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The curtains come down this Thursday, May 30, 2024, on the Yaoundé meeting. It's with cultural activities that the participants wrap up their stay in the city of seven hills after two days of intense work. The closing ceremony of the 30th Africa Regional Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie took place on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the Yaoundé Congress Hall. The day began with the resumption of work, which led to the resolutions of the Assembly. Chaired by the President of the Senate Marcel NIAT NJIFENJI in collaboration with the Vice-President of the National Assembly and also President of the Cameroonian section of the APF, the closing ceremony included the reading of the work report by Mr. Sidibé Daouda, President of the APF Africa Section, who presented the work of this 30th Africa Regional Assembly of the APF. A vote of thanks to the Cameroonian section for the perfect and flawless organization was read by a delegate from Senegal. The President of the Senate subsequently delivered the closing speech of the 30th African Regional Assembly of the APF. The highlight of this event was the unanimous appointment of the future President of the APF to the President of the Cameroonian Section, Honorable Hilarion ETONG, 1st Vice President of the National Assembly of Cameroon, during the 49th plenary session scheduled for the 8th and 9th of July 2024 in Montreal, Canada. A gala evening was hosted on Wednesday night, May 29, 2024, by The Very Honorable President of the National Assembly, CAVAYE YEGUIE Djibril, for the various delegates at the Mont Fébé Hotel in Yaoundé. The different delegations are expected to return this Friday, May 31, 2024. Clément Noumsi

The removal of Marc Brys and his team from the helm of the Cameroonian dugout by the Fecafoot executive fuels debates along the streets of Yaoundé on May 29, 2024. Some Cameroonians believe that the overseeing Minister lacks the competence to appoint a technical staff for the Cameroon Indomitable Lions, while others think Marc Brys should respect Fecafoot. The streets of Yaoundé resonate with the pulse of sports news. Only one topic dominates the agenda: the Marc Brys affair, coach of the Indomitable Lions, replacing Rigobert Song, former manager of Cameroon's men's national team. Marc Brys was appointed on April 2, 2024, by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Narcisse Mouellé Kombi. According to Fecafoot's statement in response to this appointment, the body led by Samuel Eto'o expresses outrage at its non-participation in the process that led to Marc Brys' appointment as the new national team coach. Subsequently, the federation notes that this appointment violates the presidential decree of September 26, 2014, which grants Fecafoot the power of administrative, technical, and medical management of the men's national team. From that moment on, two technical staffs were appointed to lead the Cameroon Indomitable Lions. The first by Minister Mouellé Kombi and the second by President Samuel Eto'o. Marc Brys heads both technical teams. The man on the street's point of view. The first confrontation between the President of the Cameroonian Football Federation, Samuel Eto'o, and Marc Brys, coach of the A Lions appointed by Minsep, sparked fireworks at the headquarters of the Cameroonian Football Federation on May 28, 2024. Marc Brys was summoned for a working meeting. He engaged in heated exchanges with President Eto'o. In a gesture of disdain, Marc Brys made it clear to the President of Fecafoot that he had never been a coach. Subsequently, he boycotted the proceedings for which he had been invited. Cameroonians encountered on the streets of Yaoundé this morning describe Marc Brys as a puppet. Gilbert Djilo: "Marc Brys despises the whole of Cameroon. He was summoned to Fecafoot for the first time and didn't show up. That same evening, he held a press conference at the conference hall of the Yaoundé Omnisports Stadium. For the first time he meets President Eto'o, he shows contempt. It's regrettable; Fecafoot did well to sack him," says Gilbert Djilo, a university lecturer. On Kennedy Avenue, a well-known shopping center for its popularity in Yaoundé, the topic of the day revolves around Marc Brys. Jean Baptiste Fonkam, an electronic device maintainer, believes that colonialism should be put to an end: "I am very shocked by the attitude of this Belgian coach that they wanted to impose on Cameroonians. The bench of the Indomitable Lions must be nationalized. Thank you to President Eto'o for sidelining him. Ndtoungou Mpile will take care of the rest. We must understand that white isn't always superior to black; we need to stop this. We've had whites here who've never achieved anything," declares Fonkam in an angry tone. Other Cameroonians feel that President Eto'o let his emotions get the better of him: "President Eto'o should have kept his composure. Because his adversaries know his temperament and can do anything to push him to the edge and commit an act of vandalism that could be detrimental to him. He shouldn't fall into that trap. As for Marc Brys, bye bye," notes Mama Agathe, a watermelon vendor. As a reminder, this confusion at the helm of the Cameroonian men's A football team arose last April following the appointment of a technical, administrative, and medical staff for the Cameroon Indomitable Lions by the overseeing minister. Two months on, it is evident that no appeasement is in sight. However, the Indomitable Lions are expected to appear at the omnistadium on June 8th, where they will play a qualifying match for the 2026 Wor J. Patrick DJON

The Cameroon government got a 54.9 billion FCFA loan from Standard Chartered Bank and the Private Export Funding Corporation to fund a project for setting up a communal park of civil engineering and hydraulic equipment. The financing agreements were signed at the amphitheater 300 of the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Land Management on Wednesday, May 22nd, in Yaoundé. The loan includes a credit facility of $72,864,969.96 (equivalent to 43,718,981,976 FCFA) guaranteed by Eximbank USA and a commercial loan of $18,747,714 (equivalent to 11,248,628,400 FCFA). These funds will all be transferred to the Intercommunal Equipment and Intervention Fund (Feicom). The project aims to improve maintenance of municipal roads and supply of drinking water throughout Cameroon by setting up five zonal bases for machinery in different regions of the country. Tiko caters to the Southwest and Littoral regions, Mfou for the Center and South regions, Manjo for the East and Adamaoua regions, Koutaba for the West and Northwest regions, and finally Maroua 1st for the North and Far North regions. By acquiring 270 civil engineering vehicles and hydraulic equipment, this project aligns with the goals of Cameroon's National Development Strategy (SND30), which aims to promote decentralization and local development. Reaction. Francis Ngoumou, Mayor of Mfou, one of the leading municipalities « This is really a hope for our communities because it's one of the constraints we are facing. Even if it's ten years later as we often say, better late than never. As one of the lucky beneficiaries, I can be satisfied that the municipality of Mfou is chosen because it is an unavoidable expense pocket with the traceability of our unpaved roads. At the moment, we are in a cycle of eternal repetition because after the rainy season, we have to redo the same activity without ever seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We believe that providing a fleet of high-quality vehicles as proposed to our communities will break the vicious cycle, and it's an opportunity to thank the government of the republic for this excellent understanding of the issue of CTDs and the appropriate solutions being provided. ». Alamine Ousmane Mey, minepat « Cameroon in its national development strategy (SND30) where one of the pillars focuses on governance, decentralization, and strategic management of the state. Considering the results achieved, the aim is to speed up the process. Taking into account the time elapsed so far, from the years 2011, 2012, 2013, we are in 2024, almost 10 years working on this important project. Yes, we are pleased with the outcome we have reached, but we also have a duty to do even better to reduce the process and production time to a maximum of 5 years to achieve results expected by the grassroots populations facing various development challenges. ». Clément Noumsi

Since the signing of the contract with the CFHEC company for the construction of the bridge over the Malombo River, various actions have been taken on the ground, including setting up the company's base camp, conducting topographical surveys, and working on the execution project. The project aims to improve living conditions and mobility for the people in the Makak district, enhance traffic flow, especially for transportation of people and goods, to boost the competitiveness of the transportation network in the Nyong and Kellé department and with neighboring areas like Mfoundi and Sanaga Maritime, as well as the Nkam and Wouri departments. It also aims to secure and ensure the sustainability of crossing the Nyong River at Malombo. CFHEC was contracted to carry out the project. Following discussions with local communities, they have started building their base camp and are finalizing the environmental and social management plan along with the execution project. The work to be carried out for this project includes general site installations, environmental and social impact studies along with the production of the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), execution studies, clearing of land, earthworks, construction of a 160-meter long bridge with a 7-meter wide road, 2 sidewalks 1 meter wide on each side of the deck, 4 spans of 40 meters between supports made of steel beams resting on reinforced concrete abutments and piers supported by the rock substratum. It also involves road surfacing, curbs and sidewalks, protection of riverbanks near the bridge, construction of a drainage culvert (4x5x4) in the embankment leading to the structure and a culvert of dimensions 3 x 1.50 x 2.00 on the access road, carrying out drainage works, and horizontal and vertical signaling. Clément Noumsi

The Conciliation and Arbitration Chamber of the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Cameroon immediately suspended the technical staff appointed by the Cameroonian Football Federation on May 21, 2024. Fecafoot, through a statement, indicates that the decision of the CCA was made in violation of the law. This suspension reopens the conflict. The Cameroonian Football Federation, through a statement, deems the decision of the Conciliation and Arbitration Chamber of the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Cameroon illegal. Through a minutes signed on May 21, 2024, the CCA suspended with immediate effect resolution number 01 of the emergency session of Fecafoot on May 8, 2024, which led to the appointment of a new technical staff for the Indomitable Lions by the executive of Fecafoot. The Conciliation Chamber, by taking this courageous decision, responded to a request filed by lawyer Wamba Makollo on May 14, 2024, on behalf of FC 2000X of Mimboman and others (association of amateur clubs in Cameroon), in an extreme urgency conciliation procedure against the Cameroonian Football Federation. Indeed, by filing this request with the CCA, the applicants at that time understood the consequences of having a double technical staff at the helm of Cameroon's flagship team and would have asked the Federation to suspend this project. But faced with the response of Fecafoot's executive led by President Samuel Eto'o, the applicants resorted to the Conciliation and Arbitration Chamber of the National Olympic and Sports Committee of Cameroon. This body sided with the applicants, demanding the immediate cancellation of the technical staff appointed by Fecafoot. Fecafoot's response to the CCA. The Cameroonian Football Federation, in its statement, acknowledges the minutes of non-conciliation number 049/CCA/PVNC/24 and number 050/CCA/PVNC/24 of May 21, 2024, made public by the CCA, regarding the appointment of a new technical, administrative, and medical staff for the Cameroon men's A football team. In the continuation of the statement, Fecafoot reserves the right to transmit these decisions to FIFA, which constitute a hindrance to the preparation process for the upcoming matches of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. The emergency committee of Fecafoot will meet without delay to follow up on these acts. This can be read in Fecafoot's statement. As a reminder, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will play against Cape Verde and Angola in June, two qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup. J. Patrick DJON

Since Tuesday, May 21st, until Friday, May 24th, 2024, at the Djeuga Palace Hotel in Yaoundé, the International Canadian Universities Fair is taking place. Chaired by its General Manager, Marcellous T. Mbameg, in the presence of the Marketing Communication Director, Mr. David, Reverend Njongai Polycarp, and several other individuals from various backgrounds, the fair offers opportunities for students to immigrate to Canada through legal procedures, easily and safely, allowing them to enroll in top universities such as the University of Ottawa, Alder University, and CIMT University. These universities specialize in Business Management and Sales, Telecommunications, Data Management, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, etc., with special follow-up. Job seekers also have access to this education from Canada with opportunities for training and employment. The minimum required diploma is the BEPC or GCE O-Level. Canada being an attractive destination due to its reliable educational system, strong economy with numerous job opportunities, access to better healthcare, but most importantly, its welcoming immigration policy and cultural diversity, Globus Education Systems offers quality service with a close partnership with Canadian institutions. In fact, the General Manager, Mr. Marcellous, emphasizes: "Globus Education Systems, headquartered in Yaoundé, is represented in 6 African countries and is number 1 in its field due to its quality of service." www.globusedusystems.com This international fair of Canadian universities will last four days at the Djeuga Palace hotel in Yaoundé and will allow anyone interested in immigrating to Canada to get information and start the immigration process through networking between 12 pm and 5 pm. Marcelle Ebanda

The mayor of Belo and his two deputies were shot dead this Monday, May 20th, during the national Unity Day celebration, according to a communication from the pro-secessionist Ambazonia communication network. The mayor's assassination was announced this Monday by the separatist leader Chuo Ayaba Lucas on X. According to other sources, including RFI, the attack reportedly claimed two victims, the mayor and the basic education district delegate of Belo. Even though during his interview at the Unity Palace reception on May 20, 2024, the Head of State didn't mention it, he still paid tribute to the six soldiers killed in the Southwest a few days ago, while reminding these groups of outlaws that the state's order will be upheld by all means. Stay tuned for more updates. Clément Noumsi

As voter registration intensifies, the unity among opposition leaders constitutes the final hope of the Cameroonian people. While we commend Cameroonians for their massive response to the call for voter registration, we must do everything to ensure that we block any hindrances that may obstruct our dream of bringing political change to the country. The most powerful weapon we need today to win this battle is unity among our opposition leaders. As I have always said, if opposition leaders do not come together to form a coalition, believe me, the young Cameroonians actively registering on the voter rolls are just wasting their time. To Barrister Akere Muna, Professor Maurice Kamto, and Honorable Cabral Libii, Cameroonians have great admiration for you for steering our country's political transition towards a new era. At this crucial moment in our nation's history, we must not tolerate even the slightest bit of pride, ego, and arrogance, especially in this sole chance we have to crush and change the analog system in place in our country. The hopes of suffering Cameroonians rest in your hands, along with the decision to either revive them or extinguish them. 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐡𝐮 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐧.

While here, our youth are held by the digestive tract; elsewhere, they have convictions. In Senegal, Captain Seydina Oumar TOURE has been appointed as the Director General of the Agency for Proximity Security Assistance (ASP). A well-deserved reward for a man of convictions. Captain Touré had been dismissed from the Gendarmerie following the case involving masseuse Adji Sarr against Ousmane Sonko. But who is Captain Touré? Captain Touré was a seasoned investigator at the Research Section of the Gendarmerie in Colobane. Serious, hardworking, polite, impartial, and rigorous, he was highly esteemed by his superiors who predicted a brilliant career for him. However, an event would change everything. Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was accused of rape by masseuse Adji Sarr; Captain Touré was one of the investigators on this sensitive case. He was the first to interview Adji Sarr after she filed a complaint against opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. His preliminary investigation report seemed to indicate that there was no rape. The investigation report was even insidiously modified. Captain Touré faced numerous pressures; however, he identified numerous contradictions and omissions in the case. His preliminary report was leaked to the press, and he was suspected of being the source of the leak. He was now being followed and wiretapped by intelligence services. He began to fear for his safety and that of his family. This fear eventually led him to publicly speak out about the pressures exerted on him. He wished to make the national and international public aware of the situation. Authorities from the gendarmerie called him to ask him to claim that his Facebook account had been hacked or to pretend to be insane. He refused and courageously stood by his statements. On June 17, 2021, a decree signed by President Macky Sall excluded him from the national gendarmerie for "dishonorable conduct, lack of probity, and breach of the general duties of a military officer." He was detained before being dismissed. He then decided to retrain as a teacher. He was hired at the African Institute of Management (IAM) owned by opposition figure Moustapha Guirassy. However, the government was determined to break him, humiliate him, and socially destroy him. The leadership of IAM faced unbearable pressure from the government, which demanded the dismissal of Captain Touré. He was ultimately fired after only 72 hours of employment. This second wrongful dismissal sparked outrage among Senegalese citizens. Upon hearing of his dismissal, "Mafia KaccKacc," an organization very active on social media, launched a fundraiser to support Captain Seydina Oumar Touré. A total of 42 million FCFA was raised. Additionally, to support him, the opposition mayor of Dakar, Barthélémy Dias, decided to hire him as "technical advisor responsible for urban security." As the presidential election in Senegal approached, Captain Touré decided to enter politics to express his revolt in the spirit of Sankara: "The slave who is not capable of assuming his revolt does not deserve pity. Only struggle liberates." On September 25, 2023, he announced the creation of a national citizen movement called "Union for a Just Senegal." He campaigned and supported the candidate Diomaye Faye. On March 15, 2024, Captain Touré met Ousmane Sonko for the first time. A lesson for all those who prioritize their digestive tract over convictions! Source Arol KETCH

Defeated in the first leg match by Renaissance Sportive de Berkane, Zamalek won the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final (0-1) against RS de Berkane at home in Cairo on May 19, 2024. They are crowned champions and clinch the title for the second time since the 2019 edition. Egypt was ready to host the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final. The Cairo International Stadium in Egypt showcased its finest features for the occasion of the CAF Confederation Cup final on May 19, 2024. Dressed in white and aware of the advantage secured by the opponent in the first leg of the final, everything was put in place to experience a match of high intensity. Because the duty to overcome a one-goal deficit was urgent. Zamalek was the first club to show danger and was rewarded in the 23rd minute through Ahmed Hamdi. 1-0, the CAF Confederation Cup trophy was at that moment in the hands of the Cairo team, thanks to the away goal scored. But a few minutes later, the hero of the day got injured and was replaced just before the end of the first half. In the second half, the intensity of the encounter doubled Ibrahima Ndiaye's teammates, returning from the locker rooms, regroup in defense to counter the numerous offensive assaults from the Moroccans. However, the Egyptians show some signs of vulnerability without losing control of the game. The spectators at the Cairo International Stadium witness a tumultuous end to the match. The referee penalizes Hamza El Moussaoui, the Moroccan defender. Reduced to 10 players, Renaissance Sportive de Berkane takes more and more risks by multiplying their attacks. At the end of the 90 minutes, the final result was known and turned in favor of Zamalek Sporting Club, succeeding USM Alger as the winner of the CAF Confederation Cup. J. Patrick DJON

The Armed Forces of the DRC inform the national and international public that an attempted coup d'état has been thwarted in its infancy At around 4:30 a.m. on May 19th, the residence of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Economy, Vital Kamerhe, was attacked by armed individuals (in "uniform" of the national army) and gunfire was exchanged; armored vehicles were deployed from the Pullman Hotel to the presidential palace. Some assailants entrenched themselves near the Palace of the Nation while others fled towards the river, according to security sources who reported the assault at dawn on Vital Kamerhe's residence by several dozen armed men. Among the weapons used were "drones," according to a neighbor of Kamerhe and sources. The avenue and its surroundings are cordoned off. Several assailants who participated in the assault on the Palace of the Nation this morning are arrested by the Republican Guard." Who is Christian Malanga Musumari, the author of this morning's attack? Born in Kinshasa on February 2, 1983. He is a former Congolese military officer who resides in the United States with his entire family. He is currently the president of the United Congolese Party (UCP), a national political party he formed after his experiences during the heavily contested parliamentary elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2011. In 2013, he was appointed the first ambassador of the International Roundtable on We will come back to it Clément Noumsi

After his defeat against Baki, Cedric Ndoumbè, the MMA champion, made his big comeback in the ring on May 17, 2024, at the Bellator Champions Series, at the Accor Arena in Paris. The Douala native won in the first round against Jaleel Willis by KO. No more splinters on the ring. Cédric Doumbè took all the measures. He came in a few minutes earlier with a vacuum cleaner to clean the ring to avoid the splinter that cost him a KO in March against Baki. Indeed, against Jaleel Willis he made a dazzling comeback at the Accor Arena in Bercy, inflicting a monumental KO on his opponent Jaleel Willis in the first round. The few minutes of combat were very lively, but the Cameroonian showed that his lost fight against "Baki" last March was behind him. Cédric Doumbè restarted his career in a very good way. He made quick work of Jaleel Willis at the Accor Arena in Paris-Bercy. In front of a certain Victor Wembanyama, Cédric Doumbè offered a few very contested minutes to the Parisian audience who awaited him like a Messiah, before pushing the referee to stop the fight with a barrage of head shots on the American. Hope around the fighter born in Douala had dwindled in recent times, after the toe splinter that had led to his defeat against Baki last March. But Doumbè turned the situation to his advantage, finishing off his opponent of the night with a knockout.. One round was enough to take out Willis. From the beginning of the fight, Doumbè almost repeated his feat from October 6, 2023, when he sent Jordan Zebo to the mat in just 9 seconds with a massive knockout. Last May 17th at the Arena in Paris, his opponent got lucky. He narrowly avoided the first knockout. The native of Douala managed to land his own punches, starting a fight that promised to be epic and highly anticipated. Jaleel Willis tried to drag Cédric Ndoumbè down to the ground but failed, hitting Ndoumbè in the face and wiping the smile off the Sawa fighter's face. Jaleel Willis didn't do much else that night. In fact, that's the only notable thing he did before succumbing to the fury of the Cameroonian fighter. Doumbè then took control of the ring, and in just 3 minutes of fighting, he managed to send the American to the mat with a powerful and well-placed strike. The candle that knocks over Willis Faced with the spirit of vengeance driving Sawa, Willis could only curl up and wait, powerless, for the referee to decide to stop the fight after a series of blows from Ndoumbè. The son of the coast redeemed himself after his mishap against Baki, and his next opponent could very well be Anthony Pettis, former UFC champion, who challenged him in the cage right after his victory, offering him a fight. Anthony Pettis wants to fight Cédric Ndoumbè in Paris. J. Patrick DJON

Stepping up the fight against corruption using local languages The conference room of Cameroon's national anti-corruption commission was the setting this Thursday, May 16, 2024 for the signing of a partnership between CONAC and 22 community radio station heads. For the Reverend Dieudonné Massi Gams, President of CONAC, "this is the beginning of a process whose genesis goes back to June 22, 2023, when 75 community radio representatives met with the President of CONAC, in the presence of the President of the National Communication Council (CNC), to outline the project.». After evaluation, 22 radios were selected for this first phase, at least two per region throughout the country. The aim is to step up the fight against corruption, as reiterated by the Head of State in his address to the nation on December 31, 2023. The aim of signing these various agreements is to breathe new life into the fight against corruption across the country, with the support of these community radio stations, using local languages to raise audience awareness. Long before the signing ceremony, the various managers of these 22 community radio stations attended a capacity-building course on three themes: "Corruption and related offences" by Richard Fegue Ekani, followed by Irène Morikang Tche with "Journalism, Ethics, Professional Conduct and Integrity", and finally "Collection, by Benjamin Fouda Effa, reminding everyone that they are not agents of CONAC, nor OPJ (officers of the judicial police), even less magistrates, but simply partners in raising community awareness of the importance and necessity of fighting corruption at their own level. Reactions Me Amadou Talla Tamto, DG Radio Aurore FM at Bertoua « The brief ceremony we have just witnessed with CONAC is in fact a partnership agreement for closer collaboration with CONAC to support its missions. CONAC has chosen the community radios, and we have the privilege of being among the 22 stations selected. Our aim is to be more explicit in our broadcasts in local languages, to share experiences and best practices, and to denounce corruption-related offences. Our presence here is justified by the fact that we need to be well-equipped to talk about it and get the message across to the target audience, which is our audience, and that justifies the three presentations we have attended to build our capacities so that we can speak with authority about these facts of corruption, its meanders, related offences, what the law says, what the balance sheet is to date, in order to bring people to understand that this is a matter that concerns us all, whether we live in urban or rural areas, whether we are rich or poor, there are attitudes that are endemic pockets of corruption. ». Henri Fouman, Glory FM Ebolowa « We feel vested with a new power here, not that of tracking down or bringing to justice citizens found guilty of acts of corruption, but rather that of officials called upon to serve through the broadcasting on our airwaves of good information on acts of corruption, through awareness-raising and education of the masses in the local language, so that everyone can become aware that the phenomenon of corruption is not just a matter for the high institutions of the republic or senior executives, but that you can be a pastor, a peasant or a schoolteacher and still be liable to acts of corruption. So we're going to continue this sentinel work so that no one is unaware of it.». Clément Noumsi

This is the pool of Gilbert F. HOUNGLO's four-day working visit. The conference room of the International Labor Office (ILO) for Central Africa in Yaoundé was the setting for exchanges with the media men and women who came to meet him on Wednesday May 15, 2024 to discuss the main points of his stay on Cameroonian soil. The fight against child labor, the issue of social dialogue and decent work were the main points raised by the ILO Director-General. On the issue of combating child labor, Gilbert F. HOUNGLO acknowledges that, "It's a tricky problem, because the solution is not clear-cut. You have to take into account the context, you have to qualify it, because it's not always black and white - the issue of child labor is linked to the issue of poverty. 70% of children in Africa are forced to work, whether in the mines or in the fields. The solution to this starts with the fight against poverty, and we need to put forward mechanisms to encourage parents to send their children to school. We need to set up programs to combat poverty, build schools as close as possible to villages, and set up school canteens, which should help to strengthen children's education rather than finding them in the fields," he mentioned. 75% of child labor takes place in the agricultural and rural sector, hence the urgent need to create schools close to villages in order to reduce child labor to its simplest form. Speaking of social dialogue, which is an important pillar in improving governance in the workplace, the DG pointed out that it is a necessity in the implementation of decent work, adding, "Our plea is to institute social dialogue. The Cameroon labor market is a very active world, and this is also reflected in union activity. The solution we are proposing is that, in diversity, we need to know how to set aside some sectoral priorities for the common good of the whole," he concluded. Moderated by Bertrand Didier BOUGHA, head of the communication unit at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. Clément Noumsi

This was the exhortation made by the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine OUSMANE MEY, to the members of the National Committee for Monitoring and Evaluation of the implementation of the National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (CNSE/SND30), whose third session was held this Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Yaoundé. It was attended by a dozen members of the government. The aim of the session was to present the report on the implementation of SND30 for the year 2023. The updated strategy for the Education and Training sector was also presented and adopted. In his opening speech, the Minister of the Economy, after citing several achievements in the various sectors of the SND30, expressed his overall satisfaction with the progress made. On the social front, notable progress has been made in health, with the implementation of Universal Health Coverage. In terms of access to drinking water and electricity, the proportion of households with access to drinking water has passed the 80% mark, compared with 61% in 2014, and the proportion with access to electricity has risen to over 60%. In the transport infrastructure sector, a total of 700 km of roads have been rehabilitated and asphalted by 2023. In terms of governance, significant progress has been made in decentralization, with more resources transferred to the local authorities. Efforts in public finance management and improvements in the business climate have enabled Cameroon's financial rating to be restored to B- with a stable outlook. However, according to the Minister of the Economy, in view of the speed of progress and Cameroon's great ambition to emerge, "we will have to redouble our efforts". At the halfway point in the implementation of the SND30, "we will need to maintain the structural momentum that has been built up, and make up for the performance gaps caused by the shocks to our economy", declared Alamine OUSMANE MEY. Also, for the second half of the implementation of the National Development Strategy, MINEPAT has made some suggestions and given some guidelines. These include making the electricity sector the main vector for the structural transformation of the Cameroonian economy; speeding up the equipping of Cameroon with structuring infrastructures in order to reduce production factor costs, and guarantee the competitiveness of the national economy; vigorously supporting industrialization through accelerated implementation of the SND30 Initial Impetus Program (P2I); and deepening the integration of value chains at national level. It will also involve stepping up Public-Private Partnership operations in the mining and infrastructure sectors; strengthening Cameroon's resilience and economic Sovereignty through the implementation of the Integrated Plan for Agricultural and Halieutic Import Substitution (PIISAH), which aims among other things to facilitate the development of private sector actions in the agropastoral sector, contribute to a significant increase in production and create an environment conducive to the development of agropastoral activities. The Minister of the Economy also emphasized the need to constantly ensure consistency between the planning and operational implementation of the SND30 to guarantee the best results with effectiveness and efficiency. The Comité National de Suivi-Evaluation de la Stratégie Nationale de Développement 2020-2030 (CNSE/SND30) is the unified monitoring and evaluation framework for the SND30 and sectoral strategies, created by Decree N°2021/1541/PM of March 23, 2021 of the Prime Minister, Head of Government. Reaction Pr Fabien Nkot, sub-committee on education and training « The logical coherence of our country's management tools: at the top is the Head of State's Vision 2035, and below that is Cameroon's national development strategy; below that are sectoral strategies, such as agriculture and transport, including the education and training sector strategy. The education and training sector strategy was the last to be adopted. So you can understand the country's relief at having been able to fill the gaps. Broadly speaking, the first thing to note is that the strategy adopted today concerns several ministries: Basic Education, Secondary Education, Higher Education, Employment and Vocational Training, Youth and Civic Education, Scientific Research and Innovation. Broadly speaking, the strategy addresses issues of equity and access to training, training quality, professionalization and governance of training. ». Clément Noumsi

Several qualifying matches for the U-17 Women's World Cup have been taking place for the past few days. The Burundian team crushed Djibouti 18 goals to 0. Senegal and Morocco are in a good position. These matches are part of the second leg and will be played over 5 days. The matches are being played between several African countries since May 15 and will end on May 19, 2024. The first games have seen some spectacular encounters. Playing away against Djibouti, the Burundian team simply outperformed their hosts (18-0). A result that marks the standout performance of this first set of matches in the third round of these qualifiers. The Moroccans beat the Algerians (0-4) in Berkane. The representatives from Morocco also tasted victory, Youness Rabie's Moroccan women beat their Algerian counterparts 4-0 in Berkane. A score that reassures Yeah Chilla's teammates, pushed to their limits by Benin in the previous round, a match they won on penalties (9-7). Senegal crushed Liberia (3-1) in Thiès. The U-17 Teranga Lionesses continue to achieve good results. Serena Lena Gomis' proteges defeated Liberia (3-1) in Thiès. For the return match, the Lionesses can rely on the effectiveness of Marie Sarr but must remain vigilant as Brown's penalty goal could reignite the Liberian team's hopes for qualification. Zambia made a good impression at home by beating Uganda 2-0. Zambia also did well at home by defeating Uganda 2-0. The other two matches of the day ended in a draw: Burkina Faso 1-1 Nigeria and Ethiopia 0-0 Kenya. After these qualifiers, three nations will represent the CAF region at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in the Dominican Republic. Results of the first leg matches of the third round of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Djibouti lost 0-18 against Burundi, Ethiopia and Kenya drew 0-0. Zambia beat Uganda 2-0. In the first leg matches, Morocco and Senegal finished with a score of 3-1, Liberia and Burkina Faso drew 1-1 with Nigeria. Schedule of the second leg matches of the U-17 Women's World Cup third round. Uganda and Zambia will face off on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM. Algeria will play against Morocco at 4:30 PM. Next up on May 18, Nigeria and Burkina Faso will go head-to-head at 3:30 PM. Finally, on May 19, Kenya will take on Ethiopia at 12:00 PM, and Liberia will play against Senegal, with the matches scheduled for 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM, respectively. J. Patrick DJON

The countdown has begun In preparation for the upcoming double Event that the city of Yaoundé is about to host, the 4th CIMEC from May 22nd to 24th at the congress hall under the high patronage of the President of the Republic, H.E Paul Biya, with the theme "betrayal of the geological potential to the production of mining deposits as a means to strengthen economic growth in the sub-region." At the same time, the Council of Ministers of the member countries of the ACP Group, which has 79 members, including around fifty delegations, will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé on May 23rd and 24th. This double event is organized in collaboration with the European Union delegation. In collaboration with the ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States), Cameroon aims to showcase its energy potential to make it a hub in Central Africa. The program includes a meeting of mines ministers from African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, as well as a meeting between about sixty foreign ministers from the ACP and the EU to decide on the future of critical minerals needed for the energy transition. Over three days, the city of seven hills will be buzzing with B to B negotiations, country meetings, and signing of agreements, with the aim of making Yaoundé the new financial negotiation hub for mining projects in Central Africa. The will to decarbonize as quickly as possible using renewable energies to replace fossil fuels. And it must be said, the People's Republic of China is leading the charge in this race for ecological transition. It must be said, the European Union plans to stop manufacturing fossil fuel cars by 2035 and the EU has already signed 12 MoUs (memorandums of understanding) in this direction with 12 countries, including 4 African countries, as indicated by Jean-Marc Chataigner, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Clément Noumsi

It was at the Yaoundé City Hall this Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in the Ongola Samba room of the regional council that Mrs. Marie Thérèse Obama, wife of Abena Ondoa, Minister of Women's Empowerment and Family, presided over the ceremony marking the 30th edition of the International Day of the Family, in the presence of the representative of the Governor of the Centre Region, the representative of the Prefect of Mfoundi, the Mayor of Yaoundé, representatives of UN agencies, representatives of civil societies, and religious and traditional authorities. A celebration that highlights the importance of individuals, especially women, as a strong link for the well-being of the family and society in general. Messages in the room emphasized things like: "Empower women to have a stronger social role and be economically independent; for a stable and harmonious family"; "Stop femicides, Break the silence, it saves lives! The law protects, don't be afraid, report it" aimed at raising awareness about family well-being. The Minister of Women and Family Promotion pointed out that "The whole world is facing challenges including climate change. These are global phenomena, yet humans play a significant role in exacerbating these issues. The African continent, especially Cameroon, suffers from the effects of the West as well as its own mistakes. It must be acknowledged that families are also responsible because, for instance, to increase agricultural production today, we use pesticides without following instructions, we haphazardly cut down trees, causing various problems. There's heavy rain, sometimes sun, and frequent floods leading to numerous accidents in some of our cities. The management of household waste, floods which basically result from the fact that garbage is thrown into waterways. Some of us, when they were young, used to do artisanal fishing in the villages but these waterways have dried up. So, from the perspective of climate change, Man has his share of responsibility and we must raise awareness to better respect nature. We have the misuse of information and communication technologies where we tend to copy what is happening in the West and nowadays we see children killing their parents, women being killed. In the same vein, she adds to these phenomena, the misuse of information technologies, through the exposure of individuals' privacy, scams etc... She doesn't fail to mention the importance of having inner peace, highlighting our cultures which are very important. The responsibility and role of everyone within families, for the change and stability of families. She then declares: "The State and its technical and financial partners, the various ministerial departments, civil society, the media, we trust you to spread the word because it's an experience we've tried and found very useful, allowing many to be here, to attend presentations on the theme of this day with the opportunity to exchange, ask questions, and we hope to be able to repeat this kind of exchange so that everyone can have the opportunity to express themselves. And if there are those who wanted to ask questions, and didn't have the opportunity today, they can leave them at the ministry, and we will do our best. We count on everyone, civil society, technical and financial partners, the State to help families overcome all these difficulties." The celebration ended with a lunch offered by the Minister to the guests. Marcelle Ebanda

The signing ceremony of the country program for decent work (PPTD) took place at the auditorium of the Prime Minister's office on this Tuesday, May 14th, 2024. The event was attended by the Prime Minister, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, and the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo, who was on a working visit to Cameroon since Monday, May 13th. The signatories included Grégoire Owona, the Minister of Labour and Social Security on behalf of the government, Protais Ayangma, the Vice President of Gecam representing employers, Abraham Baboulé, the confederal president of CSTC representing workers, and Claude YAO KOUAME representing the ILO country office. In his speech, the minister highlighted the clear intention of the public authorities who have already set in motion the tripartite agreement protocol covering the period 2023-2026. Minister Grégoire Owona sees it as a document spanning four years that includes vulnerable populations, the destitute, and the disabled. He finds it more appealing as it is more comprehensive in representing workers. According to Abraham Baboulé, a workers' representative, it is a framework agreement defining the priorities for ILO assistance to Cameroon for the 2023-2026 period. It is a tripartite document focusing on social priorities such as social dialogue, decent work, and employment, where ILO support is necessary for its implementation. Protais Ayangma, vice president of Gecam representing employers, sees it as a tripartite commitment signed by the government, workers, and employers, and they are fully committed to making this agreement a reality.For Claude Yao Kouame, the country representative of the ILO, "this is an important signature resulting from consultations with social partners in a tripartite framework, and the ILO has played its part in providing guidance and technical support, which will continue for the implementation of this country program for decent work that takes into account the priorities of work in Cameroon. We have had the opportunity to see that youth and women employment, social dialogue, and social protection are key priorities. These are the three priorities outlined in a document that will allow the ILO to carry out its activities in line with the country program for decent work. We will execute the activities outlined in this document in collaboration with the tripartite constituents, namely the government, employers, and workers." It's safe to say that this document aligns perfectly with the government's vision outlined in the SND30 national development strategy, aiming to transform Cameroon into a thriving, democratic nation that is united in its diversity by constantly striving for a fairer society through the promotion of decent work for all. This demonstrates Cameroon's commitment to the global coalition for social justice and reaffirms its dedication to the idea of the International Labour Organization (ILO) as a unified entity capable of fostering common and inclusive development among its members for social justice and decent work. Way before this signing, the Director General of the ILO was received in an audience by the Prime Minister, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute. His day's journey hinted at a conference by the ILO Director General at the Institute of International Relations of Cameroon (IRIC) in the afternoon of Tuesday, May 14, 2024. We'll come back to this later. Clément Noumsi

For a more inclusive and equitable society Mrs Pauline Irène Nguene Minister of Social Affairs presided over the opening ceremony of the steering committee to support the reinforcement of the rights of people with disabilities, accessibility, inclusive services and non-discrimination in Cameroon on Monday May 13, 2024 at Star Land hotel in Yaoundé. Dans her opening speech, Minister Mrs. hailed the United Nations system that spared no effort for the effectiveness of this steering committee and also all the personalities present who, directly or indirectly, contributed to the organization and success of this meeting. It's proof, if any more was needed, of the commitment of the various national and international partners who demonstrate their dedication to promoting the rights of socially vulnerable individuals in general and disabled people in particular. Statistics show that the number of disabled people in the world remains significant, with a higher rate in developing countries where they live in poverty conditions. Often victims of stigma or discrimination, this segment of the population is among the vulnerable groups and has limited access to healthcare, education, and opportunities to support themselves. Cameroon is making progress, and on October 30, 2023, the government of the republic established, through a presidential decree in its article 5, paragraph 3, inclusive education for disabled people as a specialty in our ENIEGs, not to mention the Prime Minister's 2022 order that waived age requirements for disabled individuals in administrative competitions and public service recruitments. This meeting allowed the various partners UNFPA, UNESCO, NGOs, and representatives of associations of persons with disabilities to make proposals to find holistic recommendations that can improve the daily lives of the disabled persons themselves. For Emmanuelle Tchotchom, an inclusive society means "We, civil society organizations, work together with the government to make inclusion even better. The purpose of this meeting is: first, to help strengthen the capacities of people with disabilities themselves on the rights of disabled persons; second, to enhance the capacities of legal professionals (lawyers, judges, judicial and police personnel) on conventions and to address the accessibility of judicial information in Cameroon. In addition, we have addressed all the important issues related to synergy in collaboration with key sectors such as health, education, and vocational training. I believe that this project contributes to strengthening the capacities of CSOs working on disability issues. Around this steering committee, we have made recommendations for the next phase that the United Nations system is considering because we hope that key sectoral players such as MINDEVEL and MINSANTE will be the main actors, and we hope they will be present in case of funding. Furthermore, it is essential that people with disabilities are fully involved in decision-making processes that affect them, in order to ensure true inclusion. We must continue to raise awareness in society as a whole about the rights of people with disabilities and promote a culture of respect and equality. Together, we can build a more inclusive and equitable society for all. Marcelle Ebanda