Euros 2016: Portugal 2 : Wales 0
Portugal have qualified for the Euro 2016 finals by beating a well organized Wales side 2 goals to nil in Lyon. The second semi final match will be on Thursday, July 7th and will pit Germany against France.
Headline News
Brexit: British pound hits fresh lows against the dollar
The British pound hit fresh lows against the dollar and the euro on Wednesday as financial turmoil intensifies in the wake of UK’s decision to leave the European Union. The pound, also known as sterling, sank over two and a half cents, or 1.4 percent, to $1.3, the weakest level in 31 years against the US currency.
Britain’s vote to exit the EU, known as Brexit, has plunged global markets into turmoil. The British currency also fell to its lowest since 2013 against the euro. The pound is currently trading at 1.8 euros. It has lost more than 14 percent of its value since UK’s referendum last month to exit the EU, as investors worry about the impact on the British economy and continuing uncertainty about the country’s political direction.
This comes as the Bank of England highlighted a number of risks emanating from the Brexit vote. The risks include a hit to the commercial real estate market from the possible relocation of banking jobs to other European cities. Last week, the American financial services company, Standard and Poor’s, downgraded Britain’s credit rating by two notches, from AAA to AA, a humiliating blow for the country and one that could cost its economy.
S&P was the last of the big three ratings agencies to have a blue-chip rating on the UK’s credit-worthiness. Moody’s, which stripped the UK of its top-notch rating following the austerity cuts of 2013, said last week it might further downgrade its credit rating. The British departure has triggered concerns that other EU nations may follow, challenging the political fabric of an alliance that has been constructed among nearly thirty very different countries.
Presstv
Late President Ahidjo’s daughter installed as head of the Yaounde Conference Center
Aminatou Ahidjo has been installed as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Yaounde Conference Centre. She was installed on Monday, July 4, 2016 by the Minister of Arts and Culture, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi. During the installation ceremony, the Minister said her first major challenge is the completion of the renovation and rehabilitation works currently ongoing at the Yaounde Conference Centre.
The youngest daughter of former President of the Republic of Cameroon, Amadou Ahidjo is reportedly banished from the Ahidjo family. Speaking to the press after her installation she said she was the happy one and added that she was ready to work with determination, courage and humility to accomplish the mission conferred on her.
Aminatou Ahidjo said she was excited to return to Cameroon and work in the Yaounde Conference Centre which her father inaugurated some 34 years ago. “This place was inaugurated by H.E. Amadou Ahidjo, my father, on 12 May 1982. I come back and I was appointed by H.E. Paul Biya, I am very moved,” she said.
The new board chair who is a member of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM since 6 September 2013 said she will ensure that the congress centre is raised to back to international standards.
CRTV
Biya’s tribal extremism: Pushing Cameroon to be another flash point in Africa
Many millions of Cameroonians have an outlook that is fundamentally incompatible with the CPDM leadership of the country. For them, President Biya has so far produced tribal extremism which has eventually destroyed the foundation of the state of Cameroon. The Cameroonian dictator for his part alludes to a single model of national integration which is quite simply false.
Furthermore, in pursuing an anti Anglophone policy by never appointing them as Minister of Finance, Minister of Territorial Administration, Minister for Defense or always keeping a powerful Francophone figure as Vice Prime Minister whenever an Anglophone is Prime Minister and Head of Government presents a simplified argument devoid of the national integration context in which the nation operated under the late President Ahidjo. Finally, Mr Biya conveniently works with anti-development forces in the country that have hindered progressive change not only in Cameroon but in the Sub Saharan region.
Contrary to popular CPDM belief, the new generation of Cameroonians Francophone-Anglophone alike is firmly a part of the modern world and are grappling with the challenges of modernity in myriad ways. Cameroonian thinkers, academics and activists are spearheading hermeneutic and revivalist projects all over the globe that are shaping human civilization.
For the Biya regime to keep holding on to power on lame and ridiculous reasons that they have experience is a dangerous fallacy that will put the country into chaos sooner than later. Throughout their more than two decades history, the Social Democratic Front of Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi has participated in national elections that has been consistently thwarted by a tribal network deep within the CPDM government enjoying steady support from western governments such as France, Germany and recently the USA.
The CPDM government has been condemned by Cameroonian groups both at home and in the Diaspora and it is now perceived as an enabler in helping to perpetuate European, US, Turkish and Chinese interests in the country. The emergence of Boko Haram terrorism, the tribal now turned religious conflict in the Central African Republic, the complete breakdown of law and order in Congo Brazzaville with rising tensions in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon are chiefly responsible for much of the gun crimes we see today in Cameroon.
For the first time in our country’s history, suicide bombing – a tactic relentlessly employed by Boko Haram extremists is now being carried out by homegrown terrorists from the Far North region in Cameroon. Day by day, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is becoming ungovernable with arm conflicts littered all over Africa most populous nation. 99 percent of all suicide terrorist attacks staged by Boko Haram Camerounaise in the Far North region have one thing in common and it is the specific political goal to compel President Biya to hand over power to a new generation leader who must not be from from his Beti-Ewondo tribal setup.
The failures of the Biya regime including moral outrage, emancipation, anti-French sentiments and disenfranchisement are now found to be developing even among the laissez faire French speaking Cameroonians who had all along enjoyed being fed stories by the French that they had a special kind of divinity being Francophones in Cameroon but are however, maltreated in France when they migrate to their so called mother country.
A majority of French speaking Cameroonians recently admitted that the French are behind the sophistication of Boko Haram wars in the region. Of course the French played a central role in pursuing the overthrow of the Libyan leader which killed millions and gave oxygen to operations of extremist groups such as Boko Haram. Today, French military companies are profiteering as countries such as Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea and Benin Republic have increased defense spending and buying only from France.
While President Biya condescendingly lectures Cameroonians about modernity and farming, the irony of his own favorable dealings is that the man cares only about himself, his family and the West. The idea that the French and the Americans maintain these lucrative and diplomatic relations with an 83 years old dictator who have a long history of oppressing his people and pretend to clamor for democratic change in Africa is laughable. Rather than Cameroonians requiring guidance on democracy and the rule of law, President Biya’s war on Boko Haram and his long standing relationship with the French and the Americans is what requires more scrutiny. All these and many more political blunders of the ancien regime will make Cameroon another flash point in Africa soonest.
Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai (Cameroon Intelligence Report)
Nigeria: President Buhari replaces the general manager of the National Oil Company
The Nigerian head of state, Muhammadu Buhari has replaced the head of the National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.
The Group Managing Director of the National Oil Company of Nigeria (NNPC) was replaced in his position by 57 years old Maikanti Kacalla Baru, previously Executive Director of Exploration and Production.
Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, whose appointment as head of the NNPC had controversy will however remain Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), a statement from the Office of President Buhari revealed.
Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Intelligence Report)
CPDM crime syndicate accepts elections in the professional football league
Originally appointed in 2011 by the ex president of Fecafoot, Iya Mohamed for a mandate of two years renewable once, the executive bureau of the Professional Football league led by General Pierre Semengue has finally made five years in office. Five years of experimentation and postponements which will finally come to an end on July 28 and the League will have an elected leadership since its creation. In between time so much water has gone under the bridge.
As earlier mentioned, the pioneer bureau of the Professional Football League was given a mandate of two years renewable once and its president was not to stand for elections at the end of the mandate. That mandate came to an end in 2013 and in the absence of an elect president at Fecafoot, the Normalisation Committee created a provisionary board of directors and management team led still by General Semengue and the mandate extended to December 2015 the mandate of the provisionary executive of the League was again extended by the new president of Fecafoot to April 30th, 2016.
However, the general assembly of the League in between time modified the original statutes enacted for it by Fecafoot, making provision or the pioneer president to run for elections. This new statutes was rejected by the Fecafoot general assembly in a move which was seen as an attempt by the new president of Fecafoot to eject General Semengue from the League.
The League contested the decision and won at the level of the chamber of conciliation and arbitration of the national Olympic committee. With the way now open for the General to seek an elective mandate, the football association president came up with another gimmick, this time prolonging the mandate of the Provisionary Management committee of the Professional league until April 30th2017 purportedly to give them time to organize the championship and elections.
However, the League whose second mandate expired on April 30th 2016, decided to forge ahead with the elections which had been scheduled by the board meeting of April 14, for July 28 and later on confirmed unanimously by the general assembly of the League of May 21st.
Cameroon Tribune
Bamenda: CPDM government ignores cry for dialysis machine, supports reforestation campaign
The 2016 reforestation campaign is on course in the North West Region with nine councils and groups empowered to plant about 14,500 trees on 36.25 hectares and manage about 26,000 trees on 55 hectares. The Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife is supporting the campaign with 20.5 million FCFA. The deals were signed in Bamenda on June 28, 2016. Nothing concerning the complete absence of dialysis machines in the city is being mentioned anymore.
The sum of 1 million FCFA will each be paid to the Belo and Elak Councils, Ndong Youth Group Association of Noni, SIRDEP, Njung Handicraft Common Initiative Group and OREP Oku, to manage trees they planted. On the other hand, the Oku-based Society for the Promotion of Initiative and Sustainable Development and Welfare (SOPISDEW), will receive 3 million FCFA to plant 3,000 trees on 71.2 hectares, while Nkambe Council is to receive 8.5 million FCFA to plant 8,500 trees on 21.25 hectares.
The Permanent Secretary in the North West Governor’s office, Monono Wolua, who presided the event, challenged beneficiaries to adopt responsible attitude, embrace the campaign and produce good results because it is all about government funds that require transparency and accountability. He stressed the dividends of the campaign that is expected to beautify towns.
Monono Wolua challenged councils to implement the concept of urban forestry and enhance the sustainability vision of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife with the aim to reduce by 32 per cent green house gas emissions on the strength of the commitment by Heads of State at the COP 21 Summit in Paris, France last year.
The event also blamed deforestation for pressure on forest resources because of high demand for usable wood, energy and other non-timber forest products. Stakeholders acknowledged that in the face of the threat, urban and semi urban forestry should be promoted for tourism. The Regional Delegate for Forestry and Wildlife, Mbelly Lucien Desire, later took stakeholders out for symbolic tree planting that set the pace for the campaign.
Cameroon Tribune
Biya grants pardon to Barrister Lydienne Yen Eyoum
President Paul Biya has signed a decree late today Monday, July 4, 2016 granting presidential pardon to Franco-Cameroon lawyer, Lydienne Yen Eyoum. Since 2010, the Cameroonian dictator has been under pressure from the UN and the French government to release her.
Incarcerated at the Kondengui prison in 2010, Lydienne Yen Eyoum was sentenced in September 2014 to 25 years in prison for embezzlement of public funds. Yen Eyoum Lydian has now gained her freedom.
Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Intelligence Report)
Kenya: Massive demo against extrajudicial killing of human rights lawyer
Hundreds have held a demonstration in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi to protest what they called the extrajudicial killing of a prominent human rights lawyer. Protesters marched through the streets of Nairobi, holding placards demanding that Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery resign over the death of Willie Kimani, his client and their driver, which the protesters said was carried out at the hands of police.
Some protesters carried a mock coffin emblazoned with the words “Stop extrajudicial killings” while others wore T-shirts with the slogan “Stop police executions.” The bodies of Kimani, his client Josephat Mwendwa and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri were found last week. The three men disappeared after a court hearing on June 23.
Authorities said Kimani’s wrists were bound with rope, three of his fingers had been chopped off and his eyes appeared to have been gouged out when they found the bodies of the three men by a riverbank outside Nairobi on Friday. Kimani and Muiruri worked for an international rights group while Mwendwa had sued police in the court over an alleged shooting which led to his injury.
Activists say Kimani was defending Mwendwa against various charges raised against him, including possession of drugs, and other offences. Kenyan police says they will investigate any breach of law among their forces. Three officers have been arrested in connection with the deaths of the three men, the officials said on Saturday. Kenyans complain about police corruption and increasing police abuse with rights groups accusing sections of the police service of involvement in extrajudicial killings. Kimani had repeatedly criticized police abuse.
Presstv
Former SDF Secretary General Passes On
Professor Asonganyi Tazoacha is no more. The former Secretary General of the Social Democratic Front died at the Yaounde General Hospital on Sunday, July 3, 2016. Rumor about his poor health had circulated in Yaounde recently. He directed the General Secretariat of the SDF between 1994 and 2005, before being expelled from the party during an extraordinary Council in 2006.
The late Professor Tazoacha Asonganyui published a 400-page document “Difficult choices in a democracy facade”. In this book, he discussed the problems plaguing the SDF and hinted the party should make amends or will end up regionalize or disappear from the national and international stage.
Cameroon-Info.net
