The Entrepreneur - Cameroon's Premier Economic & Business Journal

President Paul Biya of Cameroon End of Year Address 2011

Fellow Cameroonians,

My dear compatriots,

Here we are on the threshold of the first phase of our “long march” towards becoming an emerging country.

The recent presidential election has laid a solid foundation for this purpose. You voted for stability and peace, thus confirming your sound judgement and sense of responsibility. No matter what some people might have said, the poll was fair and reflected the will of the majority of our people who - I must emphasize – refused to heed calls for street protests. I take this opportunity to reaffirm that the dysfunctions noted and which, anyway, were not likely to cast doubt over the outcome of the election, will be corrected before the next election.

As I promised, the period now beginning will essentially be devoted to the stimulation of growth. By the way, we have no choice. Either we move on and have reason for hope, or we mark time and our problems will only worsen. Indeed, it should be realized that, like most African countries, we are caught in a pursuit race between our development and our population growth. To win the race, we must implement the “new impetus” I proposed during the election campaign. [French Version]

Pillars and Foundations of President Paul Biya’s Reelection

What the People of Cameroon Knew, that You Didn’t

By Ernest L. Molua*

About 77.99% of Cameroonians have a profound sense of justice. Voting in Pretoria, Libreville, Paris, Washington DC or Beijing; and trooping to voting centres from Widikum to Idenau, Mundemba to Yokaduma; and from Nkolandoum to Kouseri, Cameroonians have sent a loud and clear message that paves the path of their political and economic destiny. On October 9, 2011 they statistically and significantly voted for a President whom they wish will lead them into the promise land of human actualization. Presidential elections 2011 is somewhat a prophetic destiny on President Paul Biya’s reelection, which hinges on three foundations, ten pillars and the Biya welfarism which the people of Cameroon objectively assessed and gave to him their overt support.

NATO backed Genocide on Black African's who saw Greener Pasture in Libya

The mainstream media is already engaging in widespread damage control in an attempt to mitigate the fallout of the reality of the situation in Libya and the withering NATO-sponsored narrative of post-Gaddafi Libya...They are called “Gaddafi loyalists”, “Sub-Saharan mercenaries” and other phrases all pointing to the unfortunate reality that every single black person is now considered by the rebels to be a mercenary hired by Gaddafi...The Libyan rebels and those carrying water for them in the Western media are now attempting to conceal the fact that they are now committing crimes against humanity in the active targeting of innocent black Libyans....Some call the attacks “reprisals” or “revenge,” but in reality they are hateful murders carried out by the al Qaeda-affiliated, Western backed and trained rebels...These killings are irrefutably tied to the wildly racist and wholly unfounded claims that Gaddafi hired Sub-Saharan African mercenaries to murder his own people during the uprising...More

Time to Arrest, Charge and Incarcerate NATO Criminals

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague should probe possible human rights violations committed by NATO forces in Libya, South Africa's deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe has said. "We note they (NATO) are attempting to create the impression that the rebels are acting on their own in their attacks in Tripoli but there are clear links and co-ordination at that level," Motlanthe told parliament Wednesday in response to lawmakers' questions. "The question is whether the (court) will have the wherewithal to unearth that information and bring those who are responsible to book, including the NATO commanders on the ground," the local press quoted him as saying...More

Regime Change in UK: Cameron Must Go?

(If the revolt is)...an expression of pure criminality and has nothing to do with police harassment or youth unemployment or rampant inequality or deepening economic crisis, why is it happening now and not a decade ago? The criminal classes, as the Victorians branded those at the margins of society, are always with us, after all. And if it has no connection with Britain's savage social divide and ghettoes of deprivation, why did it kick off in Haringey and not Henley?...While bankers have publicly looted the country's wealth and got away with it, it's not hard to see why those who are locked out of the gravy train might think they were entitled to help themselves to a mobile phone. Some of the rioters make the connection explicitly. "The politicians say that we loot and rob, they are the original gangsters," one told a reporter. Another explained to the BBC: "We're showing the rich people we can do what we want."

Top UK businessmen among 9 arrested in bank probe

Police have arrested nine people, including two of Britain's wealthiest entrepreneurs, on suspicion of fraud in connection with the 2008 collapse of Iceland's Kaupthing bank during the global financial crisis. Britain's Serious Fraud Office said seven men aged between 42 and 54 were held in raids on two businesses and eight homes in London. The properties were being searched and the suspects questioned at police stations in the city. Two men, aged 42 and 43, were arrested in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik. Entrepreneurs Robert and Vincent Tchenguiz confirmed they were among those arrested in London and said they were "cooperating fully" with authorities...More

Paul Biya: "....2010 was also the first year of the implementation of our growth and employment strategy"

Head of State’s New Year 2011 Message to the Nation
31/12/2010

The Head of State His Excellency Paul BIYA has assured the people of Cameroon that the Government will continue the fight against insecurity, speculation on basic foodstuffs, corruption and road accidents in the coming year, while pursuing the implantation of major agricultural projects and the construction of streets in our cities. President Paul BIYA made the traditional address to the Nation on 31 December 2010.

Fellow Cameroonians,

My Dear Compatriots,

In many ways, the year 2010 which is drawing to an end was a year like no other for Cameroon. First, it was marked by a memorable event: the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of our country's accession to independence. It also saw the beginning of implementation of our ten-year growth and employment strategy, the first phase of our journey towards emergence. Lastly, it showed that our country can play a significant role on the international scene.

Let us, if you wish, look at things more closely.

The golden jubilee celebration afforded us the opportunity to assess the ground covered since 1960. Above all, it made us more aware that we had undoubtedly become one Nation and that over the years, we have successfully established institutions that have the key characteristics of a democratic State: representative institutions, civic rights and freedoms, access to education and health care, among others.

Cameroon's 50 Years of Exceptional Golden African Glory

Cameroon's Independence Celebration, 1960 - 2010

By Ernest L. Molua (Editor-in-Chief),

On May 20, 2010, Cameroon crowned celebrations of its independence from France, Great Britain and Germany. Millions of Cameroonians marched in unison to drum beats to put behind them the travails of Berlin 1884, Versailles 1919 and drawnout negotiations of the late 1950s that gave the territory independence in 1960. Cameroon, Africa's unbridled land of peace and tranquility, where mountains and seas, hills and lakes reminds anyone with an open mind, on nature's appeasement with itself in the creation of the landmass. Throughout the ten regions, all divisional and sub-divisional headquarters and districts in the country, school children, adults and militants of over 250 political parties marched, sang and danced to the ideals of the liberation heroes of 1960 and the nation's founding fathers: Free at last, free at last, free at last...

President Paul BIYA of Cameroon addresses the Nation to mark 50th anniversary celebrations

The Head of State, H.E. Paul BIYA, address the nation on the occasion of the celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversaries of the Independence and Reunification of Cameroon. French Version

My dear compatriots,

On 31 December last year, I announced to you that this year we would be celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of our independence, as a prelude to that of our reunification, and that the commemorations would culminate in the National Day. To open the said events, I am addressing the nation this evening to highlight the significance and scope of our country’s accession to sovereignty. On 1 January 1960, we became INDEPENDENT. This meant that we were taking our destiny into our own hands, that we were becoming responsible for running our affairs by ourselves and that we would be accountable for our actions before History. What was the situation of our people then? Most of us recognized ourselves more as members of our communities of origin than as citizens of the same nation. And this was no surprise given our almost colonial past. With the demise of colonial empires following the Second World War, young nationalists had however been nurturing the unlikely dream of freedom. Clearly, their struggle, and in some cases their sacrifices, contributed significantly to the accession of our people to self-determination. That is why, I repeat, we should forever remain grateful to them.

Economic Cooperation: Turkey Finds Open Doors in Cameroon

By Ben Nakomo

The President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr Abdullah Gul, effected a 48 hour visit to Cameroon to discuss economic cooperation and business opportunities. Accompanied by 150 businessmen, the highlights of the two day official visit to Cameroon, March 16 - 18, 2010; included discussions and agreements intended to open a new and bright page of bilateral relations between Turkey and Cameroon. In line with the China-Africa and India-Africa Summits, Turkey is stepping up its role in Africa's backyard. For Cameroon, Turkey is a potential veritable business partner. Turkey has the world's 15th largest GDP-P and 17th largest Nominal GDP. The country is a founding member of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) and the G-20 major economies.