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Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea discuss border demarcation issue

Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea discuss border demarcation issue

Officials from Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea are meeting in La Paz, a city in Equatorial Guinea, to discuss the border demarcation issue between the two countries, Cameroon’s Ministry of Territorial Administration said Tuesday.

This is the first time for experts from both sides, who are members of the technical subcommission in charge of the border demarcation, meeting to discuss the border issue.

“This meeting will provide a legal framework to facilitate the demarcation of our common borders,” said Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji at the beginning of the three-day meeting. He believed that the meeting, which opened Monday, would help trace the border between the two countries and determine the geographical distinctions, among other issues.

“We wish to see fruitful deliberations which guarantee mutually beneficial ties between our two brotherly countries,” said Equatorial Guinean Minister of State for Interior and Local Administration Faustino Ndong Esono Eyang.

Both countries want to make the border “an instrument of economic empowerment and peace,” Eyang said, stressing that there is no border dispute between the two countries.

The two sides are expected to finalize a working document that will help the experts when they visit the border Wednesday.

Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea share a border of approximately 200 km.

Source: Xinhuanet

The clowns in Yaoundé are moving for emergency repatriation of Cameroonians from Lebanon

The clowns in Yaoundé are moving for emergency repatriation of Cameroonians from Lebanon

Cameroon is planning to repatriate its citizens stranded in Lebanon, but details of the plan remain confidential. The Cameroonian embassy in Egypt, which oversees Lebanese affairs, confirmed the government’s approval for the swift and free return of those who wish to leave.

A statement from the diplomatic mission in Cairo announced that the consulate in Beirut has already begun registration for the repatriation effort. Registrations can also be completed via email. For citizens without valid passports, the government has taken urgent measures to issue free travel passes to facilitate their return.

The decision comes against the backdrop of a rapidly deteriorating security situation in Lebanon. In recent weeks, Israeli forces have launched sustained airstrikes targeting Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite paramilitary group. The strikes have heavily affected Beirut, particularly the Basta neighborhood, suspected of hosting Hezbollah’s command center.

Other nations have also begun rapid evacuation efforts. Last month, France deployed a military aircraft to repatriate vulnerable individuals, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

This initiative reflects Cameroon’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad, even as regional instability continues to mount.

Source: Sbbc

US President confirms Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal agreed

US President confirms Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal agreed

US President Joe Biden has announced a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah

The deal will take effect from 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) tomorrow, according to Biden

Earlier, Israel launched extensive air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs after its military issued evacuation orders in the area

Israeli troops began a land invasion of Lebanon almost two months ago, in response to almost a year of rocket attacks from Hezbollah

A ceasefire in Lebanon would not directly affect Israel’s war in Gaza.

Source: BBC

Yaoundé: Parliament approves joining Geneva Act to protect local products

Yaoundé: Parliament approves joining Geneva Act to protect local products

Cameroonian National Assembly unanimously approved a bill that authorizes President Paul Biya to ratify the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on appellations of origin (AO) and geographical indications (GI). This decision, as explained by Fuh Calistus Gentry, the interim Minister of Mines, Industry, and Technological Development, represents a significant step for Cameroon in protecting and promoting its local products internationally.

The Geneva Act, adopted in May 2015 and effective since February 2020, updates the 1958 Lisbon Agreement originally aimed at protecting AOs. The new version broadens the protection to include GIs, which are used for products whose specific characteristics are directly tied to their geographical origin. This change reflects a desire to adapt protection systems to the varying realities of countries and regions, thus enhancing the competitiveness of local products on the global market.

The bill, defended by Minister Gentry, contains 34 articles addressing key areas such as the international registration process for AOs and GIs, protection mechanisms for these labels, and the ratification procedures to ensure the protection of Cameroonian products. “A geographical indication is a mark that identifies a product as originating from a specific place or region,” the minister explained, adding that joining the Geneva Act will open new economic opportunities for Cameroonian producers.

By joining this international framework, Cameroon will simplify the protection process for its products, particularly against the illegal appropriation of GIs abroad. The country will now be able to directly register its GIs with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), bypassing complex and costly procedures in individual countries where protection is desired.

Cameroon currently has two products with protected geographical indications (PGIs): Penja pepper and Oku white honey, both certified in 2013. These internationally recognized products benefit from legal protection, allowing them to be sold at higher prices due to their recognized origin and quality. The country is also finalizing the certification of its red cocoa as a PGI with the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI). Cameroon plans to extend this protection to other local products, such as coffee, Mbouda avocado, Bafia pineapple, Ndop, and Ndolè.

The economic benefits of this move are already evident. For example, after Penja pepper was certified as a PGI, its price saw a sharp increase, rising from CFA2,500 per kilogram before September 2013 to CFA14,000 per kilogram by 2015. This price boost also led to a threefold increase in production, reaching 300 tons by 2015, just two years after certification. Known for its unique seasoning qualities and lasting flavors, Penja pepper is one of the most sought-after peppers in global cuisine. It has been grown since the 1950s on the volcanic slopes of Mount Koupé in Penja, a town in Cameroon’s Littoral region.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Southern Cameroons Crisis: No extradition for Ayaba Cho

Southern Cameroons Crisis: No extradition for Ayaba Cho

Felix Mbayu, Minister, Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of Relations with the Commonwealth Government, has categorically dismissed the possibility of extraditing Ayaba Cho Lucas, a separatist leader, to Cameroon. Speaking on November 15 during a session with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, Mbayu clarified: “At this stage, there is no judicial cooperation between Cameroon and countries where the separatists reside, such as Norway,” according to the committee’s report.

This statement addressed lawmakers’ concerns during discussions on a bill to ratify Cameroon’s accession to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, aimed at strengthening international counterterrorism efforts. Without a legal framework between Yaoundé and Oslo, Mbayu explained, Ayaba Cho Lucas—accused of involvement in the ongoing conflict in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions—cannot be prosecuted in Cameroon. This legal gap also accounts for the absence of any formal extradition request to Norway.

Lucas Ayaba Cho, whose full name is Lucas Yabah Cho, was arrested in Norway on September 25. His detention followed allegations raised by Christopher Nsahlai, a Cameroonian-born US lawyer. Nsahlai, who specializes in tracking separatist leaders abroad, accused Norwegian authorities of harboring a suspect of crimes against humanity. These charges led to Ayaba Cho’s preventive detention, which has been extended twice by Norwegian courts over concerns he might destroy evidence or influence witnesses if released.

A 52-year-old Cameroonian by origin, Ayaba Cho Lucas also holds German citizenship and resides in Norway. He is the leader of the Ambazonia Defence Force (ADF), which commands and finances several militias active in Cameroon’s restive English-speaking regions.

Despite the lack of an extradition mechanism, Minister Mbayu emphasized the government’s resolve to hold accountable anyone financing or promoting terrorism. “The government is working to ensure that anyone who funds, incites, or fosters terrorist activities is pursued wherever they may be,” the Foreign Affairs Committee’s report quoted him as saying.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Amba commander killed in Bamenda

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Amba commander killed in Bamenda

Two Amba fighters, including a commander, were killed when government forces attacked their hideout early on Sunday in Bamenda the chief city in the North West region.

The Cameroon government military action as confirmed by a source in the North West governor’s office was carried out in the early hours of Sunday.

Yaoundé says the Amba commander killed in the operation was responsible for the deaths of many soldiers and civilians.

Fighting between the Francophone dominated Cameroon government army and Southern Cameroons Restoration Forces has persisted in Cameroon’s two English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest since 2017 when the Ambazonia Interim Government attempted to establish an independent nation in these regions.

By Fon Lawrence with files

COP29 final draft proposes ‘at least’ $300 billion for developing countries

COP29 final draft proposes ‘at least’ $300 billion for developing countries

Negotiators will soon decide whether to accept a proposed $300 billion funding package for poor nations to curb and adapt to climate change — a plan hammered out early Sunday by the head of fractured United Nations climate talks.

The deal to be presented to nations of “at least $300 billion by 2035” is a compromise between the $1.3 trillion a year developing countries seek to adapt to climate change and wean off fossil fuels and the current $100 billion amount.

Evans Njewa, the chair of the Least Developed Countries negotiating bloc of nearly 50 countries, wouldn’t comment specifically on the latest figure, but said “it’s a good value and we hope we can do better.”

The latest figure appears to be something that Fiji can live with, its delegation chief Biman Prasad told The Associated Press.

“Everybody is committed to having an agreement,” Prasad said. “They are not necessarily happy about everything, but the bottom line is everybody wants a good agreement.”

“While wealthy, polluting countries should have committed to a higher amount, this is a floor not a ceiling. The pressure to increase funding will only grow over time,” said Manish Bapta, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “This is not only the right thing to do morally — it is critical for humanity’s survival and prosperity.”

But not everyone was happy.

“The Global North has abandoned the Global South,” Avantika Goswami of New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment said. “This was the last remaining window for the North to step up, pay its fair share, and restore some semblance of trust in the multilateral process. They have failed,” Goswami said.

Mohamed Adow, of the think tank Power Shift Africa said the summit “has been a disaster for the developing world.”

“It’s a betrayal of both people and planet, by wealthy countries who claim to take climate change seriously,” he said.

Panama’s Juan Carlos Monterrey called it “unacceptable” in a post on X, saying “the text is detrimental to our future and the qualified goal is still very low.”

Earlier on Saturday, negotiators went from one big room where everyone tried to hash out a deal together into several separate huddles of upset nations.

Hallway talk oscillated between hope for shuttle diplomacy to bridge the gap and kicking the can down the road to sometime next year. Negotiators and analysts had mostly given up hope that the host presidency would get the job done.

The Azerbaijan presidency brewed up a new rough draft of $300 billion by Saturday afternoon that was never formally presented, but also dismissed roundly by African nations and small island states, according to messages relayed from inside the main meeting room. Then a group of negotiators from the Least Developed Countries bloc and the Alliance of Small Island States left the room.

When asked if the walkout was a protest, Colombia environment minister Susana Mohamed told The Associated Press: “I would call this dissatisfaction, (we are) highly dissatisfied.”

Activists gathered for a final protest outside the hall where leaders meet before a draft deal was announced Sunday, calling for rich countries to pay up, some with tape over their mouths. Even in the final weary hours, “it’s about life and death for all of us,” said Muhammed Lamin Saidykhan with Climate Action Network International.

“We are all in one ship. When the ship sinks, there’s no first class or second class. We are all gonna sink together,” he added.

Late Saturday, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev gaveled through less contentious parts of negotiations — although the passing of Article 6, a mechanism to cut fossil fuels through a market for buying offsets for polluters was met with some opposition.

“We know that carbon markets have failed to address emissions and what they’ve done essentially is undermine the mandate to try to reach 1.5,” said Tamara Gilbertson, climate justice program coordinator with the Indigenous Environmental Network, referring to the goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above preindustrial times.

“The flaws of Article 6 have, unfortunately, not been fixed,” said Isa Mulder, Policy Expert on global carbon markets. “It seems countries were more willing to adopt insufficient rules and deal with the consequences later, rather than prevent those consequences in the first place.”

The presidency hailed it as a success, saying its passing ends a decade-long wait to unlock a “critical tool” to slash emissions.

Developing countries accused the rich of trying to get their way — and a small financial aid package — via a war of attrition.

After bidding one of his suitcase-lugging delegation colleagues goodbye and watching the contingent of about 20 enter the meeting room for the European Union, Panama’s Monterrey Gomez had enough.

“Every minute that passes we are going to just keep getting weaker and weaker and weaker. They don’t have that issue. They have massive delegations,” Monterrey Gomez said. “This is what they always do. They break us at the last minute. You know, they push it and push it and push it until our negotiators leave. Until we’re tired, until we’re delusional from not eating, from not sleeping.”

But he added: “If we don’t get a deal I think it will be a fatal wound to this process, to the planet, to people,” he said.

Source: AP

President Putin says Russia will use new missile again in ‘combat conditions’

President Putin says Russia will use new missile again in ‘combat conditions’

Russia has a stock of powerful new missiles “ready to be used”, President Vladimir Putin has said, a day after his country fired a new ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

In an unscheduled TV address, the Russian leader said the Oreshnik missile could not be intercepted and promised to carry out more tests, including in “combat conditions”.

Russia’s use of the Oreshnik capped a week of escalation in the war that also saw Ukraine fire US and British missiles into Russia for the first time.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for world leaders to give a “serious response” so that Putin “feels the real consequences of his actions”.

His country was asking Western partners for updated air defence systems, he added.

According to news agency Interfax-Ukraine, Kyiv is seeking to obtain the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), or to upgrade its Patriot anti-ballistic missile defence systems.

In Friday’s address Putin said the Oreshnik hypersonic missiles flew at 10 times the speed of sound and ordered them to be put into production. He had earlier said that use of the missile was a response to Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow and Atacms missiles.

Thursday’s strike on Dnipro was described as unusual by eyewitnesses and triggered explosions which went on for three hours.

The attack included a strike by a missile so powerful that in the aftermath Ukrainian officials said it resembled an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Justin Crump, CEO and founder of the risk advisory company Sibylline, told the BBC that Moscow likely used the strike as a warning, noting that the missile – which is faster and more advanced that others in its arsenal – has the capacity to seriously challenge Ukraine’s air defences.

This week’s escalation has also prompted several warnings from other world leaders about the direction of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the war was entering a decisive stage – with a real risk of global conflict.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban meanwhile said the West should take Vladimir Putin’s warnings “at face value” because Russia “bases its policies primarily on military power”.

And North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un warned “never before” had the threat of a nuclear war been greater and accused the US of having an “aggressive and hostile” policy towards Pyongyang.

North Korea has sent thousands of troops to fight on Russia’s side and Ukrainian forces have reported clashes with them in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops are occupying some territory.

US President Biden has said he gave Ukraine permission to use longer-range Atacms missiles against targets inside Russia as a response to Moscow’s use of North Korean troops.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both countries are now trying to secure a battlefield advantage before Donald Trump becomes US president in January.

Trump has vowed to end the war within hours but has not provided details as to how.

In his nightly address, Zelensky also criticised China for its response to Moscow’s new missile after China’s foreign ministry said all parties should “remain calm and exercise restraint”.

“From Russia, this is a mockery of the position of states such as China, states of the Global South, some leaders who call for restraint every time,” he said.

He also criticised the Ukrainian parliament for postponing a session on Friday over security concerns following the attack on Dnipro.

In a post on Telegram, he said unless an air raid signal sounded everyone should work as normal – and not take Russian threats as “permission to have a day off”.

“The siren sounds – we go to shelter. When there is no siren – we work and serve. There is no other way in war,” he said.

Source: BBC

Vera Songwe appointed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

Vera Songwe appointed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

Vera Songwe has been appointed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to his country’s highly prestigious Economic Advisory Council. This is an advisory body responsible for proposing guidelines on issues of openness to the ecosystem of members, employability and entrepreneurship, as well as societal issues.

The renowned Cameroonian holds a doctorate in mathematical economics, a Master of Arts in law and economics and a postgraduate diploma in economic and political sciences from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. She also holds a BA in Economics and Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Dr Vera Songwe is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, co-chair of the high-level panel on climate finance appointed by the UK and Egyptian governments alongside Lord Nick Stern. She is the former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

She has led many efforts to bring greater prosperity to Africa. She has worked with African heads of government, finance ministers and central bank governors, international organisations and the private sector on macroeconomic stability, monetary policy, financial innovation and inclusive growth, economic integration and trade, and private sector development.

She is a globally recognised and respected leader and has provided policy advice to many continental and institutional leaders worldwide. Previously, Dr. Songwe was Regional Director of the International Finance Corporation, covering West and Central Africa. She oversaw a multi-billion dollar investment portfolio in energy, transport, manufacturing and technology. She has also held a number of positions at the World Bank, including Country Director and Adviser to the Managing Director for Africa, Europe and Central and South Asia. She spent 10 years of her career working and living in Asia.

She joined the World Bank as a young professional. Prior to joining the Bank, she was a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota and the University of Southern California. Dr Songwe was named African Icon of the Year in 2022 by the African Bankers Association for her work on SDRs, inflation, debt management and domestic resource mobilisation. She was named one of the ‘100 Most Influential Africans’ by Jeune Afrique in 2021 as well as the top 50 most influential African women by Forbes magazine in 2019 and one of the 25 Africans to Watch by the Financial Times.

By Rita Akana

Arrest warrants for Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant

Arrest warrants for Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for the Israeli regime’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, over war crimes against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I, composed of three judges, announced the sentence in a statement on Thursday, six months after the court’s Prosecutor, Karim Khan, requested it. Earlier, the ICC panel dismissed Israel’s appeals, contesting its jurisdiction.

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