Society

The Douala International Airport have suspended flights for over twenty-one days due to ongoing rehabilitation works. The Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport is now a massive theatre of air traffic – the lone entry and exit route from Cameroon. This is sequel to the commencement of modernization works at the Douala International Airport with the runway, aircraft taxiways and aprons expected to be refurbished as well as the passenger terminal to be renovated and restructured. 

Government sources have maintained all management and operational staff are ensuring that their operations are successful as regard safety and security. In the main hall of the airport, some 150 staff transferred from the Douala International Airport for the three-week exercise were spotted sorting out last-minute operational guidelines. The office attendants of the Director of the Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority where batches are issued and staff of airline companies who are temporarily lodged at the airport have finalised preparatory tasks.

Temporary offices set up for airline companies in the main hall and at the East wing of the tarmac have gradually been taken up by their occupants. Meanwhile, technical, logistical and managerial aspects have already been handled, with the Cameroon Airports Company, ADC,claiming it is coping with the heavy traffic. The Director of the Airport, Thierry Nkodo revealed that apart from Arik Air and Taag Angola Airlines that decided to suspend their flights during the three-week re-routing to Yaounde, the other airline companies operating in Cameroon have confirmed their flight schedules. The hitherto near-idle Nsimalen-Yaounde Airport is witnessing a pretty different scenario since it went operational in October 1994. Traffic flow has more than double, with close to 20 aircrafts, as against 10, arriving and departing everyday. It has been busy flight schedule with the first flights that landed in the wee hours of March 1.

The management of the airport have insisted on safety and security measures. A safety and security assessement impact carried out identified vulnerable areas that have since received reinforcement. All safety and security threat indices at the Douala International Airport have been transferred to the Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport, said Thierry Nkodo. Measures to limit any threats have been put in place with access to some parts of the airport strictly forbidden. Passengers have been invited to scale down their accompanying delegations.

Details

Elangwe Pauline

02.Mar.2016

Hits: 2757

Cameroon international Assou-Ekotto now playing with Saint Etienne has broken the silence he maintained ever since he refused to wear the black armband in tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks last November. The former Tottenham player observed that "there is no difference among the dead". When Cameroon was hit by a similar attack, added Assou Benoit Ekotto, his club refused him from putting on a black armband during an Europa League match. That is why, he disassociated himself from his teammates during the deadly attack in Bataclan. 

Said Ekotto, "Shortly before, there was an attack in northern Cameroon and I was refused to wear it for an Europa League match I know the principle of 'death kilometer': an assassin who kills two people in the sixteenth district in Paris will make more noise than if he kills a hundred at the other side of the world. But as a very straight man, I do not see why I should wear an armband for dead in Paris and not in Cameroon. I am neither black nor white, except my skin color. For me, there is no VIP dead. " Assou Ekotto was born in Arras, France.

Details

Elangwe Pauline

02.Mar.2016

Hits: 1904

President Paul Biya reportedly left the country for a short private visit to Europe since February 23, the same day as the Sultan of Bamoum, Mbombo Mjoya. Informed opinions in Yaounde say both men have held a meeting on the state of the nation and Biya's bid for 2018. Cameroon Concord's senior political editor hinted that everything seems to suggests Biya and Njoya have met in France and agreed on the holding of early presidential elections. 

The Sultan-CPDM Senator had made his position public during a section conference of the ruling party in Bafoussam where he observed that it has become very urgent and imperative to consider convening an extraordinary congress of the ruling party to discuss the worrying situation that is on the horizon, "that may seriously threaten the peace which is very dear, and which has been hard-won in Cameroon".

Some reports have suggested the former cabinet minister and supreme leader of the Foumban people is not happy with the current cabinet and has been heard murmuring privately that "it lacks respect".

Details

Elangwe Pauline

02.Mar.2016

Hits: 2297

The trial of Hamed Abba, a reporter in the Hausa language with Radio France International which opened on Monday in the Yaounde Military Tribunal was postponed to 28 March 2016, at the request of the prosecutor. 

Arrested in late July 2015, in the Far North region of Cameroon in possession of two identity cards (Nigeria and Cameroon) Ahmed Abba has always claimed not to be a terrorist. Reporters Without Borders has described his detention as "arbitrary" and illegal."

He was detained in "total secrecy" without any possibility to get in touch with his family and lawyer.

Details

Elangwe Pauline

02.Mar.2016

Hits: 1497

Prostitutes in Cameroon reportedly sell more of their clients sperm to marabouts and traditional witch doctors Cameroon Concord has learned. According to a survey conducted by a local press, prostitutes now use sperm from customers and hand them to fetishes. On the process, several young girls interviewed by the newspaper "New Vision" show that "when the customer completes the sexual act, they remove the condom, throw it in a bucket. Once their client was released, they return to seek the object, put it in a plastic and keep carefully in a bag. 

Prostitutes have confessed to systematically collect sperms with all the men who sleep with them and give them to marabouts to use the sperm for rituals. According to a sample of surveyed sex workers, this practice is widespread in Cameroon prostitution allowing them to attract such easy charm married men. The practice is spreading across all major cities of the country including used condoms abandoned by real couples holidaying in hotel rooms around the country.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

19.Aug.2015

Hits: 5120

A 24-hour Tube strike is set to get underway in London after talks to resolve a pay row between unions and London Underground failed.The walkout is due to begin from 18-30 BST. According to Transport for London (TfL), there will be no train services on Thursday.

TfL has already called on commuters to complete their journeys before the industrial action starts. This will be the second time that Tube stations across London close this month. 

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

05.Aug.2015

Hits: 2306