Kini Nsom
23 November 2008
After the kidnap of an Equato-Guinean refugee in Cameroon recently, diplomatic relations between the two countries are once more said to be in the doldrums.The government is very worried that the kidnap of Colonel Cipriano Nguema Mba recently, allegedly hatched by his country's authorities, has portrayed Cameroon as a country that does not provide adequate protection to refugees.
The Cameroon government has protested about the kidnap of the refugee that is likely to be executed back in his country.That is why the Equato-Guinean President, Obiang Nguema dispatched his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pastor Micha Ondo Bile, November 11, to seek to appease the Yaoundé authorities on the matter.
The Equato-Guinean special envoy that Prime Minister, Ephraim Inoni received at the Star Building, came after that country's Ambassador was summoned by the Minister of External Relations, Henri Eyebe Ayissi, last week. He protested the fact that against humanitarian law, the right of refugees, the Equato-Guinean authorities hatched and executed such a diabolic plan.
The Ambassador denied involvement in the kidnap. The issue was said to be a hot potato in the hands of the Equatorial Guinea-Cameroon Ad hoc joint Commission that met at the Mont Febe Hotel Yaounde last Tuesday. Given the sensitive nature of the meeting, journalists were not allowed to follow its deliberations. Only Cameramen of the CRTV were allowed to take pictures.
Authorities of the United Nations High commission for refugees are said to be really worried about fate of the refugees.The Cameroon government has disassociated itself from the kidnap by heavily sanctioning the police-people who kidnapped colonel Nguema and took him to the borders.
The Presidency of the Republic issued a release on November 4, sacking the two policemen from the police corps.According to security reports, the two policemen whisked away Col. Nguema away from his Etoudi residence after the Equato-Gunea promised to pay the CFCA 15million. He was later taken back to Equatorial Guinea where he is currently being detained.
Col. Ngeuma reportedly fled Equatorial Guinea in 2003 after he was accused of organising a foiled coup against the president of his country.He fled to seek political asylum in Cameroon after he was given a 30-year term. The court later charged the refugee with treason and the embezzlement of FCFA 300,916 million and sentenced him to death in absentia.
While the Cameroon government, and international human rights organisations argued that the man had the right to be protected in his refugee status, the Equato-Guinean authorities say he should be given the treatment of a criminal. The Equato-Guinean Minister of Forein Affairs said the man was supposed to be caged at all costs because he ran away with a huge sum of money.
That is why many observers fear that despite the diplomatic sweet talk by the Equato-Guinean envoy on the matte at the Star Building, the Obiang Nguema government will still go ahead to execute the colonel.
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