About Us
Cameroon Intelligence Report is part of the Cameroon Concord News Group founded in Essen Germany in 2000 by exiled Cameroonian journalist Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai who ever since then has moonlighted as Chairman and Editor-in-Chief.
Monthly Archives: June 2016
France confirms its troops abused CAR citizens
France has acknowledged that its soldiers deployed to the Central African Republic (CAR) under the pretext of quelling the bloody sectarian violence in the country, have committed physical abuse against civilians there, disciplining five servicemen. The French defense ministry announced on Saturday that it has disciplined five of the troops accused of engaging in physical abuse following their deployment to CAR, including sexual abuse of children, local press reports said.
The five are accused of physically abusing two Central Africans at a military outpost in the capital Bangui in 2014, the Ouest-Francenewspaper reported. There are currently three official probes under way into allegations that French soldiers sexually abused children in the country, but the latest case does not relate to sexual acts, said a ministry source cited in the report. “In view of the gravity of the facts, the five soldiers have been suspended,” said the defense ministry, noting, “Simultaneously disciplinary action has been launched… as a precursor to their eviction from the military.”
France launched the Sangaris military operation in 2013 in a bid ‘to maintain peace in its impoverished and chronically restive former colony’ after the outbreak of inter-communal violence between Muslim and Christian militias that has killed thousands. The military mission is due to conclude at the end of the current year, after a progressive draw-down. The United Nations announced in April that it has documented 108 new cases of sexual abuse committed by French troops mostly against minors, describing them as “sickening” and urging investigations that “leave no stone unturned.”
Presstv
Cameroon Tribune: GM and Board Chairman at daggers-drawn positions
A tug of war has erupted between the general manager of the National Press and Publishing Company, SOPECAM and the chairman of the company’s board of directors. Marie Claire Nnana, by extrapolation the publisher of Cameroon Tribune is no stranger to controversy and has recently hinted that only the head of state, President Biya would be allowed to arbitrate between her and the board chairman Joseph Le, who also moonlights as the Deputy Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic. Both CPDM elites have engaged in a remote standoff ever since the Cameroonian dictator traveled to Europe for a private visit.
Cameroon Intelligence Report was reliably informed that the SOPECAM boss reportedly blocked all moves taken by the chairman to convene a board meeting citing a decree that was signed by President Biya on May 2016 ordering a new configuration of the board. Our source at SOPECAM revealed that the all powerful Marie Claire Nnana has regularly argued that the old board has outlived its usefulness. A view not accepted by the Biya acolyte, Joseph Le.
Our informant added that the chairman announced a board meeting on the same day that the general manager was en route to the Republic of South Africa. Madam Marie Claire left standing instructions that the hall reserved for board meetings should remain closed until she returns. She is yet to pay sitting allowance for the last council session that held under very difficult circumstances with some board members observing that her action is complete contempt and insubordination.
The crisis recently took a dramatic u turn when Chairman Joseph Le sacked the Chief Finance Officer, Olinga Biyo’o who refused to pay the sitting allowance on instructions from Marie Claire Nnana and replaced him with Ngane Gustave Leopold, a civil administrator. Cameroon Tribune has blatantly refused to publish the full text signed by the chairman. In its Friday edition, the national daily made public part of the Joseph Le decision on the new appointments of the Technical Director and the Sales and Marketing managers.
Sama Ernest in Yaounde
Cameroon, Chad and Niger to receive Cessna caravans
Cameroon, Chad, Niger and the Philippines are to receive Cessna 208B Grand Caravans from the United States, configured for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. On 9 May, the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Centre awarded two contracts for the conversion of the Cessna 208Bs. The first was to L-3 Communications Corporation – Communication Systems West in Salt Lake City, Utah, which will produce the ISR equipment and spares. The deal is worth $14 185 927, with an initial $7 000 673 released at the time of the award. Contract completion is anticipated by 30 September 2017.
The second contract, worth $39 983 647, was awarded to North American Surveillance Systems of Titusville, Florida, and covers modification of the aircraft and integration of ISR capabilities, together with training and field support. Contract completion is expected by 30 September 2019. An initial $19 751 000 was released at the time of the award. Financing for both contracts comes from Fiscal Year 2016 counter-terrorism partnership funds.
The contract announcements, posted on the US Department of Defence website, did not indicate how many aircraft will be delivered to each country. The US military in September 2014 awarded Cessna a $13.67 million contract to provide three Grand Caravan EX aircraft to Niger, Kenya and Mauritania in support of counter-terrorism operations, but it is believed this contract is unrelated to the existing one. L-3 Communications Systems West also received a $31.2 million contract in 2014 to add intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to the three Cessna 208Bs. Work was due to be completed in September 2015.
The United States has donated a number of Caravans to African countries in support of peacekeeping and counter-terror operations. The Niger Air Force received two donated Cessna 208Bs in July 2013, but configured for transport tasks. In June 2014 the US government donated two new Caravans to the Mauritania Islamic Air Force to boost its capacity to conduct patrols to counter maritime crimes and regional terrorist groups. Another recipient of Caravans from the United States is Uganda, which received two aircraft on 16 March 2015, to support the Ugandan contingent battling al Shabaab militants in Somalia. The aircraft, worth $15 million including spare parts and training, were donated by the US Department of Defence.
Defenceweb
Boko Haram captures town in southeastern Niger
Militants of the Nigeria-based Boko Haram Takfiri group have reportedly captured a rural town in southeastern Niger after launching a large-scale offensive in the troubled border area. Local residents said Boko Haram extremists mounted an all-out attack against Bosso, located around 1,365 kilometers (848 miles) from Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Friday afternoon, forcing Nigerien military forces to withdraw from the area without any resistance.
On November 25, 2015, 18 people were killed, eleven hurt, and 100 homes torched in a Boko Haram militant attack against the village of Wogom close to Bosso. A humanitarian worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Takfiris came from Nigeria and crossed the Komadougou Yobe River, which lies on the border between Niger and Nigeria.
Militants and bombers from Boko Haram terrorist group have staged repeated attacks in Niger’s southeastern region of Diffa near Nigeria since February, leaving hundreds of people dead. Boko Haram started its campaign of militancy in 2009 with the aim of toppling the central government in Nigeria. It has so far taken the lives of at least 17,000 people and forced over 2.5 million others to flee their homes.
The terror group has pledged allegiance to Daesh Takfiri terrorists, who are mainly wreaking havoc in Syria and Iraq. Boko Haram has spread its attacks from northeastern Nigeria, its traditional stronghold, into neighboring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
Presstv
Obama condemns violence at Trump rally
US President Barack Obama has condemned the violence at a rally by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in San Jose, California. During a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Florida on Friday, Obama said that there’s no room for politics that ignores opposing opinions.
“It is very important for us to remind ourselves of who we are and what is best about American democracy and not slip into some of the bad habits that currently manifest themselves in the other party,” Obama said.
“We saw in San Jose these protesters starting to pelt stuff [at] Trump supporters. That’s not what our democracy is about,” he added. “That’s not what you do,” Obama said. “There’s no room for violence. There’s no place for shouting. There’s no room for a politics that fails to at least listen to the other side, even if you vehemently disagree. Because I believe if you’ve got the better argument, then you don’t need to do that. Just go out there and organize and persuade.”
Presstv
Muhammad Ali passes on at 74
Muhammad Ali has died at the age of 74, a family spokesman has said. The former world heavyweight boxing champion, one of the world’s best-known sportsmen, died at a hospital in the US city of Phoenix, Arizona, after being admitted on Thursday.
He was suffering from a respiratory illness, a condition that was complicated by Parkinson’s disease. The funeral will take place in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, his family said in a statement.
BBC
Gabon’s Aubameyang is Bundesliga player of the year
Gabon and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been voted as the German Bundesliga’s Player of the Year. The Gabon captain finished just 0.2% ahead of Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, who was the top scorer in the league last season.
The award is voted for by the German players’ union, the VDV. “It’s a great honour to be recognised and appreciated by your fellow colleagues,” Aubameyang said. “This is for everyone at Dortmund and our amazing fans.”
Aubameyang, who is also the African Footballer of the Year, scored 25 goals and made six assists in 31 league games as Dortmund finished runners-up in the Bundesliga. He also scored 39 goals in all competitions last season and becomes the first African to win the VDV award since its inception in 1998. He is also the only African named in the Bundesliga team of the year.
Gabon 2017: Cameroon qualifies through a Salli strike
Cameroon qualified for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals with a 1-0 win away to Mauritania in Group M. A goal from winger Edgar Salli after 31 minutes was enough to send the Indomitable Lions through to Gabon.
Mauritania were put under further pressure in the second half after defender Moustapha Diaw was sent off. Earlier on Friday, a win for Tunisia meant that Group A of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will be settled with the final ties in September. Tunisia who were 3-nil winners in Djibouti, took the lead after 15 minutes when France-born Naim Sliti scored for the Carthage Eagles after being set-up by Wahbi Khazri.
23-year-old Sliti has been linked with a move away from French second division side Red Star ahead of next season. Both sides then hit the woodwork before Sliti turned provider on the stroke of half-time as he passed to Hamdi Harbaoui to score Tunisia’s second.
Esperance striker Taha Yassine Khenissi replaced Harbaoui shortly after the break and then scored Tunisia’s third on the hour mark. The other game on Friday pits Libya against Morocco, who have already qualified for Gabon.
BBC
Rio Games: WHO to conduct Zika examination
The World Health Organization is to conduct an examination into the risks of holding the Olympic Games in Brazil because of the Zika virus. US Senator Jeanne Shaheen has asked WHO to examine whether the Rio Games could accelerate the mosquito-borne virus.
“The Olympics draw people from all over the globe. It’s important we understand the health implications,” said Shaheen. On Wednesday, Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy said his concerns about exposure to the virus had eased.
However, former Masters and US PGA champion Vijay Singh and Australia’s Marc Leishman are golfers who have already announced their withdrawal from the Olympics because of worries relating to the virus, which is linked to brain defects in newborn babies.
BBC