STANDARD MIRROR

23 Pupils Rescued in Kumba, 2 “Amba” Kidnappers Neutralised, SDO promises Tougher days.

Cameroonian Security and Defense Forces have rescued some 23 pupils in Kumba, Meme Division, South West Region, kidnapped by “Amba Fighters” on the morning of Monday January 20th 2020.

The children were randomly picked on their way to school and taken to an unknown destination.
After few hours of the kidnap, the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, for Meme Division, Chamberlain Ntu’ou Ndong, sent a combat ready Military team to confront the situation. They all came back with the 23 children.

These soldiers also came back with Guns of different models, hard drugs, Knifes and other dangerous weapons, from the hideout of these kidnappers as they displayed the items infront of the SDO’s office to the embarrassment of the yielding parents who were frantically awaiting the arrival of their children.

Though looking frustrated and tired, with a melange in Fear and Happiness towards the situation, These parents were still very keen on the message of the SDO, Chamberlain Ndong, who cautioned them to be very alert and to report any suspicion to the Forces of law and order for immediate actions.

To the separatist fighters, The SDO has the following words;

“Tell those Amba Boys that, we are here for the sake of our profession. If you try, you are going to face the forces of law and order”

Its not the first time that separatists of the Ambazonia are being accused of Mass kidnap. Schools like PSS Nkwen and Bafut in the North West Region have equally suffered same fate. The separatists and their Diaspora leaders have remained resolute to the idea of “No School” in the Anglophone Part of Cameroon.

However, some communities across South West Region like TOLE, have vowed to start effective study as they have started organising raids to crackdown the separatists, although most communities remain totally deserted with schools burn down by the fighting parties.

UNICEF and other groups and opinion leaders have condemned the idea of frustrating children while the crisis runs.

Mbaku Jude

Standard Mirror

Anglophone Crisis: Child Murdered for Going to school, Aspiring MP Cries.

Ngalla Gerald, aspirant for Member of Parliament for February 9th 2020 polls, for Nkambe Central, Donga Mantung Division of the North West of Cameroon for the ruling CPDM party in one of his rare media outings, Tuesday January 21st 2019 in what he describes as “Merciless and brutal murder by Ambazonian Terrorist Fighters”, has condemned the kidnap, torture and killing of a pupil of less than 7 years by armed separatists.

The said victim is called Blaise Afanyu of Mbot village, who had started school just 2 weeks ago after missing classes for three years plus, when the crisis started in 2016.
It is also reported that not just was the boy killed, also the hand of his mother, Madam Belinda Afanyu was chopped off by the gang.

The businessman and Political leader, Ngalla Gerald of Nkambe, has been so instrumental in putting off the macabre activities of the separatists, providing school needs to pupils and students and has sustained his general resolve to ensuring that, perfect peace and tranquility return to his constituency. Though from the ruling CPDM party often considered cunning in approach, he has often been respected by the political class of the North West Region for his dynamic administrative skills.

To him, the kidnaps and murder of Teachers, learners and parents for opting to educate the next Generation of youths is such a big Sin that must be avoided.
Separatist fighting for the restoration of “Ambazonia Republic” have often committed hideous acts of kidnap and chopping of students’ fingers, as many children have escaped the regions to French speaking ones to pursue studies.

Standard Mirror News Blog, in partnership with the Pro Education Movement, “Educate Them Now Movement, Africa” of Mbaku Jude, Continue to advocate for the Right to Education of all Children of the crisis Plagued Anglophone regions and keep warning of the crimes committed against humanity and the next Generation.

Mbaku Jude
Standard Mirror

350 Gendarmerie Officers Land On Buea Against February Elections.

Monday January 6th 2020, 5:26pm, 15 military trucks and a 70 seaters Bus arrived the National Gendarmerie, Second Region, South West Legion Headquarters in Buea. The military elements were welcomed by Colonel Tchinda Henri, Commander of the Legion, who in addressing them, gave exact instructions on their stay in the restive South West Region.

The agile looking officers were reminded that, the crisis in this region has given birth to high crime waves with serious banditry activities especially from Ambazonia fighters and impostors. Therefore, they have been sent to serve the population in curbing these excesses.

Government’s action is in a steady effort in ensuring that the February 9th Municipal and Parliamentary elections are hitch free. These military agents are to be scattered into the 6 Divisions of the South West region for them to start getting used to the terrain one month plus, to the twin elections scheduled for February 9th 2020.

Speaking to the Press shortly after installing his guests, Colonel Nchinda remarked:

“These elements are here to do everything so that the elections will be held in safe conditions. What I can say to the population is to be confident in the National Gendarmerie knowing that, they are for the population to protect them”.

The populations of the North West and South West regions have often been skeptical of the presence of military in their localities for they are seen as provocative to the Separatists fighters who in turn, launch offensives against the military. This usually doesn’t go without civilian casualties.

President Paul Biya in his end of year speech, December 31st 2019, promised Cameroonians that the elections (which have been outlawed by separatists with a call for one week lock down) will hold as he equally promised more harder measures in combating the Fighters for “Ambazonia” who do not repent.

Mbaku Jude
Standard Mirror

First batch of Ex Ambazonian Fighters to Pick Government Jobs.

At the DDR ( Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration) center in Buea, Capital of South West Cameroon and Suppose capital of the “so called Ambazonian Republic”, over 90 ex combatants gathered, December 30th 2019, with T- shirts of mixed colours, green, red, and yellow of the Cameroon flag for their End of year guests.

In a solemn and calm atmosphere, the representative of the Prime Minister assigned for this Launching exercise of the Reintegration process for the South West Region DDR Center, Madam Ndoh Belta announced that the recruitment of the Trainees shall be done in the most equitable manner, with priority given those who have been in the center longer, on ” First come, First serve Basis”.

She added;

“The Head of state has also prescribed some special accompanying measures for you which will come soon. The Prime Minister Congratulates you for your patience and discipline throughout your stay in the center”.

She also urged them to go out and be good Ambassadors of the center and Peace Ambassadors, while inviting others still in the bushes to follow the good example of their peers.

Mr Fonjuh Bernard, lead Coordinator of the center for South West Region announced that the ex fighters had waited anxiously for their reintegration and is convinced that the move breeds hope and joy. He re-echoed some of their concerns mainly being the fact that a vast majority of the ex combatants do not longer have their national identity cards. Accommodation facilities too is a problem for the increasing number of them dropping arms. Of the 4 dormitories with 2 being used by the defense forces and just 7 females amongst the ex fighters.

Adamou Mussa, also announced another graduation for the 2nd batch to take place in January 2020 and promised alot in store for the center and the beneficiaries from the Head of state.

Of the over 90 ex fighters, it is certain that about 30 will be employed in this pilot phase into vocational training centers across the country with the aid of Government especially in the domain of Arts and Crafts.

The DDR centers were created sometime in 2017 by President Paul Biya to encourage young Cameroonians who have taken up arms in the wake of the Anglophone Crisis to give them up with a similar exercise is tipped for the other centers in Bamenda, North West Regional Capital. Note should be taken that another exist in Mora, Far North Region of Cameroon for ex combatants of the Boko haram insurgency.

In October 2019 and by the time of the hosting of the Grand Major National Dialogue, Government had announced that more than 300 fighters for Ambazonia were present in Yaounde physically to denounce terrorism and sort refuge in the centers.

Critical observers however have wondered how effective and sustainable this exercise can last given that, more than 5,000 of them are announced by Separatists to be recruits of the different Arm wings fighting for the Independence of these two regions from the other part of Cameroon.

Government says, more are giving up their arms as days go by and is putting in alot in terms of logistics to facilitate the exercise.

This action by President Biya’s Government comes at a time when over 100 truckloads of Humanitarian Relief Aids materials have been dispatched to these regions by the presidential couple to salvage the humanitarian needs of the Anglophone distressed populace.

Though Press access was restricted to the ex fighters who have been at the center for over 7 months, their excitement and commitment towards the process are telling signs of repentance as they pledged to work for Peace and return to normalcy in the entire country.

Mbaku Jude

Standard Mirror

Cameroon Community Media Network, CCMN, widens Tentacles, Appoints National Officials.

The biggest media network platform that has been in Cameroon has gone national creating it’s existence in 8 out of 10 regions in the country. The Cameroon Community Media Network made the sacrosanct move within a 5-day seminar that took place from December 2nd to 6th 2019 at the Presbyterian Synod Office in Buea, Cameroon.

During this workshop, about 25 focal point members had a long week studying the core tenets of the CCMN amongst; Peace Journalism, Conflict Resolution and Transformation as well as examining The Future challenges of the Community Media in Cameroon.

The workshop brought together experts in various aspects and domains such as, Civil Society, International Humanitarian Organization, Non Governmental Organizations, Faith Based Groups, and Credible Media Experts who took to round table discussions and hours of lectures in examining the realities that Community Media and their practitioners face.

In a bid to fast track it’s vision, Alexandre Vodvoda, Project coordinator explained that the Network has chosen to go National for effective implementation and monitoring.

It in this context that Rose Akah Obah, station Manager of the Christian Broadcasting Service Radio, CBS Bamenda was appointed to lead the Network alongside 3 others for a period of two years until fresh elections will be organised at a General Assembly after 2 years.

Rev Mokoko installs National Officers of CCMN

Installing them to their functions, the National Peace Officer and National Communication Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, Rev.Mokoko Mbue Thomas reminded them of their prime objective which is to serve and create an impact in the lives of the media and Practitioners in this difficult moment of the political history in Cameroon.

The coordinators of other regions were appointed with the Grand North ( 3 regions) merged, Littoral Separated from the Southwest, and West cut off from the Northwest, as well as the Centre region.

These leaders unveiled their plan of action for the the coming year 2020 while awaiting official restructuring and finalisation of the network as per the laws of Association in the Republic of Cameroon.

Mbaku Jude

Standard Mirror

New Coalition Rises Against PCC’s Moderator, demands Suspension of Elections.

A new synergy of PCC Teachers Trade Union, PEATTU, clergy and laity of the Presbyterian Church In Cameroon under the Canopy of “Phoenix-PEATTU“, has made a call to the Election Commission to Suspend upcoming elections in the church billed for this month, November 2019. The ” Phoenix-PEATTU” petition is contained in a two-page document, with hard worded points against the current leadership of the church led by Right Rv.Fonki Samuel Forba.

Amongst the signatories are renounced names like PEATTU’s leader, Afuh Stephen, Rev Titang Kingsley, Victor Epie Ngome, and Rev Anye Mo Mandzong amongst others.

To them, a catalogue of issues need to be addressed before convening elections for new church leaders. They say, the constitution has been grossly violated with evidences of corruption and financial improprieties that has reached a level which the church has never witnessed. Furthermore, the coalition indicts the church leaders of egoism, usurpation of powers from church institutions, and cultic hypnotism.

The coalition however proposes to the commission on Elections that, a Caretaker Commission be created, whose mandate will be to clear the constitutional mess, investigate all allegations against leaders, organise a rerun for nominations for Synod Clerk and Moderator, oversee and approve the church’s expenditure in the interim government.

They warn;

“It will be a dreadful thing for any of us to have the looming disintegration of this church on their consciences. May the spirit of God speak to each heart as we do what we sincerely believe to be our best for the restoration of the PCC”.

Speaking to Standard Mirror on phone to his Souza Parish, Rev Anye Mo Mandzong, a church minister who has written many epistles against the current leadership of the church, cried out that its unfortunate that descenting voices aren’t given an ear in a church that should be a moral rectifier.

“We are stopping at nothing and we are doing this because we are helpless, Until we reach a point of no return and it should be sure that we left no stone unturned”.

Says the man of God.

Rev Anye added that, their actions are for the sake and goodness of the church, not for an individual who has hijacked the institutions that could bring this long crisis to a halt.

This hard petition comes after many other letters had been circulated online and offline against the Moderator by credible Church Elders, fellow Pastors and institutional heads of the PCC at home and in the Diaspora. A cold war is also rumoured pitting the closest collaborator of the moderator, Synod Clerk Fochang Babila George over succession and constitution thwarting by the former, to disable the latter from leading the church. The moderator has often been wrapped in financial, constitutional and leadership scandals. He is noted in records to have declared that the church is not Governed on Social media, a platform where his opponents have often exploited.

However, supporters of the Embattled Moderator have often dismissed claims of poor leadership, blaming Satan for struggling over God’s church. The mega projects like the High School in Douala, Pastors Hotel in Buea, Pres Insurance in Yaounde amongst other developmental achievements of the present leadership has been applauded by many worshippers, though some say focus has rather tilted towards financial investments than spirituality of the over 1.5Million Christians at home and abroad.

The current leaders took over from Rt Rev Dr Festus Ambe Asana as moderator and Rev Abwenzoh Williams as Synod clerk in a highly contested election in 2014, with an aura and renewed hope from the young team, towards a reformed church.

For now, it is not clear what force could give the “Phoenix-PEATTU” coalition petition a greenlight given that the current Moderator had been declared suitable choice in an exit poll earlier last month. The date for PCC election is yet to be formally announced.

Mbaku Jude
Standard Mirror

Cho Ayaba Announces Arrest of Wardess Ayafor’s Murderer

Self Proclaimed leader of the Ambazonian Defense Forces, ADF, fighting for the Independence of the Anglophone regions in Cameroon Monday night, has announced that his Forces are keeping the murderers of Ayafor Florence. He first made the statement on Facebook, followed by pictures of three boys displayed on social media platforms with all having their hands tied and with their boxers only.

He writes;

The Ambazonian Defense Forces now have in custody the killers of Ayafor Florence

The suspects, 3 dreaded looking males approximately in their 20s have the dreadlocks styled-hair, with a very noticeable one seemingly the leader, who had been posted online long ago as a wanted person.
Though not clear of how many were involved in the act, the boys of Pinyin Clan, Santa-Sub Division of the North West Region of Cameroon are surely going to give more details on the heinous act.

They were caught in 2 separate videos that circulated online, pulling a naked Mrs Ayafor, Mother of 5 and wardress at the central Prison in Bamenda, to a location where a club and Machete was used to dismember her head from the rest of her body.

Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam had earlier enjoined the population to make known these perpetuators to security agents. However, the military had not been able to reach out to the situation given the complex nature of the ongoing crisis.

The Security wing of Ambazonia had also announced that it will investigate and arrest those before the act. Now they are in keeping of them and no one knows for sure what confessions they will make or what will happen thereafter.

Both parties, Government and Ambazonian Fighters have often blamed each other for such crimes with the Ambazonian Defense Groups accusing Government of penetrating their ranks and soiling their image.

The U.S Government and the E.U had also urged the Government of Cameroon to do an impartial investigation of the situation.

What kind of justice and how it will be served remains a wonder, as the relieved population await in anxiety because Mrs Ayafor isn’t the first to be beheaded or tortured to death in the current deadlock crisis.

Mbaku Jude

Standard Mirror

Major National Dialogue Participant from Diaspora in Kondegui Prison.

The news of the detention of Patrick Asanga fondly called Paddy Asanga broke out Wednesday afternoon. Sources say, Mr Asanga had gone to visit Detainees at the Kondegui Maximum Security prison when he was caught filming the location with a Camera, this against the prison rules.

Paddy Asanga had been invited from Germany where he lives to Yaoundé’s Major National Dialogue that held from September 31st to October 4th 2019. Some Activists were shocked however to see the diehard supporter of the Ambazonian Republic to have landed in Yaoundé after his viral video of setting ablaze the Cameroonian Nation Flag, a crime punishable in Cameroon.

There are high hopes that Paddy will be released soonest for being patriotic and coming back home to Dialogue on the long years crisis affecting the Anglophone regions. He was highly instrumental in the Commission that sorted to redress the form of state in Cameroon.

The Dialogue Spokesman, George Ewane had earlier announced that all activists invited from the Diaspora for the exercise are immune to Arrest within Cameroon. However, others who were invited like Mark Bareta and Tapang Ivo already had their case files opened in the Yaoundé military court same moment of the Dialogue.

Ambazonian Rebel spokesman, Tapang Ivo Tanku has reacted in what many say is conspiracy to drown the man Paddy Asanga for attending the Dialogue they had denied.

He writes;
“It is very unfortunate that our spy and informant Paddy Assanga (Patrick Assanga) has been arrested and detained in the Kondengui Maximum Security Prison while on a covert mission for Ambazonia in Kondengui.
We hired him to secretly take photos in Kondengui so that we could spy on security cleavages and other avenues for an escape plan. Paddy Assanga did just that but was unfortunately caught. It is regrettable.
Although he remains in detention indefinitely, we are requesting his equipment to be returned to us, Ambazonians in the diaspora. He has always been very collaborative in sharing with us details and insider images and recordings of planned terrorists activities.
Cameroun could keep him there for live. But let his equipments and memory cards be released to us immediately. We have been waiting for these images to show to the Human Rights Watch and other security channels.
Ambazonia Intelligence Service”.

At the time of this publication, it’s not clear yet how long the vibrant but repentant Ambazonian activist will be behind Bars before regaining his freedom.

Mbaku Jude

Standard Mirror

ADF Fighters Capture Father and Two Daughters for Going To School

Eric Tataw, a bonafide, dreaded and non repentant Ambazonian Activist based in The United States of America has recently published a short video on his Facebook wall of Ambazonian Defense Forces in the keeping of a man and his two daughters at an unknown location in the South West Region of Cameroon.

The narrator in the video explains that, their kidnapping is in the Capital of Buea and is for the fact that the troubled-Looking man in the video is sponsoring her daughters in school which is against the laws of the Ambazonia Defense Forces( ADF). The male voice further narrates that, the two young girls, about 20 years each, had come from school to take part of their fees from their father before getting into their dragnet. He warns others not to fall in same ordeal while promising hell for those already captured.

This video which continues to receive high condemnation from viewer across the board is only one in many that exist in the Anglophone parts of Cameroon since the beginning of armed conflicts in 2017. In other cases, captured School children have been “Garried“( used by activist Tataw to mean chopping off of body parts especially fingers and toes), Teachers have been mutilated and beheaded while many schools, above 6,000 remains in danger serving as habitats or no-go-Zones.

The Separatist Movements have been unanimous despite all attempts by international stakeholders, Local civil society advocates and the Government of Cameroon to have Learners back into the classrooms.
For the 4th Academic year, very few schools remain operational in this part of Cameroon, mostly in the main city centre, while the most of the interior villages under the control of Separatist Fighters have rather adopted some community schools that align with their new found cultures.

Though the Crisis in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions isn’t same as that of Boko Haram terrorist Group Up North of the Country Stretching from Nigeria, one thing common with both is the denial of Schools to Operate. However, that of The Ambazonia fighters originated from a neglected strike by Anglophone teachers in November 2016 by the Government of Cameroon.

In pursuit of this precious inalienable Human Right, parents and Guardians have evacuated their children to most French Speaking towns across Cameroon with exorbitant sums of money paid as fees. The population of these towns too like Bafoussam, Douala, Yaounde, Bertoua etc, have increased while The most lucrative income sector of the Anglophone regions, Education, being dropped off.

Surprisingly is the fact that, these activists out of the country have their kids in schools littered across the globe. Some themselves are students defending PhDs and other degrees. Many have taken turns in celebrating their academic achievements publicly with their suffering compatriots back home The ultimate question has remained, what future holds for the innocent Children of Fighters, and struggling parents on Ground Zero who keep dying daily?

The Right to Education is encapsulated in international Laws and conventions especially the 1989 Convention on the Right of The Child. Many protocol agreements and even the sustainable Development goals, Number 4 is clear on educational rights.

Many hold that denying Education for the children during this era is a time bomb for the yet-to-be Ambazonian State, a situation that might be worse of the Xenophobia in South Africa.

Mbaku Jude
Standard Mirror

Ambazonian Separatists give Yaoundé Ultimatum, Announce Impending Indefinite Shutdown.

Chris Anu, Communication Secretary of the Separatist Movement for the Restoration of the Independence of Southern Cameroons also known as Ambazonia, Has declared an “Indefinite Lockdown” to commence three weeks from the day of his statement.

From the United States of America where he is resident, the defiant activist used the social media platform as usual, Sunday 6th October to drive his message through to his millions of followers. Chris Anu says, “Tough and provocative Circumstances demand tough actions”.

According to him, the Major National Dialogue that held in Yaoundé to solve their problems but left them out, was provocative. He calls it a charade Dialogue and regrets the fact that it rather resulted to the release of Maurice Kamto of CRM Party, and not Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and their leaders arrested and jailed in Yaoundé since January 2018.

Further speaking, Anu remains angered that the Dialogue rather ended with Anglophones given a ” Special Status” as subjugated and assimilated second class citizens and his movement won’t accept that in the Union with French Cameroon like they didn’t do before independence with Nigeria. He says;

“We are giving French Cameroon authorities 3 weeks, just 3 weeks to put their heads together and free all Ambazonian detainees in their custody unconditionally just as they did to they political Prisoners in Short notice…If not, the interim Government shall declare an indefinite total shutdown of the territory called Ambazonia. All borders with French Cameroon shall be completely shutdown”

Chris Anu says, while the Dialogue was on in Yaoundé, many more people were being massacred in Anglophone Cameroon and over the weekend. Farmers in Lebialem, the south west region were pulled out and shot meanwhile in Bali Nyonga- Northwest and capital city Bamenda, more military perpetuated killings were carried out.

The declaration of The Ambazonian Diaspora leaders has landed again a big surprise on citizens of Anglophone Cameroon who are yet to recover from numerous and spontaneous Lock downs, ghost towns, and shutdowns announced to show frustration of the Regime of President Biya in solving the Anglophone Crisis. Whenever it happens, many Anglophones troop into French Cameroon for safety.

Locking down the entire Anglophone Cameroon territory Indefinitely will definitely be a fast way of strangulating one’s own people, many opinions hold.
However, hopes are high for a possible reverse of that decision before another chaos broke out like was the case of early September “Back to School ” lockdown. Should it be maintained, it might be the worst moment since the start of the armed conflict because those days are usually characterises by fierce killings by both belligerents.

Note however should be on the fact that, President Paul Biya last week ordered the Discontinuance and freedom of 333 Anglophone detainees in jails across the country in a peace effort. Many also see more actions in the days ahead with the release of the Ambazonian Separatist leaders.

For now, fear, insecurity, looting, kidnaps, high crime wave and more killings are still the order of the day in the Anglophone Part of Cameroon.

Mbaku Jude
Standard Mirror