A Cameroonian man and a Thai woman have been arrested for operating a company that deceived buyers into thinking it was affiliated with a major agribusiness company, resulting in more than 3.5 million baht in damages, police say.

Police from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) executed a warrant on Saturday to arrest Etienne Kukwa, 35, and a 36-year-old Kanchanaburi native, identified only as Wipaporn, on charges of defrauding the public and entering fraudulent information into a computer system.

Authorities were acting on reports filed by Thai and Malaysian import-export businesses, which claimed the duo had set up a company named CP Processing to mislead clients into believing it was connected to the well-known Thai conglomerate with a similar name. The real CP is authorised to export raw livestock to Malaysia.

The suspects managed to secure orders for raw chicken worth 3.58 million baht, but the orders were never delivered.

Complainants indicated that the duo’s actions not only caused financial losses but also harmed the reputation of the original company.

Ms Wipaporn was listed as the president of the fraudulent enterprise and was found to have made transfers to Mr Kukwa.

The woman was apprehended in Wang Thong Lang district of Bangkok, while the Cameroon national was apprehended in Bang Phongphang in Yan Nawa district.

Authorities seized 70,500 baht in cash, 14 bank passbooks, two passports, 11 communication devices and 17 credit cards. Bank accounts containing 2 million baht have also been frozen.

Both suspects have denied the charges, but police claim to have strong evidence and will pursue legal action.

Source: Bangkok Post

At least 18 people died when a boat carrying passengers heading to a market in Cameroon’s Far North region capsized, a local administrative official said on Friday.

The accident occurred on Thursday on waterways leading to the district of Darak, an island in the Lake Chad Basin near the border with Chad, where seasonal floods have made boats the only viable means of getting around.

Mamat Zarma, divisional officer of Darak, said the wooden boat was en route when it was rocked by violent winds, causing it to capsize.

“So far, we have recovered the bodies of five women and 13 men,” Zarma told Reuters by telephone, adding that the exact number of passengers onboard at the time of the accident was unknown.

He said search and rescue operations were ongoing to find other possible missing people.

Two weeks ago, a similar incident occurred in the nearby district of Goulfey, when a locally-built canoe carrying around 30 passengers capsized, killing four people and leaving others missing.

Heavier-than-usual seasonal rains in parts of West and Central Africa have caused widespread floods, including in Cameroon’s Logone and Chari division, which includes Darak and Goulfey.

This has forced locals to rely on water transport to get around, but a lack of canoes encourages overcrowding – the most common cause of boat accidents in the area.

While the rainy season is drawing to a close across a large part of West and Central Africa, many countries are still grappling with the fallout from the flooding, which killed more than 1,520 people, affected around 7.2 million others, and had swamped 960,000 hectares of cropland as of Nov. 20, according to the U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA.

Source: Reuters

Secretary of State for Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Galax Etoga, has ordered a judicial investigation into an incident involving barrister Richard Tamfu. This directive was outlined in a memo issued by Colonel Pierre Aimé Bikele, commander of the Littoral Gendarmerie Legion.

A short video recorded on November 27 in Douala shows a gendarme kicking Richard Tamfu as onlookers shout in protest. The video has sparked widespread outrage.

Galax Etoga has tasked the commander of the Littoral Gendarmerie Legion with hearing all parties and witnesses who could shed light on the incident. The investigation must be completed within 72 hours.

Since the incident, Richard Tamfu has refrained from publicly sharing his account, stating only that he was responding to a summons. He claims the gendarmes acted as if they were enforcing an arrest warrant. According to his associates, the lawyer was performing his professional duties when he was forcibly taken. Tamfu was reportedly hospitalized following the assault.

This episode comes as a blow to the SED, which recently relaunched a campaign against torture within the ranks of the gendarmerie.

Reaction from the Bar Association

The Cameroon Bar Association responded swiftly. In a statement released on November 28, its president, Mbah Eric Mbah, said:

“While awaiting a meeting of the Bar Council in the coming hours, the Bar President has instructed the Human Rights Commission and the Bar representatives in the Littoral Region to gather all relevant facts about this excessive incident, so the Bar Council can decide on the appropriate actions.”

The video has drawn condemnation from opposition politicians and public figures. The Social Democratic Front (SDF) described the incident as “inhumane and unacceptable.” SDF President Joshua Osih called for swift and exemplary sanctions, stating on Facebook: “The senior leadership of the National Gendarmerie must act immediately against the perpetrators of this medieval savagery.”

Maurice Kamto, leader of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), criticized the systemic issues behind such incidents.

“This act speaks volumes about the training of law enforcement and judicial police officers in our country, as well as the inability or unwillingness of magistrates to effectively oversee their work,” Kamto remarked on social media.

Source: Sbbc

The third edition of the Festival of Flavors of Cameroon and the World officially began on November 26 at the National Museum esplanade in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital. Running under the theme “Gastronomy and Intellectual Property,” this culinary event will conclude on December 1, 2024.

This year’s festival spotlights Ndolé, a beloved Cameroonian dish made with bitter leaves, peanuts, and spices. According to Minister of Tourism Maïgari Bello Bouba, who presided over the festival’s opening, Ndolé is on the path to being officially certified by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This recognition aims to protect its unique identity and promote its heritage.

Launched in 2022, the Festival of Flavors of Cameroon and the World is an initiative of the Network of Restaurateurs for the Promotion of Cameroon’s Culinary Heritage (Crespac), led by renowned restaurateur Marie-Thérèse Atedzoe. The event, supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure, seeks to establish Cameroon as a top culinary destination.

Source: Business in Cameroon

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

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

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

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

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