Microsoft’s new tech event, NexTech Africa to take place in Nairobi

How can we build technology that best supports African creators? How can companies start to breed a data culture for success? What does it mean for African innovations to be globally relevant? These are some of the questions that Microsoft will be exploring at NexTech Africa 2017, the organisation’s new flagship Africa technology event to take place in Nairobi, Kenya on 2-3 February 2017.

Created by a group of passionate Africans at Microsoft, the event will connect technology and business leaders, Microsoft engineers, local developers and entrepreneurs, in an effort to listen, engage and collaborate on developing more locally relevant technology, the body has said in a statement.

 “We believe in the power of the emerging technologies to connect people to key services and boost productivity, while utilising unique and differentiated business models. Our goal with this event is to bring various players together and collaborate, so that we can equip our innovators with the right technology-based tools and infrastructure, helping them create and scale more of these solutions,” said Kunle Awosika, Country Manager of Microsoft Kenya in the release.

Mr. Kunle Awosika

Attendees will within the two days take part in a series of talks, sessions and forums on topics including cloud, cloud, big data, machine learning, the Internet of Things, e-commerce, digital transformation and technology in emerging markets. Also, entrepreneurs and developers will have the opportunity to engage with Microsoft engineers on a one-on-one basis.

“Through initiatives like 4Afrika, Microsoft has greatly contributed to the development of local innovations in Africa,” said Amrote Abdella, Regional Director of Microsoft 4Afrika.  She enlightened that the initiatives permits Microsoft not only to know how mobile and cloud technology is accelerating growth for Africa, but also how continental innovators are using the platforms to accelerate technology for the world.

“NexTech Africa is an opportunity to fast-track the application of products and services, tailored to meet our needs in Africa. Similarly, NexTech will also showcase world-class African solutions that are ready to go global,” Amrote Abdella said further.

Among a dozen speakers at the two-day event that will be running under the theme: Building for Africa, is Mr Joseph Mucheru, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology. He was Google’s first Sub-Saharan employee and was key to setting up of Google’s presence in Africa from 2007.

By Ndi Eugene Ndi in Yaounde

Four Boko Haram bombers kill selves as gov’t claims progress in fight

Maroua—Four suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers were killed in two foiled attacks the Mayo Sava division of the Far North region of the country early last Wednesday  January 11 in an attempt to strike, the Governor of the Far North region told the Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV.

Midjiyawa Bakary said members of the vigilante group spotted two teenaged girls of approximately fifteen years. “One detonated her explosive killing only herself while the other one was neutralised by elements of the Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR.”

Shortly after the two young girls, BIR elements identified two young boys of about sixteen years old in another locality still in the border division. Both detonated their suicide vests that killed only them, the administrative officer of the Far North region explained congratulating members of the vigilante and the security forces in the area.

The two foiled attacks occurred a day after Communication Minister and Government spokesperson, Issa Tchiroma Bakary told a press conference in Yaounde the military offensive against Boko Haram across the Nigerian border has made major progress, with scores of jihadists killed and hundreds of hostages freed since December.

“Several manufacturing units of explosive devices were destroyed, a dozen of explosive devices was neutralized, training camps were dismantled, a hundred of terrorists were definitively neutralized, over thirty fighters were captured and handed over to Nigerian Forces, hundreds of hostages were freed and handed over to Nigerian Forces,” Issa Tchiroma said of the progress made by the defense force in the locality of Ngoshe and its surroundings in the Nigerian territory. This reporter could however independently verify the government claims.

He said the operations were carried out “in perfect synergy” with the Army of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the banner of the Multinational Joint Taskforce.

The victories however did not come without a price as three elements of the Cameroonian forces were killed, the minister regretted.

Since Nigeria announced a key victory against Boko Haram in December, claiming the group had been routed from its Sambisa Forest bastion, Cameroon has intensified operations along its northern border.

“Thanks to the commitment of our Defense and Security Forces, of administrative authorities, of vigilance committees and of the entire Nation, it is clear today that Boko Haram is experiencing its last moments in this aggression led against our country,” Issa Tchiroma said urging for vigilance because “although it has been considerably weakened, this nebula still has some capacity to harm.”

Boko Haram's brutal insurgency, launched in northern Nigeria in 2009, has spread across the border to Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

By Ndi Eugene Ndi in Yaounde

Macdonald Ayang is New Managing Editor at The Guardian Post

Yaoundé— Macdonald Ayang has been appointed first ever Managing Editor of Cameroon’s lone English language daily newspaper, The Guardian Post.

Macdonald Ayang

Appointed on Monday January 9, the 29 years old former desk editor who becomes the second in command at the media outfit takes over from Cyprian Ntiamba Obi Ntui who served in that capacity(with a different label)  for over three years.

Monday’s shake-up at the media enterprise according to the Chief Executive Officer of The Guardian Post Newspaper is part of plans to restructure the daily tabloid to meet the expectations of its readers and partners.

Ngah Christian Mbipgo said the new Managing Editor will among other things be responsible for the general coordination of editorial work at the daily journal—including supervision in his absence.

“Unlike the now erstwhile Editorial Coordinator whose job was limited to the activities in the newsroom, you will also coordinate activities at The Guardian Post Printing Press and other institutions of The Guardian Post Media group,” Mr Ngah said as he announced the shake-up in at the head office of the media group in Yaoundé.

 Mark of confidence

The new Managing Editor said he was humbled by the appointment which he described as a mark of confidence and recognition of his little contribution to the news establishment.

“I welcome the appointment in good faith and I wish that the collaboration we have always demonstrated should continue. It is only in working that way that we can get the best for The Guardian Post Daily and for our professional lives,” Ayang said promising to demonstrate professionalism in the daily discharge of his duties.

The new Managing Editor is holder of a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with Second Class Honours obtained from the University of Buea in 2010.

Prior to joining The Guardian Post in January 2016, Ayang served as reporter and later Buea bureau chief of Limbe-Based Eden Media Group.

With just over half a decade in journalism practice, the ex-student of GBHS Bamenda Ntamulung has already gathered a huge wealth of experience not only due to his inquisitive and open-minded attitude, but also because of his unflinching love for the profession.

He was honoured with an award by Kumba-based weekly newspaper, The Scoop, as uprising young print journalist of the year early last year.

Besides The Guardian Post Daily, Ayang also writes for US-based portal, The Cameroon Journal.

Source: The Guardian Post Daily

Striking Cameroon lawyers, teachers declare ghost town on Monday Jan. 9

Yaoundé—Cameroonians in the two English-speaking regions of the Northwest and Southwest have been urged to observe a ghost town on Monday January 9, 2017 by staying at home in solidarity with striking Anglophone lawyers and teachers in the country.

GBHS Santa students on campus in Nov 2016 without teachers/ Nko Dogo

The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACS) said ever since the teachers and lawyers ‘raised critical issue’ relating to their existence, the Yaoundé regime has not taken any concrete measures to resolve them.

“The Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium is calling on the general public of West Cameroon (Northwest and Southwest regions) to stand up as one man and embark on a sit-in strike on Monday January 9, 2017”, the body said in a statement late Wednesday.

It urged that adherents should avoid street and public demos which may lead to confrontation with government forces.

The Central African nation’s two English speaking regions have been rocked by social upheavals ever since Common Law lawyers started a work boycott in October 2016, protesting against the use of French in courts and the lack of the English versions of some legal documents. Teachers also joined the protests, forcing schools in the two regions to remain closed since November 21.

The released signed by Barrister Felix Nkongho, Dr Fontem Neba and Mr Wilfred Tassang called on all Anglophone Cameroonians to stand together and continue the ‘peaceful resistance’ until the lawyers’ and teachers’ demands are satisfactorily addressed.

Both the lawyers and the teachers have also been calling for a two-state federation; a demand that has attracted much sympathy from other groups and political parties in the regions.

Schools resumption

Schools are expected to resume in the Central African nation on Monday January 9 for the second of three terms of the 2016/2017 academic year but the release advised students to stay at home “and bear in mind that” their teachers are still on strike.

Recent moves by the government to dialogue with the striking professionals have ended in a stalemate with both teachers and lawyers walking out of the talks.

Not fewer than five people were shot dead in the opposition stronghold city of Bamenda in the Northwest region of the country following a confrontation between anti-riot soldiers and unarmed civilians who joined the Anglophone teachers' protest early December 2016. The government however says only one person was killed in the fracas.

With a population of over 22million, Cameroon has ten semi-autonomous regions eight of which are French speaking. The two English speaking regions constitute over 20 per cent of the population.

By Ndi Eugene Ndi

‘No sex charges’ for French soldiers in CAR

Six French soldiers accused of sexually abusing children in the Central African Republic (CAR) have not been charged following a criminal inquiry.

Investigating judges found no evidence to warrant further investigation, the prosecutor's office in Paris confirmed to the BBC.

The assaults allegedly took place at a camp for displaced people near the airport in the capital Bangui.

French soldiers were sent to CAR after the outbreak of the civil war in 2013.

The assaults allegedly took place between December 2013 and June 2014.

The prosecutor's office make the final decision over the charges, but its decision is expected to reflect the finding of the judges,

There is however a three-month window for interested parties to demand fresh investigations.

The UN whistleblower who exposed the allegations in 2015 condemned what he called the "complete impunity" of the perpetrators, and criticised the UN for failing to properly investigate.

There are still other investigations taking place into alleged abuses carried out by French and UN peacekeepers in the CAR.

A 2015 study by independent experts revealed "gross institutional failure" by the UN in the way it responded to abuse allegations.

The study said that children as young as nine were encouraged to have sex in exchange for food or money by troops stationed in the conflict-hit country.

France withdrew its force from CAR in October, saying they succeeded in the mission to stop fighting in the country.

However, some 350 French soldiers stayed behind to provide back up to Minusca, the UN mission in CAR.

By BBC Africa

‘Angry’ Choupo-Moting out of AFCON 2017, but not retiring from Cameroon National Team

Yaoundé—Indomitable Lions striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has declined a call from head coach Hugo Broos to represent the country at the 2017 African Cup of Nations to be staged in neighboring Gabon from January 14 to February 5, but has not retired from the national team, German club side, Schalke 04 has clarified.

Choupo-Moting has played 41 times for Cameroon

“The FC Schalke forward has withdrawn from the 2017 Africa Cup but the 27-year-old will still be available for Cameroon in the future,” the club said amidst rumors the deputy captain of the indomitable lions had renounced  international soccer career. “Choupo-Moting’s withdrawal from the tournament is not a permanent one from the Indomitable Lions as a whole.”

The attacker will be part of the Schalke squad that will travel to Benidorm for a winter training camp this January.

The Royal Blues maintained the German-born Cameroonian attacker has pulled out of the Gabon soccer tourney ‘for personal reasons’.

Choupo-Moting has represented Cameroon 41 times and scored 11 goals, but football analyst say since Belgian born coach Hugo Broos became head coach of the four times African champions in February last year, he has shown little faith in the attacker.

“The coach snubbed Choupo-Moting in the absence of Stephane Mbia to give the armband to Moukandjo. Choupo was benched for the match away to Algeria (2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers) and he did not take that well with him,” said Francis Ajumane sports analyst and editor at This is Sports newspaper.

According to Mr Ajumane, it all seemed well with the coach’s decision confirming Choupo Moting and Vincent Aboubakar who currently plays for Turkish club side Besiktas on a season-long loan as vice captains of the Indomitable Lions after leaving out Stephane Mbia from his selections.

“But deep within them (Choupo and Aboubakar) they were not happy with the decision. Since a few results were positive at that time they could not create a scene.

“However the draw against Zambia in Limbe last November has opened up the cracks within the team and the coach seems to be under pressure not only for his results but his poor man-management skills,” the sports analyst said.

Choupo is not the only player who has been adamant to Hugo Broos’s call to participate at the Gabon expedition; only 25 players called showed up at the first training session of the Indomitable Lions in Yaounde on Tuesday.

Several top stars including Liverpool central defender Joel Matip and West Bromwich’s Allan Nyom have not also shown up.

Indomitable Lions head coach, Hugo Broos is due to publish the list of 23 selected players for the competition later today. The four times African champions will play two warm-up games; against the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Thursday January 5 and with Zimbabwe on January 10 at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde.

Cameroon will play in Group A of the 2017 African Cup of Nations alongside hosts Gabon, Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau.

by Ndi Eugene Ndi

CATTU: Gov’t using bribery to get striking teachers back to schools

Yaoundé—In a desperate attempt to forcefully get striking teachers go back to school on Monday January 9, the Cameroon government is now using money to bribe administrative and traditional authorities, Mr Tassang Wilfred, National Executive Secretary of Cameroon Teachers Trade Union, CATTU has revealed.

Tassang Wilfred (middle) and colleagues walking out of dialogue in B'da

 “Huge sums of money were dulled out to traditional rulers this Christmas through Governors, Senior Divisional Officers (SDOs), Divisional Officers (DOs), to 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd class rulers”, he said in a statement early Wednesday.

This reporter could not independently verify the veracity of his claim, but we learned high profile Yaounde regime barons including the Prime Minister and head of government, Philemon Yang had multiplied ‘underground visits’ to Bamenda since Monday.

The CATTU executive secretary cautioned traditional rulers to shun the money which he said is intended to cause them take the wrong side in what has now been termed the ‘Cameroon Anglophones struggle.’

“We appeal to all stakeholders not to give up at this point in time, when victory is so close. Those who are for us are more than those who are against us," Mr Tassang said.

He urged that the government move should be foiled so that “after failing to force-start schools on the January 9, Yaoundé will also be forced to face reality.”

Thousands of teachers and lawyers in the two English-speaking regions of the Northwest and Southwest of Cameroon have resorted to work boycott, accusing the government among others of imposing the French language on their schools and courts.

Anglophone lawyers started a work boycott in October 2016 while teachers joined the protests forcing schools in the two regions to remain closed since November 21 of same year.

Recent moves by the government to dialogue with the striking professionals have ended in a stalemate with both teachers and lawyers walking out of the talks and maintaining they will continue their work boycott.

By Ndi Eugene Ndi

Choupo-Moting Retires From International Football Ahead Of AFCON Gabon 2017

Schalke have confirmed Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has retired from international football only days before he was due to meet up with his Cameroon teammates to take part in the African Nations Cup, reports leading sports channel, ESPN.com

Club confirms Choupo-Moting's retirement from National Team

Choupo-Moting, 27, was not expected to take part in Schalke's winter training camp and rather join Cameroon's national team for the 2017 African Nations Cup in Gabon from mid-January to early February.

However, the Germany-born attacker will instead focus on a full winter preparation with his club as they strive to make progress up the Bundesliga standings following a disappointing first half of the season.

The Royal Blues currently rank 11th in the standings, and trail Borussia Dortmund on the last European spot by nine points.

Up to three players will still represent Schalke at the African Nations Cup. Chelsea loanee Baba Rahman has been called up to the Ghana squad, which could also feature 19-year-old attacker Bernard Tekpetey, while Tottenham loanee Nabil Bentaleb is set to be part of Algeria's squad.

Schalke will travel to their winter training camp in Benidorm, Spain, on Wednesday, and will have to do without injured attackers Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Breel Embolo and Franco Di Santo as well as right-back Coke, who is making good progress following his anterior cruciate ligament tear only days after joining from Sevilla last summer.

Credit: Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent for ESPN FC.

Five Cameroonians ‘Killed’ in Azerbaijan

Bodies of five Cameroonian citizens were found in an apartment in Azerbaijan's capital, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a statement.

"The Crisis Management Center received information that some helpless people are locked in an apartment in the Yasamal district of Baku," the statement seen by seen by sputniknews.com said.

The emergency response group arrived on the scene and found the bodies of five Cameroonian citizens, who had been renting the apartment.

The Cameroonian nationals – Njonyoh Nans Ekum, Nzemele Ezzambe Linus, Nikbenti Nombiye Leves, Senan Nike and Taken Pau Ata died from carbon monoxide poisoning in an apartment they had been rentering in Yasamal district, Baku, the district police office told Azeri-Press Agency (APA) on January 2.

The police also reported that two of the victims – Njonyoh Nans Ekum and Nzemele Ezzambe Linus were students of Azerbaijan Technical University and the three others were football players.

The incident is under investigation and there were no more details on the accident so far.