United States (U.S.) Ambassador Reaffirms Commitment to Peace and Partnership in the Southwest Region
From April 24–27, Ambassador Christopher J. Lamora completed his third visit to the Southwest Region, reaffirming the U.S. Embassy's enduring commitment to peace, prosperity, and partnership with Cameroon. The visit also highlighted the lasting friendship between the American and Cameroonian people, particularly via his visits with the Paramount Chiefs of both Limbe and Buea, and his participation in the Cameroon International Film Festival (CAMIFF).
Tangible Progress in Peace and Stability
In his meeting with the Governor of the Southwest Region, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of peace and stability as cornerstones of sustainable development, acknowledging the government's efforts to improve the lives of its citizens in major towns in the region. Highlighting this theme, the Ambassador also visited the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) Center in Tiko. There, he met with Director Bernard Ngone, who described the center's efforts to reintegrating ex-combatants through vocational training, moral education, and strong collaboration with local communities. The Ambassador also visited Man O'War Base in Limbe, home to key units of Cameroon's Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR). In discussions with Colonel Henri Belinga, he heard about the BIR's strides in professionalizing its forces and enhancing training on the law of armed conflict and respect for internationally recognized human rights—underscoring the positive effects of the longstanding U.S.–Cameroon security partnership.
Expanding Economic Ties: U.S. Seeks New Avenues for Cooperation
While in Limbe, the Ambassador visited the Port Authority of Limbe, where he discussed infrastructure projects with the Deputy Director of the Transitional Administration, Thomas Ndive Mulongo. The proposed significant expansion of the Port of Limbe has the potential to make it the deepest seaport in West and Central Africa, capable of accommodating mega vessels and expanding trade opportunities. Discussions included the potential for public-private partnerships and ways to leverage U.S. expertise in maritime risk management and port operations.
In Buea, Ambassador Lamora engaged with dynamic entrepreneurs from 'Silicon Mountain,' Cameroon's growing tech hub. During a roundtable held at the American Corner Buea (housed at the University of Buea), he exchanged ideas with local startups and representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce, the American Council for Africa, and American Liaison in Africa. Their discussions focused on improving the investment climate and expanding U.S.–Cameroon business ties.
The renowned the Cameroon International Film Festival (CAMIFF) offered an additional opportunity to promote economic and cultural cooperation in the region. While speaking on a panel at CAMIFF, the Ambassador emphasized the film industry's vital contribution to local economies. He applauded CAMIFF Founder Gilbert Agbor Ebot for fostering collaborations between Cameroonian and American filmmakers, highlighting the induction of American actress Vanessa E. Williams into the CAMIFF Wall of Fame and the screening of Superman Doesn't Steal, an award-winning short film by American filmmaker Tamika Lamison that took home CAMIFF's award for best short film.
Ambassador Supports Community-Led Development
Recognizing the vital role of traditional leaders, Ambassador Lamora met with the Paramount Chiefs of Buea and Limbe, who conferred honors upon him and shared updates on their community-driven initiatives, including waste management, workforce development, and other local priorities. He also visited the Limbe Wildlife Center, where he praised its conservation efforts—not only for protecting Cameroon's rich biodiversity but also for supporting public health education, enhancing community livelihoods and instilling respect for the environment in Cameroon's next generation.
United States Sustains Health Achievements
For his final stop in the Southwest Region, the Ambassador visited Mutengene Baptist Hospital, a key health partner supported over many years by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There, he witnessed firsthand the impact of the United States' 133 million FCFA investment in HIV and TB care.
Thanks to this support, the hospital—which serves more than 122,000 patients annually—continues to provide life-saving services to people living with HIV and now stands as the largest facility of its kind in the region. Acknowledging the collective effort behind these achievements, the Ambassador reaffirmed the United States' long-term commitment to strengthening health security in Cameroon.
This visit underscored that, as stability takes hold, the Southwest Region is unlocking new opportunities for dynamic U.S.–Cameroon collaboration.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Cameroon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
6 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
US army vehicle displaying word ‘kafir' in northeast Syria seen as ‘provocation'
Residents in northeastern Syria have described a US military vehicle patrolling the area and displaying the word "kafir" - infidel in Arabic - on its front as "offensive" and a "provocation". Middle East Eye observed the vehicle, which also displayed a Christian cross, on the morning of 31 May near the city of Hasakah, as part of a convoy of around a dozen armoured vehicles bearing the American flag. Shortly afterwards, US soldiers stopped the car carrying the MEE team and demanded they stop photographing the convoy, offering no explanation or justification. The word "kafir" gained global notoriety through its frequent use by the Islamic State (IS) and other extremist groups during the Syrian civil war, where it was used to justify violence against those IS deemed non-believers - including Muslims who did not share their ideology. Nevertheless, residents interpreted the display of the word "kafir" as the soldiers deliberately self-identifying as infidels, to make a statement to the local population - despite the fact that IS no longer has a presence in the region. 'It's a provocation. We have nothing to do with IS, we don't consider Americans to be kuffar [plural of kafir], and even less so the Christians who have always lived in Syria," Jihan, a 34-year-old Kurdish woman, told MEE. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'It's so stupid that it's hard to even analyse the message behind it.' Mohammed, 42, said, "Unfortunately, it reflects the hatred Muslims have faced from Americans since 9/11, and the way they perceive us." US to reduce military presence It remains unclear whether the graffiti was painted during the period when IS still controlled large parts of Syria, or, as some interviewees suggested, by young Syrians, with or without the approval of American soldiers, "just to provoke the extremists". MEE reached out to the US administration for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication. The graffiti echoes the controversy sparked in March by a tattoo on the bicep of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, featuring the word "kafir" beneath a slogan associated with the Crusades. The tattoo was widely criticised as Islamophobic. US rebuffed Israeli demands to keep more US troops in northeast Syria, sources say Read More » On Tuesday, Thomas Barrack, the US special envoy to Syria, announced that the United States would reduce its military presence in the country, scaling down from eight bases to three, with the final goal of maintaining only one base, in the Hasakah region. 'What I can assure you is that our current Syria policy will not be close to the Syria policy of the last 100 years because none of these have worked,' Barrack said. There are currently an estimated 2,000 American troops in Syria, deployed to support the fight against IS. That number is expected to be halved. Residents interviewed by MEE reported that numerous US vehicles have already departed from the Deir Ezzor and Rmeilan military bases, reportedly heading towards Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Arabian Post
12 hours ago
- Arabian Post
UAE Pushes for Trade Deal to Counteract U.S. Metal Tariffs
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The United Arab Emirates and the United States are preparing to initiate negotiations for a potential bilateral trade agreement aimed at reducing or eliminating tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump's administration on UAE steel and aluminium exports. These tariffs include a baseline 10% duty and a specific 25% tariff on steel and aluminium—which the Trump administration plans to double to 50%. The UAE, whose steel and aluminium are significant non-oil exports and accounted for 8% of U.S. steel and aluminium consumption in 2024, is looking to leverage its history of swiftly concluded trade deals with nations such as India, Turkey, and Australia. While the U.S. may pursue a limited agreement rather than a full free trade pact, it is expected to be labeled a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement , consistent with the UAE's past trade deals. ADVERTISEMENT The UAE, Washington's largest trade partner in the Middle East with $34.4 billion in bilateral trade in 2024, is also a major U.S. investor and security ally, hosting American troops and planning $1.4 trillion in future U.S. investments. Both sides reportedly responded positively to the idea during Trump's recent visit to Abu Dhabi, though a timeline for formal talks remains unclear. The Trump administration's decision to double tariffs on imported steel and aluminium to 50% took effect on June 4, 2025, impacting nearly all trading partners except the United Kingdom, which has a preliminary trade agreement with the U.S. The policy significantly affects major U.S. trading partners like Canada and Mexico, with Canada being the leading exporter of aluminium to the U.S. and both countries ranking high in steel exports. UAE-based steel producers expect to escape major impact from the latest move by the U.S. to double tariffs on steel imports. The new tariffs apply to all trading partners except the UK, which struck a preliminary trade agreement with the U.S. last month. However, steel manufacturers in the UAE don't anticipate a hard hit. The U.S. decision to double steel import tariffs 'may have an indirect effect on market dynamics but is not expected to materially impact Emsteel's business,' said Michael Rion, chief commercial officer at Emirates Steel, part of Abu Dhabi-listed Emsteel Group. The company has a 'modest exposure' to the U.S. market, with exports accounting for less than 2% of total annual sales. The UAE's push for a trade agreement with the U.S. is part of its broader strategy to mitigate the impact of increased tariffs and strengthen economic ties. The potential agreement, discussed during President Trump's visit to Abu Dhabi, seeks to address the challenges posed by the new tariffs and reinforce the economic partnership between the two nations.
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Putin is doing to Trump what Trump does to everyone else
John M. Crisp, Tribune News Service Russian President Vladimir Putin did something odd on May 24: He launched 367 drones and missiles against a number of Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. At least 12 people were killed, including children, and dozens were injured. I'm calling this odd—hold that thought for a moment—but there's nothing unusual about it. The only person who appears to be surprised by another Russian attack on Ukrainian civilians was President Donald Trump, who said, 'I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!' Trump added that Putin is 'needlessly killing a lot of and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.' Trump gets the 'needlessly killing a lot of people' part right. He seems to be discovering what everyone already knows: Putin is a killer. He's not just an indifferent perpetrator of collateral damage in an unjust war, he's a murderer who doesn't hesitate to use violence to eliminate political enemies. This is the man that Trump calls 'a strong leader.' But Trump also seems to recognize the odd part of Putin's attacks on Ukrainian civilians, calling them 'Not necessary, and very bad timing.' Putin is winning the war in Ukraine. His most decisive victory occurred on Nov. 5, 2024, when Trump was elected president. The coalition organized by former President Joe Biden to resist Putin's unprovoked attack on Ukraine was seriously undermined by the election. Trump has not only threatened to cut off American aid to Ukraine and alienated Europeans who support Ukraine, but he has suggested a false, sickening equivalence of blame for this war. Putin is still a long way from his goal, which is complete control of Ukraine and, at least, some of the Baltic states. But the 'peace' plan that would be acceptable to Trump and Putin—Ukraine is a different matter—would provide the pause in the war that would allow Putin to consolidate his gains, reconstitute and rearm his military and plan his much-desired reestablishment of some version of the sphere of influence that the Soviet Union enjoyed. So why, with this tactical victory within reach, would Putin commit war crimes against Ukrainian civilians, risking a reawakening of American resistance to his war on Ukraine or, more likely, strengthening European resolve, in lieu of help from the United States, to preserve the liberal world order established after World War II? Here's my theory: Interactions among nations are often driven by rational motivations that emerge from competing economic interests. Nations tend to fight over resources. Sometimes conflicts develop over rival ideologies, but even they often have economic foundations. But sometimes wars are initiated and prolonged by the personalities and temperaments of national leaders, which helps explain why we fought so long in Vietnam or invaded Iraq, at all. Putin is a cruel criminal. But he's also a bully, a warped alpha male. He knows he's got the upper hand in Ukraine, but it's not enough just to win, he has to humiliate and dominate. To rub his opponents' noses in their defeats. Killing a few civilians without any useful military purpose is a small price for Putin to pay in order to demonstrate his dominance. And nothing gratifies an alpha male more than humiliating another alpha male. Compared to Putin, Trump is an amateur. Still, Trump is in a position to have an appreciation for some of Putin's motivations: Just winning is never enough for Trump, either. Civilization faces two daunting crises, compared with which all others—immigration, the global economy, the commercialization of the presidency—are insignificant. Climate change is a genuine threat to civilization or, at least, to the sort of life that we've grown to enjoy. The other great crisis is the ideological battle between the values that the US cultivated and nurtured after World War II—democracy, freedom of speech, rule of law, tolerance, legitimate elections—and the opposite values largely embraced by our adversaries. That conflict is being played out in Ukraine. Unfortunately, the outcomes of both crises are in considerable doubt.
