Monthly Archives: May 2026

12, May 2026

Cameroonian filmmaker Bassek Ba Kobhio dies! ⁰

The Cameroonian film industry is in mourning following the death of Bassek Ba Kobhio, a respected director and cultural promoter who played a key role in shaping modern African cinema.

A filmmaker, producer and cultural advocate, he was widely regarded as one of the architects of modern cinema in Central Africa. Over the years, he built a reputation not only through his films but also through his commitment to creating platforms for African voices.

His works, including Sango Malo and Le Grand Blanc de Lambaréné, tackled themes such as education, colonial legacy and African identity, earning him recognition beyond Cameroon.

Beyond directing, he played a major role in structuring the industry, notably through the creation of the Écrans Noirs festival, which became a key meeting point for filmmakers across Africa and beyond.

His passing has triggered tributes from across the continent, with many describing him as a pioneer who helped shape how African stories are told and distributed.

Bassek Ba Kobhio was born in Cameroon and developed an early passion for cinema and storytelling at a time when African film industries were still emerging.

He pursued formal training in filmmaking abroad, notably in Europe, where he studied cinema and audiovisual production. This exposure helped shape his narrative style, which blends African realities with strong cinematic structure.

He began his career in the 1980s, working first in television and audiovisual production before moving into feature filmmaking. His breakthrough came with Sango Malo (1991), an adaptation of a literary work that explored tensions within the education system and society. The film remains one of the most referenced works in Cameroonian cinema.

In 1995, he founded the Écrans Noirs festival in Yaoundé, at a time when African films had very limited visibility. The initiative grew into one of the most important film festivals in Central Africa, helping to launch and promote numerous African filmmakers.

His film Le Grand Blanc de Lambaréné (1995) revisited the life of Albert Schweitzer from an African perspective, sparking debate and international attention for its critical take on colonial narratives.

Throughout his career, he held several cultural and institutional roles, contributing to policy discussions around cinema and culture in Cameroon and Africa. He was also involved in training and mentoring young filmmakers, pushing for a stronger, more structured film industry.

Bassek Ba Kobhio is remembered not only for his films, but for his vision one that insisted Africa must tell its own stories, on its own terms.

His death leaves a significant void, but his influence continues through the institutions he built and the generations he inspired.

Source: Lebledparle.com

12, May 2026

Yaoundé: EU envoy accuses Russia of using Cameroon- flagged vessels to evade oil sanctions ⁰

The European Union’s ambassador to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea accused Russia on May 7 of using ships registered under Cameroon’s flag to help bypass Western sanctions tied to the war in Ukraine.

Speaking during Europe Day events in Yaoundé, Ambassador Jean-Marc Chataigner sharply criticized what he described as the misuse of Cameroon’s maritime registry by aging oil tankers operating outside international standards.

“Cameroon’s flag is being used illegally by too many uninsured, poorly maintained and aging tankers,” Chataigner said. “These ghost ships travel across the oceans without ever docking in Cameroon while helping finance attacks on Ukraine’s sovereignty.”

Although he did not mention Russia directly in that part of his speech, the comments clearly referred to Moscow, which he had discussed earlier.

Western governments have repeatedly accused Russia of relying on a so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers to bypass sanctions imposed on its energy exports since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Russian crude shipments remain under close scrutiny by Western countries, including when the vessels involved operate under foreign flags.

According to several observers, ships linked to Russian oil exports have registered under Cameroon’s flag in recent years. Cameroon is frequently cited internationally as a so-called flag-of-convenience country, where foreign-owned ships can register under less restrictive conditions.

The issue has reportedly led the European Union to increase pressure on Yaoundé to stop granting its flag to vessels suspected of helping Russia avoid Western sanctions.

Beyond maritime issues, Chataigner also addressed migration concerns and again accused Russia of exploiting vulnerable populations and weaknesses in international control systems.

“Those who wage war today do not hesitate to exploit the vulnerability of populations and weaknesses in oversight systems,” the ambassador said.

He then referred to Cameroonians who, according to him, leave for Russia after promises of better opportunities before later being recruited to fight in Ukraine.

“Some Cameroonians, tempted by risky adventures, leave for Russia with promises of a better future and later find themselves recruited and turned into cannon fodder in a conflict that is not theirs,” Chataigner said.

He referenced remarks previously made by President Paul Biya in February 2026 warning young people against pursuing dangerous opportunities abroad.

Chataigner concluded by contrasting those practices with what he described as a different vision of international cooperation.

He called for partnerships “that respect international law, national sovereignty and the aspirations of our peoples,” and said cooperation should rest on “trust, transparency and reciprocity.”

Source: Sbbc

11, May 2026

EU approves new sanctions on Israeli settlers over West Bank violence ⁰

European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed new sanctions on Israeli settlers over violence against Palestinians, as a change of government in Hungary ended months of blockage.

“It’s done. The European Union is sanctioning today the main Israeli organisations guilty of supporting the extremist and violent colonisation of the West Bank, as well as their leaders,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot wrote on social media.

“These most serious and intolerable acts must cease without delay.”

Israel responded by denouncing the planned EU sanctions as “arbitrary and political” and vowed to stand ‘”for the right of Jews” to settle in the West Bank.

The move in response to rising violence and settlement expansion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank had been stalled by former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban.

But the ouster of the nationalist leader and Israel ally, by rival Peter Magyar, now appears to have paved the way for the veto to be lifted.

EU officials said seven settlers or settler organisations would be blacklisted. The bloc also agreed to sanction representatives from Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The occupied West Bank has been gripped by almost daily violence since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, involving Israeli troops and settlers.

There has been a surge in deadly attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank since the start of the Iran war on February 28, Palestinian officials and the United Nations have said.

While the EU is moving ahead with the sanctions on Israeli settlers, there remains no consensus among member states to take further steps against Israel, such as curbing trade ties.

A number of countries are pushing to ban products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

“The work on trade measures for products coming from the illegal settlements moves forward,” an EU diplomat said.

Source: AFP

11, May 2026

China’s zero-tariff policy opens opportunities for Cameroonian exporters ⁰

Cameroonian traders are gearing up to boost exports to China as the zero-tariff policy of the world’s second-largest economy for least developed countries with diplomatic ties came into effect on May 1, offering wider market access and reduced trade barriers for products ranging from timber to cocoa.

The landmark policy, which covers 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, is also seen as an opportunity to strengthen local manufacturing and encourage the export of finished goods rather than raw materials, analysts say.

“Cameroonian importers and businessmen are ready to export to China to benefit from the complete exemption of export taxes. We have five products for export: wood, which I process through my own company; cocoa, which is widely consumed in China; coffee; vegetable oil; and minerals such as gold and cobalt. I advise Cameroonians to process their products before exporting them, because selling raw materials brings no added value,” said Merlin Manfo, president of the China-Cameroon Import-Export Trade Association.

While trade experts praise the policy for removing financial barriers, they caution that Cameroonian products must meet strict quality requirements and overcome bureaucratic delays to compete successfully with other African goods and maintain a foothold in the Chinese market.

African exports have long faced high tariffs, stringent standards and complex procedures in global markets. China’s zero-tariff treatment is expected to ease those barriers significantly.

In 2025, China-Africa trade grew by 17.7 percent year on year to reach 348 billion U.S. dollars, with Africa’s exports to China exceeding 123 billion dollars. With the zero-tariff policy now in effect, countries like Cameroon are looking forward to further export growth.

Source: Bastille Post

11, May 2026

There are reasons why Israel has been President Biya’s key ally since 1984 ⁰

In October 2025, Cameroon’s 92-year-old authoritarian president, Paul Biya, secured another term in elections widely regarded as undemocratic and fraudulent. For 42 years, Biya has ruled Cameroon through repression, violence, the detention of political opponents and journalists, and widespread corruption.

Yet Cameroon remains one of Israel’s most important partners in Africa, while Israel has been one of President Biya’s key allies since 1984.

The official website of Israel’s embassy in the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé, presents a polished version of bilateral relations. It states that “the Republic of Cameroon and the State of Israel have maintained cooperative ties since Cameroon’s independence in 1960. Cooperation was temporarily suspended in 1973 (with the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War), when many African countries severed bilateral relations with Israel. In 1986, Cameroon was among the first African states to renew diplomatic ties with Israel.”

On the resumption of relations, the official account offers little detail. It notes that in 1986, Israel’s ambassador to Cameroon, Gadi Golan, said the two countries were “jointly engaged in a human-scale enterprise,” pursuing “direct and practical cooperation in line with the needs of a century nearing its end.” It also highlights a visit that August by Prime Minister Shimon Peres to Yaoundé, described as a mission to restore diplomatic ties. Peres reportedly brought emergency medical supplies and personnel to assist victims of a devastating volcanic gas disaster that killed thousands of Cameroonians.

Partially declassified files from Israel’s State Archives tell a different story. As in other African countries, the renewed relationship was driven less by humanitarian concerns and more by Israeli military assistance aimed at helping Biya consolidate power during a critical period – following a failed coup attempt and amid fears of his predecessor, Ahmadou Ahidjo, and his supporters. The cables confirm reporting published over the years while adding new details.

A Foreign Ministry review dated September 20, 1985, states that contacts began in March 1984, during a visit to Cameroon by the ministry’s director-general, who met Biya. “In April 1984, there was a failed coup attempt. The coup was suppressed and a purge was carried out.” In June 1984, “a large security delegation arrived in Israel, headed by the president’s military secretary, and was received by then–Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir.”

The following month, an Israeli delegation – including military and intelligence personnel – traveled to Cameroon. Agreements reached with Biya included appointing a representative for Israeli interests in Cameroon, Israeli assistance in training the presidential guard, intelligence cooperation, and large-scale arms purchases. “All of the above agreements were implemented,” the document notes. Immediately after the meeting, “as a gesture of goodwill, Cameroon transferred $12 million to an account of the Defense Ministry.” Golan arrived in Yaoundé in late August 1984, accompanied by a large delegation from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and military industries.

In an October 23, 1984 cable, Golan – who initially served as head of the Israeli interests section attached to the Belgian embassy, before being appointed ambassador following President Paul Biya’s official announcement of the renewal of relations in August 1986 – reported that he had met with Samuel Missomba, head of the local internal security service, the National Documentation Centre (CND). Missomba told him that Cameroon required Israeli assistance “in establishing an intelligence-gathering system, as well as help in setting up units for operations abroad to collect intelligence or carry out missions against training camps of supporters of the former president in neighboring countries,” and also assistance in “monitoring the activities of the former president and his supporters.”

In a December 28, 1984 cable, the Foreign Ministry Africa Department director reported that CND chief Missomba told him at a dinner that two training courses would be conducted in Cameroon by Israel’s Mossad. In another cable dated May 24, 1985, Golan reported that he had met with Missomba, who said that participants in the Mossad training told him they had “never studied or even come into contact with the material being taught to them – it is an entirely new world for them,” and that a second cycle of the program had been scheduled. According to a cable Golan sent on December 26, 1986, Israel also conducted an intelligence course for the unit responsible for the protection of Biya.

A Foreign Ministry review from September 5, 1985, states that “military and intelligence assistance is being provided on a significant scale, with the Cameroonians paying in advance for services and equipment.”

According to an October 30, 1986 cable from the Israeli mission in Yaoundé, Biya approved sending security personnel to Israel for counterterrorism training. A November 28, 1986 cable reports that the head of the president’s office signed an extension of contracts for Israeli military advisers. An earlier cable, dated February 25, 1986, indicates that 11 IDF officers were involved in training Cameroon’s presidential guard and army.

Between October 26 and 29, 1987, a five-member delegation from a newly established intelligence service, the National Centre for Studies and Research (CENER), visited Israel to meet with the Mossad. In a November 20, 1987 cable, Golan wrote that Missomba – who had been appointed to head CENER and took part in the visit – said he was “deeply moved” by his time in Israel, including meetings with the Mossad chief and the prime minister.

A September 11, 1987 cable included a list of four Cameroonian officers set to travel to Israel “to examine electronic equipment for counterterrorism.”

According to a Foreign Ministry review dated December 11, 1987, “an IDF delegation is training the presidential guard and instructing at the parachuting school. The trained units have received advanced Israeli-made military equipment worth $40 million, paid in full in advance,” and the president had “an Israeli adviser on intelligence matters.”

In a December 19, 1987 cable, Golan described a meeting with Biya, who “expressed satisfaction with the development of cooperation with the Mossad” and sought advice on a successor to Missomba. According to Golan, Biya said that CIA officials had advised against appointing a police or military figure. He asked Golan’s opinion of Missomba’s deputy; Golan replied that the deputy had made a good impression during a visit to Israel.

Between January 10 and 17, 1988, a delegation led by Cameroon’s police commissioner and senior police officers visited Israel. According to a summary of the visit prepared by Foreign Ministry Africa Department director Benaad Avital, agreements were reached on training Cameroonian police – both in Israel and in Cameroon – in counterterrorism and firearms use, as well as in the operation of communications equipment purchased from Israel. Earlier, in a cable dated December 17, 1987, Golan noted that almost all of Cameroon’s police communications equipment was Israeli-made.

Most Foreign Ministry files on Cameroon remain classified. In 2018, however, we – a group of 76 Israeli human rights activists – petitioned the Supreme Court of Israel to revoke export licenses for arms supplied to the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR), known in Cameroon as “the Israeli unit,” which was found to have committed serious crimes against civilians in opposition areas. Our petition was based on verified evidence from Cameroonian journalists and opposition activists showing that Israelis had trained and advised the unit, whose soldiers used Israeli weapons including Galil, Galil ACE, Tavor rifles, and Negev machine guns. The court imposed a gag order on the case.

Just as President Biya has relied on Israel, Israel has also relied on him personally to maintain the stability of their bilateral relationship. How relations between the two countries will evolve after a change of power in Cameroon remains an open question.

Source: m.thewire

11, May 2026

Netanyahu vows to phase out US aid, blames social media for turning Americans against Israel ⁰

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that he plans to bring American financial aid to the Tel Aviv regime down to zero within the next decade, blaming social media platforms for “manipulating” the American public opinion towards Israel.

In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes aired on Sunday, Netanyahu was asked whether it was time for the Israeli regime to “reexamine and possibly reset” its financial relationship with Washington.

“Absolutely. I’ve said this to President Trump. I’ve said it to our own people. Their jaws drop,” he claimed.

“I want to draw down to zero the American financial support, the financial component of the military cooperation that we have,” the Israeli prime minister said, stating that the process should “start now” and be completed “over the next ten years.”

Netanyahu noted that he is well aware of declining support for Israel in the US.

The remarks come as a recent Pew poll revealed that six in ten Americans have a very or somewhat unfavorable view of Israel, up seven percentage points since last year and nearly 20 points since 2022.

The Israeli prime minister dismissed the notion that the regime’s genocidal war in Gaza might have “contributed to this negative impression of Israel,” blaming the shift almost entirely on social media.

“Israel is besieged on the media front, on the propaganda front, and we’ve not done well on the propaganda war,” he claimed.

“We have several countries that basically manipulated social media with bot farms with fake addresses, to break the American sympathy to Israel.”

Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007, leaving the territory’s 2.4 million people on the verge of starvation.

The Israeli army launched a brutal two-year offensive on Gaza in October 2023, killing more than 72,000 people, injuring over 172,000, and causing massive destruction across the besieged territory.

Netanyahu’s comments come irrespective of the fact that the Israeli regime remains the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign aid since World War II, having received more than $300 billion in economic and military assistance from Washington since 1948.

Under a ten-year agreement signed in 2016, the US committed $38 billion in military aid to Israel through 2028, including $5 billion for the so-called Iron Dome anti-aircraft missile system.

Overall, American assistance accounts for roughly 16% of the regime’s military budget.

US Senator Bernie Sanders filed three resolutions in March, seeking to block nearly $660 million in arms sales to Israel.

He pointed out that three-quarters of Democrats and two-thirds of independents oppose Washington sending weapons to the Tel Aviv regime.

Source: Press TV

11, May 2026

Bamenda–Bafoussam road: 8 killed in collision involving passenger buses ⁰

At least eight people have lost their lives following a road accident involving two passenger buses along the Bamenda–Bafoussam route on Sunday, May 10.

The collision reportedly involved a 19-seater vehicle and a larger 70-seater bus transporting passengers between the two cities. The smaller bus is said to have suffered the most impact.

Sources indicate that several victims died before reaching medical care, while others succumbed to their injuries after being taken to the Mbouda District Hospital. Survivors from the 19-seater were admitted for treatment, although the condition of passengers from the second vehicle remains unclear. The larger bus reportedly sustained only limited front-end damage.

‎‎The circumstances that led to the crash are still unknown, with authorities yet to provide an official account.

Meanwhile, the situation at the Mbouda District Hospital has drawn criticism from witnesses present during the emergency response. One resident who assisted in transporting victims described difficult conditions, pointing to the absence of electricity and the unavailability of a functioning backup generator at the time patients were being received.

Investigations are expected to provide further clarity on both the cause of the accident and the handling of the victims.‎

Source: Lebledparle.com

10, May 2026

Iran submits response to latest US proposal for ending aggression ⁰

Iran has submitted its official reply to the latest US proposal for reaching a deal that allows a permanent end to the US-Israeli war of aggression against the country.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency said in a Sunday report that the country had submitted its reply to the US proposal to Pakistan, which has mediated efforts aimed at ending the war of aggression.

IRNA said the reply insists that current negotiations between Iran and the US should solely focus on efforts to end the war, and other issues, including disputes surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, should be discussed at later stages of the talks.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced earlier this week that the country would submit its final response to the US proposal after carrying out deliberations and thorough examinations.

The US proposal had come in response to a 14-article plan submitted by Iran to allow a complete halt to the US-Israeli war of aggression.

The latest Iranian reply is focused on efforts to end the aggression on all fronts, including Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and to guarantee the security of shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Iran and the US held an intensive day of negotiations on April 11–12 in Islamabad, four days after Pakistan mediated a ceasefire to halt the US-Israeli aggression on Iran that had started in late February.

The talks collapsed over US maximalist demands, Iranian officials said.

A key sticking point in the current negotiations between Iran and the US is the restoration of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway in the Persian Gulf, which has come under Iranian control since the early days of the aggression.

Iran has indicated it is ready to reopen the Strait if the aggression ends permanently and the US lifts its illegal sanctions and blockade on the country.

Authorities in Tehran have said that a first phase of efforts to reach a deal must concentrate on shipping and sanctions, while signaling they are ready to discuss the country’s nuclear program in later stages of the talks with the US.

Source: Press TV

10, May 2026

13,000 Southern Cameroons refugees overstretching Benue resources ⁰

Nigeria’s Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has raised the alarm that the growing burden of catering for more than 13,000 Cameroonian refugees in Ikyogen community of Kwande Local Government Area, has continued to overstretch the state’s resources.

Permanent Secretary, Benue State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), James Iorpuu, therefore called on the Federal Government to urgently step in with intervention and stronger collaboration.

Iorpuu, who made the appeal yesterday while briefing journalists during the monthly distribution of food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state, disclosed that the refugees are presently residing in Ikyogen with about 3,000 host community members in Kwande, Benue LGA which shares border with Cameroon.

The SEMA boss lamented that the state could no longer sustain the humanitarian pressure.

Source: Daily Trust

10, May 2026

Dangote Cement Cameroon Q1 sales volumes drop 15.8% to 300,000 tons ⁰

Dangote Cement Cameroon started 2026 on a weaker footing. According to the group’s quarterly report, the Cameroonian subsidiary recorded a 15.8% year-on-year decline in sales volumes, to about 300,000 tons, in contrast with trends observed in several other African markets.

The group attributes this performance to a slower start to the year in Cameroon, in a post-election environment marked, according to the company, by a slowdown in construction activity. In its report, Dangote Cement notes that delays in public spending and slower execution of infrastructure projects weighed on demand, limiting the contribution of the industrial sector to growth during the quarter.

In a country where the construction sector relies heavily on public procurement, especially for road infrastructure, administrative buildings, and housing programs, any slowdown in project execution quickly affects cement consumption. The decline recorded by Dangote Cement Cameroon highlights the sensitivity of the market to budget decisions and the pace of public investment.

This downturn comes despite a relatively stable macroeconomic environment. The group points out that inflation remained contained at around 2.5% in 2025 and early 2026, a level that typically provides greater visibility for businesses. This stability, however, did not support demand in the construction sector.

On the industrial side, Dangote Cement also highlights increased clinker flows within the group. During the period, the Nigeria region shipped 378,200 tons of clinker to Cameroon and Ghana, a 58.8% increase compared with the same period in 2025. These transfers reflect the group’s integration strategy, which relies on intra-group trade to secure supply for its subsidiaries, particularly for grinding operations.

The decline in Cameroon contrasts with performance in several other African markets in the first quarter of 2026. Sales volumes rose by 31.5% in Ethiopia to 657,700 tons, by 24.7% in Tanzania to 592,800 tons, by 15.8% in Senegal to 347,300 tons, and by 16.2% in Zambia to 210,400 tons. Even in Ghana, where sales fell slightly by 2.1%, the decline remained far smaller than in Cameroon.

At the group level, Dangote Cement reported strong results. Revenue rose by 20.4% to 1,198 billion naira, or about CFA479.2 billion, while net profit increased by 53.5% to 321.1 billion naira, equivalent to about CFA128.4 billion.

These results confirm the group’s overall strength across the continent but highlight the weaker performance of its Cameroonian subsidiary in the first three months of the year. They also underline the continued dependence of the local cement market on public spending and the pace of infrastructure project execution.

Source: ecofin agency