Cameroon:CEFAM Director urged to implement new curriculum to ease decentralization

CEFAM Officials, Minister's envoy and  trainees in family photo during the ceremony.

By Christopher Ambe 

The  2019-2021 training period of the Local Government Training Centre, better known by its French acronym as CEFAM  Buea,was  Friday ,October 25 ,on campus, solemnly opened  by  Nfor Catherine Mugha epse Essoh, representative of the Minister of Decentralization and Local Development(MINDDEVEL).

Mrs. Essoh,who is the Director of Human Resources  for local Collectivities in MINDDEVEL Yaounde , reiterated the importance of decentralization  in today’s Cameroon and  urged the Director of CEFAM, Hagbe Mathieu to begin implementing the new curriculum of the center .She said the Government has decided to reform CEFAM so as to tailor it to the new challenges of decentralization and local governance.

The new CEFAM curriculum is tailored to meet the requirements of the much-talked about decentralization in Cameroon.

According to official documents made available to journalists, CEFAM training is in three cycles: Cycle 1 trains senior staff of local council administration; Cycle 2 trains intermediate staff of local council services and Cycle 3 is for the retraining and further training of  of Cycles 1 and 2 graduates.

The course lasts two years for cycles 1 &2 and, at most three months for   cycle 3.

The MINDDEVEL representative said her presence at the ceremony was to confirm the strong interest the Government in general and the MINDDEVEL in particular have in setting into full motion the decentralization program, defined by President Paul Biya.

“In effect, decentralized collectivities/councils are in need of qualified senior personnel and agents in order to optimize their results in the promotion of local development in general and to ameliorate the living conditions of the populations in particular”, Mrs.Esssoh noted.

The Minister’s envoy implored the trainees, who got admitted last December 28, after passing an entrance exam into CEFAM, to“ gather as much knowledge and skills as possible …in order to be innovative and duty-conscious ” because they are supposed to be development players.

Mrs.Essoh did not hide her feelings about the cleanliness of CEFAM

“The first thing that struck my attention when I entered CEFAM today was its cleanliness. Mr. Director, congratulations”, she said drawing thunderous applause from CEFAM staff and students, who were all robed in black suits.

For his part, Hagbe Mathieu, director of CEFAM acknowledged the expectation of the state from the center in this current dispensation. He said the center, which is the only institution now training in the area of decentralization, has a daunting task; but the director was confident that CEFAM would succeed in its mission, with the collaboration and support of hierarchy.

“ The students have to stay here for two years and will be awarded certificates upon the successful completion of their studies”, he said ,admitting that CEFAM has a new curriculum ,which is adapted to the requirements of decentralization, to make sure the training content is meeting the needs on the field”

Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. Ebah Moses, Chief of Service for Administration and Finance of the center, thanked Government for supporting CEFAM, which is a catalyst for local development; then came Madam Elizabeth Jarreth, deputy director of CEFAM, who presented the pedagogic activities carried out by the center, which was created in 1977 by Presidential decree. Madam Jarreth said after the publication of the entrance results by MINDDEVEL classes effectively took last July 29 with a total of 155 students in the various cycles.

She pointed out that CEFAM is “innovating to make our training more responsive to the needs of our clients, councils” and expressed gratitude to CEFAM’s partners for their technical assistance.

An academic discourse on the theme “The Stakes of Decentralization in Cameroon” was presented by Dr.Thomas. Kotto of the University of Douala.

Cultural dances and sketches by students demonstrating national unity and integration were also staged for the amusement of the audience.

Worthy of note is the fact all the speakers on the occasion promoted bilingualism by speaking in both French and English,a plausible move initiated by  senior CEFAM staff ,Ignatius  Atumu,who was the  master of ceremony.

Cameroon:Buea Mayor Ekema Patrick is dead

By Christopher Ambe

Ekema Patrick Esunge, the controversial Mayor of Buea yesterday Sunday suddenly died in a hospital in Douala where he was rushed after suffering a malaise, The Horizon learned.

The sad news of the death of Ekema, 43, hit Buea like a bomb and spread with apparent lighting speed, especially as the mayor had become so infamous  in the  town , for  his anti-ghost town/separatist onslaughts.

On ghost town days since the eruption of the Anglophone crisis, he would, assisted by security forces, break open Buea business premises and or seal some for respecting the call for civil disobedience. 

The deceased took over as Mayor of Buea from Charles Mbella Moki,now Senator, in 2013. But because of personality conflict, the deceased and Senator Moki –both members of the ruling CPDM sharply disagreed and stayed apart from each other. 

The deceased also did not agree with a majority of Fako elite, as he accused them of working his political successes. 

The deceased mayor “sacked” two of his deputies Ojongkpot Comfort and Motomby Mbombe Emmanuel.

Late Mayor Ekema, who has left behind a wife and several children, was involved in several scandals such as land grapping and alleged GCE certificate forgery.  But as courageous as Ekema was,he was still planning to stand for reelection should the CPDM win the coming Municipal elections in Buea; Very little about his achievements as Mayor was known to the electorate. 

He spent time and money fighting his various adversaries (and they were in their numbers).

However, he was reportedly admired by the Yaounde Establishment, especially as he sided with the Cameroon Government in fighting against ghost towns and separatist activities, which have brought untold suffering on the populations.

By Press time, there corpse was still to arrive Buea Mortuary form Douala.

Cameroon Separatist Fighter Names Himself 'King' of Southwest District

English-speaking Lebialem district of Cameroon/Photo:VOA

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka

YAOUNDE - There is outrage in Cameroon after a separatist fighter who chased several traditional rulers from the English-speaking Lebialem district enthroned himself as king.Raids by the military to capture the fighter and ensuing battles led to the deaths of 11 suspected fighters and the beheading of a police officer.Heavily guarded by his fighters and accompanied by several women he said are his wives, Lekeahka Oliver, dressed in local traditional regalia, announces that he is the only king of Lebialem

Recently, Oliver's fighters attacked and chased away many local traditional rulers and notables.  He said they supported the central government in the war to make the North-and Southwest regions independent from the rest of Cameroon and its French-speaking majority.  At least two of the traditional rulers were killed.

Andreas Lekunze Nembo, traditional ruler of Bamumbu village and president of the Lebialem chiefs conference, said the escaped chiefs are outraged by the desecration of their palaces.

"There is fire in the house. Fire because our customs, tradition and cultural heritage continue to be abused. The desecration of a palace by separatists. Secondly there is general insecurity, intimidation and barbaric actions to our greatest surprise,” said Nembo.

In an attempt to capture Oliver, the military said it mounted raids on separatist camps in Lebialem, killing at least six fighters within the past three days.

Other battles were reported in the northwestern towns of Bamenda and Ndop, killing another five separatist fighters.

The fighters also beheaded a policeman. 

 Colonel Sone Joseph Ajang, director of administrative and regulatory affairs in Cameroon’s Ministry of Defense, said the separatists have beheaded seven people over the past month.

"We ask ourselves, why do you chop off the head of someone they have already killed? This is to send some warning waves to the mind of soldiers, but we stay resolute as far as our duties are concerned irrespective of all the atrocities we have," he said.

Deben Tchoffo, governor of the English-speaking Northwest region, said security services are attempting to stop the barbarism.

"It is unbearable and on behalf of the government of the republic, we condemn it strongly and investigations are ongoing to uncover those that have done [are responsible for] that devilish act," said Tchoffo.

Early this month, Cameroon's President Paul Biya organized what he called a national dialogue to solve the separatist crisis that has killed close to 3,000 people since 2016. Separatist groups on social media called the dialogue a non-event and refused to participate.

Courtesy:VOA Africa

Cameroon Major National Dialogue : Those Recommendations Begging for Immediate Attention !

By Christopher Ambe

The much-talked about September 30-October 4, 2019 Major National Dialogue, convened by President Paul Biya  and chaired  by Prime Minister Dr.Joseph Dion Ngute came up with some laudable recommendations, which if quickly implemented, many pundits hold, could end   the deadly   Anglophone Crisis, which erupted in late 2016.

The crisis erupted in late 2016 over lawyers’ and teachers’ demands; and since then separatist fighters, seeking the independence of Anglophones, have regularly engaged in deadly clashes with Cameroon military and security forces, resulting in the death of over 2000 people.

Closing the National Dialogue, Premier Dr.Dion Ngute  said  the  recommendations of the four-day meeting, “whose relevance and rationale cannot be over-emphasized, are squarely in line with the goals of President Paul Biya’s Economic and Social Programme”.  But he insisted that the “recommendations can only be truly implemented in a climate of peace and security.”

Although all the recommendations are important, pundits think some are more important than others.  Considered more important for immediate attention  include:

1-Grant a special status to the North-West and South-West Regions, in conformity with Section 62 Sub 2 of the Constitution;

2-Take specific measures to ensure equality of English and French in all aspects of national life;

3-Reinforce the autonomy of Decentralised Local Entities;

4-Improve upon the infrastructure of judicial services throughout the country;

5-Strengthen the Humanitarian Assistance Program to better serve internally displaced persons;

6-Institute a special plan to reconstruct the conflict-affected areas

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THE MAJOR NATIONAL DIALOGUE: SOME KEY ISSUES AND SUCCESSES TO REMEMBER

Eight main themes were highlighted in the message delivered by the Head of State on 10^th September 2019, namely:

1-      Bilingualism, Cultural Diversity and Social Cohesion

2-      Education System

3-      Judicial System

4-      The Return of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

5-      Reconstruction and Development of Conflict-Affected Areas

6-      Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration of Ex-Combattants

7- Role of the Diaspora in the Crisis and in the Country’s Development

8-      Decentralisation and Local Development 

1. BILINGUALISM, CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL COHESION / BILINGUISM, DIVERSITE CULTURELLE ET COHESION SOCIALE 

• Enhancing the practice of Bilingualism in all segments of society through the creation and implementation of programs starting from pre-school ages;
•  Enrooting Cultural Diversity through a strict implementation of regional balance and equitable access to public service and security forces;
•   Conceive and implement a curriculum on Inter Community Fellowship, Rebuilding Fraternal Trust and Civic Engagement in an effort to strengthen National Social Cohesion. 
•  Pass legislation that spells out the equitable use of both official languages in an area of national life;
•  Develop and codify principles for social dialogue, social cohesion and living together. 

2. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM / SYSTEM EDUCATIF

•  Ensure that educational reforms integrate the need to keep the two educational subsystems afloat, buoyant and futuristic, recognizing the unique strengths and specificities of each subsystem, building on the strengths of each one to train well rounded and excellent Cameroonian graduates who excel wherever they go.
• Ensure that Teachers’ Trade Unions should work in collaboration with the Government.
•  Regulate the proliferation of Teachers Trade Unions and promote better organisation of the Trade Unions to ensure synergy from the regional to national level.

3- JUDICIAL SYSTEM/ SYSTEM JUDICIARE

•  translate all legal instruments into both official languages and ensure their simultaneous publication in both official languages;
• take into account the perquisite of English language proficiency and the mastery of the Common Law legal system when deploying judiciary staff to the North-West and South-West Regions;
• set up a Law School for the training lawyers and all legal practitioners at large in Cameroon;
•  upgrade the Common Law Section of the Supreme Court of Cameroon into a fully-fledged Legal Bench comprising all sections dealing with specific matters of the Common Law;
• improve mechanisms for legal cooperation in view of commencing proceedings to call to book those financing terrorism from foreign countries;

4. The Return of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons 

• The State should set up communication channels for a better deployment of the army and freer movement of the people, as well as take measures for the construction of decent homes for displaced persons; 
•  Take measures geared towards granting general amnesty to foster the return of refugees and internally displaced persons;
•  Proceed to the physical headcount of all displaced persons and come up with an estimate of their basic socio-economic needs (schools, health facilities, accommodation…);
• Provide ‘resettlement and reintegration kits’ to refugees and internally displaced persons;

5. Reconstruction and Development of Conflict-Affected Areas 

To formulate a vast Programme for the Recovery, Reconstruction and Development of the North-West, South-West and Fae-North regions, aimed at improving the living conditions of the populations and consolidating social cohesion and national unity, the following actions were recommended:

• The immediate resumption of projects whose works have been suspended over the oast three years due to the crisis in the North-West and South-West Regions such as the Babajou-Bamenda road, the Loum-Tombel-Kumba-Mundemba-Akwa Road etc;
• The rehabilitation of public facilities and public infrastructure destroyed or rendered obsolete as a result of lack of use because of the crises, particularly in the areas of education, health, transport, energy, water and communications infrastructure;
•  The reconstruction of priority economic infrastructures in order to provide support or revive productive systems through revamping the public agro-industrial companies in the affected regions (CDC, PAMOL,  UNVDA, SEMRY, SODECOTON);
•  The compensation for losses suffered by private individuals, religious congregations, Chiefs’ Palaces, communities and private production and service provision units as well as direct social assistance schemes for victims;

The voluntarist creation of sustainable jobs for young people and women with a special focus on those from the crisis-affected regions. 

6. Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration of Ex-Combattants / Disarmament, Demobilisation et Reintegration des Ex-Combattants 

• Elaborate and implement a holistic communication strategy which will lay emphasis on the peace offer of the Head of State, President Paul Biya, to the combatants.
•   Establish a safe corridor for fighters to surrender in cantonment sites which will be established close to battle areas, to ease the demobilization of combatants. Suspend the fabrication and spread of locally fabricated guns.
•  The spiritual and physical treatment of returnees from excessive drugs and intoxication from separatists propaganda. Etc.  

7- Role of the Diaspora in the Crisis and in the Country’s Development/ Role de la Diaspora  dans la Crise et sa Contribution au Developpement du Cameroun.

•  The revision-reform of the nationality code such that dual or multiple nationality be authorized,

• The adoption of the principle of parliamentary and governmental representation of the Diaspora (A ministry dedicated to the Diaspora).
• The creation of a High Council of the diaspora in the host countries with elected leaders, membership being conditioned by the possession of a consular card,
• The creation of a team responsible for mediation with radicalised members of our Diaspora and,
•  The creation of a transnational investment and development agency for the Diaspora.

8- Decentralisation and Local Development/Decentralisation et Developpement Local.

• The endowment of the North West and South West Regions with a Special status in conformity with Section 62 Sub 2 of the Constitution which states that the law may take into consideration the specificities of certain Regions with regards to their organization and functioning,
•  The effective putting in place of Regions as soon as possible,
• The disbursement of special allocation to each of the Councils in the North West and  South West to facilitate the effective resumption to certain agglomerations,

• The suspension of the provision for the appointment of Government Delegates provided for within the Special Regime applicable to certain agglomerations,
• A substantial reduction of the powers of the supervisory authority;
• In view of the reinforcement of the financial autonomy of local authorities, the Commission recommended the: 

a.   effective implementation of Section 32 Sub 2 of the Law on the orientation of Decentralisation which stipulates the finance law will determine,  on the proposal of the government, the proportion of the State revenue dedicated to the Common Decentralization Fund. In this connection, the participants proposed that a margin of 10-15% of the State budget be allocated to the Councils,

b.       the waiver of the principle on the single treasury account which delays the effective transfer of funds to local authorities.

It is noteworthy to mention that some of the Recommendations need to be specifically highlighted. These include the Recommendation to;

•  Grant a special status to the North-West and South-West Regions, in conformity with Section 62 Sub 2 of the Constitution;
•  Take specific measures to ensure equality of English and French in all aspects of national life;
•  Reinforce the autonomy of Decentralized Local Entities; 
•  Improve upon the infrastructure of judicial services throughout the country;
•  Strengthen the Humanitarian Assistance Program to better serve internally displaced persons;
•  Institute a special plan to reconstruct the conflict-affected areas;
•  Popularize the Head of State’s offer of amnesty to combatants who drop their weapons and enter the reintegration process; and,
•  Create a team responsible for mediation with radicalized members of our Diaspora.   

The overall objectives now as outlined by the Prime Minister in his closing speech, after the successful Major National Dialogue, are:

1.)    The effective resumption of schools in the North West and South West Regions;

2.)    The effective resumption of business and other activities in the North West and South West Regions;

3.)    The return of refugees and Internally Displaced people (IDPs) to their communities of origin in the North West and South West Regions.

CEFORA launches food security project for Buea IDPs

Group picture of IDPs and officials after project launch

By Christopher Ambe

The Center for Rural Action (CEFORA), a Buea-based civil society organization, on Wednesday  October 16 launched a project titled “ Ensuring food and nutrition security to IDPs/host families  through on-farm training ,comsumption and Transformation of selected improved  varieties of short cycle crops”

The project jointly finuded by the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) and the Japanese government ,targets some 120 intrenally displaced (IDPs)  resident in some villages in Buea subdivision and Ekona,in Muyuka subdivision.

The project launch ,which took place in the conference hall of the Southwest Delegation of Livestock and Fishereies  in Buea,was presided at by Mrs. Tabot Margaret Tabi,Assistant Divisonal Officer (ADO)  for Buea. 

Mrs. Tabi  encouraged  the  IDPs to continue to live in hope and trust in God for better days,noting that their displacement from their original homes did not mean the end of their lives.

She advised the IDPs,” Every opportunity that comes your way now,grab it, because knowledge is never useless..

“If you receive  training   on modern farming,endeavor to emerge as a exemplary farmers.”

The ADO urged the IDPs to approach the chiefs in their host communities to lodge any complaints they may have for intervention and strive to co-exist peacefully with their hosts.

She commended CEFORA for its empowerment efforts and urged it to do even more for underpriviledged communities.

On his part, Vagberg Mats Erik Stensson, representative of the UNDP for the Southwest region,congratuted CEFORA for being one of eighteen Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that were recently selected  to execute a United Nations Development Program (UNDP)- Japanese government grant of about 180 million FCFA  to help effect “Early Recovery and Social Cohesion” in the crisis-stricken English-speaking regions of Cameroon.

Mr. Stensson reiterated the humanitarian  role  being played by the UNDP in the ongoing Anglophone crisis.

He pointed out,”We are here for humanitarian purposes; we are neutral in the conflict;we are here to serve in an independent way; we do needs analysis and support the affected people…to save lives  and restore human dignity” 

According to Hansel Ekwa Itue,director of CEFORA,the project,which started in June and will end in March 2020, was initially targeting 100 IDPs but  due to needs pressure it now supports 120 IDPs.

 Mr. Ekwa Itue added that, the IDPs have already received farm inputs and seedlings and started planting on some hectares of land allotted them by their host villages. 

 “Through this initiative, we are promoting social cohesion, which will lead to peace-building,” he said.

He  also disclosed  that a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) had earlier been signed between CEFORA and chiefs of  Buea villages hosting the IDPs, and that a local crisis management committee for the project, headed by Chief Ndongo of Bonakanda village, was already in place.

Taking the floor, Dr, Ekolle Justin, CEFORA consultant and Scientific coordinator for IRA Ekona, gave an overview of the project and its justification.

“With this project,we hope the IDPs would be busy working,producing their nutritive food and helping themselves with basic needs”,Dr. Ekolle noted.

Created in 2010, CEFORA  focuses on empowering local communities  in domains such as  advocacy, campaign against  violence against women; equipping women and girls with sustainable agricultural practices; training women to be economically viable. 

Although  headquartered in Buea, CEFORA can intervene in other rural communities across Cameroon.

Cameroon's conflict: Will the National Dialogue make any difference?

Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute(centre) was  at the opening of the dialogue in the capital,Yaounde.Photo/AFP

By Ngala Killian Chimtom,BBC News,Yaounde

Life in Cameroon's two English-speaking provinces has been brought to a standstill by three years of conflict, which has cost about 3,000 lives and forced 500,000 from their homes.

The dispute had been simmering for decades, but boiled over in 2016, when teachers and lawyers started to protest against the use of French in schools and courts.

The government in the majority French-speaking country responded with lethal force, provoking rebels to declare independence for the region they call "Ambazonia", which in turn led to an even stronger military crackdown.

In an attempt to end the crisis, President Paul Biya called for talks, dubbed the National Dialogue, this week. 

Some were encouraged by this, but others dismissed it as a sham. So what has it achieved?
___________________________________________________

The National Dialogue made a series of proposals:

• the adoption of a special status for the two Anglophone regions
• the restoration of the House of Traditional Chiefs
• the election of local governors
• the immediate relaunch of certain airport and seaport projects in the two regions
• the rapid integration of ex-combatants into society
• the name of the country be returned to former name, the United Republic of Cameroon
• implement the law that government officials declare their assets, in order to tackle corruption.

Why do these  proposals matter ?

A return to the name United Republic of Cameroon is significant as it would go some way towards recognising the different histories of the different parts of the country.

At independence, the Southern Cameroons (colonised by Britain) voted in a UN-organised plebiscite to be united with the Republic of Cameroon (formerly colonised by France).

The new country the two entities created was called the Federal Republic of Cameroon. But the federation was scrapped in 1972 in a controversial referendum, giving rise to the United Republic of Cameroon.

"It is the abolition of this federal structure that lies at the core of the Anglophone problem," opposition leader John Fru Ndi told the BBC.

John Fru Ndi (right) wants a return to Cameroon's  federal structure .PHOTO / AFP

In 1984, President Paul Biya worsened the situation by scrapping the word "united" from the name of the country, and it became known simply as the Republic of Cameroon, which was the same name given at independence to the part of Cameroon colonised by France.

"What that meant was that the Anglophone entity had been annexed," Mr Fru Ndi said.

What difference would they make?

A return to the United Republic of Cameroon has been welcomed, although Mr Fru Ndi would have preferred a return to a federal system of government.

The prospect of electing local governors has also been welcomed by many. Jean Emmanuel Pondi, a professor of political science, told the BBC that "for Anglophones, it is a return to normalcy".

He said that locally elected officials would mean decisions being taken closer to the people.

"It used to be an administration of proximity where things are done by the people, for the people, and in the right moment," Prof Pondi said.

"The problem with the centralisation of power is precisely that things are done miles and miles away, by people who have no idea of the consequences of the decisions they are taking."

He said giving more autonomy to the regions would also "accelerate their dimension of good governance, because you have to be accountable immediately, or else, you are not elected".

The proposals will be forwarded to President Biya, with the expectation that he will order them to be implemented.

Cameroon - still divided along colonial lines:

•  Colonised by Germany in 1884 
• British and French troops force Germans to leave in 1916 
• Cameroon is split three years later - 80% goes to the French and 20% to the British
• French-run Cameroon becomes independent in 1960

Following a referendum, the (British) Southern Cameroons join Cameroon, while Northern Cameroons join English-speaking Nigeria 

What has the reaction been?

Opinion has been sharply divided.Backers like Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, a senior figure with the ruling party, thinks that it is a "decisive step in the right direction"."It will enhance participatory development across the country," he told the BBC.

"We believe that these proposals will calm down minds and restore peace."

But Akere Muna, a political leader and former Cameroon representative of Transparency International, walked out of the talks in protest over what he said were attempts to stifle debate.

"Speakers were pre-arranged. You couldn't even ask a question. It was stage-managed. So they were actually looking for spectators, not participants," Mr Muna told the BBC

Noting that the debate in the two English-speaking regions was about "secession and separation," he questioned why there was no commission to examine those alternatives.

"So, I thought that the prescription had nothing to do with the illness," he said.

On Thursday, in what appeared to be a goodwill gesture President Biya ordered all charges dropped against more than 300 people detained in connection with the Anglophone crisis.

But the decision failed to appease critics who say thousands more are locked up on trumped-up charges.

What do the separatists say?

They have pledged to keep fighting until "Ambazonia is freed".

Ivo Tapang, a spokesman for 13 armed groups called the Contender Forces of Ambazonia, has made it clear that the concessions made so far are not enough to deter them from their fight for freedom.

"We will not accept an olive branch from someone whose troops are still in our territory," he said. "We will intensify our struggle with guns and bullets."