Camair-Co falls to a loss

Rocketing fuel bills and austerity in Spain and losses will wipe out profits at the Cameroon Airways Company. Alex Van Elk, the man in charge of the Cameroon Airways and head of the secretive Cameroonian government investment unit at the top of the transport department cannot openly admit that the company had lost over CFA 150 millions because of a botched and sloppy government business strategy.

 Camair-co which is the main Cameroon Airlines will find it difficult to reveal to the public and the government when it will drop its bombshell about the losses. It could easily get worse and the final bill could be much higher, Edward Standford an airlines analyst at Oriel Securities said.

Camair-co administration in an unambiguous admission of failure rare in the world of investment in the aviation industry should admit that the business projection and financial analyses were flawed, complex, poorly reviewed, poorly executed and poorly monitored.

Soaring oil prices are taking their toll on the aviation industry, with Camair-co fuel spending likely to hit over CFA 2 billions in 2012. Camair-co investment strategic purchase programme could potentially add to a short-term financial squeeze, sapping more than CFA 500 millions from annual profits.

Camair-co was highly loss-making and had been for some time, said anonymously one of the government strategic adviser on transport. It is important according to the government adviser to restructure very quickly the business.

One of o close lieutenant of the charismatic chief executive, Alex Van Elk, said that the purchase of new aircrafts will allow Camair-co to expand its presence at Yaounde International Nsimalen airport. Industry experts had expected Camair-co to make profits of at least CFA 112.50 millions this year. But the company is losing money even the secretive Alex Van Elk still saying that is going to do his best to make the business full in profit without being optimistic.

But the national company is making huge losses and according to Clement Joscelyne an analyst working for the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the losses at Camair-co are going to be a bit more than we were thinking.

There has been a massive improvement in performance with a poor communication strategy and some better news. However, unpredictable Paul Biya could be forced if the national airlines company is not taking a real step on the road to financial stability to be close to announce a new chief executive.

Biya " in good health" as he heads home

Paul Biya last week was discharged from a private hospital in Switzerland following his monthly routine health check to determine the cause of a sudden chest pain whilst having a private reception at his no more secret respite home in Geneva.

The 79 year old Cameroon president was sent home as the full examination of the chest infection failed to reveal anything seriously wrong with him according to a source close to the First Lady, Chantal Biya.

Doctors are happy at the moment with the progress, Paul Biya is making away from home growing governance and accountability problems.

 But intelligence said that Doctors warn the head of state about his fragile heart condition with his age and advise him to reduce the amount of work he used to do back home.

He was encouraged to take a break or risk heart failure condition. At 80 year old he will try again to lead his political party to the upcoming general elections.

The First Lady has been assured that there is nothing to worry about for the moment and the father of 3 and step father of 2 can still enjoy playing at his private residence with his children.

Paul Biya used unmarked escort vehicle to leave the high secured private hospital to be reunited with his whole family and the selective members of the delegation that always travel with him on private holidays.

Biya and his entourage don`t communicate a lot and always keep the country away from pressure and anxious about his whereabouts and precisely his health condition to govern the country. Concerns about Paul Biya`s health surfaced last year in December when he became impossible for him to attend many security brief meetings with his army generals.

In Geneva where he is at the moment with the First Lady and children, well-wishers have organised a vigil to pray for a prompt recovery has the Head of State will be heading back home in Cameroon.

The leader of the main opposition party,  John Fru Ndi, fromthe Social Democratic Front on a foreign radio last week criticised the government for showing a lack of respect for the Cameroon people by not telling them exactly where is the man who is supposed to be conducting the Cameroon day to day train...

Cameroon: John Fru Ndi needs to shape up...

Cameroon Opposition leader, John Fru Ndi`s political project needs to take shape over the next year, said yesterday one of his close political and strategist adviser who has asked not to be named by the media.

The political-strategist adviser said , John Fru Ndi has a project that needs to take shape, become better defined during the course of the coming year.

" ...People want to see more definition of what the new project is all about, perhaps more policy and fewer jokes at  the Government`s questions in the National Assembly.." and also less dictatorship as " the only person who is keeping members of the party from making a decision on whether they want to form a coalition government or not is John Fru Ndi". There is a need of change of policy.

Incumbent John Fru Ndi vowed to re-energise his party as a matter of urgency after the presidential election held on October 9, 2011 ahead of the next general election to be held in 2012..

The number of fully paid-up members and sympathisers has dipped.

There is no official records available at the moment way long after the presidential election to confirm the lost and the diminution of membership.

The smaller a party`s membership, the harder it is to campaign and fight elections. There were too many committee meetings ahead of the presidential election in what it was considered as dirty or draughty halls and a book rule.

John Fru Ndi has recognised after the results of the last presidential election that there is a real need for the party to become more welcoming and also to make it much easier to be an active Social Democratic Front member.

" People are hungry for change" said John Fru Ndi, before recognising that  " there is a real need of reaching out to supporters and bring them back in. The new party`s project wants to make people who have been for long and those who are still sceptical about the Social Democrat to listen to the Social Democrat again."

This is all about rebuilding the trust of the people of Cameroon. The national chairman has recognised that the party has " been badly defeated and people are demoralised and there is a sense in which the party has lost confidence in our voice as a party that can and will bring the change that its needed for a stronger, fairer and developed Cameroon."

Worries as Paul Biya " too tired" for Christmas

Speculation is growing over the future of Biya`s leadership after members of his close entourage have seen him increasingly tired.

The recent cancellation of his national tour after winning the last presidential election and many other meetings are listed as the direct consequence of the general state of health of the Head of State being " questionable".

Worries have been raised in the run up to this year`s gruelling two-weeks Christmas celebrations.

Those who have spent time with 78 year old Paul Biya report in secret and away from the ears of those in charge of the surveillance equipment and the security service, he was weaker than ever before and too fatigued to listen to what they were saying.

Those aware of his health condition have been dispatched from the presidential offices to run ministerial`s departments out of the inner circle of the "Boss" or the "Leader".

 A week ago before the new cabinet was made public, he started according to a source reducing the number of audience and he no longer meets individually with fixed appointment at his office. Others say he has lost his spark and no longer talks off the cuff.

Frail Biya is  expected to attend the Christmas Eve mass with his family and the location is still kept secret by the authorities.

The health worries raise questions about the future of his presidency. Before he became the oldest president ever re-elected age 78 after the last presidential election held in Cameroon in October 9, his close entourage said he has planned to retire to spent more time with his family and write in his native M`vomeka`a.


The President can step down under the constitution if the resignation is " freely made and properly manifested". Biya will then become the second Head of State in Cameroon after his predecessor to respect that.

Officials at the Civil Cabinet and the Communication department have denied a medical condition prompted the decision to cancel the national " Thank You" tour and reduce the number of individual appointment ahead of the festive period.

There are millions around the country waiting " passionately" the visit of the Head of State since his last reelection as the Cameroon`s President for the next 7 years.

Cameroon: Biya "fortifies" his power base

Almost 9 weeks have passed since Paul Biya "won" the last presidential election in Cameroon and has been also "declared" "winner" of the election even observers said there were numerous falsifications and rigging and the results do not reflect the people`s will.

Imperturbable and politically impervious, the national chairman of the main political party in Cameroon, the Cameroon People Democratic Movement has not yet decided who will be working or  will be called to join the cabinet. But according to the latest investigation, there are some movement on the way.

There are preparations on the way for the Cameroon`s ruling party to announce the formation of a new Cabinet which will include a number of new opposition parties.

It is extremely hard to see how in this event, Paul Biya would be able to justify any role of the newcomers in the Cabinet.

The move appeared to be aimed at bolstering support of President Paul Biya`s government in the wake of an unprecedented economic hardships and a growing number of leadershipsceptics in the party.

The shuffle will give ministerial posts to a number of opposition parties that formed the majority for the presidential coalition.

There is enough space here just for Paul Biya and his team to navigate his way through the formation of the new Cabinet that will fortify his power. He has played down losses by his party, CPDM, whose support dropped "sharply" from above 80% to just less than " reality" 75% of the vote.

The opposition will only grow, as will pressure for a real change of direction and improvement of the life of millions who are still leaving in deep poverty in many corners of the country.

Biya and his team will need all the political cover that his coalition with the new opposition parties affords. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said Washington and its allies for foreign Aid wanted Mr Paul Biya to make way for a Government ready to establish the rule of law and protect the right of all citizens.

CPDM in search for a " brave" man to lead the party

Pr Joseph Owona has accused Cameroon People Democratic Movement`s leadership hopefuls of lacking the courage to speak out on big issues.

The former general secretary of the presidency in Cameroon and Education minister has urged those in the secret race to be bolder on topics such as leadership alternative and corruption and to appeal more to the Cameroon public rather than focusing on the people who will choose the new leader.

Many today are battling to replace Paul Biya, who will be standing down following his long and disreputable reign as the national chairman of the party. Pr Maurice Kamto, Gilbert Tsimi Evouna, Laurent Marie Esso, Ibrahim Talba Malla, Rene Emmanuelle Sadi and Philipe Mbarga Mboa are on the race to become the next national chairman of the party.

But Joseph Owona said the contest has yet to attract much public interest and the party constitution should allow militants to express their views and also encourage them to stand for the leadership contest as long as they can show that they are capable of conducting the 26 year old party to a real democratization..

Pr Owona said, the potential candidates don`t have the courage to speak up loudly and boldly about the future of the country.

He then added that the new leader of the party had to be prepared to take on the country future. The constitutional debate has been dominated by the opposition. Paul Biya is bulldozing his way forward with very little resistance from the opposition.Under the leadership of Paul Biya it is like living with a quack doctor selling a miracle cure

Cameroon people want to know who can be the real alternative to Biya departure and also what the party can offer. The public is tired of the party leader just saying no to things.

Pr Joseph Owona declined to back any of the leadership hopefuls but said he believed they could lead the party to victory at the next general election. He added " Paul Biya is a formidable politician but the candidates should stop thinking about  what he has done in the past and focus on what they can bring to the country". The new leader priority should be to reconnect with the real Cameroon people and for a long time Cameroon has needed someone to lay the harsh economic and social facts of life on the table..

Cameroon: A new beginning for the country as Biya`s 29yr rule is nearly ended

President Paul Biya agreed to quit as national leader of the Cameroon People Democratic Movement, (CPDM) after a long 36 months of discussions, negotiations and proposals and directions to end his nearly 30-year forced and unwillingly grip on power.

Paul Biya signed an international backed deal, to open the position of the national chairman of the party to challenges and encourage others members with capacities and abilities to lead the party to the future. It`s understand that young people who are active and involved in political activities around the party have been encouraged to show their intention to be at the top of the party.

Ill-feeling over his high-handed attitude began slowly but over the past few months, has grown.

Now every day brings a demand for the date to be set, to bring it forward and above all to explain precisely what the decision would mean for the party and for the country.

There is also a call for women to come forward and prove that they have what it takes to take control of the vehicle and confront the future challenges for the country. The departure of Mr Biya will led to the implementation of the reforms on the functioning of the Central Committee and the Politburo or the "Bureau Politique" of the party.

 Throughout, the CPDM remains silent except to deliver its usual bluster and tell people everything will be all right on the night.

The international deal has been backed by the Us, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Germany, Japan. Only at the moment China has decided not to join that agreement for his deep knowledge of the country internal affairs.

This disagreement from China for the last 36 months has had a big impact on the country national economy and finances. There are fears the political environment will struggle to regain people confidence after Biya exit from politic. Some investors have been forced to almost halve investment to help generate the cash needed in case there is an instability situation.

 China`s politburo thinks that the forced departure of Paul Biya will lead to a threat to national unity and destroyed what Biya`s regime for the last 29 years has been built in past years.

The news of the deal sparked in Us, UK, Belgium, and France mass celebration from those in opposition. Celestin Ngoa, an exiled journalist based in Us said the departure of Biya will mark a very important beginning that will allow people in Cameroon the much needed hope they can embrace a new future.  Some voters know the country is not that in a too bad situation even it is in an almighty mess by the CPDM. They will probably forgive the failure to achieve one of the big three promises and even tolerate a regime that falls short on two fronts if things are heading in the right direction.

The Us and other world leaders had battled to get the 78 year old " Democrat-Dictator" to agree to the International cooperation deal that will protect the country unity and social stability.

In Scotland, Hugh O`Donnell, a former Liberal Democrat  Member of the Scottish Parliament who quit his party after the alliance signed between the Lib-Dem and Tories coalition government in London, described the deal as one of the " turning of a new page in the history of Cameroon and that those in charge will do everything now to help the country and create a much more lovable and stable country where it will be good to see growth and prosperity and less and less destruction and abuses" before adding that " it will be good to see investors and investments directed to the country where there will be a real democracy".

Biya agreed and backed out three times before finally signing the handover. Alain Bihapap, young leader of the political group based in Birmingham and totally in support of Biya regime do believe that nations that negotiated Paul Biya exit  have arranged that there won`t be any trouble after that.

But for Brice Nitcheu, political and human rights activist based in London, it is understand that, those world leaders are covering for his alleged crimes.

... In US, there are concerns about the military supreme council role and their ability of ruling the country in case there is any disagreement between the government and the opposition parties. For over 28 years the military supreme council had prevented the country to collapse.

Biya who has ruled the country since 1984, will be the second president in the history to be forced to handover the power.