Monthly Archives: March 2025

16, March 2025

Biya’s Cameroon: Major shake-up is in the offing ⁰

As presidential and parliamentary elections are fast approaching, the various political parties, including the ruling party, are fine-tuning their strategies to make themselves more attractive.

The ruling CPDM, which has long lost its attractiveness, now thinks it’s time to build a new image which will make it a force to reckon with the youthful electorate which has been calling for change in Cameroon and this will surely start with a cabinet shake-up which will include more youthful and credible faces.

Years of corruption and economic stagnation in Cameroon have hurt the Biya government in a big and bad way, especially as the country’s unemployment issue has now become a national pandemic.

However, Mr. Biya, who has been resting in his native Mvomeka’a for some time now, is slowly refining his plans for a new and youthful cabinet.

According to a CPDM insider, a cabinet reshuffle is on the horizon; with rumors having it that Oswald Baboke would replace Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh as the Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic (SGPR).

Ngoh Ngoh has been playing a key political role in the current political dispensation. He has been doing the president’s bidding and it is even reported that he has been doing Chantal Biya’s dirty jobs in a brutal succession battle that will leave many bruised and bowed.

Mr. Biya recognizes Ngoh Ngoh’s loyalty to him and his wife, but his constant presence at the Presidency during an election year could be a liability to the ruling CPDM which has been struggling with image-related issues.

The CPDM is not a popular party and many Cameroonians hold that once Biya leaves the political scene, the party will dissolve as it is held responsible for all the issues which have dogged the nation for 42 years.

Sources close to President Biya have informed the Cameroon Concord News that Ngoh Ngoh will replace Lejeune Mbella Mbella who is neither young nor effective at the Ministry of Foreign affairs as a means of taking him away from Mr. Biya’s inner circle.

Lejeune Mbella Mbella, for his part, is staring down the barrel of retirement as he is really tired and retirement-worthy.

Meanwhile Louis Paul Motaze who has been in the spotlight recently for all the wrong reasons could be heading to the Kondengui Maximum Security Prison as the Sword of Damocles hangs over his head. It is rumored that his girlfriend is involved in some misappropriation scandals within the Ministry of Finance, especially the one involving Amougou Belinga.

According to the same CPDM sources, Ketcha Courtes also known as “Il y avait quoi avant” will be elbowed out of the Ministry of Social Affairs. Members of Biya’s inner circle are looking for someone from the Grand North to replace Courtes.

The Grand North is disappointed with the Biya regime which it has supported for decades. The north currently has no good road infrastructure and the economic crisis, which has hit the country like lightning, has caused many northerners to doubt Mr. Biya’s serious and sincerity in developing the Grand North which is the home of the country’s first president.

The sources also reported that Abba Sadou would head a ministry, probably the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, as a means of demonstrating to northerners that President Biya takes them seriously.

Like Lejeune Mbella Mbella, the oldest minister in service, Mbarga Nguele, will leave the government to deal with his old age related issues. Also, Ayang Luc who has been the president of the Economic and Social Council for decades will be replaced by Beti Assomo who is grappling with serious health issues.

The greatest news will be the creation of the post of Vice-President and this implies Biya will name his successor. The post of Prime Minister will be abolished to avoid duplication and conflicts.

But Biya’s current focus is on bringing new blood to the National Assembly and the Senate. The ruling CPDM is looking to bring in youthful faces to these legislative bodies and sources close to the Central Committee of the CPDM have reported that the President is insisting on having some members of the country’s Diaspora into the political landscape as a way of reducing tensions between the government and the Diaspora.

The sources said that many law-makers who are above 80 years might not be brought back to the National Assembly and the Senate. The president, it is said, is dissatisfied with many members of the legislative bodies as the grassroots are grumbling that their fate has not changed over the last ten years.

The sources added that there were still many serious issues to be dealt with, suggesting that the vice-president should be an Anglophone from the moderate Southwest region which believes in a united and indivisible Cameroon; a suggestion which does not sit well with Cameroon’s French-speaking politicians.

There is a lot of pressure in Yaoundé as many ministers are aware that the president is preparing a new cabinet. The usual lobbying has been intensified and the below-the-belt punches have increased.

Cameroon is at the crossroads and if prompt and correct decisions are not made, the country, which is slowly sliding into chaos, could become another failed state in the months ahead.

President Biya is aware of his mortality and he understands that at 92, anything can happen. 92 years is his age on paper and nobody knows his real age. When he was born, there were no birth registries in Cameroon and from the way he looks, it is obvious that he is older than 92 years.

With a lot of pressure coming from the West and the clergy, Biya understands that it is time to get a successor before things fall apart. He is old and his mental capacity has been diminished by age and the burden of responsibility and guilt he has carried for decades. There is no better time than now for him to do the right thing.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

5, March 2025

AFG Bank Cameroon becomes country’s third-largest bank ⁰

AFG Bank Cameroon, formerly known as Banque Atlantique, is now the country’s third-largest bank, trailing only Afriland First Bank and Société Générale. As of January 31, 2025, the bank reported strong financial figures, including CFA934 billion in customer deposits, CFA568 billion in outstanding loans, and CFA500 billion in government securities, according to CEO Éric Valéry Zoa.

A subsidiary of Ivorian financial group AFG Holding, the bank strengthened its financial position in 2023 by increasing its share capital from CFA23.8 billion to CFA28.8 billion. That same year, it posted a net profit of CFA23 billion, enabling it to distribute CFA13 billion in dividends to shareholders.

By the end of January 2024, AFG Bank Cameroon’s equity stood at CFA80 billion, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards set by the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC). “This solid position allows us to fully meet prudential requirements,” said Zoa at an official rebranding ceremony held on March 3 in Yaoundé.

The bank employs 500 people across its network. AFG Bank Cameroon’s history dates back to January 2008, when Ivorian businessman Koné Dossongui, founder of AFG Holding, acquired Amity Bank Cameroon Plc. The sale was approved by COBAC in September 2008, leading to the official launch of Banque Atlantique Cameroon in June 2009.

As of 2023, the bank serves over 138,000 active clients, both individuals and businesses, and operates 22 branches nationwide.

Source: Business in Cameroon

5, March 2025

China targets 5% growth as it reels from Trump tariffs ⁰

China has set an economic growth target for this year of “around 5%” and pledged to pump billions of dollars into its ailing economy, which is now facing a trade war with the US.

Its leaders unveiled the plan as thousands of delegates attend the National People’s Congress, a rubber-stamp parliament, which passes decisions already made behind closed doors.

But the week-long gathering is closely watched for clues on Beijing’s policy changes – and this year is more significant than most.

President Xi Jinping had already been battling persistently low consumption, a property crisis and unemployment, before Donald Trump’s new 10% levy on Chinese imports came into effect on Tuesday.

Source: BBC

5, March 2025

Trump tells Congress he ‘appreciates’ Zelensky’s message on Ukraine peace ⁰

Donald Trump says Ukraine is ready to begin peace negotiations “as soon as possible”, with strong signals Russia is also ready for a deal

During an address to Congress, the US president read aloud a letter he said he’d received from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, which was similar to a message posted on X earlier in the day

“I appreciate that he sent this letter,” Trump said

The tone offered a hint of a possible cooling of the acrimony between the two leaders, our North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher writes

Meanwhile, the UK defence secretary is flying to Washington for a meeting with his US counterpart on Thursday – Ukraine is expected to be top of the agenda.

Source: BBC

5, March 2025

MTN Cameroon appoints Wanda Matandela as new CEO ⁰

MTN Cameroon has officially appointed Wanda Matandela as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), marking a significant milestone for the company as it continues to expand its footprint in the telecommunications sector.

With a strong background in leadership and strategic development, Matandela is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening MTN Cameroon’s network, enhancing digital services, and driving customer-centric innovations. His arrival emphasizes a renewed focus on technological advancement, market expansion, and financial inclusion, reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering seamless connectivity to millions of Cameroonians.

As MTN Cameroon navigates an evolving digital landscape, Matandela’s leadership could pave the way for new opportunities, increased investment in infrastructure, and improved access to digital financial solutions. This transition highlights the company’s vision of promoting sustainable growth, innovation, and digital transformation in Cameroon and the region.

Source: Telecomreview

5, March 2025

Bishop Bibi, journalist, driver “all doing well”: Diocesan Official ⁰

Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi of the Catholic Diocese of Buea is in stable condition, and is recovering “well” alongside a journalist and driver following a grisly accident he was involved in on February 28, the Chancellor of the Cameroonian Diocese has said.

In a statement ACI Africa obtained, Fr. Michael Kengnjoh says that Bishop Bibi who was accompanied by a journalist was involved in the accident while travelling to participate in the Consecration of Bishop-elect Justin Georges Ebengue of the Catholic Diocese of Yokadouma.

According to Fr. Michael, the Cameroonian Bishop, who appeared injured went on to attend the Saturday, March 1 Consecration after a brief medical examination.

“I wish to notify you that on Friday February 28, 2025, Bishop Michael Bibi while approaching Yokadouma, had an accident. The car tumbled twice and regained stability,” Fr. Michael says in the statement dated Sunday, March 2.

He adds, in reference to Bishop Bibi, his driver, and the journalist, “They continued to Yokadouma, where after a brief medical examination, they attended the Consecration Mass and then moved to Yaoundé, for further medical attention.”

The three, according to the Chancellor, “are all doing well as per the medical reports.”

“The Bishop, however, has some pains on the chest and head which are subsiding. Mr. Ottop has some pain on the neck, and the driver has no problem at all,” the Cameroonian Catholic Priest says, and adds, “Let us continue to pray for God’s protection, healing, and guidance on them.”

Source: aciafrica

1, March 2025

Manyu Division: Why are we so poor? ⁰

Manyu Division is one of the most populated and educated divisions in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon, but it is unfortunately one of the poorest in the country.

What could be responsible for Manyu Division not having wealthy people despite the education they have received? Is education synonymous with being wealthy?

Whatever its form, education remains a key component of life. The purpose of any educational endeavor is to spread knowledge given that knowledge is the currency of life. But what is really education?

Education is lifelong learning. It is the knowledge which stays with us once we lose the theory we learned while in school. This implies that once we leave our formal institutions, we must continue to learn as life is a journey of learning and what we learn out of school goes a long way in shaping our lives and destinies.

If what we learn out of school weighs more than what we learn in the formal educational system when it comes to wealth creation, why then do we invest a lot of time picking up certificates and degrees?

Degrees and certificates were designed to help us get jobs, but jobs alone cannot make us wealthy. Jobs can help us to be financially stable but financial independence and freedom which are the outcomes of years of financial literacy and education depend on years of financial planning.

Earning a salary does not make us wealthy as any hiccups wherever we are working could take us down the path of financial hardship. However, years of saving and astute planning can give us the seed capital we need to establish small businesses while still earning our salaries.

By building sources of passive income, we may guarantee ourselves some degree of financial independence. Savings guarantee us a good cushion when things fall apart, but assets will guarantee us alternative sources of income which will cushion the impact of any financial crash.

However, be advised that poor people save while rich people invest. When you save money, you enrich banks but when you invest in assets like stocks, real estate, gold and other wealth-generating investments, you earn more money and you will reduce your dependency on your job.

Nobody ever hires you because he wants you to become wealthy. Your employer hires you because he wants you to help him become wealthy. While doing your job professionally, always remember that one day you could be cut out. No condition is permanent is an expression which has been around for decades and it cuts both ways.

While putting aside something at the end of the month is advisable, we should understand if we have the possibility of saving, then we also have the possibility of borrowing. Debt is not a bad thing if used for the right purpose. Never use debt to buy a luxious car as a car used for non-business purposes is a massive liability. Never borrow to pay rents for your home or a girlfriend. If you start life that way, you will be caught in a financial trap which will keep you in debt for a long time.

Before you adopt a lifestyle, always acquire assets which can finance the lifestyle you have adopted. Borrow to invest and ensure your loan is self-liquidating. Many people fail in life financially because they do not have a sound understanding of money and wealth.

So, why are we, Manyu people, not wealthy? Our obstacle to wealth creation is our prioritization of degrees over skills and talents. A typical Manyu man thinks that he can impress people with his degrees and this has transformed him into a peacock whose ego is consuming him. He is yet to understand that formal education was designed to enable us to see beyond our noses while skills were designed to help us find high-paying opportunities.

People with exceptional skills and talent earn huge amounts of money which can help them build wealth very fast. For example, Samuel Eto’o was blessed with a talent he developed through hard work and training, and because he was surrounded by people with a sound knowledge of wealth and money, Eto’o very quickly became very wealthy. He sacrificed the short term for the long term and today, he is enjoying a beautiful life while seeking to build value for other people.

You don’t need terminal degrees for you to become wealthy, but if that is the only thing you can acquire with your time, please do get the degrees but don’t hold that you must be the wealthiest because you have the degrees and do not always run down the reputation of others when you hear that they have made it financially.

Being the best in class does not imply that you must be the wealthiest. The talent for building generational wealth is different from an academic talent. Building wealth takes patience, determination and consistency. Only people with a huge appetite for risk make it financially and we Manyu people are risk-averse.

Academic success, for its part, only requires us to recite and reproduce our lecturer’s notes and he will score us highly. That should not make us cocky. If we are cocky, we make it hard for others to share their ideas with us. We may be degrees-rich, but not necessarily ideas-rich and wealth building requires ideas, flexibility and openness.

Our educational knowledge which is supposed to guide us through life sometimes becomes an obstacle, especially regarding the building of sustainable and enduring partnerships in business. We, the people of Manyu, will be doing ourselves a favor if we deflate our ego just to work with other people.

Our short term mindset is also to blame. Our mindset can either be a financial jail or a Garden of Eden. The choice is ours. We can either agree that wealth is the crown of the wise by displaying some abnegation in the short term so as to have an easy future or we embrace an easy choice in the short term and deal with a tough long term.

Building wealth takes time but most people of Manyu descent seem to be oblivious of this divine principle. Trees don’t bear fruits on the same day and even if they do, we do not have to eat our fruits and seeds just to prove a point. Some of us even eat the fruit and cut down the tree out of arrogance and the consequences of such actions always come back to hurt us in a big and bad way.

Once most of us start working, we always start thinking of putting out our statements of intent. We are always all over the place like a very bad rash, making the most noise, abusing alcohol and scheming to own all the beautiful women in town. Beautiful women always come in different sizes, shapes, heights, skin color and attitudes and there is just no way can one man own all women even in a small village.

Smart people are supposed to focus on their long term goals while turning a blind eye to all the social distractions which have ruined many lives. When you understand the long game and you engage in it, you will in the long term get the women you need. The long game requires us to invest in the short term, acquire assets and live a beautiful life when the investments start delivering their secrets. Life is not a race and even if it is, it is not about who sleeps with more women or drinks the finest wines in existence. We are first and foremost wealthy in our minds before becoming wealthy in our pockets. Our mindset determines how fast we can grow financially. If people of Manyu descent can understand this simple logic, many of them will be wealthy and their Division will be an example to others.

Unfortunately, common sense is sense that is not common. That is why 1% of the world will continue to rule 99% of the world. The arrogance of formal education has hurt people of Manyu Division, strapping them to financial poverty and robbing them of the possibility of building generational wealth. Their towns and villages are like ghost towns, begging for a facelift, but the people themselves have been caught in a spiral of show-off and wastefulness.

Manyu has seen its fair share of human disasters. Unfortunately, thunder always strikes twice in the same place in Manyu. The people do not like learning from the mistakes of their predecessors. Their love for office work has blinded them to modern realities. A young Manyu man will accept to earn CFAF 50,000 in the Senior Divisional Officer’s Office instead of engaging in agriculture to earn CFAF 300,000 a month. He is wired to see problems and not opportunities. Where there are problems, there are opportunities and where there are complaints, there is much money to be made. Opportunities always show up in overalls and the Manyu man does not like the sight of overalls. He loves white shirts which attracts poverty. A mentality re-engineering is required among the youths of this Division.

Until the Manyu man resets his mind, his will continue to be a life of financial hardship. Until he understands that your net worth depends on your network, he will continue to think that he is not successful because others hate him for his so-called superior academic credentials. People get hired and paid huge sums for their skills and not their degrees.

Wealth goes to those who are humble, determined, and persistent and have faith in their dreams. Self-belief can take a man to the heights of the most challenging mountain.

If Manyu has to be great, its people must start seeing things in a different light. When a man changes the ways he sees things, the things he sees will automatically change. Wealth like poverty is a system. You must understand the system and you must work for your wealth. You must make the necessary sacrifices. You must believe in the long game. Miracles don’t exist. We must manufacture them. Anything that appears to be miraculous or mystical to us simply indicates that there is a lack of knowledge in that environment.

By Dr. Joachim Arrey

1, March 2025

Yaoundé: Nchindo Jean Bosco crowned Ballon d’Or ⁰

In an emotionally charged evening at the Palais des Congrès, young prodigy Nchindo Jean Bosco made headlines by winning the prestigious Cameroonian Ballon d’Or. This crowning achievement signifies the emergence of a new generation of talent that could transform the landscape of national football.

Previously unknown to the general public just a few months ago, Nchindo Jean Bosco has quickly established himself as the standout revelation of the season. The young striker from Young Sports Academy (YOSA) has dazzled experts and fans alike with his silky technique, keen game vision, and impressive goal-scoring capabilities. Competing in the shadow of the major clubs in the capital, he has nonetheless captured the attention of scouts with his exceptional performances in the MTN league.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony will also be remembered for the surprising reconciliation between Samuel Eto’o, president of the FECAFOOT, and the Minister of Sports, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi. “I would also like to address my minister who is here tonight… It is true that we have seen certain situations from opposing angles. Your Excellency, Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, the president of one of your federations that I am part of, thanks you,” stated the former FC striker.

In this atmosphere of reconciliation, Nchindo Jean Bosco received his award, symbolizing a Cameroonian football that seeks renewal and aims to reclaim its place on the continental stage. The young forward outperformed several favorites, demonstrating that talent can sometimes overshadow fame.

This accolade comes at a crucial time for Cameroonian football. As the national team navigates a challenging transitional period, the rise of young talents like Nchindo Jean Bosco provides a breath of fresh air.

The trajectory of this young striker echoes the paths of greats who have brought glory to Cameroonian football. From Samuel Eto’o to Roger Milla, the country has consistently produced exceptional talents capable of shining on the international scene. Nchindo Jean Bosco appears ready to bear the weight of this rich legacy.

Beyond his individual talent, this recognition also highlights the training efforts of Young Sports Academy. This club, less publicized than the major teams in Yaoundé or Douala, demonstrates that with a clear vision and dedicated work, it is possible to nurture exceptional talents, even away from the limelight.

The new Cameroonian Ballon d’Or now embodies the hope of an entire nation eager to reclaim its place at the top of African football.

Source: Footboom

1, March 2025

419: Two Cameroonians arrested in the US for targeting elderly victims and causing $10 million in losses ⁰

Two men living in Southern California were arrested today for allegedly leading a complex money laundering scheme that targeted more than 100 victims, many of whom were targeted because they were elderly, and caused victims more than $10 million in losses.

Sylas Nyuydzene Verdzekov, 38, of Chino Hills, and Lovert Che, 44, of Lomita, were taken into federal custody today. A third defendant, Mustapha Nkachiwouo Selly Yamie, 29, of Inglewood, is being sought by law enforcement. Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Verdzekov and Che are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

“As the indictment alleges, these defendants built a sophisticated fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted and preyed on our most vulnerable citizens. They not only stole the victims’ money, but robbed them of their security and trust,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “Let this serve as a clear message: If you defraud members of our community, especially the elderly, we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Financial fraud against our elder population has unfortunately lined the pockets of several transnational criminal organizations,” said HSI Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “HSI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting our most vulnerable and ensuring the public is informed of the red flag indicators of elder fraud.”

According to the indictment, from at least November 2021 and continuing to the present, Verdzekov, Yamie, and Che, and their co-conspirators, created fake identification documents of fictitious people, including passports and driver’s licenses. Using these fake documents, the defendants and their co-conspirators created at least 36 shell companies in California, which conducted no legitimate business and were created solely to advance their crimes.

Verdzekov, Yamie, and Che, and their co-conspirators, opened at least 145 bank accounts and at least 32 private mailboxes across Southern California using the fake identities and sham businesses.

In one scheme specifically targeting elderly victims using phone calls and email pop-ups, the defendants and their co-conspirators posed as law enforcement personnel or employees with well-known companies attempting to help the victims maintain the security of their accounts. They then allegedly fabricated claims of victim bank accounts or payment accounts being compromised and needing to be resolved quickly.

The defendants and their co-conspirators convinced the victims of their purported authority through pictures of fake badges and fake job titles, then requested the victims’ personally identifiable information (PII) and bank account information. Victims were told they needed to move money from their corrupted accounts quickly to ensure they kept all their money, and to move it into accounts that Verdzekov, Yamie, and Che, and their co-conspirators, fraudulently opened and controlled. Victims typically moved money via electronic bank transfers, money orders, cashier’s checks, or personal checks into these fraudulent bank accounts or mailboxes.

The defendants and their co-conspirators then deposited the ill-gotten gains into the bank accounts they controlled with the intent of disguising the ownership and control of the funds. Verdzekov, Yamie, Che, and their co-conspirators then withdrew large cash amounts to use the stolen funds on personal expenses, including rental payments.

In a similar scam, the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly posed as a real estate owner selling property. Using fake identification and credentials, the defendants deceived victims into believing that they were entering into a legitimate sale of the property and tricked the victims into wiring money or mailing a check to an account or mailbox the defendants and their co-conspirators controlled.

In total, Verdzekov, Yamie, and Che, and their co-conspirators, laundered at least $10 million in funds taken from at least 100 victims.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Homeland Security Investigations’ Document Benefit Fraud Task Force, the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter. The investigation remains ongoing.

1, March 2025

Angola: Cholera outbreak kills over 200 ⁰

The number of people killed in the latest cholera outbreak in Angola has risen to 201, the country’s Health Ministry announced.

A total of 5,574 people have been infected since early January, the ministry said in a press release on Friday.

Cholera cases have been reported in 13 of Angola’s 21 provinces. The outbreak originated in the capital province of Luanda, which has recorded the highest number of cases, followed by the neighboring provinces of Bengo and Icolo e Bengo.