Security in Gulf of Guinea: ECCAS, ECOWAS and GGC Heads of States to meet in Yaounde

Insecurity is on the rise in the Gulf of Guinea

(News Watch Cameroon), Yaounde June 17, 2013--Cameroon will host the first ever summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC).The meeting will have as focus maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea will open on June 24, 2013.

Cameroon’s communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary made the announcement in a press conference in Yaounde on Monday June 17, 2013.

The Yaounde summit follows resolution number 2039 of the meeting of the United Nations Security Council on February 29, 2012 in New York urging countries in West and Central Africa to take urgent steps to check piracy and armed attacks at sea on national and international levels.

According to Minister Tchiroma, the choice of Cameroon to host the summit is thanks to its commitment in ensuring security in the Gulf of Guinea.

“This is undoubtedly an irrefutable diplomatic victory for our country and for our Head of State. This is also an international acknowledgement of his commitment in favour of major national and supra-national fights, for the protection of properties and persons, the progress of nations and the improvement of living conditions of populations”

The Gulf of Guinea is the main oil region of Africa. It hosts the largest offshore oil deposits worldwide, representing up to 24 billion barrels of reserves that is 4.5% of world reserves.

Most sea trade transactions pass through the Gulf of Guinea making it to be exposed to multiple lusts as well as growing insecurity.

According to the International Maritime Organization, 46 attacks were recorded in 2009, 38 in 2010, 53 in 2011 and 60 attacks in 2012 in the Gulf of Guinea with 25% of attacks in Nigeria and 2% in Cameroon.

Following the adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolutions 2018 and 2039, a series of meetings involving the ECOWAS, ECCAS, UNOWA, UNOCA and GGC representatives led to the development of a roadmap which identified the need to organise a Summit of Heads of State and Government of the two Regional Economic Commissions, in Yaounde.

The heads of states and government of the region that covers ten (10) states of ECCAS and sixteen (16) States for ECOWAS will thus be chatting ways of curbing the growing insecurity in the region.

Cameroon’s communication Minister announced that all is set for Cameroon to host the two days event.

“The President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya, set up a National Organising Committee mandated with the conception, organization and coordination of all necessary activities to prepare and ensure that this summit moves on smoothly”.

Besides Heads of States of the Regional Economic Commissions, Cameroon Government’s spokesman announced that special guests and representatives of international organizations are also expected to take part in the summit. 

Observer countries like Germany, Belgium, Brazil, China, Spain, the United States, Russia, France, Britain and Japan will also take part in the summit, Minister Tchiroma said.
By Ndi Eugene Ndi

Youths Challenged to Conserve the Environment

YAFEJ Members Protecting a Planted Tree

Members of a Nkambe based Civil Society organization;  Youth Assembly for Environmental Justice (YAFEJ) Cameroon have planted over 400 environmentally friendly trees at the Nkambe general hospital as part of activities marking the 2013 edition of World Environment day.

Addressing young people and Youth groups that turned out for the exercise, Mr Abanda Marcel, YAFEJ Coordinator challenged them to take all necessary measures to protect the planted trees.

Citing the UN Secretary General Speech on the World Environment Day, Ban Kimoon said, we live in a world of plenty, where food production outstrips demand, yet 870 million people are undernourished and childhood stunting is a silent pandemic.

“To create the future we want, we must correct this inequity. We must ensure access to adequate nutrition for all, double the productivity of smallholder farmers who grow the bulk of food in the developing world, and make food systems sustainable in the face of environmental and economic shocks”.

One way to narrow the hunger gap and improve the well-being of the most vulnerable is to address the massive loss and waste inherent in today's food systems. Currently at least one third of all food produced fails to make it from farm to table.

“This is foremost an affront to the hungry, but it also represents a massive environmental cost in terms of energy, land and water especially in Nkambe where most of the land and water catchment in particular are occupied by Eucalyptus tress and seriously affect the population negatively in water shortage”. 

To Mr Abanda, food loss and waste can be easily addressed if youths take the challenge. He added the United Nations Environment Programme, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization and public and private sector partners have launched the "Think.Eat.Save: Reduce Your Foodprint" campaign to raise global awareness and showcase solutions relevant to developed the youths to face the future; a campaign that began on the world environment day.

By reducing food waste Mr Abanda said UN scribe Ban Ki Moon, “we can save money and resources, minimize environmental impacts and, most importantly, move towards a world where everyone has enough to eat”.

Talking to News Watch after the tree planting exercise, the coordinator disclosed that of the 400 trees planted, “over 300 were purchased by the Nkambe general Hospital’s interim Director, Dr. Yanick Assembe, 50 donated ANAFOR Nkambe and the rest donated by the Divisional Delegate of Forestry and wild life for Donga Mantung, Kitang Amang Thoephile”. 

Other speakers at the tree planting exercise like the interim Director of the Hospital Dr. Yanick, the Vice President for Cameroon National Youth Council Nkambe, Mr Nganyu Alfred all lauded YAFEJ for the brilliant initiative.

They all challenged other youth associations to emulate the initiative by YAFEJ by conserving the environment through tree planting.

By Tandap Tandap in Nkambe

Cameroon's elite BIR army unit implicated in intimidation of the press

BIR Officers, like this one obstructed...

New York, June 14, 2013---Authorities in Cameroon should investigate reports of journalists being threatened and obstructed from covering the site of an airplane crash on Monday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

"We are alarmed by reports of obstruction and intimidation involving an officer of Cameroon's top elite security unit, the BIR," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. "We call on authorities to conduct credible investigations and sanction any officers involved."

Officers of the country's top elite security unit, the army's rapid intervention battalion (known as BIR), were working with police at the site of an airplane crash in the northern city of Ngaoundéré, according to local journalists and news reports. The crash, involving a small aircraft flying from Chad to Douala, Cameroon's economic capital, killed one passenger and left four others injured, Agence France-Presse reported.

Officers at the scene threatened and obstructed journalists working for private news outlets, but allowed local officials and reporters for the state-controlled national public broadcaster Cameroon Radio and Television to gain access to the site, according to the National Syndicate of Cameroonian Journalists and CPJ interviews.

Salomon Kankili, a reporter for the independent paper Le Messager, told CPJ that a BIR officer grabbed him by the neck and threw him on the ground after he asked about the basis for the restrictions. The same officer threatened unspecified reprisals against Kankili and another reporter, Adolarc Lamissia of the daily Le Jour, if they published anything about him, the syndicate and Le Messager reported.

Joseph Mouafo, a reporter for the private broadcaster Camnews24, told CPJ that the same BIR officer threatened to break his video camera if he filmed the crash site, even from a distance. Mouafo and another TV reporter, Clevis Moussa of Equinoxe, both left after being chased away, he said.

Lt. Pioka, the regional commander of BIR, did not immediately respond to CPJ's telephone and text messages.

The BIR operates under the authority of the Ministry of Defense with a mandate to combat criminality and general insecurity in border regions, but it has also intervened in political protests, according to CPJ research. Local press has reported allegations of shootings, assaults, harassment and even murders of civilians by BIR officers. In 2010, at least 16 officers had been expelled for misconduct, according to news reports.

The office of Cameroon's Ministry of Defense said it would investigate the reports of threats and obstruction. Both Abakar Ahamat, the regional governor, and Col. Guy Beyegue, head of the paramilitary police corps, denied issuing any orders to restrict the press from reporting.

By the Committee to Protect Journalists

Journalist convicted on defamation charges in Cameroon

New York, June 13, 2013--A Cameroonian appellate court should overturn on appeal a criminal defamation conviction and sentence handed to a journalist on June 5 in the commercial city of Douala, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Police jailed Charles Fils Elangue, head of the culture desk at private broadcaster ABK TV, in New Bell prison immediately after a court tribunal handed him a 12-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (US$1,010), according to Elangue and local news reports. Elangue was also ordered to pay 2 million CFA francs (US$4,000) in damages to Lisa Anye, the plaintiff and wife of local musician Francis Victor Njoh, better known as Njohreur, according to the same sources.

Elangue told CPJ he was released on June 11 after he paid the fine, and his lawyer, Henry Ngomsu, said he had appealed the conviction.

The conviction stemmed from a complaint filed by Anye against Elangue in connection with an article he had published in May 2011 while he was a reporter for the now-defunct news website Kaï Walaï, local journalists said. The article had reported Anye's arrest in connection with a legal dispute involving the sale of a car, Elangue told CPJ. Anye denied that she had been arrested, according to news reports. The journalist told CPJ he had evidence, including a video of the arrest, to support his story.

"People who feel they have been defamed obviously have the right to seek redress through civil courts, but defamation should not be a criminal matter," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. "We call on the appeals court to reverse the conviction of Charles Fils Elangue and urge Cameroonian authorities to decriminalize defamation."

Another Cameroonian journalist, Jean-Marie Tchatchouang, editor of the weekly Paroles, was released from prison on May 24 after completing a two-month term handed to him in March. The journalist was convicted of criminal defamation in connection with his coverage of allegations and mismanagement of funds at a local bus company.

By the Committee to Protect Journalists 

Senate: Niat Njifenji Marcel Elected President

Senator Niat Njifenji Marcel

(News Watch Cameroon), Yaounde June 12, 2013-Niat Njifenji Marcel, appointed CPDM senator from the West Region has been elected first ever president of Cameroon’s senate.

The 79 years old electrical engineer was elected at the end of the statutory plenary session of the pioneer upper chamber of Cameroon’s parliament in Yaounde on Wednesday June 12, 2013.

Though lone candidate for the post, the CPDM Senator got 86 of the 100 votes cast as 14 abstained.

However news of the election of Niat Njifenji Marcel came as a surprise to many as he was least expected following speculations by Cameroonians.

Senator Niat had served Cameroon in many capacities including Minister of Planning and Regional Development, vice prime minister in charge of Mines and Energy, Parliamentarian and Mayor amongst others.

Unlike the president, the first senior vice president, Aboubakary Abdoulaye, appointed CPDM senator from the North Region was elected with 87 votes of the 100 votes cast.

The election of four vice presidents, three senators and eight secretaries was facilitated through the list system. After a meeting with political parties represented at the senate, the president of the CPDM group made public the list.

On the list were four vice presidents; Genevieve Tjoues (CPDM senator from the Littoral), Tchatuoang Paul (SDF Senator from the West), Nna Ondoa Sylvestre (CPDM senator from the Center) and Simon Achidi Achu (CPDM Senator from the North West).

Three questors; Jean Baptiste Bascuda, Fon Njifua Fontem and Bisseck Paulette all CPDM senators from the North, South West and South Regions.

Also on the list were eight secretaries; five of them from the CPDM. They included Baba Hamadou, Fon Teche Njei, Obam Asam Samuel, Haoua Madalein, Moampea Marie Claire, Pierette Aicha Hayatou, Dakole Daïssala and Pierre Flampeau Ngayap.

The CPDM elected bureau members were first endorsed by the party’s hierarchy in an in camera meeting at the party’s headquarters prior to the plenary session.

The election of the seventeen man bureau paves the way for the upper chamber of parliament to begin work.

The Senate was created in 1996 after an amendment to the constitution created the upper chamber. However, power to convene the Electoral College and call elections for the Senate remained with the President.

President Paul Biya chose not to do so until he signed decree 2013/056 on 27 February 2013, which set 14 April as the election date.

The Cameroon Senate has 100 seats, of which 70 are elected and 30 appointed by the President, with each region having 10 Senators.

 By Ndi Eugene Ndi

Millet without a Mill: After receiving cereals from RELUFA, locals request grinding mill from Government

Despite availability of millet, there are no grinding mills

(News Watch Cameroon), Maroua June 8, 2013-The network for the fight against hunger and poverty in Cameroon, RELUFA, has set up new ‘community grain banks’ in some parts of the Far North region where extreme hunger is sapping life out of inhabitants.

Since 2006 the network has been constructing warehouses in the hunger hot spots where the staple food of the people, millet, is donated and stored.

Villagers borrow the cereal during tough times and repay in kind during harvest periods.

42 villages in the Diamare and Mayo Tsanaga divisions of the region now use the services of some 25 banks now operating there.

Mbozo-Kaé, a village with over 450 inhabitants whose bank was set up with 60 bags of millet bank in 2011, jubilated during a field trip to the region by RELUFA and some journalists, members of the Association of Cameroon Journalists for the Promotion of Agriculture and Development, AJAD.

But the community is requesting that the nongovernmental organization should do more.

“We have the cereal now through the bank but we do not have where to grind it”, says Mrs Hawa Sali, vice president of the Kagley Common Initiative Group, the local partner of RELUFA in Mbozo-Kaé.

The people still use the archaic stone mill to crush their millet, she explained.

This is followed by search for water in Ouzzang or Douroum, neigbouring villages that are found five kilometers away. Like water, there are no health centres and schools in Mbozo-Kaé.

Mr Bouba Sodje said the extreme hunger faced by the population of Mbozo-Kaé has led to an alarming rural exodus.

“We the men have to leave the village to town in search of survival”.

Ftang-Ouzzang, another village in the Meri subdivision of the Diamare division is essentially made up of women.

Madam Jeuness Dazi, delegate of a RELUFA partner, DIAKO Common Initiative Group, told journalists that their grain bank and a community farm does not satisfy everyone.

“We cannot be satisfied because our neighbours also come asking and we have just 85 bags of millet from RELUFA”.

Assistance from the ministry of agriculture has been very limited, Mrs Dazi claims. “They once gave us the S35 fertilizer but it has been long”, she said.

The president of DIAKO CIG said their bank has a capacity of 450 bags of cereals but they have only 85 bags which their neighbours who come from distant villages benefit from too.

“We need a two bulls to plough our community farm and another grain bank to be constructed in the neighbouring village to stop them from coming and asking from us”, says Madam Dazi.

Different division, the same problems

The food crisis spans Mbozo-Kaé through Douroum and Ouzzang in the Diamare through Mbiga-Zidim in Mokolo, Mayo Tsanaga division,

Besides subsistence farming, the population of Mbiga-Zidim also practices cattle and sheep rearing, though on a small scale.

In 2006, the population of the village grouped itself into a Common Initiative Group called Sarmatao with principal objective to fight against food insecurity in the area. That same year, they benefitted from the community grain banks project with the donation of 60bags of cereals.

According to the CIG’s delegate Dawaï Pierre, before the RELUFA project, some inhabitants of the village were slaves to others. He explained that they used to borrow food from their neighbours at very high interest rates and during the harvest season, all their food was used to pay back the stacked-up cereal debts.

However, the 60 bags of millet donated by RELUFA cannot serve the entire village, the president said. More so, some members borrow and during harvest season they still do not have good yields.

The president of Sarmatao said they are envisaging payment with cotton in place of millet.

Apart from RELUFA, the president said no other organization has ever come to their succor. Like the other communities, the diet of the population of Mbiga-Zidim is not varied.

“We would have loved to change our diet but we don’t have [other foods]”, says Kosma Ayuba, an inhabitant of the village.

According to Yuguda Dawaï another inhabitant, if RELUFA had not come to their aid, he would have died.

“I can only have 3 bags of millet every year but I am father of eight, how can you feed eight children with just three bags of millet”, he lamented.

Though RELUFA’s grain bank project has not solved the food insecurity problem of inhabitants of the Far North, it has nonetheless cut back its negative impacts.
The hunger stricken villages have called on the government and development partners to join RELUFA in the fight against the devil called hunger.

By Ndi Eugene Ndi

Cameroonians yet to relish spin-offs of their mineral resources

Only 40% of Cameroon's mineral resources explored

From 1960 to 1990 government, in collaboration with internationally renowned institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) carried out studies to ascertain Cameroon’s mineral potential.

Over 167 exploration licenses have been granted miners, proof of the country’s wealth.

However, only about 40% of the territory’s mining data is available suggesting that there are still enormous mineral resources to be explored in Cameroon.

Currently, five mining licenses have already been granted; to the Geovic Company for the exploitation of nickel, cobalt and manganese in Nkamouna (Lomié), the C and K Mining Company Incorporated for diamond and accompanying substances in Mobilong (Yokadouma), and three operating permits for the extraction of limestone and marble.

Cam Iron, a subsidiary of Australia’s Sundance Resources and Cameroon Alumina Limited are currently negotiating mining agreements with the State of Cameroon for iron ore in Mbalam by Sundance and bauxite in Mini Martap for Cameroon Alumina.

Though its economic weight is not clearly evaluated, a deposit of three million tons of rutile reserves exists in Akonolinga, Centre Region. These reserves are larger and extend over a vast area of more than 30,000 km on the outskirts of the Centre, South, Coastline, East and West.

Fifty uranium targets have been identified, most of which form geochemical anomalies that were identified by systematic mining inventory work conducted from 1978 to 1987 in the Southeast by the UN and in the Southwest by the French Bureau of Geological and Mining Research. Mega Uranium Company holds exploration permits, and is currently carrying out research work at Poli and Teubang in the North, Lolodorf in the South and Ngombas in the Centre.

According to the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, a uranium deposit of more than 1,300 tons was discovered at Poli. But the real potential of Cameroon is unknown.

At least five targets of graphite are identified in Lom around Bétaré-Oya, Yingui to the North-East of Douala and Mayo Boula in the Far North.

As for Titanium, more than 65 targets were identified.

Tin has 17 targets. There are two indices of Copper, about 50 targets of Lead, approximately 12 indices of Zinc.

2.5 million tons of marble, Limestone about 600,000 tons of reserves, large deposits of Pozzolana in volcanic areas of the Southwest, West and Northwest, sand and gravel river. Not only are there industrial quantities of sand as a building material and servicing, but there is also pure sand for glass.

Cameroon to set up mining lab soon

Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry

Over 400 participants who took part in the maiden Cameroon International Mining Conference and Exhibition (CIMEC 2013) in Yaounde called on government to set up a national mineral resource research laboratory.

With just 40% of its mineral resources explored this far, such a laboratory, experts say, would help the country better explore its mineral reserves and facilitate the analysis by mining companies of their finds.

Above all, the laboratory would be a lucrative source of income for the government.

“As soon as that will become effective, it will serve as a great booster to the development and exploitation of our minerals,” According to Dr Fuh Calistus Gentry, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines Industries and Technological Development.

“We used to wait for at least two months to get the results of the analysis of our samples of rocks and minerals because these samples were taken abroad. But as soon as these laboratories are implanted here in Cameroon, we will get the results within 48 hours”, Dr Fuh adds.

The government official also said the ministry was also encouraging other laboratories to set up shop in Cameroon so the country’s remaining 60% of unexplored mineral potential will be exposed.

Besides the putting in place of the laboratory, the participants also recommended amongst others that in order for the mining sector to create an impact, there is need to encourage a public-private partnership.

The participants also advocated for the setting up of a follow up committee on the resolutions of the three-day reflection on how the country’s enormous mineral resources could be transformed into opportunities for development.

They want the promotion of geological and mineral resources potentials of Cameroon towards national and international economic operators reinforced and insist that environmental norms are respected by mineral sector operators throughout the phases of their activities.

Cameroon, the centre for initiation of mining negotiations

Commenting to reporters at the end of the three-day forum, the president of the organizing committee, also secretary of state in the Ministry of Mines Industries and Technological Development said “the major outcome of this forum is that we had mining companies, analytical laboratories, drilling companies operators from France, USA, UK, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Canada, Australia, China, Switzerland, South Africa and together with all the stakeholders, we took resolutions at the end of our three-day brainstorming to make Cameroon the centre for initiation of mining negotiations in West and Central Africa.”

“I believe that in 2015 when the next edition comes on, it shall be a bigger event to celebrate the achievements which we have had today. The government through our ministry will stop at nothing to spearhead such initiatives because Cameroon deserves this position based on its rich mineral potentials which we have exposed over the days. We believe that after this event, this country will bring the rest of Africa in the next two years because we have all the ingredients especially with our status of a bilingual country. We are centrally located in Central Africa with good infrastructures and we believe that we have succeeded to make Cameroon the hope for mining negotiations in Black Africa through CIMEC 2013

With the building of the railway from Mbalam to Kribi, countries like Gabon and Congo for example will soon be served. The government has done a lot to take mining to higher heights through the amended mining code, CAPAM to guide artisanal miners, PRECASSEM to reinforce the capacity and ameliorate the mining cadastral, Kimberley Process to ensure traceability of Cameroon diamond and efforts made to enable Cameroon become a compliant country of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI by August this year.”

The minister explained that with major bauxite deposits identified in Minim-Martap and Ngaoundere, alumina refinery construction is imminent.

Cameroon is destined to be major iron ore producer and the hub of Central African iron ore chain with her Mbalam Iron Ore project, Nkout Iron Ore project, Mamelles-Kribi Iron Ore and the Eseka-Ngoyang area where there is promising iron ore reserve.

He equally explained that Cameroon seeks to develop its gold exploration campaign and to become a major global producer of cobalt with its reserves in Kondong, Mada, Messea, Nkamouna, North Mang, Rapodjombo and South Mang areas.

Uranium exploration is underway in the Kitongo deposit and the Lolodorf deposit. He stressed on diamond in Libongo which lies adjacent to the Mobilong deposit. Limestone and marble are reported to have been found mainly in the northern and southern parts of the country.

Two sisters die in search of mango fruits

Two sisters, Prica, 13 and Emmanuella 8 years old were in search of mango fruits after the torrential rains of Monday June 3 in the Carrier neighborhood in Yaounde when they were carried away by a flooded waterway.

Their mother, madam Kwella who could not find them after the rain immediately informed their father, Police Inspector Kwella Bernard who quickly rushed home to see for himself that his daughters are missing.

An alarm was raised and a neighbor hinted she saw the two in search of mango fruits under the rain around the small river that flows across the Carrier to the Nkolbisson neighborhoods.

The fire fighting brigade of the police was alerted at about 3pm Cameroon time but they arrived at about 6pm and complained it was late and they could only carry the search on Tuesday June 4.

On Tuesday, the police kept their words but hope of the family to see their children again were dashed as the police only recovered their corpses.

The grief-stricken parents are yet to come to terms with the fact that their two children will not be seen again.

On a similar note, inhabitants of the Ngousso neighborhood were shocked by the presence of a lifeless body of a few hours old baby abandoned along the road by an unknown on Tuesday June 4, 2013.

A young girl on her way out discovered the lifeless baby boy and immediately alerted her mother who raised an alarm and neighbors gathered.

Those who rushed to the scene immediately alerted the police who have opened investigations.

Crime is reportedly on the rise in Cameroon’s political capital, Yaounde.

By Ndi Eugene Ndi with input from CRTV

Tricia Oben is New CMCA Head in Douala

CRTV Boss, Deputy, CMCA Boss and Installed Officials

Newly installed officials of the CRTV Marketing and Communication Agency (CMCA) have been recommended to be hardworking in the discharge of their duties.

The General Manager of the Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), Mr Amadou Vamoulke made the call while installing some 24 newly appointed officials of the agency in Yaounde on Tuesday June 4, 2013.

Amongst other things, the CRTV boss advised the new appointees of the CMCA to shun blackmail and backstabbing and to take pleasure in a job well done in order to make the CRTV Marketing and Communication Agency (CMCA) the best advertising company in the that domain in Cameroon.

“Take your job seriously and take pleasure in appreciation, rather than spend time talking about others and issues that are not of any interest to the agency”, Mr Vamoulke to the installed.

Mr Vamoulke also called on the new CMCA officials to show respect, collaboration and support to the delegated director of CMCA, Emmanuel Wongibe.

The CRTV boss told the newly installed officials that if they heed to his advice, “in the next one to two years we will see the fruits”.

He told them that Emmanuel Wongibe who is just barely six months old at the head of the CMCA has brought a lot of new ideas that will make the agency be a reference in the advertising sector.

Amongst the 24 CMCA officials installed was CRTV Littoral’s senior reporter, Tricia Oben who was appointed head of the CRTV Marketing and Communication Agency service in Douala.

Tricia receiving last minutes instructions from CRTV Boss

Talking to NewsWatch, Tricia Oben said besides being a journalist, she has been in the marketing and business sector for a quite some time now.

“I think it is that experience that will make a change or make a difference in Douala”.

She added that her new task needs a lot of organization, but sounded optimistic to live up to expectation.

With organization, it is possible to double or triple turnover, but “It takes somebody to be conscientious and business savvy to make the difference and I would to think that I am that person”, Madam Tricia said.

The 24 officials were appointed by decision N° 00441/CRTV/CA/PCA of May 28, 2013 following the new organizational chart of the agency.

By Ndi Eugene Ndi

Ousted CAR President François Bozizé Leaves Cameroon for Asylum in South Africa

Francios Bozizé, fleeing to South Africa

Ousted Central African President, François Bozizé who was on temporary refuge in Cameroon has left the country for asylum in South Africa, reports China View, Xinhua.

Francois Bozize fled to Cameroon on Monday March 25, 2013, after rebels seized power in a rapid weekend assault that killed 13 South African soldiers.

According to Capital News, South Africa said 13 of its soldiers were killed and 27 wounded in the weekend fighting in Bangui – the country’s heaviest military loss since the end of the apartheid era.

South Africa deployed 200 soldiers to the Central African Republic in January to support government troops.

South African forces who were there to aid Mr. Bozize’s troops suffered casualties when they “fought a high-tempo battle for nine hours defending the South African military base, until the bandits raised a white flag and asked for a cease-fire”, South African President Jacob Zuma said (Washington Times).

According to a diplomatic source, after supporting Bozize, the South African government expressed the wish to welcome him following his ouster.

The Republic of Benin had also expressed the wish to grant the ousted CAR president asylum.

A security source says Francios Bozizé left Cameroon on Sunday June 2, 2013 onboard a Kenyan Airways flight heading to Nairobi.

A source from Nairobi confirmed to NewsWatch that the ousted CAR president was spotted at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in that country same Sunday at about 15:00 GMT.

His departure came just barely two days after an international arrest warrant was issued against him by the interim president, Michel Djotodia.

He has been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

When the ousted CAR president arrived Cameroon, the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon announced in a radio broadcast that he had “sought refuge in Cameroon” and was “awaiting his departure to another host country”.

In the same statement that was signed by the Minister, Secretary general at the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the Cameroonian government reaffirmed "its commitment to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States."

In an interview with Le Patriote, that has been published on Biyokulule Online(May 22, 2013), the interim president of the Central African Repulic, Michel Djotodia said there is no problem between the CAR and Cameroon which is their closest neighbor with whom they share the same history. “It is an issue of agenda. My brother Paul Biya has been quite busy over the past weeks. There is no reason for the relations between two states to be spoiled because of one individual”.

Djotodia added that “Bozize is still there (in Cameroon) probably because arrangements are ongoing. At the appointed time, he will leave Cameroon”.

By Ndi Eugene Ndi

Tobacco: Cameroon’s silent killer disease

Tobacco Kills 66,000 Cameroonians Yearly

It has been revealed that 66,000 Cameroonians die yearly from Tobacco related diseases. This number is twice more than the number who die from HIV/ AIDS in the country.

The revelation was made by health officials on Friday May 31, 2013 in Yaounde as Cameroon joined the world in commemorating the 2013 edition of World No Tobacco Day.

Tobacco consumption and production is on a steady increase in Cameroon.

The country produces 5,000 tons of tobacco each year. A total of 28.8 percent of Cameroonians are said to consume tobacco.

Mr Andre Mama Fouda, Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health regretted that 60% of smokers in Cameroon are less than 20years old.

According to Dr Charlotte Fatty Ndiaye, Resident Representative of the World Health Organisation in Cameroon, one cigarette less is equal to eleven minutes of additional life.

With the shocking statistics, the officials said tobacco is the only poison that is sold in public worldwide.

Consequently, both officials called on campaigners for the fight against tobacco consumption and the media to discourage advertising and encourage the law banning smoking in public places.

According to anti tobacco campaigner, Dr Flore Ndembiyembe, president of the Cameroon Coalition against Tobacco (C3T), the situation is disheartening in Cameroon and synergy between the media, civil society and government is indispensable.

The 2013 edition of World No Tobacco Day was commemorated in Cameroon under the theme “ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship”.