Society

The Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, René Emmanuel Sadi has officially launched the 2016 Humanitarian Response Plan for Cameroon and the Regional Plan for Nigeria and the Central African Republic. The blueprint document was made public in the presence of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Cameroon, Najat Rochdi and the United Nations Sub-Secretary General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for Sahel, Toby Lanzer, cabinet ministers and a host of Heads of diplomatic missions in Cameroon. Speaking of the Response Plan that seeks to raise 282 million US dollars (about FCFA 170 billion) to provide protection and assistance to 325, 000 refugees and internal displaced people in Cameroon, René Emmanuel Sadi said 2015 was marked by humanitarian crisis giving the socio-political crisis in the Central African Republic on the one hand and the Boko Haram terrorist group insurgency in Northeast Nigerian on the other alongside natural disasters like floods, fire and road accidents compounded the situation. 

Some 2.7 million people, he said, are touched daily by the crisis which necessitates humanitarian assistance. Cognizant to the situation, MINATD boss added, the Head of State created an ad hoc inter-ministerial committee in charge of the humanitarian crisis. He saluted the assistance of technical partners, friendly governments and the solidarity of Cameroonians as FCFA 16.5 billion was received in 2015 for humanitarian assistance. Much, he stated, is still to be done with regards to growing needs of the refugees but remained hopeful that the plan will contribute substantially to attenuate suffering among the refugee community.

The plan according to the Humanitarian Coordinator for Cameroon, Najat Rochdi, intends to respond to the issues of mass displacement of Nigerian and Central African Republic Refugees and Cameroonians, food insecurity and malnutrition, the challenges of protecting civilians and help people better access services such as health, education water, hygiene and sanitation. “Girls and boys, women and men, aspire, as we all do, to have the chance to a better future, safer for themselves and for their families”, she stated. Tony Lanzer for his part called for greater commitment by stakeholders in the face of increasing needs stating that the Response Plan basically entails fighting poverty and re-establishing security. The Regional Response plan for Nigeria and the Central African Republic according to its Coordinator, Liz Ahua seeks 198.7 million US dollars to assist 230 Nigerian refugees and 285,000 persons in host communities in Cameroon, Chad and Niger. For Central African Republic, 476.346 refugees require 342.7 million US dollars.

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Ngwa Bertrand

28.Jan.2016

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The second trial involving Yves Michel Fotso, ex-General Manager of CAMAIR, the defunct national airline Company, came up for hearing at the Special Criminal Court (SCC) yesterday January 17, 2015 during which the court rejected a medical certificate from the Medical Head at the Health Centre of the Gendarmerie which revealed that Yves Michel Fotso was sick and could not come to court. The court session which began about 11:00 a.m. was heard by a Panel of Judges, Headed by Mr. Justice Moukoury Francis and assisted by Mr. Justice Jean Claude Michel Onana and Mr Justice Luc Nyassa. The counsel for Yves Michel Fotso began by presenting two medical certificates signed on December 14, 2015 and January 21, 2016 by the medical Colonel of the Gendarmerie Health Centre. 

The report revealed that Yves Michel Fotso is sick and hospitalised at the Yaounde General Hospital where he is under intensive medical care. His doctors, in the medical certificate, revealed that Yves Michel Fotso was worrisome and could not be in court. It was also revealed that he is being followed-up by three medical doctors and the medical colonel was one of them. Advocate General, Jean Claude Taghim told the court not to consider the medical report because it was supposed to be issued by the doctors treating him and not that of the prison where he is found. After serious debates, Mr. Justice Moukoury Francis and his team rejected the medical certificate while requesting for a more authentic medical certificate with a detailed medical report to justify Yves Michel Fotso’s ailment.

The defence lawyer Martin Luther King Achet Nagnigni said if the doctor in the prison where the client is found cannot establish that he is sick and hospitalised, who else can do that? He further stressed that producing a detailed medical report on his client’s health state is against the law. However, Barrister Achet Nagnigni and his team agreed to produce what the court wanted in the next court session but the court rejected their request to adjourn the case and decided to continue with the hearing of the prosecution’s witness.

According to the Penal Code, it is prevailed that during the questioning of the Civil Party witness, the counsels of the defence cross-examine the witness. But Achet Nagnigni underlined that the law strictly forbidden the counsel of the defence to intervene in the absence of their client. “I understood that the judges wanted us to be spectators in a court hearing that we are not authorised to speak”, Barrister Achet Nagnigni noted. In protest the counsel of Yves Michel Fotso staged a walk out of the court room while the court continued hearing of the prosecution witness Bekolo, the partner charged with auditing the liquidation of Camair.

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Ngwa Bertrand

28.Jan.2016

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The trial opened at the Yaounde Military Tribunal on Friday, January 22, 2016, of three journalists accused of failing to inform the authorities of threats to State security. Presiding was Mrs. Justice Mbem Yvonne Léopoldine epouse Akoa of the Mfoundi High Court in Yaounde, assisted by military officers. Ndeutchoua Tongue Rodrique, formerly of ‘Le Messager’ newspaper and now with Canal 2 International Television, Ebole Bola Félix Cyriaque of ‘Mutations’ daily newspaper and Dr Baba Wame, a Journalism lecturer with the Advanced School of Mass Communication, ASMAC, Yaounde, are accused of “non-denunciation” or concealing information dangerous to State security. 

Alongside Abdoulaye Harissou, a Notary Public based in Maroua and Aboubakary Sidikki, a Douala-based political leader and businessman, all five are accused of being in the know of armed attacks on the East Region by a group of Chadian, Central African Republic and Sudanese-led rebels. The first two are variously accused of assassination, illegal possession and use of firearm, possession of ammunitions, hostility against the State, revolution and outrage against the Head of State. All offences were committed between 2013 and 2014 and are punishable by the Penal Code under Articles 74, 97, 102, 107, 114, 153 (1), 237 and 27.

Friday’s opening of the trial saw the identification of the accused and the presentation of letters from lawyers who wanted to join their defence. Tongue Rodrique, Ebole Bola and Dr Baba Wame are specifically accused of failing to inform judicial, administrative and military authorities of the armed threat. According to judicial sources, if convicted, each of the three journalists faces a jail term of between one to five years and a fine from 50,000 FCFA to 5 million FCFA. All the lawyers for the accused complained that they did not have enough information on the trial. They argued that while the prosecution had a huge charge file, they had virtually nothing.

In response, Mrs. Justice Akoa requested them to respect the instructions of the President of the Yaounde Military Tribunal by applying for copies of the exhibits they needed, while being ready to pay for the cost. The trial was later adjourned to February 19, 2016, for each accused to be individually notified of the charges against them and for defence counsel to present lists of their witnesses.

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Ngwa Bertrand

27.Jan.2016

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The trial opened at the Yaounde Military Tribunal on Friday, January 22, 2016, of three journalists accused of failing to inform the authorities of threats to State security. Presiding was Mrs. Justice Mbem Yvonne Léopoldine epouse Akoa of the Mfoundi High Court in Yaounde, assisted by military officers. Ndeutchoua Tongue Rodrique, formerly of ‘Le Messager’ newspaper and now with Canal 2 International Television, Ebole Bola Félix Cyriaque of ‘Mutations’ daily newspaper and Dr Baba Wame, a Journalism lecturer with the Advanced School of Mass Communication, ASMAC, Yaounde, are accused of “non-denunciation” or concealing information dangerous to State security. 

Alongside Abdoulaye Harissou, a Notary Public based in Maroua and Aboubakary Sidikki, a Douala-based political leader and businessman, all five are accused of being in the know of armed attacks on the East Region by a group of Chadian, Central African Republic and Sudanese-led rebels. The first two are variously accused of assassination, illegal possession and use of firearm, possession of ammunitions, hostility against the State, revolution and outrage against the Head of State. All offences were committed between 2013 and 2014 and are punishable by the Penal Code under Articles 74, 97, 102, 107, 114, 153 (1), 237 and 27.

Friday’s opening of the trial saw the identification of the accused and the presentation of letters from lawyers who wanted to join their defence. Tongue Rodrique, Ebole Bola and Dr Baba Wame are specifically accused of failing to inform judicial, administrative and military authorities of the armed threat. According to judicial sources, if convicted, each of the three journalists faces a jail term of between one to five years and a fine from 50,000 FCFA to 5 million FCFA. All the lawyers for the accused complained that they did not have enough information on the trial. They argued that while the prosecution had a huge charge file, they had virtually nothing.

In response, Mrs. Justice Akoa requested them to respect the instructions of the President of the Yaounde Military Tribunal by applying for copies of the exhibits they needed, while being ready to pay for the cost. The trial was later adjourned to February 19, 2016, for each accused to be individually notified of the charges against them and for defence counsel to present lists of their witnesses.

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Ngwa Bertrand

27.Jan.2016

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The Governor of the North West Region Adolphe Lele L’Afrique has declared a curfew in Wum town, Menchum Division to restore order in the town which is in disarray following the killing of a commercial motor biker by a military man. The unrest  started on Sunday 24th January 2015 after the bike rider was stabbed to death by the a soldier after an argument between the two men. 

Cameroon Concord now understands both men befriended the same woman which led to their argument at a beer parlour. As a result of that, the population of Wum got angry and burnt down two Toyota Land cruisers belonging to the Cameroonian army as well as part of the military camp and properties of the military man who is nowhere to be found. Since then, a civil unrest has rocked the town as the disgruntled bike riders and the inhabitants have opened search missions to find the killer.

Five people have so far sustained gunshot wounds. The administration declared a state of emergency in Wum, and at the time of filing this report, military helicopters continue to hover overhead. Movements of persons have been restricted and more army reinforcement has arrived from Bamenda.

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Ngwa Bertrand

26.Jan.2016

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In the village of Mvoula located in the Biwong-Bulu Sub Division in the Southern region of Cameroon, Cocoa is the main stay of its economy. A kilogram of Cocoa is sold at 1,500 CFA francs. So, the former Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Pierre Biyiti Bi Essam recemtly ordered the arrest of 15 youths of his constituency over the disappearance of 8 bags of cocoa. Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essam decided to appeal to the Legion commander of the Gendarmerie in the South region to stormed Mvoula with masked gendarmes armed with guns. The 15 teenagers arrested have been thrown into a cell at the Ebolowa Gendarmerie region. 

Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essam,has requested the families of those arrested to pay the sum of "50 000 cfa francs" each. A sister publication, Cameroun info.net observed in a report that  Yannick Atouba Mbozo'o, one of those now in Gendarmerie drag net is from a very poor family and will not be able to dish out the amount. He will be referred to the Ebolowa Central Prison. These young defendants have proclaimed loudly their innocence. The population of Mvoula is reportedly planning a massive demonstration. Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essam is a rich man who owns many plantations at Mvoula. He created a company called SAFS that runs a large cocoa field. He owns huge hectares of lands bearing oxen, a chicken coop, a pigsty, a banana and a class motel.

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Ngwa Bertrand

26.Jan.2016

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