Monthly Archives: April 2026

6, April 2026

Yaoundé: lawmakers revive vice presidency, handing aging Biya sweeping control over the post ⁰

Cameroon’s parliament overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to reintroduce the vice president position, a move the opposition says will further strengthen President Paul Biya’s grip on power.

Biya, 93, is the world’s oldest leader and has led the central African nation since 1982. He won a widely disputed election last year, his eighth term in office.

The widely criticized bill, which Biya is expected to sign into law, was approved Saturday in a joint session of the National Assembly and Senate and boycotted by the main opposition party; 200 voted in favor, 18 against and 4 abstained.

The newest amendment gives the aging president absolute authority over the office of the vice president, as he can appoint and dismiss them at will and the deputy can only exercise powers delegated by Biya. If the president dies, resigns, or becomes incapacitated, the vice president will serve as interim president for the remainder of the seven-year tenure.

Members of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) hailed the legislation as a measure to ensure institutional stability. Critics, however, said the new law undermines democratic principles by replacing electoral legitimacy with presidential appointment.

The opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) said in a statement that the amendment “fails to guarantee democratic legitimacy, inclusiveness, and proper institutional balance.”

Fusi Namukong, an SDF member of parliament, told The Associated Press that the law paves the way for a monarchy. “It’s not democratic. This is a republic, and in a republic, those who wield power at the highest level of the state should be elected and not appointed,” Namukong said.

The Cameroon Bar Association also warned the amendment “erodes the democratic legitimacy (of) the presidential office” and undermines the country’s constitution.

The office of the vice president was scrapped in 1972 following a constitutional referendum.

Biya’s health has been a topic of speculation as he spends most of his time in Europe, leaving governance to key party officials and family members. His reelection in 2025 sparked widespread protests that left at least four people dead, signaling growing tensions between the mostly young population and its aging leader.

Source: AP

3, April 2026

Etoudi plans constitutional reform to create vice president role ⁰

A proposed constitutional reform to create a Vice President position in Cameroon is triggering sharp debate among lawmakers and raising questions about governance and legitimacy.

The draft bill, submitted to parliament on April 2, 2026, seeks to amend key provisions of the constitution. President Paul Biya has called for an urgent congress bringing together both the National Assembly and the Senate to fast-track the changes.

Supporters of the reform say the move would strengthen institutional stability and ensure continuity in leadership.

Tabouli Célestin, a ruling party lawmaker, defended the proposal, saying it would enhance governance.

“There will be modifications to certain articles of the constitution which, according to what we have been told, will allow the President to establish a Vice President post. This would, of course, contribute to the proper and harmonious functioning of institutions.”

However, opposition figures have criticized both the timing and the process, arguing that such a significant reform requires wider consultation.

Ndam Njoya Hermine Patricia Tomaino questioned the legitimacy of the move, especially given concerns over extended parliamentary mandates.

“Regarding this amendment, a broad consultation should really have taken place… submitting the text to elected officials whose mandates are supposedly extended raises questions about the legitimacy of these men and women.”

Under the proposed changes, the Vice President would be appointed and would take over in the event of a vacancy in the presidency.

The initiative, which until recently had circulated only as speculation, has now become a focal point of political tension, with critics warning it could reshape the balance of power in Cameroon’s political system.

Source: Africa News

3, April 2026

Russia conducts massive rolling aerial attacks on Ukraine ⁰

Russia has conducted rolling aerial attacks on Ukraine ‌since Thursday evening, Ukraine’s air force said Friday, ⁠adding that a large number of enemy drones were in Ukrainian airspace.

The bombardment was the second ‌time in a week that Russia has followed a overnight drone barrage with ⁠heavy daytime attacks, a new tactic as Moscow probes ways to penetrate Ukraine’s air defences.

“The Kyiv region is once again under a massive enemy missile and drone attack,” Mykola Kalashnyk, the regional governor, said.

“We can see that the enemy is using new routes, new drones which they are constantly ‌modernising, and new tactics,” air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on state television.

He added that Russia had launched more than 400 long-range drones in the past ‌24 hours, as well as ten ballistic missiles that primarily targeted areas near the front line.

Ihnat said the bombardment was similar to Tuesday’s attack which killed at least four people when an overnight barrage of over 300 drones was followed by another of similar size in the middle of the day.

Large-scale Russian bombardments cause disruption across Ukraine as many government institutions, public transport services and businesses close during the attacks, which can last many hours.

“The enemy is exerting (pressure) on our population, paralysing the work of certain public institutions, as well as learning institutions,” Ihnat said.

In the eastern region of Kharkiv, one person was killed and 25 others injured by missile, bomb and drone ⁠attacks over the past 24 hours, governor Oleh Synehubov said on social media.

That included four ⁠ballistic missiles that struck the regional capital, also called Kharkiv, overnight. Authorities only reported one injury from that strike.

“Duty fighter jets have ‌been scrambled, and ground-based air defence systems as well as radar reconnaissance have reached a state of maximum readiness,” said the Operational Command of the ⁠Polish Armed Forces on X.

No violations of Polish airspace ⁠were recorded and military aviation operations linked to Russian strikes on ‌Ukraine ended later Friday, said the Operational Command of the ‌Polish Armed Forces.

“Activated ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have returned to standard operational activities,” the army wrote on X. “We inform that no violation of the airspace ⁠of the Republic of ⁠Poland was observed.”

Meanwhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited US negotiators to Kyiv to relaunch three-way talks with Russia, according to comments released Friday.

“I invited the American negotiating delegation to Kyiv. The delegation will do everything possible in the current conditions – during the war with Iran – to come to Kyiv,” Zelensky told journalists on Thursday.

Source: Reuters

3, April 2026

Cameroon, Switzerland sign MoU positioning Obala Institute as Central Africa Agri-Research Hub ⁰

Cameroon and Switzerland have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Yaounde, marking a new phase of agricultural cooperation and positioning the Agricultural Institute of Obala (IAO) as a key partner in research, training and agribusiness in Central Africa. Signed on March 25 at the Swiss Residence, the agreement brings together the IAO and three Swiss institutions: Agroscope, FiBL and the Fondation Rurale Interjurassienne (FRI). The ceremony, held during a reception for Switzerland’s State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda, was attended by senior Cameroonian officials on the sidelines of the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14).

The MoU establishes a framework to deepen technical cooperation by facilitating the mobility of researchers and students, strengthening institutional linkages and expanding joint research programmes. It designates the IAO as Switzerland’s main partner for agricultural research in Central Africa and builds on more than two decades of cooperation with the Obala-based institute, which currently trains over 2,000 students.

The partnership is expected to enhance capacity development in agronomy, support knowledge transfer in organic and productivity-focused farming systems, and reinforce links between training institutions and Swiss companies operating in Cameroon. The focus on research, training and applied innovation aligns with efforts to improve agricultural productivity, value chains and market access, areas considered critical to the sector’s economic contribution.

Speaking at the event, Switzerland’s State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Helene Budliger Artieda, highlighted the shared priorities underpinning the partnership.

“As we do not have as much land as Africa, we focus on productivity so that agriculture benefits the farmer and their business. We have understood that education is crucial for success. That is why we share common ideals with the IAO, which has a long tradition in agriculture and in training young people,” she said.

On his part, the founding director of the IAO, Louis Ndjie, underscored the operational approach of the partnership, stating: “What is interesting with Swiss cooperation is that it works over the long term. They are very demanding in terms of quality and governance.”

According to officials, the agreement comes at a time when Cameroon is seeking to strengthen its agricultural sector through improved yields, skills development and integration into regional and international value chains. The designation of the IAO as a regional partner also positions the institute as a hub for collaboration with international stakeholders, with potential spillovers for agribusiness development and employment.

The initiative extends longstanding bilateral ties between Cameroon and Switzerland into areas with direct economic relevance for food production, trade and rural enterprise development.

Source: Business in Cameroon

3, April 2026

Iran’s military vows to continue war until US, Israel ‘regret’ aggression ⁰

The senior spokesman for Iran’s Armed Forces says the country will continue the war as long as it makes the United States and the Israeli regime “regret” their illegal act of aggression.

Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi made the remarks on Friday, the 35th day of the criminal US-Israeli military assault that has triggered Iran’s powerful reprisal attacks against the enemies.

“Our strategy is not limited to eye-for-an-eye or reciprocal actions. Our strategy is to punish the aggressor so that it fully regrets [its move] and to guarantee the permanent removal of the threat posed to the nation,” he said.

“The goal is not to announce a ceasefire today and see the resumption of the aggression tomorrow under various pretexts, with people feeling worried and remaining in anxiety.”

Shekarchi also noted that the world has realized the invincibility of the Islamic Republic, which stems from its large capacity.

Many countries in the world condemn the imposed war on Iran while many of Washington’s allies are not willing to join it as they see the catastrophe caused by the US’s presence in the region, he added.

The unprovoked US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

The Iranian Armed Forces have responded by launching daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

They have also blocked the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers affiliated with the adversaries and those cooperating with them in an attempt to maintain security at the strategic waterway.

The US has sought to form a coalition to open the strait, asking NATO countries to contribute naval and air assets. However, most of Washington’s allies have declined to commit forces.

Source: Presstv

2, April 2026

Cameroon Football: Ebwelle Bertin takes charge to revive Panthère du Ndé ⁰

Bertin Ebwelle has taken the helm at Panthère Sportive du Ndé with the ambition of breathing new life into a team searching for stability.

The news is now official: Bertin Ebwelle is the new head coach of Panthère Sportive du Ndé. The Cameroonian tactician succeeds Yves Clément Arroga, who recently stepped down amid a tense atmosphere.

The Bangangté club’s management wasted no time in responding. Riding the momentum of a convincing win over Dynamo de Douala, Panthère du Ndé opted to hand the reins to an experienced profile in order to steady the team’s sporting trajectory.

A former Cameroon international, Bertin Ebwelle joins an ambitious club—recent winners of the Cameroon Cup—that is eager to finish the first half of the season on a high note.

A high-pressure mission

Having previously managed Stade Renard de Melong, the coach has already settled in at Bangangté, where he arrived in recent hours. He was even received by local administrative authorities, a testament to the importance of his assignment.

But the challenge is considerable. Currently ninth in the standings with a game in hand, Panthère du Ndé is desperate for a turnaround. Ebwelle will need to make his mark quickly in an environment where results are demanded without delay.

Arroga, a departure amid tensions

The exit of Yves Clément Arroga still lingers in everyone’s mind. The now-former coach left the club after publicly denouncing the chairman’s interference in sporting affairs, pointing to an authoritarian management style.

The new man in charge at Panthère’s bench will soon face his first test. This Sunday, his team will take on Aigle Royal de la Menoua at the Fotso Victor Stadium in Bandjoun.

Source: Foot Africa

2, April 2026

Pope Leo XIV in Cameroon-The “Ambazonia crisis” in Southern Cameroons ⁰

Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon’s Northwest Region, which Pope Leo XIV will visit on April 16, is at the heart of the so-called “Anglophone crisis” that has shaken the country since 2016.

The origins of the crisis date back to the colonial era. A former colony of Wilhelmine Germany, Cameroon was divided in two at the end of World War I: one under British mandate and the other under French mandate. The French-speaking part became independent in 1960, while the English-speaking part in 1961. The latter, through a referendum, decided to join French-speaking Cameroon. In 1961, the Federal Republic of Cameroon was proclaimed, uniting territories with different languages and administrative practices. Federalism was abandoned in 1972 in favor of a unitary state. As a result, Cameroon’s English-speaking population felt increasingly marginalized and feared the disappearance of its legal and cultural distinctiveness.

The Anglophone crisis began in 2016 with a strike by lawyers and teachers who opposed the appointment of Francophone judges in Anglophone regions. The demonstrations were repressed by the Cameroonian government and were followed by episodes of violence.

In October 2017, Anglophone separatists proclaimed the Republic of Ambazonia (referring to Ambazonia Bay), thus formalizing their secessionist aspirations.

Since then, a conflict has erupted with a devastating human cost. Both sides in the war are using education as a weapon.

In Cameroon, public education is a prerogative of the state. Therefore, when attacking schools, armed groups are primarily targeting the symbol of a state institution. Schools, in particular, embody the flashpoints of the crisis, especially the language issue. French and English are the two official languages and enjoy equal status. However, French is used far more than English, thus fueling a sense of marginalization among Anglophone Cameroonians. Teaching and educational programs are, in principle, bilingual, even in Anglophone areas, something that is not accepted by the most radical separatists.

Since 2017, more than 700,000 children have been forced to drop out of school. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 1.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in the Anglophone regions. OCHA also estimates that at least 334,098 people have been internally displaced by the violence in the two regions, while more than 76,493 have sought refuge in Nigeria. Both separatists and government forces have perpetrated targeted attacks against health facilities and humanitarian workers, severely reducing access to medical care and forcing several international humanitarian organizations to suspend their operations.

Furthermore, the conflict has degenerated into a veritable criminal industry based primarily on kidnappings for extortion. Under the pretext of financing the independence cause, criminal gangs abduct ordinary people, demanding sums of money from their families in exchange for their release. But the kidnappings also have a political objective: they are abductions aimed at silencing women in particular, since they often play a crucial role in conflict resolution in Cameroon’s traditional and tribal societies.

The latest available data is from 2024, with 450 kidnapping cases recorded. Among those abducted are also priests. It is worth recalling the kidnapping of the late Cardinal Christian Tumi, Archbishop Emeritus of Douala, in 2020 who had expressed his willingness to mediate between the government and the separatists.

Furthermore, the separatists, known as the “Amba Boys,” have imposed a monthly “revolutionary tax” on the local population: 10,000 CFA francs (15 euros) for men and 5,000 CFA francs (7.50 euros) for women.

In this situation, the Church community continues its work of evangelization despite numerous difficulties, and Catholic institutions and representatives are striving to play a mediating role. In a statement sent to Fides, Andrew Nkea Fuanya, Archbishop of Bamenda, affirmed: “The Church has not taken sides with either the separatists or the government precisely so that it can offer its mediation services. Despite the violence, in the Archdiocese of Bamenda I have not closed any parishes nor have I fled. I engage in dialogue with both the government and the separatists in the constant search for the path to peace.”

Source: Agenzia Fides

1, April 2026

New Testament pastors in the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon ⁰

The mess left behind by Rev Dr Samuel Forba Fonki during his time as moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) is now amplifying with questions about the public image of protestant clerics becoming increasingly relevant.

Before Samuel Forba Fonki emerged as moderator, the PCC had a very rich tradition that emphasized modesty, humility and spiritual focus. As a prominent and successful failure, Rev. Fonki reportedly left behind a sinful PCC which has prompted Christians and many religious observers to raise concerns about the complete and total shift in how certain pastors from rich congregations of the PCC present themselves especially in matters of dress and outward style.

It is shameful, disgusting and disgraceful for a church like the PCC rooted in reformed theology to allow its pastors to now appear like Sammy Diko and Longue Longue.

The pastor’s role in the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon is to point beyond themselves—to Christ, to Scripture and to the life of faith. When a pastor’s personal appearance begins to draw disproportionate attention as seen on the photo attached to this editorial, it risks distracting from that central mission. Being a pastor is not a celebrity contest and the pastor is not a performer.

This Cameroon Concord Group editorial is not a call for rigid uniformity or the denial of cultural expression. A pastor’s dress can reflect dignity, context, and even joy. But there is a great distinction between attire that honors the sacred responsibility of God’s ministry and attires that risk blurring the line between spiritual leadership and spectacle. When that holy line becomes unclear, Christians may begin to question whether the focus remains on worship or has subtly shifted toward personality and display.

PCC ministers are all aware that pastoral leadership speaks of restraint, integrity, and a quiet confidence rooted in calling rather than appearance. Correspondingly, pastors deep within the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon should and must not only communicate in words but also in presentation.

The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, like other living institutions, must continuously reflect on how its pastors embody its values in a changing political and social landscape. That reflection is healthiest when it is honest, charitable, and anchored in the shared desire to preserve the integrity of the PCC’s mission.

To this I put my name

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

1, April 2026

Yaoundé: WTO Ministerial Conference ends without a breakthrough ⁰

The World Trade Organization’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) concluded in Yaounde with ministers adopting a set of decisions, while deferring several critical trade issues to further negotiations in Geneva, after four days of intensive talks involving nearly 2,000 officials and more than 90 ministers.

Chaired by Cameroon’s Minister of Trade Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, the conference secured agreements on integrating small economies into the global trading system and improving implementation of special and differential treatment provisions under sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT) agreements.

However, key negotiations on electronic commerce, fisheries subsidies and intellectual property-related moratoriums remained unresolved due to time constraints. Mbarga Atangana said ministers worked across multiple negotiation tracks to conclude as many issues as possible, describing the process as intensive and time-bound. He confirmed that discussions fell short on several outstanding files, including the WTO’s e-commerce work programme and the renewal of moratoriums on customs duties for electronic transmissions and non-violation complaints under the TRIPS Agreement.

The unresolved issues carry economic significance, particularly the expiring moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, which underpins cross-border digital trade flows, and the TRIPS-related moratorium affecting intellectual property disputes. Both measures are set to expire at the end of March 2026, raising uncertainty for global digital commerce and innovation-driven sectors.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said members made progress on advancing a reform work programme and discussions on fisheries subsidies, while outlining a pathway to finalise outstanding agreements in Geneva.

“A lot was accomplished. We decided to work differently. I think we have a new WTO way of working to modernize the way we do business, so we can be more nimble, more responsive as we move forward,” Okonjo-Iweala stated.

Ministers agreed to continue negotiations on fisheries subsidies, with the objective of delivering recommendations at the 15th Ministerial Conference in line with commitments under the existing agreement. The talks are aimed at tightening disciplines on harmful subsidies that affect global fish stocks and maritime economies.

The conference also consolidated draft texts forming what has been termed a “Yaounde package”. The package comprises five draft instruments, which includes a proposed ministerial declaration on WTO reform, decisions on electronic commerce, TRIPS-related moratoriums, fisheries subsidies, and a package for least developed countries (LDCs). These texts are expected to form the basis for continued negotiations at the next WTO General Council meeting in Geneva.

“We are very close to a Yaounde package of agreements that would be important for members and the future of the organization. But we are not all the way there yet,” Okonjo-Iweala

The Ministerial Conference, the WTO’s highest decision-making body, is typically held every two years and serves as a platform for setting global trade rules. The Yaoundé meeting marked only the second time the conference has been hosted in Africa, placing regional trade priorities, including development and integration, at the centre of discussions.

Final decisions on the pending agreements, including those affecting digital trade and intellectual property frameworks, are now expected to be pursued in Geneva, where members will seek to convert draft texts into binding outcomes.

Source: Business in Cameroon