Senegal Airlines launches new route to Douala in Cameroon from Dakar

Senegal Airlines, the new national carrier of the West African country, launched a new route from its Dakar (DKR) base on 15 August. The airline now flies via Abidjan (ABJ) in Ivory Coast to Douala (DLA) in Cameroon. Flights operate twice-weekly with the airline’s 136-seat A320 aircraft. Between Dakar and Abidjan, competition comes from Kenya Airways’ three weekly flights.

Cameroon 'bank robbers' killed in speed-boat chase

At least 18 people suspected of robbing a bank in Cameroon have been killed in a gun battle as they tried to make a sea-borne escape, officials say.

Two banks were raided in the port town of Douala by gangs who made off in speed boats on Friday night.
But Maj Gen Sali Mohamadou said the security forces caught up with the gang as they approached Nigerian waters.
Gen Mohamadou would not say if any money had been stolen in the raid, or whether any was recovered.
"This is a warning to all, that anyone who dares such an act in Cameroon again will not run away - we will always catch up with them," he told state radio.
A member of the security forces also died in the shootout, he said.
Seven passers-by were killed during the bank raids, witnesses told the BBC.
Two suspected robbers were arrested.
There has been an increase in piracy off the coast of Nigeria and Cameroon in recent years.

National sports round up!

Two Cameroonian club sides, Cotonsport of Garoua and Tiko United were involved in continental competitions over the weekend.
Cotonsport of Garoua travelled to Democratic Republic of Congo. They registered a one – nil victory against ASV football club in the Champions league.

Tiko United, on its part, suffered a 2 – 0 defeat from Sunshine FC in Nigeria in the Confederations cup.

In Football back home, the eliminatory matches for the 32nd edition of the Cameroon Cup were played across the country.

Canon of Yaounde beat Dragon of Yaounde by 4 goals to 1while Aigle of Menoua beat Cripty Football club by 3 goals to 0.

FAP Yaounde for their part beat Mayo-Rey by 2 goals to one.

In basketball, the eliminatory for the Cameroon cup final, and the basketball elite championship, took place this weekend at the Yaounde sports complex.

In the first encounter, Phoenix Ebolowa beat volcanic warriors by 81 points to 73, INJS ladies won BEAC Yaounde by 66 points to 23, while Montagnes the l’Ouest boys lost to phoenix of Douala by 70 points to 74.

In Handball, the Cameroon Handball Federation has organised a press conference in Yaounde in view of the 27th edition of the African winner’s cup championship.

The competition has been scheduled to take place in Cameroon from the 10th to the 23rd of April 2011.

Cameroon-Business: Guinness launches Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards, DABRA!

Cameroon-Business - One of Cameroon's foremost breweries and distilleries, Guinness Cameroon, affiliate of the Diageo spirits company, last Friday February 4, at Yaounde's Hilton Hotel launched an international business reporting competition, the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards, DABRA. The aim of the competition is to promote excellence in business journalism on Africa where others have tended to major in conflict and the negative, explained Guinness Cameroon Managing Director and head of the Cameroon Hub, Steve Gannon.

Such reporting, he pointed out, portrays the other side of happenings on the continent, thus playing a major role in opening it up to greater investment flows. Through the competition, the company seeks to give back something to the countries where it operates by helping them develop their business, Gannon said.

The MD therefore invited Cameroonian business/economy reporters to write stories that could win some of the awards on offer, explaining that the competition was open to all journalists - print, broadcast and Information Communication Technology media. The quality of entries must be insightful, engaging, honest and have integrity, he explained.

The competition that began in 2004 has this year been extended to Francophone African countries and the number of categories increased from 7 to 11. They are features on infrastructure, agribusiness/environment and tourism; while the others are stories on use of New Media or ICT, business news, business feature, newcomer, media of the year, and journalist of the year categories. A total of 33 nominees are to be retained for the finals that come up in London in July this year.

Articles for the competition should not be more than 5,000 words. Journalists would be free to submit as many entries as they wish for certain categories. Entries may be submitted to Guinness Cameroon Douala office for forwarding to the Nigerian collection centre by March 20. On offer, would be a sculpture piece and prize money of FCFA 400,000. Award organizers however stressed at the launch that the recognition to be gained from winning such an award and the international exposure the winner would receive, were more important than the token prize money. Already published or broadcast material would also be accepted as entries; but this must have taken place between April 18, 2010 and March 27, 2011. The awards are free for all to enter. Online submission of entries is available at www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com