Society

Urban transport snags faced by Yaounde city dwellers might soon know an end as several Belgian companies are finalising deals with government to set up a modern mass urban passenger transport system in Yaounde and later in Douala. The revelation was made on January 29, 2016 by the outgoing Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Cameroon, His Excellency Jan de Bruyne, during a State dinner offered in his honour on behalf of the Head of State Paul Biya. The diplomat was concluding a second three-year mission as Ambassador to Cameroon after a first in 2000. 

The toast was an opportunity for the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of the Commonwealth, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, to laud the excellent relations harnessed between Belgium and Cameroon during Ambassador Bruyne’s sojourn in Cameroon. On the bilateral level, Cameroon and the Belfus Bank of Belgium signed a financing agreement worth FCFA 25 billion for a potable water supply project in 13 localities of Cameroon. In higher education, a visit by six Rectors of State-owned universities to Belgium in April 2014 and 34 Belgian scholarships for Cameroonian students were just the tip of the iceberg. “You were particularly attentive, not only to progress achieved in the consolidation of democracy, good governance, State of law but also security and humanitarian challenges that our country has been facing for a while,” Chief Dr Dion Ngute said.

He beckoned Ambassador Bruyne to convey President Biya’s satisfaction to His Majesty King Philippe I of Belgium. “Cameroon is engraved in my heart and I remain its advocate. I wish your country success as it strives towards emergence and pray that it remains a country of peace where several communities and religions co-exist,” he advised. He also said relations between both countries will focus on economic and trade ties to help Cameroon attain emergence. The Belgian diplomat was decorated with a medal of Grand Officer of the National Order of Valour to end the dinner that was attended by several members of government

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Ngwa Bertrand

02.Feb.2016

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Activities to mark the celebration of the 50th edition of the National Youth Day have been launched under the theme: “Youth citizenship and the fight against insecurity for the Advent of an Emerging Cameroon.” The launching ceremony was presided by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education Mounouna Foutsou in Tiko the South West Region. From Tiko, the Minister will travel to Yaounde where the same exercise will hold in Yoko the Centre Region on Wednesday 3rd of February 2016. 

The latest Renovation to mark this year’s celebration includes the wearing of a new fabric designed for youths, and bearing the colours of the Nation; the chanting of the Youth anthem alongside the National Anthem, and the building of youth monuments in the Administrative capital of the ten Regions. Concerning the wearing of the youth fabric, the Minister of Youth Affairs and that of Basic Education earlier mentioned that it is not obligatory for pupils and students especially as it has just been newly introduced and might pose some financial constraints to parents. As such pupils and students who are unable to get the fabric will have to put on their school uniforms or occasional wears during the celebration.

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Ngwa Bertrand

02.Feb.2016

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Urban transport snags faced by Yaounde city dwellers might soon know an end as several Belgian companies are finalising deals with government to set up a modern mass urban passenger transport system in Yaounde and later in Douala. The revelation was made on January 29, 2016 by the outgoing Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Cameroon, His Excellency Jan de Bruyne, during a State dinner offered in his honour on behalf of the Head of State Paul Biya. The diplomat was concluding a second three-year mission as Ambassador to Cameroon after a first in 2000. 

The toast was an opportunity for the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of the Commonwealth, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, to laud the excellent relations harnessed between Belgium and Cameroon during Ambassador Bruyne’s sojourn in Cameroon. On the bilateral level, Cameroon and the Belfus Bank of Belgium signed a financing agreement worth FCFA 25 billion for a potable water supply project in 13 localities of Cameroon. In higher education, a visit by six Rectors of State-owned universities to Belgium in April 2014 and 34 Belgian scholarships for Cameroonian students were just the tip of the iceberg. “You were particularly attentive, not only to progress achieved in the consolidation of democracy, good governance, State of law but also security and humanitarian challenges that our country has been facing for a while,” Chief Dr Dion Ngute said.

He beckoned Ambassador Bruyne to convey President Biya’s satisfaction to His Majesty King Philippe I of Belgium. “Cameroon is engraved in my heart and I remain its advocate. I wish your country success as it strives towards emergence and pray that it remains a country of peace where several communities and religions co-exist,” he advised. He also said relations between both countries will focus on economic and trade ties to help Cameroon attain emergence. The Belgian diplomat was decorated with a medal of Grand Officer of the National Order of Valour to end the dinner that was attended by several members of government

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Ngwa Bertrand

02.Feb.2016

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Issa Tchiroma, Minister of Communication and government spokesman on Friday, 29 January 2016 revealed that Cameroon Defence Forces and Security are a target for international blackmail from some foreign media. The minister was reacting to alleged abuses by Cameroonian soldiers under the pretext of fighting Boko Haram.  

The Nigerian desk of the Associated Press had accused the Cameroonian Army in what it considered mass killings of civilians in Nigeria including looting and burning of villages. Minister Issa Tchiroma observed that these allegations were then taken up by news sites and by some foreign media, "to try to give them a global resonance and curb the momentum of defeating Boko Haram by the Cameroonian Army". Issa Tchiroma Bakary said the foreign media houses were involved in the practice of yellow journalism.

Issa Tchiroma noted that military operations in Nigerian territory within the area described by Associated Press were carried out by the 1st military sector of the Joint Multinational Task Force supported under Nigerian military command.  

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Ngwa Bertrand

31.Jan.2016

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The Minister of Higher Education, Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo has announced the creation of more institutes of higher education in the country. The controversial cabinet minister outlined his Ministry’s principal projects for the New Year, 2016 saying more universities will emerge this 2016. 

Hon. Fame Ndongo noted that top on his Ministry’s plan of action remains the implementation of the Pan African University Year in Yaounde and the construction of the Cameroon – Congo University in Sangmelima. The Minister amongst other things, called on students to be more creative this year.

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Ngwa Bertrand

31.Jan.2016

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The Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights and Freedoms (NCHRF), Dr Chemuta Divine Banda participated in the first national forum organized on prison conditions by an NGO, Centre D’Orientation Educative du Cameroon (COECAM). The three-day meeting that held from the 27th January to the 29th, centred on improving prison conditions in the country. 

During the session, Dr Chemuta Divine Banda emphasized that prisons should remain corrective centres where the rights of detainees are upheld. The representatives of COECAM for their part, called for greater synergy between private and public partners towards ameliorating the living conditions of prisoners. The European Union and some European Diplomats also took part in the session. Statistics indicate that the number of inmates in Cameroon have increased over the years, leading to overcrowding in prisons.

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Ngwa Bertrand

31.Jan.2016

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