- By Solomon Tembang The condition of Cameroon’s ace musician and firebrand artist Lambo Sanjo Pierre Roger aka Lapiro de Mbanga, held at the Mbanga Central Prison in the Mungo Division of the Littoral province since April this year has worsen. He was about two weeks ago transferred to the Nkongsamba Central prison, still on pre-trial detention. “Lapiro is in a critical state. He is psychologically and physically very week,” his wife told Eden by telephone at the weekend. Louissette Lambo, speaking in a very demoralised tone said since the transfer of “Ndina man” to Nkongsamba he has been through untold pain. “In Mbanga, one could easily visit him.…

- By Solomon Tembang An organisation, Save the Children, working to rehabilitate and reintegrate child soldiers in DR Congo has said the war there has created thousands of child soldiers. Meanwhile, the fighting in the Eastern DRC has left over five million people dead. Thousands of women have been brutally raped. Jasmine Whitbread, the CEO of Save the Children UK told reporters that the peace process that exists on paper is really not there on the ground. “It was very concerning to see the escalation in violence and the huge displacements of people that have been going on in the last few months. The stories from some of the children, in fact, who had escaped from the fighting,…

There are possibilities that Cameroon striker, Samuel Eto'o may stay on in FC Barcelona despite the fact that the teams new coach had said Eto'o and Ronaldinho were not in his game plan. - Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain has admitted Samuel Eto'o could stay at the Spanish club because clubs interested in him are unable to meet his high wage demands. Eto'o and Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho have been told to leave the Nou Camp by new coach Pep Guardiola, who is building a new squad. AC Milan has been strongly linked with moves for both Ronaldinho and Eto'o, who is also being targeted by Juventus and Chelsea. But Begiristain told reporters at the…

UN aid to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Rutshuru has been suspended. UN officials in the country say this measure is due to insecurity in the area. - Civilians are reported to have attacked a U.N. peacekeeping force with stones and machetes earlier this week. According to Spokeswoman Sylvie Van den Wildenberg humanitarian agents had not been deliberately targeted, but there were instances of aid workers and vehicles being caught up in the violence. She said a U.N. World Food Programme truck, loaded with food aid, was destroyed in the uprising. Van den Wildenberg is quoted to have said it is unfortunate the population would have to pay the price for the violence. …

A group, calling itself the Niger Delta Defence and Security Council, NDDSC, has claimed responsibility for the killing of 21 Cameroonian soldiers in the Bakassi Peninsula last November. - The claim contained in a communiqué issued on 12 June 2008 states that they had warned Cameroon through their embassy in Nigeria that they would not compromise their stance on the peninsula. The Communiqué, signed by a certain General A. G. Basuo as Director of Operations and Commander Ebi Dari, alleges that on 4 March 2008 they were “invited to Limbe in Cameroon in regard to the disputed Bakassi Peninsula” but failed to disclose who invited them. The next meeting, they alleged, was t…

- By Solomon Tembang Thursday 26 June 2008 marks exactly five years after the death of Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe after collapsing during an international match in France. On Thursday 26 June 2003, the 28-year-old fell to the ground unchallenged in the 72nd minute of a Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia in Lyon. He was treated on the pitch before being stretchered off and receiving further treatment, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and extra oxygen. Medical staff are reported to have tried to restart his heart for 45 minutes but without success “The player was still alive when he was taken to the medical centre in Gerland Stadium in Lyon, where he…

Galatasaray’s Cameroon central defender Rigobert Song has left the team and joined the Trabzon Black Sea Storm. - According to a report posted on the Trabzonspor official Web site, club General Manager Mahmut Aksu traveled to France, where he completed the transfer deal with Song. The report further said Song signed a two-year deal with the Black Sea side after both sides reached agreement on all aspects. Prior to joining Galatasaray in 2004, Song had been all over the place. He played for Metz, Salernitana, Liverpool, West Ham, Cologne and Lens. The 32-year-old Song became an instant fan favorite after his transfer to Galatasaray and formed a strong defensive partnersh…

- By Solomon Tembang Two years after the African Union mandated Senegal to conduct the trial of Chadian dictator Hissenè Habré, who is accused of thousands of political murders during his eight-year reign, the prosecution remains in limbo, six human rights groups complained in a joint statement Monday. Alioune Tine of the Dakar-based African Assembly for the Defence of Human Rights (RADDHO) is quotd to have said Senegal has perfected the art of delay in this case and that the African Union’s credibility is at stake "This is a test case for African justice. Africa can't complain that international justice is picking on African leaders while it allows the Habré case to die…

The government of the Central African Republic has said it is ready for all-inclusive national dialogue, after an overall peace accord was signed with leaders of two major rebel groups. - The countries Minister of Communications Cyriaque Gonda says a repeatedly delayed national dialogue with representatives of all rebel, political and civil society groups is now well on its way to being realized. Gonda said the latest peace accord, which takes up previously signed agreements which were never implemented, should give amnesty to rebels. Human rights groups have also condemned the CAR government security forces for acts of rape, torture and looting in the volatile and poorly-nourished n…

- By Solomon Tembang Striker Samuel Eto'o is still undecided over his future in FC Barcelona. He has not ruled out staying at Barcelona next season even though he has been told he is surplus to requirements at the Spanish club. The Cameroon international is a subject of intense transfer speculation after Barcelona’s new coach Pep Guardiola told him to look for another club. Even though top Italian sides AC Milan and rivals Inter as well as English giants Chelsea and Arsenal have all been linked to the striker, Eto'o is undecided about his future. Guardiola was unimpressed about Eto'o's sketchy form last season but the striker vigorously defended his last…

- By Solomon Tembang The 9th Summit of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC, kicked off in Yaoundé yesterday on a sound note with all the leaders of the five member states but Chad answering present. El Hadj Omar Bongo of Gabon, Denis Sassou – Nguessou of Congo, Theodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, Francoise Bozize of the Central African republic, while Chad was represented by its Prime Minister Youssou Saleh. There were also two observers, President Fradiques Menezes, President of Sao Tome and Principe and President Joseph Kabila of the democratic republic of Congo. Opening the session President Paul Biya the current chairman of the sub …

- By Solomon Tembang The intermediate Lions of Cameroon will be playing against the red devils of Congo in the final of the 5th edition of the CEMAC football tournament at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium. It is an important rendez vous because heads of states and other VIPs currently attending the conference shall be part of the encounter that has witnessed important innovations since the competition was introduced four years ago. Today will therefore be the end of the journey for the six participatory countries that were all present on the starting bloc when the competition was launched last 14th June It is the 4th consecutive time all six countries are appearing for the tournament, which…

The trial in Equatorial Guinea of a British mercenary, Simon Mann, accused of plotting to overthrow the country's government ended on Friday 20 June, but no verdict was announced. - A verdict in the case is expected next week. Mann has admitted he agreed to take part in a 2004 plot to topple President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, in exchange for payments from future oil revenues. But Mann says he did not have a leading role in the failed coup. Mann has testified that Mark Thatcher - the son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher - helped plan and finance the coup plot. Mann also said that a London-based Lebanese businessman, Eli Calil, was the coup's mastermind. …

Five Cameroonian soldiers and the Divisional Officer of Kombo Abedimo in the Bakassi peninsula, Felix Morfaw Fonya were Friday 20 June 2008 today honoured for the last time, by authorities at the grandstand of the Manga William avenue in Limbe. - All of them were murdered by yet to be identified gunmen in the Bakassi area on Monday 9 June 2008. Hordes of sympathizers and well-wishers, family members and colleagues thronged to Limbe for what will be the last honours for these valiant soldiers and official slain serving the Cameroon flag in Bakassi. When President Paul Biya’s personal representative at the occasion, Minister of Defense, Remy Ze Meka accompanied by the Secretary of …

Chad's army chief has said his soldiers have routed rebels, stopping their latest offensive in the east of the country, but the rebels say it is a strategic retreat. - Captured rebels were lined up in front of seized rounds of ammunitions as they were shown to the media after Chadian troops routed rebel forces in Am Zoer, northeast of the capital. Chief of army staff General Touka Ramadan Kore is quoted to have said Chadian soldiers had won a decisive victory on the latest battleground of Am-Zoer, pushing back rebels, killing more than 100, and taking dozens prisoner. He also said several soldiers had been killed. There was, however, no independent confirmation of the army report.…

South Africa has rejected suggestions that it gave military support to alleged coup plotters to overthrow the Equatorial Guinea's government in 2004. - Simon Mann, who is currently on trial for masterminding the failed coup attempt, reportedly said South Africa played a supporting role in the aborted coup attempt. The South African government, however, dismissed Mann’s claims, saying South African laws prohibit the involvement of citizens in military activities outside its borders without due authorization. The South African government described the accusation as laughable. Pretoria added that it would not support the use of mercenaries to bring about fundamental politica…

- By Solomon Tembang Tow senior Cameroonian police officers have been suspended for tampering with sensitive files. They were suspended by two decisions signed by the Delegate General for National Security Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o, on behalf of the President of the Republic. The suspend police officials are of the department of judicial police. They have been suspended from their duties for a period of three months. The suspended are Superintendents of police, Mme Minkoue Eyenga, Chief of Service for the Coordination of Economic and Financial Investigations and Mr. Moutassi Jean Pierre, Deputy Head for Studies and Coordination of Criminal Investigations at the department judici…

British mercenary, Simon Mann faces 30 years in an Equatorial Guinea jail. Prosecutors in Equatorial Guinea are pressing for a 30 years jail term for his 2004 coup plot. - Prosecutors have also named Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, as a plot organiser. Meanwhile, Mann had admitted his involvement in March. He hower, said he was not the “main man” behind the plot. On his part, Mark Thatcher was fined in 2005 and received a suspended sentence in South Africa for unknowingly helping to finance it. Mann who is an ex-SAS officer was arrested four years ago with 64 others in Zimbabwe. He served four years in prison there for trying to pu…

- By Solomon Tembang The transfer of Cameroon international Jean Makoun to French champions Olympique Lyonnaise has been confirmed, a 14-million Euro transfer fee being paid to Lille for the services of the classy midfielder. Makoun, who has been featuring for Cameroon in their World Cup qualifying campaign, has signed a four year contract, saying he was looking for a new challenge. “I had contact with clubs in England and Italy but I did not hesitate when Lyon came for me. I am particularly looking forward to playing in the UEFA Champions League and winning title, something I have not done in my career yet,” the 25-year-old said.

- By Solomon Tembang The process of identifying the corpses of the six Cameroonians who were on 9 June killed by yet to be known gun men in the troubled Bakassi Peninsula has begun. The Governor of the South West Province, Louis Eyeya Zanga, and his entourage on Tuesday 17 June made a stopover at the Limbe Provincial hospital mortuary where the corpses have since Friday last week secretly been kept. Africanews learnt that the Governor’s visit was on the heels of the discovery of the corpse of the DO for Kumbo Abedimo, Felix Morfaw Fonya, on 16 June in the Bakassi mangroves. A military source said of the six officials who were kidnapped with the D.O, Felix Fonya Mofor was taken t…

Ten Cameroonians in Pitoaré II in the Mayo Kaney division in the Far North province of Cameroon have been killed at the Cameroonian border with Chad. - Fifteen inhabitants of the Pitoaré II neighbourhood were taken hostage by armed robbers who asked for a ransom of FCFA 22.5millions. The villagers succeeded in raising FCFA 7.7 million and sent to the kidnappers through their mediator. After receiving this amount, 5 of the kidnapped were released while the kidnappers asked for the rest of the money before releasing the others. Informed of the situation, Cameroonian forces of law and order mounted an operation to track down the kidnappers. Things rather went sour as the kidnappers we…

One of the more than 2000 Chadian refugees, who were relocated in Garoua for almost a month after the recent fighting in their country, was on Saturday 14 June reportedly shot dead by Cameroonian security forces. - The victim who was identified as Masra Sou is said to have been killed during a protest staged by the refugees to demand better living conditions. Many others at the Langui refugee camp in the Benoue Division were also wounded. Since the refugees arrived in Langui in Garoua, there have been persistent complains of poor feeding and living conditions. The refugees have been furious for living on rice for too long and wanted other foodstuff, which could provide some protein. …

Chad has secured its first victory in the race to the World Cup 2010 in South Africa - Chad beat Congo-Brazzaville 2-1 in N'Djamena to put their first points on the board in this campaign. The visitors took the lead on 30 minutes, but two goals early in the second half gave Chad the win. The Chadians can still qualify for the World Cup in 2010, but have been thrown out of the Nations Cup by CAF, after failing to arrive for their match against Sudan because of political problems.

Chadian rebels last Thursday launched fresh attacks near the border with Sudan. The rebels are claiming to have shot down a government helicopter. - Nonetheless, Chadian Minister of Communication, Mahamat Hissene has said the army is prepared to push back the rebels. He accused Sudan of having given the orders to attack to the rebels. Meanwhile, the UN has said Sudan and Chad are fighting a proxy war through each other's rebel groups. Chad closed its border with Sudan last month and suspended economic ties. That came after Sudan cut diplomatic relations with Chad following an attack by Darfur rebels near the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. Sudan on its part accuses Chad of back…

- By Solomon Tembang The fifth edition of the Economic Committee of Central Africa States, CEMAC football competition kicks off in Cameroon on Saturday 14 June 2008. Cameroon plays against Chad in the opening match at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde. The competition involves amateur, home based players in the CEMAC sub region. Cup holders, Congo, Central African Republic and other delegations arrived the country on Friday 13 June. Ahead of encounter Cameroon’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Augustine Edzoa chaired a preparatory meeting of the organising committee to evaluate the level of preparation for the tournament. During the preparatory meeting it was r…