Latest news with #CentralAfrica
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barcelona agree shirt sponsorship deal with DR Congo
Barcelona players will have "DR Congo - Heart of Africa" emblazoned on the back of their training shirts from the start of next season, after the top Spanish football team agreed on a four-year deal with the central African country. The partnership will reportedly cost the Democratic Republic of Congo 44m euros ($50m; £38m), although the club has not disclosed the amount it will receive. The arrangement has faced criticism from some Congolese who have questioned their government's priorities, especially as its domestic football league has been plagued by chronic underfunding for years. But the authorities have defended the agreement, saying that it will help raise the profile of the country. As part of the deal, Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium will host what the club called an "immersive exhibition... to showcase the cultural diversity and sporting tradition" of DR Congo. The country's Sports Minister Didier Budimbu told BBC Focus on Africa that the agreement includes a training camp for 50 young Congolese players and 10 coaches. Barcelona says it will also run camps for children across a range of sports, including basketball, handball and roller hockey. DR Congo has signed similar deals with Italian side AC Milan and French team AS Monaco. Last month, Budimbu described them as part of a strategy to "reposition" DR Congo as a leader in tourism and investment opportunities. Since 2018, DR Congo's regional rival Rwanda has had a sponsorship deal with English side Arsenal promoting tourism in the country with the slogan "Visit Rwanda" on the sleeves of the players' shirts. French team Paris St-Germain and German side Bayern Munich have similar deals. These have also come under fire, especially recently as Rwanda has been accused of backing rebels in DR Congo in a devastating conflict in the east, which it denies. In February, DR Congo Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner wrote to the clubs questioning the "morality" of the arrangement. The Rwandan government dismissed the accusations of sports-washing as a "distraction". In June Rwanda and the DR Congo signed a peace deal aimed at ending decades of the devastating conflict. In 2023, a deal that South Africa's tourism board pursued with Tottenham Hotspur did not come to fruition after complaints from the public. Despite similar noises from some quarters in DR Congo, this arrangement has gone ahead. Since the onset of Covid-19, the country's national football league has struggled, mostly for lack of funding for travel across the vast country. Some critics have expressed concern that the European deals could overshadow the conflict in the east and the government's troubling human rights record. You may also be interested in: Arsenal, PSG and Bayern urged to end Visit Rwanda deals What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? Your phone, a rare metal and the war in DR Congo Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cameroon opposition leader banned from challenging world's oldest president
Cameroon's opposition leader Maurice Kamto has been excluded from the list of candidates in the 12 October presidential election. Only 13 of the 83 names submitted to the country's electoral body Elecam were accepted. No reason was given for the decision not to allow Kamto to stand. He came second in the 2018 elections amid allegations of fraud. President Paul Biya, 92, the world's oldest president, was included on the list and he will seek an eighth term in office. Defying calls to step down, he says he still has a lot to offer Cameroonians despite being in power for nearly 43 years. Biya will be challenged by two former allies, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari, who both come from the vote-rich north of the country. Social media revamp by 92-year-old president struggles to woo young Cameroonians Kamto was the candidate for the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) in 2018 but the party was not allowed to endorse anyone this year due to its lack of elected representatives in parliament or local councils. So Kamto recently joined the Manidem party, which does have local representation. Renowned anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) leader Joshua Osih, and lawmaker Cabral Libii are among the other candidates cleared to run. Firebrand Mayor of Foumban Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya is the only female candidate on the list. Those disqualified from the presidential race have two days to file a challenge at the constitutional council. More about Cameroon from the BBC: 'Nowhere is safe' - Cameroonians trapped between separatists and soldiers Art curator Koyo Kouoh dies at height of career The lawyer risking everything to defend LGBT rights Paul Biya: Cameroon's 'absentee president' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cameroon opposition leader banned from challenging world's oldest president
Cameroon's opposition leader Maurice Kamto has been excluded from the list of candidates in the 12 October presidential election. Only 13 of the 83 names submitted to the country's electoral body Elecam were accepted. No reason was given for the decision not to allow Kamto to stand. He came second in the 2018 elections amid allegations of fraud. President Paul Biya, 92, the world's oldest president, was included on the list and he will seek an eighth term in office. Defying calls to step down, he says he still has a lot to offer Cameroonians despite being in power for nearly 43 years. Biya will be challenged by two former allies, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari, who both come from the vote-rich north of the country. Social media revamp by 92-year-old president struggles to woo young Cameroonians Kamto was the candidate for the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) in 2018 but the party was not allowed to endorse anyone this year due to its lack of elected representatives in parliament or local councils. So Kamto recently joined the Manidem party, which does have local representation. Renowned anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) leader Joshua Osih, and lawmaker Cabral Libii are among the other candidates cleared to run. Firebrand Mayor of Foumban Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya is the only female candidate on the list. Those disqualified from the presidential race have two days to file a challenge at the constitutional council. More about Cameroon from the BBC: 'Nowhere is safe' - Cameroonians trapped between separatists and soldiers Art curator Koyo Kouoh dies at height of career The lawyer risking everything to defend LGBT rights Paul Biya: Cameroon's 'absentee president' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Who be di candidates wey dey run for Cameroon election as Elecam disqualify Maurice Kamto
Cameroon Electoral Commission (ELECAM) don exclude Cameroon opposition leader Maurice Kamto from di list of candidates wey go contest for di October 12 presidential election. According to di list wey di kontri electoral body release on Saturday, 26 July, dem only approve 13 out of di 83 candidates wey declare dia intention to run. E neva dey clear why dem remove Kamto from di list, but di decision bin come afta e announce say im dey comot di Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party to join anoda party wey endorse am as candidate. Bicos di CRM party no fit endorse candidate sake of say dem no get any elected representatives for parliament or local councils, e decide to join MANIDEM party, wey get local representation. Who dey di list? 92-year-old Cameroon President Paul Biya dey part of di candidates wey make di list. Im former allies, Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maigari wey come from di vote-rich northern parts of di kontri also make di list. Popular anti-corruption lawyer Akere Muna, Social Democratic Front (SDF) party leader Joshua Osih, lawmaker Cabral Libii also dey among di candidates wey go contest for di kontri top job. Meanwhile, di firebrand mayor Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya na di only female candidate on di list. Ahead of di polls, critics don argue say plan bin dey to exclude Maurice Kamto wey come second for di 2018 presidential polls make e no challenge Oga Biya for dis year election. Oga Biya wey pipo reason say na di favourite to win for di October election bin reject calls to step down, as e say im still get a lot to offer Cameroonians, even though e don dey for power for nearly 43 years. Aspirants wey dey para sake of say dem dey disqualified from di presidential race get two days to file petition for di constitutional council within two days.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Cameroon Election Board Bars Kamto, Key Contender to Paul Biya
Maurice Kamto, the main challenger to President Paul Biya in Cameroon's 2018 election, won't be permitted to contest the next ballot on Oct. 12 after his candidacy was rejected by the country's election board. Kamto, 71, failed to comply with legal requirements by accepting a nomination from the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, which boycotted legislative and municipal elections in 2020 and — under Section 121 of the electoral code — is no longer eligible to put forward a candidate, Elections Cameroon, or ELECAM, said on Saturday.
