Editorial

President Paul Biya on Tuesday evening signed several decrees dismissing and appointing rectors of state universities and also cultural delegates to some Cameroon embassies in the West and the Republic of South Africa. The Biya decrees sacked three out of the ten state rectors in the country. In the University of Douala, Dieudonné Oyono, who several months ago retired from the Cameroon public service was replaced by Francis Xavier Etoa, former advisor at the Prime Minister’s office who also had retired from the public service ever since 2013. Both the old and incoming rectors are from Biya’s Fang-Beti ethnic group.

The University of Dschang created in 1993, also saw the departure of Anaclet Fomethe who headed the establishment for almost 10 years. He was replaced by Roger Tsafack Nanfosso. Both men are natives from Menoua division hosting the University of Dschang. Ibrahima Adamou, appointed Rector of the University of Yaoundé 2, did replace Oumarou Bouba. Both are Muslims from the North region of Cameroon. 

Contrary to what some CPDM political commentators stated immediately after the appointments were made public that age factor was behind President Biya’s calculation, we of this publication would like to argue that the age limit seem not to be the main reason for these dismissals. For instance, the Rectors of the University of Maroua (Far North) and that of Ngaoundere, in the Adamawa region are still in office. To be sure, Amvam Zollo, since 2002, is the Rector of the University of Ngaoundere, beyond 9 years prescribed by the 1999 law on public institutions while that of Maroua has been 13 years on the job.

Cameroon Concord understands that the newly appointed academics are all ardent supporters of the ruling CPDM party-----again, another clever manoeuvre from a head of state who only appoints people indebted to him. Like the military, this pattern gives President Biya absolute control of all civilian leaders. President Biya’s management style has politicized universities in the country and this is not conducive to good governance and the effectiveness sought at academic institutions.

Biya also appointed officials in Cameroon embassies abroad. These include South Africa, Germany, Algeria, Belgium, Canada, China, the US, Britain, France, Nigeria and Morocco. Mr.Paul Biya, for sure, has just completed his political comeback after 27 days outside the country. The decrees on Tuesday could be the first of a long series.

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Ngwa Bertrand

16.Sep.2015

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President Paul Biya on Tuesday evening signed several decrees dismissing and appointing rectors of state universities and also cultural delegates to some Cameroon embassies in the West and the Republic of South Africa. The Biya decrees sacked three out of the ten state rectors in the country. In the University of Douala, Dieudonné Oyono, who several months ago retired from the Cameroon public service was replaced by Francis Xavier Etoa, former advisor at the Prime Minister’s office who also had retired from the public service ever since 2013. Both the old and incoming rectors are from Biya’s Fang-Beti ethnic group.

The University of Dschang created in 1993, also saw the departure of Anaclet Fomethe who headed the establishment for almost 10 years. He was replaced by Roger Tsafack Nanfosso. Both men are natives from Menoua division hosting the University of Dschang. Ibrahima Adamou, appointed Rector of the University of Yaoundé 2, did replace Oumarou Bouba. Both are Muslims from the North region of Cameroon. 

Contrary to what some CPDM political commentators stated immediately after the appointments were made public that age factor was behind President Biya’s calculation, we of this publication would like to argue that the age limit seem not to be the main reason for these dismissals. For instance, the Rectors of the University of Maroua (Far North) and that of Ngaoundere, in the Adamawa region are still in office. To be sure, Amvam Zollo, since 2002, is the Rector of the University of Ngaoundere, beyond 9 years prescribed by the 1999 law on public institutions while that of Maroua has been 13 years on the job.

Cameroon Concord understands that the newly appointed academics are all ardent supporters of the ruling CPDM party-----again, another clever manoeuvre from a head of state who only appoints people indebted to him. Like the military, this pattern gives President Biya absolute control of all civilian leaders. President Biya’s management style has politicized universities in the country and this is not conducive to good governance and the effectiveness sought at academic institutions.

Biya also appointed officials in Cameroon embassies abroad. These include South Africa, Germany, Algeria, Belgium, Canada, China, the US, Britain, France, Nigeria and Morocco. Mr.Paul Biya, for sure, has just completed his political comeback after 27 days outside the country. The decrees on Tuesday could be the first of a long series.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

16.Sep.2015

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American officials have disclosed that Russia is using the airspace over Iran and Iraq to fly military equipment and personnel to a new air field in Syria, escalating tensions with the US, a report says. At least seven giant Russian Antonov An-124 military transport aircrafts have taken off from a base in Russia during the past week to transport equipment to Syria, using Iranian and Iraqi air corridors, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing US officials.

American officials told the newspaper on Sunday that the destination of the Russian aircraft was an airfield in Syria’s western province of Latakia. About 200 Russian marines and six Russian howitzers now guard the air base in Latakia, according to American intelligence. With the use of the new air corridors, Moscow is openly defying Washington’s efforts to block the shipments and significantly increasing tensions with the US. 

The White House initially hoped it had blocked the Russian effort to move military equipment and personnel into Syria after NATO member Bulgaria announced it would refuse permission for the flights. But Russia quickly began rerouting its flights to Iran and Iraq, which Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said on Sunday would continue despite US objections. “There were military supplies, they are ongoing, and they will continue,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. “They are inevitably accompanied by Russian specialists, who help to adjust the equipment, to train Syrian personnel how to use this weaponry.”

Lavrov added that Moscow would continue arming the Syrian government in its fight against the Takfiri Daesh terrorists, urging other countries to take a similar stance and help Damascus in the battle. The Obama administration has warned Moscow to limit the transport of military equipment to Syria. On Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry called Lavrov and warned that Washington is deeply concerned of reports of "an imminent enhanced Russian military buildup." The conflicts in Syria and Ukraine have driven a wedge between Russia and the West. Moscow and Washington have had major differences over the crisis in Syria as well as in Ukraine.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to reports, the United States and its regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating inside the country. The Daesh terrorists, who were initially trained by the CIA in Jordan in 2012 to destabilize the Syrian government, now control large parts of Iraq and Syria.

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Ngwa Bertrand

14.Sep.2015

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American officials have disclosed that Russia is using the airspace over Iran and Iraq to fly military equipment and personnel to a new air field in Syria, escalating tensions with the US, a report says. At least seven giant Russian Antonov An-124 military transport aircrafts have taken off from a base in Russia during the past week to transport equipment to Syria, using Iranian and Iraqi air corridors, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing US officials.

American officials told the newspaper on Sunday that the destination of the Russian aircraft was an airfield in Syria’s western province of Latakia. About 200 Russian marines and six Russian howitzers now guard the air base in Latakia, according to American intelligence. With the use of the new air corridors, Moscow is openly defying Washington’s efforts to block the shipments and significantly increasing tensions with the US. 

The White House initially hoped it had blocked the Russian effort to move military equipment and personnel into Syria after NATO member Bulgaria announced it would refuse permission for the flights. But Russia quickly began rerouting its flights to Iran and Iraq, which Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said on Sunday would continue despite US objections. “There were military supplies, they are ongoing, and they will continue,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. “They are inevitably accompanied by Russian specialists, who help to adjust the equipment, to train Syrian personnel how to use this weaponry.”

Lavrov added that Moscow would continue arming the Syrian government in its fight against the Takfiri Daesh terrorists, urging other countries to take a similar stance and help Damascus in the battle. The Obama administration has warned Moscow to limit the transport of military equipment to Syria. On Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry called Lavrov and warned that Washington is deeply concerned of reports of "an imminent enhanced Russian military buildup." The conflicts in Syria and Ukraine have driven a wedge between Russia and the West. Moscow and Washington have had major differences over the crisis in Syria as well as in Ukraine.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to reports, the United States and its regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating inside the country. The Daesh terrorists, who were initially trained by the CIA in Jordan in 2012 to destabilize the Syrian government, now control large parts of Iraq and Syria.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

14.Sep.2015

Hits: 1444

Write comment (0 Comments)

American officials have disclosed that Russia is using the airspace over Iran and Iraq to fly military equipment and personnel to a new air field in Syria, escalating tensions with the US, a report says. At least seven giant Russian Antonov An-124 military transport aircrafts have taken off from a base in Russia during the past week to transport equipment to Syria, using Iranian and Iraqi air corridors, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing US officials.

American officials told the newspaper on Sunday that the destination of the Russian aircraft was an airfield in Syria’s western province of Latakia. About 200 Russian marines and six Russian howitzers now guard the air base in Latakia, according to American intelligence. With the use of the new air corridors, Moscow is openly defying Washington’s efforts to block the shipments and significantly increasing tensions with the US. 

The White House initially hoped it had blocked the Russian effort to move military equipment and personnel into Syria after NATO member Bulgaria announced it would refuse permission for the flights. But Russia quickly began rerouting its flights to Iran and Iraq, which Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said on Sunday would continue despite US objections. “There were military supplies, they are ongoing, and they will continue,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. “They are inevitably accompanied by Russian specialists, who help to adjust the equipment, to train Syrian personnel how to use this weaponry.”

Lavrov added that Moscow would continue arming the Syrian government in its fight against the Takfiri Daesh terrorists, urging other countries to take a similar stance and help Damascus in the battle. The Obama administration has warned Moscow to limit the transport of military equipment to Syria. On Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry called Lavrov and warned that Washington is deeply concerned of reports of "an imminent enhanced Russian military buildup." The conflicts in Syria and Ukraine have driven a wedge between Russia and the West. Moscow and Washington have had major differences over the crisis in Syria as well as in Ukraine.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to reports, the United States and its regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating inside the country. The Daesh terrorists, who were initially trained by the CIA in Jordan in 2012 to destabilize the Syrian government, now control large parts of Iraq and Syria.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

14.Sep.2015

Hits: 1496

Write comment (0 Comments)

American officials have disclosed that Russia is using the airspace over Iran and Iraq to fly military equipment and personnel to a new air field in Syria, escalating tensions with the US, a report says. At least seven giant Russian Antonov An-124 military transport aircrafts have taken off from a base in Russia during the past week to transport equipment to Syria, using Iranian and Iraqi air corridors, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing US officials.

American officials told the newspaper on Sunday that the destination of the Russian aircraft was an airfield in Syria’s western province of Latakia. About 200 Russian marines and six Russian howitzers now guard the air base in Latakia, according to American intelligence. With the use of the new air corridors, Moscow is openly defying Washington’s efforts to block the shipments and significantly increasing tensions with the US. 

The White House initially hoped it had blocked the Russian effort to move military equipment and personnel into Syria after NATO member Bulgaria announced it would refuse permission for the flights. But Russia quickly began rerouting its flights to Iran and Iraq, which Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said on Sunday would continue despite US objections. “There were military supplies, they are ongoing, and they will continue,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. “They are inevitably accompanied by Russian specialists, who help to adjust the equipment, to train Syrian personnel how to use this weaponry.”

Lavrov added that Moscow would continue arming the Syrian government in its fight against the Takfiri Daesh terrorists, urging other countries to take a similar stance and help Damascus in the battle. The Obama administration has warned Moscow to limit the transport of military equipment to Syria. On Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry called Lavrov and warned that Washington is deeply concerned of reports of "an imminent enhanced Russian military buildup." The conflicts in Syria and Ukraine have driven a wedge between Russia and the West. Moscow and Washington have had major differences over the crisis in Syria as well as in Ukraine.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to reports, the United States and its regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating inside the country. The Daesh terrorists, who were initially trained by the CIA in Jordan in 2012 to destabilize the Syrian government, now control large parts of Iraq and Syria.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

14.Sep.2015

Hits: 1542

Write comment (0 Comments)