Cameroon

18, March 2026

Yaoundé: Customs launches mobile device duty system to recover lost revenue ⁰

Cameroon’s Directorate General of Customs (DGC) has activated a new electronic mechanism for collecting import duties on mobile phones, tablets and other mobile devices, effective 16 March 2026, after customs revenue from these goods collapsed from 12 billion CFA francs to about 100 million CFA francs over a relatively short period.

The system was launched during a briefing in Yaoundé presided over by Director General Fongod Edwin Nuvaga, bringing together major importers of mobile devices to present the new collection architecture ahead of its go-live date.

According to Customs, the reform is based on Article 7 of the 2019 Finance Law, which established an electronic mechanism for collecting duties on imported mobile terminals. A first implementation attempt in 2020 met with resistance and was shelved, before the mechanism was reintroduced following a successful test phase.

Importers liable, mobile money payments

Under the new framework, the legal taxpayer is the importer, not the consumer. Payments will be made via Mobile Money, Orange Money and other secure digital payment platforms, replacing the previous system based on communication credit.

Mobile operators will no longer collect and remit customs duties. Their role is now limited to blocking and unblocking devices within the new system.

Paul Olivier Libii, senior inspector at the DGC’s Division of Legislation and Disputes, detailed the system’s technical architecture, which connects three platforms: Camcis, the customs management system; a partner platform dedicated to device information management; and mobile operators’ operating systems.

“From the moment of importation, upload to the manifest all IMEI numbers of the devices you are importing; the manifest is then transferred electronically to Camcis. Once in the country, you validate a customs declaration, which will be automatically retrieved by the platform, which then analyses the IMEI numbers you uploaded,” Libii said.

Amnesty for active devices, regularisation for stock

Devices that had connected at least once to the networks of MTN, CAMTEL or Orange before 16 March 2026 are exempt from the new mechanism and benefit from fiscal amnesty.

However, devices in stock that had not connected to any network by that date must be regularised with the nearest customs office. Importers have two months to submit IMEI files for these devices, along with documents confirming regular customs clearance.

The framework for handling pending cases was outlined by Marcelin Djeuwo, Head of the DGC’s IT Division, during the briefing.

Libii described the system as a tool to enhance transparency, ensure fiscal compliance, reduce risks related to money laundering and terrorist financing, and protect the economy against fraud and contraband. The reform is also expected to modernise customs administration and sanitise the mobile device market.

Eight categories of mobile phones have been identified under the new framework, with the DGC indicating it remains open to additional proposals. Major importers present at the briefing expressed support for the reform, while Customs noted that the system’s success will depend on the buy-in of all stakeholders and targeted actors.

Source: Business in Cameroon

17, March 2026

Biya regime halts land sales around Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé ⁰

Cameroon’s presidency has ordered an immediate halt to land allocations around the Olembe sports complex in the northern outskirts of Yaoundé.

In a letter dated March 9, the secretary-general of the presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, instructed the minister of state property, surveys and land affairs to revoke all acts granting or transferring plots to private individuals within the perimeter of the Olembe sports complex.

The order follows what the document described as “high instructions” from President Paul Biya, directing the government to cancel all decisions related to the allocation or retrocession of land belonging to the complex.

The decision concerns an area that has experienced rapid demographic and real estate growth over the past decade. The expansion was driven largely by the construction of the Olembe sports complex—whose centerpiece is a 60,000-seat stadium—as well as the development of a nearby public housing estate.

Originally, the state secured about 110 hectares of land for the project as part of preparations for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Beyond the stadium, the complex was expected to include several complementary facilities, including training grounds, a five-star hotel, a shopping center, a museum, a cinema, and an Olympic swimming pool.

However, construction delays disrupted the original development plan. Many of the additional facilities were never built, leaving large sections of land exposed to competing claims, informal occupation, and land speculation, amid tensions with local communities.

By suspending land allocations and transfers, the government is seeking to regain control of these land reserves. The objective is to secure the site, reduce the risk of land disputes, and preserve the possibility of reviving the broader development project in the future.

Source: Business in Cameroon

16, March 2026

Bishop Nkuo says government must protect young Cameroonians from traffickers ⁰

A bishop in Cameroon’s war-torn North West region petitioned the government to act on the alarming number of Cameroonians trapped in human trafficking camps in Nigeria.

Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo said the Justice and Peace Commission of his diocese has confirmed that over 3,000 Cameroonians are trapped in nine traffickers’ camps in Nigeria.

Speaking to The Tablet shortly after handing over a confidential petition to authorities and consular services in Yaoundé, he said further indicators suggest there could be as many as 40 camps affecting over 7,000 Cameroonians.

Like many parts of Cameroon’s English-speaking North West and South West regions, the Diocese of Kumbo has become accustomed to the phenomenon of human trafficking, but the separatist war afflicting both regions has caused an alarming escalation.

“The most critical factor is the closure of government schools. In Bui Division [the administrative area that covers parts of the diocese] alone, 42,000 children were attending government schools. Now, all those schools are closed. These children have nowhere to go – they are left idle and helpless,” Bishop Nkuo said.

“Traffickers are taking direct advantage of this vulnerability. With children out of school and families struggling, people are luring them away with false promises. They tell the children they will provide them with jobs, an education or a ‘better life’ in a ‘greener pasture’. For a child with no school and no prospects, these offers are dangerously appealing. The situation is spiraling out of control.”

He continued: “Our youth should be in classrooms and not in camps. They should be on farms and in industries, not in bondage. They should be in seminaries, workshops and families, not on exploitation expeditions.”

“The promises made to them are entirely false,” said Isidore Njodzeven, deputy head of the diocese’s Justice and Peace Commission.

“They cannot return home because their documents are taken away upon arrival. They can only make calls at designated times, while those monitoring them create a false sense of normalcy.”

Bishop Nkuo said he has written to the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria, drawing their attention to the trafficking crisis: “We believe they are committed to resolving it.”

He said a more sustainable solution depended not just on bringing an end to the separatist crisis, but also creating the conditions for young people to thrive in Cameroon.

Source: The Tablet

16, March 2026

Ambazonia commander killed in Bafut ⁰

Two separatist fighters, including a commander, were killed when Cameroonian government forces struck their hideout in the country’s war-torn Anglophone Northwest region, local and security sources said on Sunday.

The operation, as confirmed by a military official in the region who requested not to be named, was launched late Saturday in Bafut, a locality in the region.

A key separatist commander who called himself “General Jakaban” was killed in the operation.

“The separatist terrorist general was a coward who attacked civilians and kidnapped them for ransom. He has terrorized people in Bafut for years, killing civilians and soldiers,” the official said.

Cameroon’s army has deployed additional troops to the region, which is expected to welcome the pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Leo XIV, next month.

Fighting between government forces and separatist fighters has persisted in Cameroon’s two English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions since 2017, when separatists attempted to establish an independent nation in these regions.

Source: Xinhuanet

14, March 2026

Yaoundé launches XAF 10.4 billion tourism programme to attract more visitors ⁰

Cameroon has launched the execution of its 2026 tourism budget, allocating CFA francs 10.391 billion to modernise infrastructure, promote domestic destinations and strengthen the training of sector operators.

The programme was officially launched on Monday, March 9, in Yaounde by acting Minister of Tourism and Leisure Gabriel Mbairobe, in the presence of officials from the ministry and other government administrations.

According to information presented during the launch, the funds will support the development of tourism infrastructure, expand the promotion of local destinations and encourage the “Made in Cameroon” brand within the tourism industry. Authorities say the initiative aims to stimulate activity in the sector while highlighting the country’s economic potential and strengthening tourism-related industries.

A detailed breakdown of the budget was presented by Abou Hamadou, Director of General Affairs at the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure. It shows that CFA francs 4.654 billion will be dedicated to promoting domestic tourism across the country, while CFA francs 3.2 billion will be used to support inbound tourism and attract more international visitors.

In addition, CFA francs 1.2 billion will be transferred to municipalities to improve tourism promotion and support local initiatives. Cameroon’s regions will receive CFA francs 300 million to strengthen tourism visibility and marketing efforts.

Launching the programme, Mbairobe said the funds should help revitalise Cameroon’s tourism sector and increase the economic value derived from the country’s natural and cultural assets. He noted that the initiative aligns with government policy to support high-potential sectors and promote labour-intensive projects.

The acting minister also stressed the responsibility of public officials involved in implementing the budget, calling for rigorous management of public funds and greater accountability. He urged all stakeholders to mobilise to ensure the programme’s effective execution.

To accelerate implementation, Mbairobe set a target for all public procurement contracts linked to the projects to be launched before April, a timeline intended to ensure rapid execution of the initiatives planned for 2026.

The investment forms part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen tourism’s contribution to economic activity while improving infrastructure and increasing Cameroon’s visibility as a travel destination.

Source: Business in Cameroon

14, March 2026

Minister Beti Assomo says security situation improving in troubled regions ⁰

Cameroon’s security situation in Far North, Northwest and Southwest has improved significantly, authorities said on Friday.

“Normal activities” are returning to the regions, said Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo. “The general security situation is improving and in a significant way.”

He made the remarks while reading a message from President Paul Biya during the graduation ceremony of the 40th batch of the Combined Military Services Academy, Cameroon’s top military school.

He said sustained efforts will continue until the “complete restoration” of peace and stability in the regions.

Cameroon is facing a Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North region and a prolonged armed separatist conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions.

Source: Xinhuanet

12, March 2026

Biya regime schedules nationwide census of population, housing and agriculture ⁰

Cameroon will carry out its fourth General Population and Housing Census alongside a nationwide census of agriculture and livestock between April 24 and May 29, 2026.

The dates were set in a decree signed March 6 by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute. Over the 35-day period, census agents deployed across the country will conduct a comprehensive count of the population, agricultural resources, and national livestock.

According to the government, combining the two operations serves several goals. It reduces public spending by consolidating activities, ensures solid financing with a budget of CFA13.28 billion—CFA7 billion of which is provided by the World Bank through its regional program to harmonize statistics in Africa—and modernizes data collection through a hybrid digital approach designed to produce reliable data and accelerate processing.

Authorities say the initiative is intended to generate accurate and usable statistics to support development planning, assess social needs, and help prepare for the country’s demographic dividend.

Cameroon’s last population and housing census, conducted in 2005, estimated the population at about 20 million people. Today, United Nations projections place the country’s population closer to 28 million, underscoring the need for updated data.

The operation is also designed to be inclusive. More than two million refugees, internally displaced people, and returnees will be included through cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other international partners is expected to ensure coordination among the government, non-governmental organizations, and research institutions.

A Census Framework Established Over the Past Decade

The 2026 population and housing census is based on a presidential decree issued on September 15, 2015. Its purpose is to provide essential data for public policy design, territorial planning, and monitoring development programs, while also incorporating demographic trends into economic and social projections.

The census will cover all individuals living within Cameroon’s national territory, except members of diplomatic and consular missions and their families.

The agriculture and livestock census was established by a separate presidential decree on June 29, 2015. Its main objective is to provide the government and stakeholders in the rural sector with reliable and detailed data needed to plan, monitor, and evaluate initiatives supporting agricultural, livestock, and fisheries development, according to the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries.

Source: Business in Cameroon

10, March 2026

Football: triumphant return of the 2025 Ballon d’Or to Garoua ⁰

Serge Daura made an emotional return to his hometown of Garoua. The Gazelle FA striker, crowned Cameroon’s best player of the year, came to present his trophy to his family and loved ones in a festive, jubilant atmosphere.

A hero’s welcome awaited Serge Daura. Arriving in the afternoon at Garoua International Airport, the new Cameroonian Ballon d’Or winner was greeted by a jubilant crowd. Teammates, supporters, and partners were all present to celebrate the return of the player who lit up the 2025 season with his remarkable performances.

The striker received a guard of honor before leaving the airport amid an impressive motorcade. The procession, accompanied by songs and applause, wound through several city streets, turning his arrival into a true public celebration.

Presenting the trophy to his family

Beyond the public tribute, this visit held deep symbolic meaning for the player. By holding his trophy aloft in front of his loved ones, Serge Daura wanted to share this moment with those who have supported him since the very beginning.

Pride runs high in his home region. The player’s triumph represents not only a personal achievement but also a source of inspiration for countless young footballers in Northern Cameroon who dream of following in his footsteps. This Ballon d’Or also rewards the outstanding season delivered by the striker with Gazelle FA.

Source: Sports Yahoo

10, March 2026

Manyu Solidarity Group: understanding its modus operandi ⁰

Ma Druscillia Achuo, a respected and committed member of the Manyu community in London, once delivered a line that has since taken on near-philosophical status among Manyu people in the UK. She said, “When you get die, and you know say £10,000 di come for support you, the cry di different”. Translated loosely, it means, the tears will fall during grief, but at least the panic lessens. Her words may sound humorous, but they capture a truth many Manyu people in the diaspora understand all too well. When someone dies in the West, grief rarely travels alone. It arrives with invoices from funeral directors and in some cases outstanding bills and unpaid debts. It is not an exaggeration to say, in many circumstances, dead of a loved one has even become thornier and embarrassing.

For many in Europe, the loss of a loved one sets off a chain reaction of difficult questions. Do we hold the funeral in Europe, or do we repatriate the body to Cameroon? If the answer is repatriation, the next question arrives immediately, how do we pay for it? And how do we support the family back home with expenses? Sorrow, in other words, quickly transforms into worry, stress and a long list of problems that seem to arrive precisely when people are least equipped to deal with them.

This is where organizations like the Manyu Solidarity Group quietly step in. Manyu Solidarity Group, founded in 2021 by Manyus and friends of Manyu in Europe, offers practical support before the funeral of a fallen member. While many bereavement associations prefer to present their financial package during the wake or funeral itself, often with ceremonial speeches, Manyu Solidarity Group has adopted a refreshingly simple approach. They send the money early.

Manyu Solidarity Group delivers £10,000 to the bereaved member’s nominated next-of-kin at least two weeks before the funeral with no dramatic presentations. Funeral homes cost and the cost of the wake require payment before service. Therefore, offering financial support during the wake is like arriving at Douala Airport with a plane ticket after the Camair-co flight has already departed. It may be well intentioned, but its practical value is somewhat limited.

Manyu Solidarity Group releases the funds early so that families can organize dignified funerals without scrambling to raise money while still processing their loss. So far, this approach has already made a tangible difference. In less than three years, the group has provided £30,000 in bereavement support to three different families. That may not make headlines in the world of billion-pound transactions, but within the Manyu diaspora community, it is significant.

Grief is already overwhelming, so Manyu Solidarity’s philosophy with its Manyu Bereavement Support Fund (MABSOF) is simple; support should actually support. The organization is the classic community safety net, but perhaps the most notable aspect of the system is its refusal to turn grief into a public spectacle. The Board of Manyu Solidarity understands that loss is not just emotional; it can also be financially devastating. Manyu Solidarity Group is a community in its most practical form and perhaps that is why Ma Druscillia Achuo’s remark continues to resonate. Her observation may have been delivered with her typical smile, but its wisdom is difficult to dispute. Knowing that help is coming does not erase grief, it does not bring the deceased back, but it does remove one layer of anxiety at a moment when people are already carrying more than enough.

At its core, the principle guiding Manyu Solidarity Group is beautifully straightforward. Families need help in organizing wakes and funerals, give them the support before, not during the wake or burial because compassion is not measured by how publicly it is displayed, it is measured by timing, dignity and quiet common sense.

To this I put my name

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

9, March 2026

Biya regime secures $195 million loan to expand national fiber backbone ⁰

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya signed a decree on Friday, March 6 authorizing the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development to finalize a loan agreement of about 1.35 billion yuan (around $195 million) with the Export-Import Bank of China. The funding will support phase four of the country’s national fiber optic backbone expansion.

A fiber network built gradually since 2011

The financing continues Cameroon’s national fiber deployment program, launched more than a decade ago to build a nationwide data transport network. According to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, about 6,000 km of fiber were installed between 2011 and 2016 during the first two phases of the project.

A third phase completed in 2017 added another 4,000 km, bringing the national network to around 10,000 km. An additional 1,000 km were deployed along the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline.

Since then, further extensions, cross-border interconnections, and additional deployments by public and private operators have continued to expand the network. Cameroon now has more than 15,000 km of fiber infrastructure connecting regions across the country and linking with several neighboring states, including Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, and Nigeria.

Infrastructure still underused

Despite the steady expansion of this infrastructure over the past decade, its use remains limited, and the quality of connectivity continues to draw criticism from users.

According to DataReportal’s latest figures for early 2026, internet penetration in Cameroon stands at about 45%. The data highlight a gap between a relatively strong backbone network and limited last-mile access for many of the country’s 12.6 million internet users.

Phase four of the project is expected to address these disparities by expanding distribution networks to better connect government institutions, businesses, and rural areas that remain poorly served.

A strategic pillar for the digital economy

Completing the national backbone is seen as a key step for the growth of Cameroon’s digital economy and the structural transformation outlined in the country’s National Development Strategy 2020–2030.

Expanding fiber infrastructure is considered essential for supporting tech startups, digital services, e-commerce platforms, and the digitalization of public services.

The renewed partnership with the Export-Import Bank of China, which has already financed several earlier phases of the project, underscores the government’s ambition to strengthen nationwide coverage and accelerate digital inclusion.

Source: Business in Cameroon