Cameroon: Statement of the Bishop of Mamfe Diocese (22.11.2018)

Cameroon: Federal Republic of Ambazonia Press Release – Yaounde Moves H.E. Ayuk Tabe, Others to Long Term Incarceration (22.11.2018)

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Briefing Note on Cameroon (20.11.2018)

The overall 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan for Cameroon requesting $320 million is also underfunded at less than 37 per cent.

GENEVA, Switzerland, November 20, 2018 – With at least 436,000 people currently internally displaced in Cameroon’s South-West and North-West – and in neighbouring departments – due to hostilities between armed groups and security forces, the country remains of urgent humanitarian concern.

Humanitarian presence and response are slowly increasing in the affected areas, with priority given to the South-West region which is the epicentre of the displacement crisis with 246,000 IDPs. OCHA has strengthened its capacity including on access and civil-military coordination, and other UN humanitarian agencies are establishing a presence in the two regions and are responding primarily through NGOs in the affected areas.

However, limited access due to insecurity and lack of funding remain impediments to the scale-up of humanitarian programming.

A special three-months response plan launched at the end of May to address the urgent needs of 160,000 vulnerable people in the South-West and North-West requested US$15 million in funding. But only a $5 million rapid response grant from the Central Emergency Response Fund has been received.

The overall 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan for Cameroon requesting $320 million is also underfunded at less than 37 per cent.

Gabon: A Constitutional Coup to divert Power because of the illness of the President

There now been three weeks of illness, sickness and  hospitalization of the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo. Who is the second Generation President of the Republic. Clearly, the severe situation is more dire, as the power-vacuum is visible.

Because this week, this was reported by Le Gabon:

By ruling only on a vacancy of power, the Gabonese Constitution and Article 13 revealed a flaw that the country would have done well. With the vacancy of the power which is well taken into account by the Constitution, the judge François de Paul Adiwa-Antony added a paragraph very useful in the circumstance. “In the event of temporary unavailability of the President of the Republic, certain functions devolved to the latter may be exercised either by the Vice-President of the Republic or by the Prime Minister on special authorization of the Constitutional Court seized by the Prime Minister or a tenth of the deputies, members of the government whenever necessary “. Thus, the Vice-President of the Republic, Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou, was able to preside over the Ministerial Council of this Wednesday, November 14, 2018. The Constitutional Court “as a regulating organ of the functioning of the institutions, authorizes the vice-president of the Republic to convene and preside over a council of ministers which will focus exclusively on the agenda attached to the request of the Prime Minister “in the words of its president. The Gabonese policy is not blocked by the temporary absence of the head of state, but this will not stop the rumors. Only images or a declaration of Ali Bongo can calm the most fertile and the most sorrowful spirits” (Le Gabon – ‘Pas de vacance du pouvoir à Libreville’ 15.11.2018).

So, because of the illness of Ali Bongo and the lack of protocol in the Constitution, the Constitutional Court has ordered an Amendment, which fits the current regime. Where the Vice President or the Prime Minister, can preside over the governing functions, as an interim effort. This leading the Council of Ministers and other functions to secure the running day-to-day government. That has been done without elections or even a democratic gesture.

The President fate is still uncertain, there are outlets proclaiming his death, even today. There was the same two weeks ago in Cameroon. Where the media-house was practically closed by the Cameroonian Authorities after it did so. Therefore, the lingering doubt is in the air.

It does not help that the African Union (AU) comes out with this statement yesterday:

Chairperson Faki is deeply concerned by unfolding developments in Gabon linked to the state of health of President Bongo. Chairperson Faki further calls on all political stakeholders and institutions in Gabon to show the necessary collective leadership during this time in order to preserve unity, peace and stability in the country. Chairperson Faki further reaffirms the African Union’s strong commitment to the full respect of constitutional order in the country. The Chairperson will deploy a fact-finding mission to Libreville in the shortest delay” (African Union – ‘Communiqué on the situation in Gabon’ 17.11.2018).

We can expect Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou to be in-charge and set-up shop without any elections. As he takes control while Bongo’s uncertain fate in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the amendment and the change this week. Shows that the ones inside the Cabinet and the closest to power was ready to take control. This they by technicalities and not by a popular vote, not even ensuring a clean process. The Gabonaise people have been used as pawns again. Just like they did when the father of the President died and his son took over.

Now the Courts decided and changed the structure without any consideration of the implications and even checking who was most eligible. Again, the regime has taken the power and left the opposition out. They are locking Jean Ping out by any means. Even changing the constitution by Court Orders. Just to ensure the continued rule of the One-Party.

With Moussavou there will be continuation of the dictatorship and no imminent change. Just another French supported puppet to secure the French Businesses and Corporations, while the Gabonese are struggling. This is the deep reality, that Paris and Libreville are seeing. This done by a mere Court Order and not ushered change by the public. If they stand up against the regime. They are usually thrown behind bars. Therefore, the regime are pushing through and not giving way.

This is a constitutional coup by Moussavou and the ones in inner-circle. Who have awaited their turn. They are barring others from power, as they are feasting on the opportunity. Since Bongo is in the hospital in Saudi Arabia. Where his fate is still uncertain. Peace.

A Call For Compassion: An Open Letter To Mrs. Chantal Biya (13.11.2018)

I write to you today, forced into exile and no longer in Cameroon, nearly twenty-four years later with a heavy heart.

YAOUNDE, Cameroon, November 13, 2018 – It is with greatest concern and respect for the future of women, children and people of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia) that I greet you in this unusual correspondence. It is my hope and certainly my trust that this letter finds you in the best of health.

I still recall the excitement and joyous day on April 23rd, 1994, when as a young woman you got married and became the First Lady of the Republic of Cameroon. I celebrated that day for two reasons; that the country had as First Lady a younger woman and with the establishment of the Chantal Biya Foundation that same year, you demonstrated your desire to attend to the sufferings of the vulnerable, underprivileged, the sick and weak in Cameroon. I knew that as a woman and a mother, the sanctity of life and the burning desire to protect it was very close to your heart and this has been demonstrated through your philanthropic and humanitarian efforts through the years. With your humanitarian credentials, there was no doubt in my mind that you would protect the best interest of the people of Cameroon as their First Lady.

However, I write to you today, forced into exile and no longer in Cameroon, nearly twenty-four years later with a heavy heart. I hold a heavy heart because of the desperate and horrific situation in Southern Cameroons

The conflict in the Southern Cameroons has taken a terrible toll on the vulnerable community and the stench of death and desolation has engulfed the villages, towns and cities. The depravity and senseless disregard of human life by the security forces of the government of Cameroon is alarming. We are seeing scenes reminiscent of the Ethiopian civil war in the 80s with dead bodies abandoned on the side of our roads, charred bodies of our elderly and vulnerable, burnt alive in their homes and entire villages incinerated from the face of the earth.

The security forces are carrying out extra-judicial killings of the population, the lives of our active young men are no longer assured today than it is tomorrow, and our young women are raped with reckless brutality by the security forces of the government of Cameroon. The trauma and scars of death on the desolate eyes of our children seeing their parents savagely bludgeoned by the security forces is leaving a painful impact characterized by nightmares in these young minds. Most of the indigenous population has been forced into the open forest and exposed to the elements. Nursing mothers and women under their period are left with no options, but to use dead vegetation for their basic hygienic needs. It is a terrible sight to behold.

Cash crops like cocoa, coffee, palm kernels have been abandoned to waste in the farms because the farmers have either been forced to flee or are too afraid to even hold their artisanal tools like cutlasses to go to the farms because that is in itself a death sentence from the security forces. Almost 300,000 IDP and about 100,000 refugees living in squalid conditions in neighboring Nigeria, thousands killed, and some buried in mass graves and thousands arrested, abducted and whisked to dangerous dungeons in Cameroon. The economy of Southern Cameroons that have been systematically abandoned for the last 57 years has been completely eviscerated and devastated by the conflict, punitive curfews and road closures that make movement and commerce between villages and towns perniciously impossible and frustrating.

My hearts bleeds for the children and women rendered orphans and widows, my heart bleeds upon the dark clouds circling above Southern Cameroons, My heart bleeds for the painful and horrific burning of elderly men and women in their homes, the pain, the anger, the complete obliteration of entire communities and cultures. I weep for the mothers and wives of the young soldiers whose lives are also being wasted in this senseless war.

It was permissible in the beginning of this crisis that you stayed silent, it was permissible that you remained indifferent, but it is no longer permissible in light of what we know now. It is no longer permissible as a mother of the nation who understands the pain of childbirth to remain indifferent to the plight of the people of Southern Cameroons. It is a travesty that the pain and suffering of mothers and young women who looked up to you, who sang, praised and celebrated you have been abandoned and treated with this level of disdain. How do you sleep at night as a mother knowing that young children have been deprived of education because of the security situation for the past two years, how do you wake up each morning not knowing what may happened to your loved ones in Southern Cameroons and how can you stay mute for this long with the unravelling refugee crisis in Southern Cameroons. What has happened to the humanity in you? Cry My Beloved Country!

As the wife of Sissiku Julius Ayuk-Tabe (leader of Southern Cameroons), I understand the political implication of this crisis. However, there are times when humanity and government come together for a common goal. In this case, the goal is the protection of humanity; the innocent and helpless men, women and children in Southern Cameroons. They are unable to speak or defend themselves. They live in terror because they never know when they hear the sound of guns in their village, if it is their turn to be killed or taken away in the darkness of the early morning. Imagine the terror that overcomes them when they hear the deafening screams of a sister, aunt, cousin, a playmate or a mother being brutally raped. They know then that they are next. It is compared to an execution queue where men are waiting to be taken away for execution, and they hear the deadly sound of the firing squad as they queue in and wait their turn. The torture, taunts and torments are unimaginable, and you could hear grown men crying.

I realize that I may come under criticisms and accusations for writing this letter to you. I have no other motive to write this letter, other than for you to rally the mothers of Cameroon and bring pressure to bear on your husband and the government of Cameroon for an inclusive dialogue and a negotiated solution to this crisis and the immediate release of our leaders including my husband. The deafening silence from you is no longer acceptable. The lives of 8 million Southern Cameroonians and the fate of their leaders in jail is in your hands. Madam First Lady set the example for other women to follow.

It is not too late for you to send the message; that the mothers of Cameroon will no longer tolerate this war. The Southern Cameroons women will applaud you and women around the world will celebrate you.

The Lives of Southern Cameroons children, mothers and fathers also Matter and the continuing silence in the face of these killings is collusion.

I look forward to collaborating with you to look for an inclusive and negotiated solutions to this crisis.

Respectfully,

Lilian Ayuk-Tabe

Cameroon: Tripled Increase of battles in the NW and SW Regions from August to October 2018!

As there has been reports of bloody action in the Anglophone region, there has been little or lack of study showing to what extent. Now the The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) have reported and collected the data. This shows to what sort of extent the army and armed forces has acted there. Not that these reports has statistics on fatalities, but the rising amounts of battles and surge of violence. Shows, what most of us is fearing.

The oppressive and acts of state violence against the Anglophone is rising and sharply, to levels we cannot even understand. As people are killed, villages are burned and the President is living lavish in a Swiss hotel. President Paul Biya is just sworn-in and this numbers are dropped, just a friendly reminder of his oppression and his ruthless behavior towards the Anglophone.

Look!

In the weeks before the elections, there was a significant increase in the number of battles between armed groups and the Cameroonian government in the North-West and South-West regions. The number of battles in these provinces increased by more than 300% from August 2018 to 45 events in October 2018” (…) “Though there was an increase in the number of violent activities in both the North-West and South-West regions in the run up to the October elections, two-thirds of the battles in October 2018 were in the North-West region” (…) “As the number of battles between armed anglophone separatists and the Cameroonian government increased, so did the number of instances in which civilians were targeted” (…) “The surge in government targeting of civilians in North-West and South-West provinces may have been a way of trying to suppress opposition in the run-up to the elections. It may also be a function of the security sector’s lack of integration into the local population. The diffuse and fragmented nature of the anglophone separatist movement may make it more difficult for the Cameroonian security sector to differentiate between militants and civilians” (ACLED – ‘ CONTINUED CLASHES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND ANGLOPHONE SEPARATISTS IN CAMEROON PUT CIVILIANS AT RISK’ 08.11.2018).

These statistics and numbers gives a feeling of what is happening on the ground. There are lots of details missing, as well as the whole picture, which is nearly impossible to get. Because of the blackout of reporting and also coverage from the provinces in question. While government, the curfews and the other measures are securing, that very small snippets of truth is revealed. Therefore, the total knowledge of the armed oppression, the killings and the state activity in these regions are blurry.

That is why the report of ACLED are missing vital numbers to show how many fatalities and how many who has become hurt by these battles. Even if 300 % rise within months are bad enough. We do not know how many civilians who has died, how many soldiers or even militants. As the ill activity is continuing and none is battering an eye, unless an American Missionary is killed or School Children are taken hostage. However, the killings and the state oppression is massive, but we don’t know to what extent.

Each life taken is one to many. Each life has equal value. We shall remember this, Biya and his henchmen has blood on their hands. The unknown killings shall be revealed. When? Who knows, but we cannot let it be in the dustbin. As these people deserves to taint the Republic and the regime that is ruling it. Peace.

Cameroon: SNJC – Declaration Affaire Mimi Mefo (08.11.2018)

Cameroon: Communique on Successive Abductions at Presbyterian Secondary School (PSS), Nkwen, Bamenda (05.11.2018)

Cameroon: North West Region Regional Order No. 469 (06.11.2018)

Cameroon: Le President de la Republique – Arrete (05.11.2018)