Monthly Archives: May 2026

10, May 2026

Cameroon’s customary land system exposes rural land to appropriation ⁰

The Centre for Environment and Development (CED) has warned about the insecure land tenure status of rural communities in Cameroon, saying weaknesses in the country’s customary land system leave large areas vulnerable to appropriation.

In a report published on April 27, 2026, titled To Whom Does This Land Belong?, the organization said rural populations face major obstacles in securing land rights under existing laws and administrative practices.

According to the CED, the process for registering customary land remains difficult and expensive. The organization described the procedure as “opaque, complex and costly,” saying it converts communal land into individually owned plots without adequately reflecting local land-use systems.

The report said land registration in practice applies mainly to areas that are clearly cleared or cultivated. However, much of the land used under customary systems is occupied collectively or through seasonal and shifting patterns of use.

For the CED, this exposes large portions of community land to the risk of allocation or redistribution to concessionaires, private investors or the state.

Unregistered land treated as state domain

The organization also found that unregistered land is commonly treated as part of the national domain, a situation that disproportionately affects poorer rural populations living in forest regions where pressure linked to logging, mining, conservation and agricultural projects is particularly strong.

The CED noted that Cameroonian law provides limited protection for unregistered farms and plots through compensation payments when land is taken by the state. But the organization said these payments generally cover only crops or infrastructure and do not compensate for the value of the land itself.

According to the report, most of the land concerned can be allocated through various legal arrangements — including ownership titles, leases or exclusive occupation licenses — to logging companies, mining operators, livestock farmers, agricultural investors or the state, particularly within classified forest areas.

The CED attributed the situation mainly to two factors: the broad definition of “public purposes” under Cameroonian law and the lack of full legal recognition of customary land ownership as a property right.

As a result, the organization argued, holders of customary land rights do not benefit from the same protections as formal landowners, particularly regarding compensation at market value in cases of expropriation.

Source: Business in Cameroon

9, May 2026

After losing influence in West Africa, France seeks a regional reset at Kenya summit ⁰

Shorn of influence in its former colonies in West Africa, France will seek to deepen ties elsewhere on the continent next week at an Africa summit in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, its first to be held in an English-speaking country.

With a year left in his presidency, French President Emmanuel Macron is hoping to showcase a “renewed ‌partnership” with Africa, an aide at the Élysée Palace told reporters.

Monday and Tuesday’s summit, which will ⁠be attended by heads of state, business executives and heads of multilateral development banks, follows repeated setbacks for France in former colonies where it has wielded influence for decades.

A series of coups in ‌the Sahel region since 2020 have brought to power military officers who have expelled French troops and invited in ⁠Russia-backed mercenaries like the Wagner Group and its successor, Africa Corps, to deal with violence and unrest perpetrated by jihadist militias.

France also handed over control of its last major military facility in Senegal last July after Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye – who is expected to attend the Kenya summit – said French bases were incompatible with the country’s sovereignty.

“It does feel like a rebranding of how France is positioning itself on the continent,” said Beverly Ochieng, a Senegal-based senior ‌analyst at the Control Risks consultancy.

“It is moving away from some of its former colonial partners, security partners, towards countries where it has more of a cultural – a different footprint.”

French pivot

Macron came to power in 2017 vowing to ‌bring an end to “Francafrique”, the lingering and often murky links between France and its former colonies that at times saw Paris back autocratic regimes, while broadening engagement across the continent.

The pivot has involved attempts to tackle historical tensions with countries like Rwanda and Algeria while more closely engaging African civil society and youth leaders, said Alain Antil, the head of the Sub-Saharan Africa programme at the French Institute for International Relations.

At the same time, Paris has looked to boost trade ties, growing its imports from Africa by a quarter between 2021 and 2024, according to data from the International Trade Centre.

France and Nigeria signed a €300 million investment agreement in 2024 to support critical infrastructure, healthcare, transportation and renewable energy across Africa’s most populous country.

Investment deals, especially in areas like clean energy, artificial intelligence and education, are expected to be at the centre of Macron’s trip to Africa for the summit, during which he will also visit Egypt and Ethiopia.

Macron’s government has also looked to strengthen security cooperation with non-traditional partners, including by signing a defence pact with Kenya last October to boost cooperation in intelligence-sharing, maritime security and peacekeeping.

However, France has faced some high-profile setbacks in countries where foreign investors like China and Gulf states have leveraged deep pockets and longstanding relationships to build influence.

Kenyan President William Ruto’s government terminated a deal with a consortium led by France’s ⁠Vinci SA for a $1.5 billion highway expansion project last year and handed it to Chinese firms instead after Kenyan authorities said the contract saddled them with too much risk.

Ruto, who ⁠will co-host the summit, plans to focus on advancing talks on making the global financial system fairer to heavily indebted African countries. France has pledged to support this campaign.

Source: Reuters

9, May 2026

Njomo Kevin: exit of an icon ⁰

The news of his passing was announced by journalist Kum Leonard, who described him as a respected figure in Cameroon’s media landscape.

Pa Njomo was widely known for his long service to journalism, especially in broadcasting and sports reporting. He worked with CRTV and was also associated with Mount Cameroon FM, where he served as station manager. In a 2008 interview, he spoke about his upbringing in Kumba, his education in the South West Region, and his deep love for journalism, religion, music and tennis.

Over the years, Njomo Kevin built a reputation as one of Cameroon’s old-school media voices. His career was strongly linked to football commentary and sports analysis. In 2020, the Mail & Guardian described him as a veteran sports journalist with more than 40 years of experience covering Cameroonian football. He was also known for speaking frankly about corruption and weaknesses in the country’s football structures.

Beyond journalism, Njomo Kevin also served in football administration. In 2017, he was appointed to the FECAFOOT Normalisation Committee after FIFA intervened in the management of Cameroonian football.

In recent years, he remained active through Njomo Kevin TV, where he shared sports memories, cultural stories, historical reflections and what became known as “Story Time with Uncle Njomo.” The platform presented him as a media veteran using storytelling to preserve Cameroon’s social and sporting memory.

His death is a major loss to Cameroon’s media family, especially to those who grew up listening to his voice, learning from his knowledge of sport, and following his reflections on the country’s past and present.

Source: MMINews

9, May 2026

Notorious General Philippe Mpay blamed for deplorable actions in Douala dies ⁰

One of the most senior Francophone army officers to serve in Douala during the break down of law and order and who in his later years faced natural justice in a ghastly car crash has died aged 87.

General Philippe Mpay led Cameroon government military operations in the city of Douala and went on to become a hate figure for his leadership that saw the killing of many innocent civilians.

Major General Philippe Mpay of the Francophone dominated Cameroon government army passed away at the military hospital in Yaoundé. Mpay died in the early hours of Saturday, May 9, 2026 according to multiple family sources.

The soldier man was a very influential figure deep within the military and headed the notorious Operational Command established to combat serious crime in the Douala metropolis in 2000.

Mpay was promoted to Brigadier General on February 5, 1993, and then to Major General on September 25, 2001. Until his passing, the late Major General served as Commander of Military Schools and Training Centers and also in the Military Chambers of courts of appeal in nearly all regions of Cameroon.

Born in 1939 in Nguibassa in Nyong-et-Kellé, General Philippe Mpay passed away a few days after former Senate President Marcel Niat and former National Assembly President Cavaye Yeguie Djibril.

By Rita Akana in Yaoundé

8, May 2026

President Biya will attempt to go to Heaven illegally ⁰

In a conversation a cream of Cameroon Concord Group reporters had with Cardinal Christian Tumi, the great man of God observed that the Almighty Father will ask President Paul Biya what he did with the lives entrusted to him.

Cardinal Christian Tumi walked among us and like the Master Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace; Tumi made himself of no reputation but made millions of Cameroonians to know that they can live this life and that they can walk this path with Jesus. Biya said in the presence of this reporter and the late Dr Martin Belinga that Tumi never came to him for anything. Cardinal Tumi has met HIM and he is now with HIM.

However, if the gates of Heaven had an immigration desk, Cameroonians could imagine President Biya arriving with the confidence of a man who has outlasted half the world’s political calendars.

Biya after seeing Marcel Niat, George Tabetando and Joseph Owona will attempt to jump the queue but will be ordered back by angels of the Lord.

“Purpose of visit Mister President of Cameroon?” Saint John Paul II would ask.

“Retirement,” Biya would reply.

At that point, all the Angels and Saints including Marcel Niat, George Tabetando and Joseph Owona standing within a five-cloud radius would burst into serious laughter. Retirement? From CPDM politics in Cameroon? That’s like a mosquito in Douala announcing it has retired from biting ankles.

Saint Peter and Saint John Paul II would immediately call an emergency meeting. Not because President Paul Biya is standing on the front line! Saint Peter and Saint John Paul II have seen a Cameroonian head of state in the person of Ahmadou Ahidjo, traditional rulers like Fon Angwafor and VE Mukete, cabinet ministers including custom officers and taxation officials from ENAM before — but because President Biya’s entry documents would probably be older than some constellations.

Saint John Paul II would whisper to Cardinal Tumi, “Didn’t Biya govern Cameroon during the era when fax machines were considered advanced technology?”

Cardinal Tumi would answer, “Yes, and somehow he still managed to govern mostly from the InterContinental Hotel in Switzerland.”

The conversation between Cardinal Tumi and Saint John Paul II would turn uncomfortable shifting to the many ordinary Cameroonians whose lives were marked by hardship, political repression, conflict, corruption and tragedy during decades of Biya’s rule. President Biya still standing at the pearly gate is now being told that Heaven, unlike CPDM politics, insist on accountability before admission.

Saint John Paul II will pull out an enormous ledger handed to him by Cardinal Tumi and say:

“Mister Biya, we have reports here from students beaten for protesting, villagers displaced by the war in Southern Cameroons, journalists silenced, families grieving children lost in several unrest and you’re trying to jump the queue and enter through the VIP gate?”

Biya would allegedly smile the smile of a confident successful man who survived every cabinet reshuffle under the late President Ahmadou Ahidjo and later became head of state.

“I have diplomatic immunity.”

To which Saint John Paul II would respond:

“Sir, during my time as Pope John Paul II, I visited Cameroon and reminded you that Heaven is eternity and does not recognize constitutional amendments.”

Biya will then attempt to enter Heaven illegally not by forcing his way through the gate or climbing a fence but by turning to Marcel Niat, George Tabetando and Joseph Owona and asking them to form a committee to study whether the gates of Heaven should remain closed pending a Grand National Dialogue and consultations extending until 2087.

Impatient angels would begin pushing Saint John Paul II to attend to the 14 Southern Cameroons civilians killed in Ndzerem-Nyam village and the 2 government soldiers in Big Babanki.

We of the Cameroon Concord Group are of the opinion that Cameroonian leaders may escape elections, critics or history books rewritten by CPDM loyalists, but eternity is a place where political power no longer bends the rules. In that courtroom above the clouds as painted recently in Cameroon by the Holy Father Pope Leo, titles disappear, entourages vanish, and every ruler including leaders of the Church must answer the same question:

“What did you do with the lives entrusted to you?”

To this I put my name

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

8, May 2026

US destroyers flee Strait of Hormuz after massive Iranian missile and drone barrage ⁰

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy says its forces inflicted significant damage on US naval assets in a large-scale combined operation on Thursday evening, forcing three American destroyers to flee the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the commander of the IRGC Navy noted that the operation was launched in response to two provocative actions by the US military.

The first was a violation of the ceasefire involving an attack on an Iranian oil tanker near the port of Jask, which was followed by the approach of US Navy destroyers toward the strategic Strait of Hormuz despite clear warnings against it.

According to the commander, Iranian forces responded to the US military adventurism with “highly extensive and precise combined operation.”

The retaliatory operation involved a variety of advanced weaponry, including anti-ship ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and destructive drones.

He added that the weapons were equipped with high-explosive warheads and were fired directly at the enemy destroyers.

The commander stated that intelligence monitoring conducted by Iranian forces has since confirmed “significant damage” to the American military assets as a result of the strike.

Facing the devastating and precise Iranian firepower, the IRGC Navy commander said, three aggressor enemy vessels “fled the Strait of Hormuz area immediately.”

In a separate statement, a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said on Thursday that Iranian forces gave an immediate response to a series of US military aggressions in the strategic waters of the Strait of Hormuz.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari noted that the “aggressive, terrorist, and outlaw” US military, in violation of a ceasefire, targeted an Iranian oil tanker.

The spokesperson warned that the “criminal and aggressive” US and its allies must recognize that the Islamic Republic of Iran will, as it has in the past, deliver a crushing response to any act of aggression or violation “powerfully and without the slightest hesitation.”

These developments come amid continued US maritime banditry and piracy in the strategic waterway that remains closed to US and allied vessels.

Source: Presstv

7, May 2026

US Secretary Rubio meets Pope Leo XIV in bid to ease tensions ⁰

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio paid a fence‑mending visit to the Vatican on Thursday, highlighting close ties between the two sides after President Donald Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV over his opposition to the Iran war angered the Holy See and triggered an ongoing public spat.

The US State Department underlined its “strong relationship” with the Vatican on Thursday after talks between top diplomat Marco Rubio and Pope Leo, weeks after US President Donald Trump’s astonishing attack on the first American pontiff.

“The conversations today were friendly and constructive,” a State Department official told AFP following the US secretary of state’s private audience at the Vatican.

Rubio’s visit comes after Trump accused Leo, the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, of being “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy” following critical comments the pope made about the Middle East war.

After the talks, US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Leo and Rubio discussed the Middle East as well as their mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere – a phrase used by the US to refer to Latin America.

“The meeting underscored the strong relationship between the United States and the Holy See and their shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity,” Pigott said.

A US official confirmed that the Catholic Church’s work in Cuba was discussed.

The Holy See has long played an active role in Cuban diplomacy, while Rubio – a Cuban-American – has led the US administration’s efforts to bring major change to the communist-run country.

Rubio also met with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, with whom he discussed subjects including religious freedom, according to Pigott.

Rubio, a devout Catholic, had earlier sought to play down the rift between Trump and the pope, which sparked global headlines and risked alienating Catholic US voters.

The US ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, told reporters this week it would likely be a “frank conversation”.

For the Vatican’s part, “we’ll listen to him”, Parolin had said on Wednesday, noting that Washington had initiated the meeting.

The Trump administration had celebrated the election one year ago – May 8, 2025 – of Leo, the first US pontiff in history.

But its relations with the Holy See have since sharply deteriorated.

Trump’s unprecedented attack came after Leo called for peace in the Middle East war launched by Israel and the United States.

The pontiff condemned a threat by Trump to destroy Iranian civilisation as “truly unacceptable”.

Before leaving for Rome, Rubio said the trip had been planned before the clash, adding: “There’s a lot to talk about with the Vatican.”

On Thursday, a US source hailed the welcome extended to Rubio, saying it “exceeded expectations”.

Rubio’s motorcade entered the Vatican through the Arch of Bells, an honour normally accorded to heads of state, and he was greeted by the Swiss Guard.

‘Pope being pope’

Despite the peace-making attempt, Trump again criticised the pope in an interview on Monday, alleging that Leo believes it is “OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.

“I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people,” Trump said of the pontiff.

Asked about the comments on Tuesday, Leo said that the Catholic Church’s mission was to “preach peace” and the Gospel.

“If anyone wishes to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully,” he told reporters.

“The Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years, so there is no doubt about that, and I simply hope to be heard for the sake of the value of God’s word.”

Parolin said Wednesday that attacking the pope “seems a little strange to me”, adding: “The pope is being the pope.”

Leo’s nationality means his words carry more weight in Washington than those of his predecessors – and he has used them, notably criticising the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.

But it was the pontiff’s increasing anti-war rhetoric that triggered Trump’s ire.

The pope and Rubio met for the first time last year at the Vatican, alongside US Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, just days after Leo’s election.

Sources: AFP and AP

7, May 2026

Cameroon cocoa prices climb back above CFA 1,500 ahead of season end ⁰

Cocoa bean prices are rising again across Cameroon’s production basins just two months before the end of the 2025/2026 marketing season scheduled for July 15.

According to data published by the Information System for Commodity Chains (SIF) of the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC), cocoa prices ranged between CFA1,550 and CFA1,650 per kilogram as of May 6, 2026, moving back above the symbolic CFA1,500 threshold.

In recent weeks, prices observed in producing areas had generally hovered around CFA1,300 per kilogram.

Despite the rebound, prices currently paid to Cameroonian producers remain far below the record highs reached during previous seasons.

During the 2024/2025 season, cocoa prices peaked at CFA5,400 per kilogram after reaching a record CFA6,000 during the 2023/2024 campaign.

Based on those exceptional performances, Cameroonian authorities had projected producer prices ranging between CFA3,200 and CFA5,400 per kilogram at the launch of the 2025/2026 campaign.

Actual market conditions, however, have proved much less favorable.

According to commodity market analysts, the gap between official projections and actual farmgate prices is mainly explained by expectations of higher global production.

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) expects a recovery in global supply following the 2024/2025 campaign after three consecutive seasons marked by production deficits.

Market observers believe the anticipated surplus should continue to weigh on cocoa prices both internationally and in producing countries such as Cameroon.

Source: Sbbc

7, May 2026

CPDM Crime Syndicate: Socadel ordered to intensify fight against electricity fraud ⁰

Cameroon’s new management team at the Cameroon Electricity Company (Socadel), installed on May 5, 2026 in Yaoundé, officially takes office with an immediate mandate: intensify the fight against electricity fraud and help restore a power sector facing deep structural difficulties.

The directive was issued by Minister of Water and Energy Gaston Eloundou Essomba during the launch of the new public operator, which is expected to take over from Eneo as part of the government’s broader renationalization and restructuring of the electricity sector.

At the head of the company, Oumarou Hamandjoda inherits a highly sensitive challenge involving technical, financial, and social issues.

For authorities, electricity fraud ranks among the most urgent priorities.

The minister said several actions had already been identified for the first 100 days of the new management team, highlighting the continuation of operations targeting electricity theft in order to improve sector revenues.

The priority forms part of a nationwide campaign launched in March 2026.

The government describes fraud as a major source of commercial losses, with annual revenue shortfalls estimated at more than CFA60 billion.

Authorities also link these practices to network deterioration and safety risks associated with illegal connections and meter tampering.

The fight against fraud, however, does not fully capture the broader difficulties facing Cameroon’s electricity sector.

The government justified the public takeover of Eneo as part of a wider restructuring effort aimed at correcting longstanding operational failures and restoring service quality.

Socadel’s new leadership will therefore be judged not only on its ability to reduce commercial losses, but also on concrete improvements in electricity supply and customer relations.

Source: Business in Cameroon

7, May 2026

Yaoundé moves toward dedicated funding for Cameroon’s film industry ⁰

Cameroon’s Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpatt, has pledged to establish a new framework to secure dedicated State funding for the country’s film industry, responding to long-standing calls from filmmakers for more structured government support in production, infrastructure and distribution.

The commitment was made during a meeting in Yaounde with a delegation from the Cameroon International Film Festival (CAMIFF), shortly after the event concluded its 10th edition on 25 April in Buea, South West Region. The delegation was led by CAMIFF founder and chief executive Gilbert Agbor and included American actor Blair Underwood alongside other film industry figures.

The audience gave festival organisers an opportunity to present a report on the week-long event and highlight structural challenges facing Cameroon’s film and audiovisual sector, including the shortage of modern cinema halls, weak distribution networks and limited access to production financing.

Minister Bidoung Mkpatt said the main obstacle was not policy intent, but the lack of a clear operational framework enabling the State to dedicate funding to the sector. He said projects linked to film production, cinema infrastructure and distribution all fall within the ministry’s mandate.

“The State has a methodology for developing a budget to address the challenges facing the sector’s development. In the case of cinematography, for instance, it can provide credit facilities to help clear the path forward,” the minister said.

“The challenge now is to establish a working method that enables the State to allocate a specific budget for activities in the cinema sector,” he added.

The minister also announced plans to create a committee and a dedicated reflection group to examine concerns raised by filmmakers and develop both short- and long-term strategies for the sector. The process is expected to produce a formal strategy document aimed at structuring future interventions. He urged stakeholders to remain patient while the work progresses.

“Whatever the difficulties may be, they are temporary. You must not give up. Remain vigilant and exercise patience while the committee works to identify both short-term and long-term solutions,” he said.

The policy direction comes as creative industry stakeholders increasingly call for more predictable State support, arguing that the absence of dedicated financing continues to limit production capacity and discourage private investment in the sector.

Blair Underwood, who has traced his ancestry to Cameroon’s Babungo tribe in the North West Region, welcomed the government’s engagement. He described CAMIFF as an initiative that had demonstrated both “vision and execution” over the past decade and said progress in the film industry required collaboration between filmmakers and public authorities.

“It takes the collective effort of many people, and in this instance, the government as well, working in concert to advance to the next stage and reach the next level. So, it is exciting to see that in motion, and to witness such a positive reception from the Minister of Arts and Culture,” he said.

Cameroonian-Nigerian actress Prisma James also called for stronger government backing for the industry, describing show business in Cameroon as challenging despite signs of gradual progress.

“Cameroon is still developing, and show business here remains rather challenging. But we have people who are going to bring about change,” she said.

According to data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Cameroon had fewer than 10 modern cinema halls in the early 2020s. The country’s film industry still operates largely through independent productions and informal distribution channels.

Source: Business in Cameroon