a series of physical ritual killings in some of her towns, particularly Yaoundé. Today, Yaoundé is still suffering from these killings particularly in the neighborhoods of Mimboman, Biteng and Nkomo in the Yaoundé IV sub division.

According to information gotten from “www.Cameroon-info.net”, 18 young women are abducted, murdered and found with brains, eyes and genitals missing. Victims are abducted by motorbike taxi drivers. They are first raped before removal of the needed human body parts (eyes, sex, breast, heart, kidney) after which they are dumped somewhere. Victims are generally young girls in the age bracket (15-26) years. Most families around this area live in terror and the sister of one victim (Deborah Ngoh Tonye) writes to President Biya accusing him of inaction.

Deborah Ngoh Tonye said her sister, Michele Mbala Mvogo, a student at the government bilingual High School Yaounde was abducted three days before her body was found outside one nursery school in Mimboman. She accused the city's commonly-used motorcycle taxi drivers of facilitating the murder, and said the government had failed to do enough to protect the victims, who were from the poverty-stricken neighbourhoods of Mimboman and Biteng.

Families in the neighbourhood are said to be in a state of hysteria, banning their girls from taking motorbike taxis and keeping them indoors after dark. Vigilante groups of young men guard the streets at night and hunt for the killers, as the people of Yaounde say the police are not doing enough to keep the city safe. The new wave of gruesome killings in the capital has also seen dozens of complaints about mutilated corpses in the mortuaries of Yaounde's public hospitals, according to Health Minister Andre Mama Fouda.
Communication minister Tchiroma Bakary said: “Ritual sacrifices with a demoniac connotation are unacceptable and intolerable, and the government will do all it can to put a stop to it.” In a communiqué addressed to the nation on 23/01/2013, he revealed that seven children were killed and that only four of them were properly identified. According to him, the government is in total control of the situation with some of the suspects already in the police detention.   

What are Cameroonians saying about these ritual killings?

The Cameroon society today is highly flourishing in cults, lodges, and other spiritual mediums. People get into these areas to acquire power and wealth, and most highly placed persons in Cameroon are known to belong to this spiritual world. In order to reap from this spiritual world, individuals need to sacrifice, and most of the time, the sacrifices are humans.    

Most Cameroonians believe that the ritual killings are simply serving as sacrificial lambs for those who intend to maintain themselves or acquire new comfortable positions in the Cameroon society. With a cabinet reshuffle in view, as well as elections (legislative, senatorial, municipal), it is believed that prospective candidates must have consulted their mediums and are asked to supply some human body parts. In this case the bike riders are simply rendering a service for which they are paid. It is also possible that the bike riders could be out to satisfy an expressed demand from some international dealers in human body parts. Whatever the case, the bike riders are agents of the demon, and it could have been better if they were not born at all.   

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

African Heads of State Give more Impetus to NEPAD’s Implementation

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,  Senegalese President Macky Sal has been elected Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC), a high level body of twenty African leaders that provides leadership and policy guidance to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

Mr Sal replaces the later former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi who served as Chairperson of the HSGOC for four years until he passed away in August 2012.

The grouping, which meets twice a year on the fringes of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, also sets priorities and the programmes of action for NEPAD.

A moment of silence in memory of Mr Meles was observed at the opening session, which was attended by several heads of state, representatives of regional economic communities and international organisations.

On his part, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn urged AU member states to reduce dependency on foreign aid for implementation of infrastructure development projects.

Hailemariam described his predecessor, the late Meles Zenawi as 'a symbol of Pan-Africanism' whose legacy is witnessed on the ground in Ethiopia.

He said Meles viewed NEPAD as a change- model in the management of Africa's relations with the international community.

President of Benin and Chairperson of the Africa Union, Boni Yayi called on the   need for Africa to scale up implementation of NEPAD priorities such as agriculture and infrastructure, and speed up the aspect of domestic resource mobilization to encourage less dependence on western funding.

NEPAD’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Ibrahim Mayaki presented the Agency’s Results-based Activity Report of July to December 2012, where he highlighted effort for sustaining the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)) momentum and the various tools and mechanisms for domestic resource mobilisation for the NEPAD programmes.

“The NEPAD Agency believes that the time has come to give new impetus to CAADP to meet legitimate expectations of member states while providing a clearer perspective and overall role for agriculture in the economic transformation of the continent. To support this transformation NEPAD has launched the Africa Rural Development Forum as platform for knowledge sharing on polices on rural transformation.” said Dr Mayaki.

CAADP has emerged as a key vehicle to diversify economies, grow agribusiness, ensure food security and thrive. It also stimulates access to finance, inputs and markets for smallholder farmers.

To sustain the its momentum, there’s a need to assess how non state actors can take ownership of the CAADP process by contributing to the development and implementation of agricultural policy in their respective countries.

Dr Dlamini Zuma pointed out that despite NEPAD’s achievements, there’s need to address challenges such as adequate resources and human capital, to implement NEPAD Programmes and Projects.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mohammed Mossi and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria have been elected Vice Chairpersons of the HSGOC Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mauritania and Libya, are the new countries that have joined the grouping.

                                                                            

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

D.O for Nwa in Hot Water over Allocation of Grazing Land

The proximity of Nwa Sub Division to the Taraba State of Nigeria has caused the Sub Divisional Officer for Nwa, Ekwedebong Gideon Same to fall to some practices termed illegal by the population. An art which many grazers say it is a trade of land to make fast cash. Questions are bound whether the sub prefect for Nwa is allowed to auction grazing land like that which he auctioned to a foreign grazer at Mubang-Yang. Yet sources say the Sub Divisional Officer connived with the Fon of Yang to forcefully chase away a certain grazer whose name we got as Mallam Adamu Lamu and family from a piece of grazing land he had occupied for years. According to reliable sources, the D.O ordered the grazer to quit for a Nigerian grazer to settle with his cattle and when the verbal notice to quit was ignored, Mallam Adamu’s two sons were arrested and detained for about 9 days before released to go and bring back money so that a new grazing land is allocated to them. The incident, we learnt is generating heat in Nwa. Sources say some cattle on transhumance do not pass through the veterinary, the costumes etc. fears are bound that these animals may bring along with them new cattle diseases and epidemics that may cause huge loses to grazers in Donga Mantung Division and especially Nwa. Grazers in Nwa according to information we gathered are threatening to stage a sit-down strike if the matter is not given attention. Moreso, confidential sources also hinted that other cases of disputes over grazing land have been reported at Lihkop in Lih, the Mbaw plain and Mubang in Yang where more than two grazers have been allocated the same piece of land.

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

Hijackers Release Ship Taken in Ivory Coast

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) - Armed hijackers who seized control of a fuel-laden tanker in Ivory Coast released the vessel on Tuesday after making off with about $5 million in cargo, the ship's owner said.
None of the 16 Nigerian crew members, who were locked up in a dining room while the hijackers siphoned off the bounty, were injured in the episode aboard the Panamian-flagged vessel ITRI, according to ship owner Brila Energy, a petroleum distributor based in Nigeria.
The vessel was seized on Jan. 16 as it was preparing to deposit 5,000 tons of jet fuel cargo at the Ivory Coast port of Abidjan, Ivory Coast officials said.
"Hijackers were not arrested. They escaped," wrote Brila Chairman Rowaye Jubril in an email to The Associated Press. "The stolen cargo is estimated at about $5 million."
It was not immediately clear where the tanker was released, but Ivory Coast's government said it was at one point located off the coast of West African neighbor Ghana. Jubril said the ship was now at Lagos anchorage in Nigeria.
Ivory Coast officials said the ship initially had trouble docking because a sand storm had reduced visibility. Later, the ship's captain radioed the port manager to report difficulty maneuvering. Shortly afterward, contact was lost with the vessel. Then ship consignee Koda Maritime informed port officials that armed men had taken control of the tanker.
The International Maritime Bureau said the attack was the farthest ever from Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea, calling it a "potential game changer" in piracy in the region.
Most of West Africa's ship hijackings in the region occur near oil-rich Nigeria.
The first recorded vessel hijacking off Ivory Coast was in October, when 14 men armed with knives and AK-47s boarded a tanker carrying 30,000 tons of gasoline. The tanker was released three days later in Nigerian waters with the crew unharmed, but the pirates allegedly made off with about 2,500 tons of fuel.


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