Cameroon: Joint Statement of The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Abduction of Education Personnel and attacks against Schools in the South-West Region of Cameroon (05.06.2018)

Several schools did not function during the past two successive school years (2016-2017 and 2017-2018).

KAMPALA, Uganda, June 5, 2018 -The Representative of UNICEF in Cameroon, Mr. Jacques Boyer, and the Director of the Regional Office of UNESCO for Central Africa and Representative for Cameroon, Mr. Salah Khaled, urge the kidnappers to release immediately ALL Education personnel who have been abducted in the South-West and North-West Regions of Cameroon.

UNICEF and UNESCO in Cameroon are therefore asking all stakeholders and leaders to immediately stop attacking schools, teachers and education officials and allow safe and unfettered return of all students to the classroom to continue with their studies and examinations.

From the start of the conflict in November 2016, schools in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon have been targeted. The prevailing security situation is deteriorating with a profound impact on academic activities. To date, 40 schools have been burned down. Approximately 33,000 students are not attending school for reasons of fear of security, attacks and abductions. Several schools did not function during the past two successive school years (2016-2017 and 2017-2018). Those that are functioning lack the required supplies and materials and have also experienced looting and destruction of the few items that are available. As a result, girls and boys are vulnerable to sexual and economic exploitation and domestic violence.

“I strongly condemn all killings and abductions of education workers and all acts of destruction of school infrastructure and violence perpetrated against students, schools and their staff”, said Mr. Salah Khaled.

“No intimidation whatsoever should be tolerated by all well-meaning partners that seek to promote the rights of children to quality education in a safe, protective and secure environment. No reason can be advanced to justify the un-warranted attacks on children in general and pupils who are seeking to acquire knowledge and skills to become useful citizens in the future in order to be able to contribute to the economic and social advancement of their country” declared Mr. Jacques Boyer.

We are calling on the Government of Cameroon and all stakeholders to endorse and adhere to the principles of the Safe Schools Declaration and ensure that they protect schools-facilities, teachers, children and other personnel who are exercising their right to education.

We come together to reaffirm that civilians (children, men and women), caught in the conflict and those who care for them are #NotATarget. We appeal to all stakeholders involved in this conflict to take action to protect them.

Cameroon: CHRDA Statement Following the Decision of the Yaounde Military Tribunal to Sentence Mancho Bibiqy, Tsi Conrad, Tamngwa Malvin, Aselecha Martin, Guingah Valentine and Awah Thomas (01.06.2018)

President Biya bashes himself in glory: While his horrors are haunting the Anglophone Cameroon!

Today the 20th May 2018, was the National Day of Cameroon. While the elites and the military was parading together with one of the longest serving President’s in the world, Mr. Dictator-often-on-Vacation in Switzerland Paul Biya. In Southern Cameroons in two separate villages, the army and police killed villagers, and also villagers living in the forest after they got burned.

So it hard to know what to celebrate, when the Republic, where the President plans to be running again. The man whose been president since a coup in 1982. Biya used all tricks to get rid of predecessor president Ahmadou Ahidjo. That got totally away since 1983. It is easy to forget that, but he used all tricks to get rid of the one before him.

Therefore, today the celebration is a downer as the continued oppression in the Southern Provinces continues. The pressure of the state is there, and the determination to get people to cheer in the streets. Everything closed and telling people to show-up in the streets. That is what is insane, that the President is driving in a Range Rover Limousine that cost 358.296.00 CFA. In a Republic where the schools are lacking, the roads are filled with potholes and the state is not delivering. But, then again the President is more away, than home. That is why the demise of so many of his citizens doesn’t matter.

We know that the state is really all in control from his office, as the Council of Ministers meet recently for the fist time since 2015. Biya is really relaying in the army and the donors to keep him afloat, while him and his wife is on shopping sprees in Europe.

The Trump Administration really shown love with their statement on the 18th May 2018, as they don’t care about the internal conflict, as they stated: “The United States values the ties that bind the American and Cameroonian people. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Cameroon as we strengthen regional security, fight violent extremism in the Lake Chad Basin region, and collaborate to improve health outcomes. Our goal is to work together for a peaceful, democratic, and an abundant future” (Mike Pompeo – ‘Cameroon National Day’ 18.05.2018).

That peaceful and democratic future is currently not for the anglophone Cameroon, where the government is violently oppressing and also suppressing the voice of dissidents. Therefore, the President speaking of strength and unity on this day. When we know about the destruction and the violent oppression, that the state is sponsoring in Southern Cameroon. As long the army is killing civilians, decrees of control and the governors really stopping all movement of the public in these parts of Southern Cameroon.

This day should have been celebrated with flair and of liberation, it is the national day, instead people are ordered in the streets, villages left and army killing civilians. This is not the sort of news that should happen at the same time. While the President is driving in a luxury car and bash in glory, while so many are living in fear.

Biya, your been living large for 36 years and what your leaving behind is a mess. You haven’t built a republic, built a republic to be proud of delivering to the next generation. Your leaving behind a steaming kettle, that someone else got to handle. That will be your legacy, because you overstayed your welcome and you enriched yourself on the plate of all your citizens. Peace.

National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC): A Distress Cry from the Bishops of Cameroon (16.05.2018)

Cameroon: South West Region – Fako Division – “Subject: Radio Announcement” (11.05.2018)

Cameroon: The Governor of the North West Region – Regional Order no. 033 (11.05.2018)

Cameroon: South-West Region – “Subject: Radio Announcement” (07.05.2018)

Cameroon: The Governor of the North West Region – Regional Order no. 032 (04.05.2018)

Cameroon: RDPC/CPDM – Communique de Presse (03.05.2018)

Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network – Press Release on the Human Rights Violations in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon (30.04.2018)