Monthly Archives: June 2026

9, June 2026

Child Benefit: Biya regime audit families after 55% jump in declared children ⁰

Cameroon has launched a nationwide audit of family benefit payments to public sector employees after a sharp increase in the number of children declared in the government payroll system raised concerns about possible fraud.

The operation, known as AALFA, officially began on June 3, 2026, when the steering committee overseeing the audit held its first meeting in Yaoundé under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze.

The government’s objective is to verify the legitimacy of children registered for family benefits, identify irregularities, and recover any funds paid improperly. The Finance Ministry says the initiative forms part of a broader effort to control public payroll spending.

The review follows a surge in the number of children declared by state employees. According to figures presented by the ministry, the total rose from 594,728 in June 2024 to more than 923,000 in March 2026, an increase of about 55% in less than two years. Officials considered the growth unusual enough to warrant a nationwide audit.

The increase came after family allowances were raised in February 2024 to CFA4,500 per dependent child each month. While the measure was designed to strengthen social support for public employees, it also increased the financial importance of maintaining accurate records.

According to Motaze, the audit is not intended to challenge the rights of public employees who legitimately qualify for family benefits. Instead, he said, the goal is to remove fraudulently declared children from the payroll system and recover improperly paid benefits.

The review will focus on the authenticity of birth certificates, the validity of supporting documents, and the consistency of information submitted by beneficiaries. Authorities hope to identify duplicate records, irregular declarations, and cases where children were registered without reliable documentation.

The initiative follows a series of government efforts to clean up public payroll records. The physical headcount of public employees conducted in 2018 is cited by the Finance Ministry as one of the measures that generated significant annual savings. Additional audits have also targeted pension payments, beneficiaries, and other categories of public spending.

With AALFA, the government is turning its attention to family-related payroll expenses. Although less visible than salaries or pensions, these benefits can place a substantial burden on public finances when beneficiary records are not regularly verified.

The committee responsible for the operation was established in July 2024 and includes representatives from agencies overseeing public finances, the civil service, defense, national security, territorial administration, and civil registration. The multi-agency structure is intended to allow cross-checking of databases, strengthen oversight, and reduce opportunities for document fraud.

The audit will run for 24 months and begin with the collection and verification of birth certificates for children declared by active public employees. Participating agencies are expected to work closely together to ensure reliable results and prevent similar irregularities from recurring.

Beyond its technical aspects, the operation highlights a broader challenge for the government: balancing fiscal discipline with social protection. Authorities say the objective is to reduce losses linked to fraud without depriving eligible beneficiaries of their rights.

As pressure on public finances continues, the credibility of the audit will depend not only on the quality of the checks but also on the transparency of the process. The government will need to show that the initiative leads to lasting improvements in payroll management rather than a one-time review.

Source; Business in Cameroon

9, June 2026

BEAC halts key refinancing facility for productive investments across CEMAC ⁰

The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) has suspended new refinancing operations under a key facility designed to support productive investment across the six-member Central African Economic and Monetary Community (Cemac), according to sources familiar with the matter.

The decision was reportedly made after heated discussions during a meeting of the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in Yaoundé on April 2.

The suspension affects medium-term credit refinancing for investment projects, a mechanism that allows commercial banks to obtain funding from the central bank after extending loans to businesses undertaking qualifying projects. According to a BEAC source, the measure is temporary and is intended to give the institution time to modernize the facility.

“This is a provisional suspension that will allow us to update the operating framework of a mechanism that has been in place for decades. For now, we are no longer accepting new refinancing requests from commercial banks, but we continue to process applications submitted before the suspension took effect,” the source said.

The move follows comments made by BEAC Governor Yvon Sana Bangui during a September 2025 press conference, when he announced plans to reform the facility, formerly known as Window B. At the time, he said the review was intended to adapt the mechanism to current economic realities.

A Tool Designed to Support Investment

The Cemac money market operates through two main channels. The first is the interbank market, where commercial banks lend to one another using liquidity held at the central bank. The second consists of BEAC interventions through two refinancing facilities known as Window A and Window B.

“Window A is the traditional monetary policy channel through which liquidity is injected into or withdrawn from the banking system. Window B is dedicated to refinancing medium-term loans granted for productive investment,” Bangui previously explained.

Under the rules governing the facility, BEAC financing cannot exceed 60% of a project’s total cost.

Refinancing requests of up to CFA20 billion can be approved directly by the governor. Applications above that threshold require approval from the Monetary Policy Committee. National BEAC directors can approve requests of up to CFA4.5 billion per quarter, with a monthly ceiling of CFA1.5 billion.

For years, commercial banks across Cemac made extensive use of Window A while largely ignoring Window B. “In June 2025, we brought together all commercial banks in Bangui and presented the facility. The finding was striking: many banks were simply unaware that the instrument existed,” Bangui revealed following the September 2025 MPC meeting.

That changed after BEAC’s outreach campaign. Cameroonian banks, in particular, began using what the central bank now calls the Special Refinancing Facility. In 2025 alone, BEAC approved refinancing for CFA41.2 billion in loans linked to the Bipindi-Grand Zambi iron ore project in Cameroon and CFA31.3 billion in financing for telecommunications operator Camtel’s investment program.

CCA Bank was also authorized to raise CFA30 billion from the central bank to help finance a mining project in the Republic of Congo. Afriland First Bank sought refinancing support for a CFA20 billion palm oil processing plant project being developed by the Cotton Development Company (Sodecoton).

Given the growing interest from commercial banks, the suspension temporarily removes an important source of funding for both lenders and industrial projects. Until the revised framework is finalized, banks and businesses across Cemac will have one less tool available to finance investments considered critical to the region’s industrial development.

Source: Business in Cameroon

8, June 2026

Biya leaves for Europe as Yaoundé await new cabinet ⁰

President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, has departed the country for a brief private stay in Europe, according to an official communiqué issued by the Presidency of the Republic.

The Head of State left Yaoundé on Sunday, June 7, accompanied by First Lady Chantal Biya. The presidential couple departed from the Nsimalen International Airport aboard a special flight. Authorities did not specify the destination or duration of the visit, stating only that it would be a “brief private stay” in Europe.

According to the communiqué, the President is accompanied by the Minister and Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo; the Special Adviser at the Presidency, Joseph Fouda; and the Chief of State Protocol, Simon Pierre Bikele.

The trip marks President Biya’s first visit to Europe in more than eight months. His previous stay on the continent ended on October 1, 2025, when he returned to Cameroon shortly before the presidential election of October 12, 2025.

At the time, his return ended weeks of speculation over his prolonged absence from the country and enabled him to personally lead his re-election campaign. He subsequently cast his vote in Yaoundé and was declared the winner of the presidential election by the Constitutional Council on October 27, 2025, securing an eighth consecutive mandate with 53.66 per cent of the vote.

Since returning from Europe in October 2025, the 92-year-old President has maintained a busy schedule of official engagements. He presided over celebrations marking the National Day on May 20, received several foreign dignitaries, and took part in events linked to the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon.

The private visit to Europe comes after several months of sustained state activity and may provide the Head of State with an opportunity to rest and recuperate as he continues his current seven-year mandate, which has more than six years remaining.

The trip marks President Biya’s first visit to Europe in more than eight months. His previous stay on the continent ended on October 1, 2025

Government Reshuffle Still Awaited

The President’s departure also comes at a time when expectations remain high regarding the formation of a new government. During his end-of-year address, President Biya announced plans for significant changes within the executive branch.

Since then, the government successfully enacted constitutional reforms in April 2026 that reinstated the position of Vice President, a major institutional change that many expected would be followed by fresh appointments.

However, no appointments have yet been announced, and Cameroon continues to await a cabinet reshuffle. The country’s last major government reorganisation dates back to January 4, 2019. The prolonged wait has fueled speculation among political analysts and the public alike over the timing and scope of the anticipated changes.

As with previous private visits abroad, the President’s trip is likely to spur discussion regarding his health. Over the years, periods spent in Europe have often generated speculation on the physical condition of the veteran leader.

However, neither the Presidency nor official government sources have indicated any health concerns related to the current visit. In recent months, President Biya has continued to appear at major state functions and official ceremonies, including National Day celebrations and diplomatic engagements.

While questions surrounding the health of Africa’s oldest serving elected head of state frequently surface in public debate, no official statement accompanying the trip mentioned medical reasons for the visit.

For now, Cameroonians await further communication from the Presidency regarding the duration of the stay and the eventual return of the Head of State, whose absence coincides with growing anticipation over the future composition of the government and implementation of recent constitutional reforms.

Source: Panafricanvisions

8, June 2026

China’s President Xi visits North Korea ⁰

Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited North Korea amid growing global tensions to reinforce ties between the two neighboring countries.

China’s president arrived in Pyongyang, the capital, on Monday and met with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un. Portraits of Xi and flags of both nations are lined along the streets across Pyongyang.

Xi’s two-day state visit to Pyongyang is his first trip to the North Korean capital in nearly seven years, as Beijing looks to reinforce the ties between the traditional allies.

It comes in the back of him hosting separate summits with the leaders of Russia and the United States.

Talks between Xi and Kim are expected to cover economic ties and international issues, as well as ways to coordinate among Pyongyang, Beijing, and Moscow.

China’s foreign ministry said the summit will see an exchange of views between the two leaders on bilateral and common issues.

This may include rising tensions in West Asia due to the recent US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran and its allies.

Source: Presstv

8, June 2026

Football: Union Berlin eye €20m move for Cameroon’s Arthur Avom ⁰

Cameroonian central midfielder Arthur Avom of FC Lorient is being linked with a summer move to Bundesliga side Union Berlin, with the 21-year-old reportedly a €20.00m target for the German club.

The Lorient midfielder, born in Yaoundé on 15 December 2004 and standing at 1.73m, has emerged as one of Ligue 1’s most-watched young central midfielders. Data from Transfermarkt lists his market value at €20.00m, a figure that is shaping early discussions around any potential deal.

Union Berlin’s interest comes amid speculation over Avom’s contractual situation at Lorient, with no expiry date publicly recorded. That has fuelled talk that the French club could be vulnerable to offers this summer, or risk edging closer to a scenario in which the player could eventually walk away as a free agent if no extension is agreed.

According to the latest rumour data, the probability of Avom joining Union Berlin currently stands at 21%, underlining that talks are at an exploratory stage rather than an advanced negotiation. Lorient, who compete in Ligue 1, have not publicly disclosed when the midfielder joined the club and there is no confirmation of any release clause.

Avom, a right-footed central midfielder who wears the number 62 shirt, has built his reputation as a modern engine-room player in France’s top flight. In his most recent outing for Lorient – a Ligue 1 fixture earlier this spring in which Lorient faced domestic opposition – he featured in central midfield as his side battled through a tight scoreline, further reinforcing his status as a regular in the matchday squad.

With Union Berlin seeking to refresh their midfield ahead of the new Bundesliga campaign, a move to Germany would represent a significant step in Avom’s career and could prove pivotal in defining his reputation and long-term potential if the transfer does materialise.

Source: Africa Soccer

8, June 2026

The Holy Father in Spain offers road map to future of hope ⁰

Pope Leo XIV on his second day in Spain invoked the country’s rich faith traditions and expressions of popular piety as a path, especially for young people, out of the polarized ideological divisions that grip much of global society.

He spoke of the path forward in remarks to those engaged in culture, art, the economy and sports, highlights also the need to form networks built on respect, dialogue, collaboration and selflessness.

Also on Sunday, 1.2 million people were present for his Mass and procession in Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles, where the pope said Spain’s present and future task is “to ensure that the religiosity which has shaped and defined this country for centuries is not a museum of the past to be visited, but a school of faith from which to draw even today.”

It must be a school, he said, “that teaches us to kneel before God and before our neighbor, because no one can kneel before the Lord and despise their brother.”

He stressed the need to go beyond selfishness and to “be present in the realities and challenges of society, not shying away, but personally committing ourselves to the building of the common good.”

Pope Leo is currently on a seven-day tour of Spain, making stops in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.

Sunday’s Mass marked the Solemnity of Corpus Christi Mass and was followed by Eucharistic procession, which Leo led, walking over the traditional flower carpets intricately designed and delicately prepared for the occasion.

His visit comes as Spain, previously one of the world’s greatest global evangelizers and home to some of the most famed mystic saints in the world, is experiencing a rapid growth in secularism and as Europe more broadly grapples with geopolitical instability.

Source: Crux

8, June 2026

Archbishop Esua says ‘there can be no peace without justice’ ⁰

Archbishop Emeritus Cornelius Fontem Esua of Cameroon is a living witness to the Church’s evolution in Africa. He lived through the transition from a Church led by white missionaries to one governed by local clergy.

“The transition was gradual,” he told Crux Now.

“I was the first priest in my tribe and the 17th priest in the English-speaking part of Cameroon. At that time, most priests were missionaries… Soon after, bishops were appointed from among Africans, marking a gradual change from a missionary church to a church that is missionary itself. We were evangelized to evangelize others.”

In a wide-ranging interview on the sidelines of the 51st Plenary Assembly of the Cameroon Bishops’ Conference, held in Yaoundé from May 30 to June 5, 2026, Esua said he has also lived through Cameroon’s checkered history and has a clear understanding of why the Central African country is now at war with itself.

He was the archbishop of Bamenda when the crisis broke out in 2016, and was the victim of kidnapping in 2019.

“The crisis that broke out in 2016 was the climax of a problem that started about 50 years earlier,” he told Cux Now, and then went down memory lane to explain the root causes of the conflict.

He noted that Cameroonians, as a people, now need to work to actualize the call made by Pope Leo XIV during his recent visit to Cameroon.

“Peace is not decreed; it is welcomed and lived. It is not a matter of words or signatures on a treaty, but of a commitment that is incarnated in a style of life, in a personal and institutional way of being… we need a disarmed peace,” Pope Leo had said during his Cameroon visit.

“The pope has come and gone. As a pastor and leader, he gave us a recipe for justice and reconciliation. Now it is our challenge to listen, understand, and carry out his agenda,” Esua told Crux Now.

Following are excerpts of that conversation…

Crux Now: I just want to start by asking you about your upbringing, your childhood. Did you ever dream that you would become a priest?

Esua: I don’t think I dreamt of becoming a priest, but I was attracted to it when I was a child. I used to go to church and watch what the priest was doing, how he celebrated Mass. I would go back home and imitate, trying to celebrate my own Mass with my friends.

I had always thought that to become a priest, you had to be a white man because, from childhood, I only saw white priests. But then I saw a major seminarian from my parish who had gone to seminary- first in Sasse College and then to Nigeria. When he came back, he wore a white suit and assisted the priest. I came back home and said, “So a black man can also be a priest.”

From that day, I thought I should also become one.

So that was the trigger?

Yes, that was the trigger. After finishing primary school, I told my parents I wanted to become a priest.

Were they receptive to the idea?

Some doubted it, some were okay with it, saying I could do what I wanted. Finally, when I finished Standard Six in 1959, I registered and passed the entrance to Sasse College. I told the priest interviewing me that I wanted to become a priest, and luckily, he was from Sasse. He was interviewing children from Sasse and said I could go to the minor seminary attached to Sasse, which is Holy Family Minor Seminary. It’s up the hill, as we call it. You live there, eat, play, and take extra moral classes but go to Sasse College for lectures and exams.

After I finished, I applied to the bishop to continue my journey to priesthood, and he accepted. So, the journey continued from there.

Just tell us a bit about the journey, the seminary, what were the challenges like?

In Sasse, we were like any other students. We had a separate dormitory where we stayed and played together. When we got to the major seminary, we started subjects relevant to passing our GCE. My teachers at the time were mostly Peace Corps members, as the Peace Corps had just been introduced. I was very good in sciences, math, and physics, but since I wanted to become a priest, some tried to convince me otherwise, especially the American teachers offering scholarships. Many of my friends accepted those scholarships and went to America. I went to Enugu, Nigeria instead, where I did three years of philosophy.

After finishing philosophy, the bishop sent some of us to Rome to continue theology studies. I did my theology in Rome for four years, then came back home and was ordained a priest in December 1971. I had finished in Rome in June but wanted to be ordained at home, so I returned to my village in Mbetta and became the first priest of Mbetta parish.

You were studying in Rome when Pope Paul VI visited Uganda…

Yes, in 1969. We were college students in Rome, and the visit had a big impact on us African seminarians. During a Mass of thanksgiving at St. Peter’s Basilica, we sang African hymns, played drums, and the next day, newspapers called it “the jungle in the Vatican.”

It was the first time African music and drums were heard in the Basilica, and some couldn’t understand it. That moment was impressive for us. Pope Paul VI told us to be missionaries of ourselves, to ourselves. Since then, the church has become more missionary with more vocations from Africa.

So how was the transition from white to black missionaries in Africa?

The transition was gradual. I was the first priest in my tribe and the 17th priest in the English-speaking part of Cameroon. At that time, most priests were missionaries. The pope’s call meant more vocations and training to take on responsibilities.

Soon after, bishops were appointed from among Africans, marking a gradual change from a missionary church to a church that is missionary itself. We were evangelized to evangelize others.

Let’s fast forward to 2016. You were still Archbishop of Bamenda when the crisis broke out. How can you explain what happened?

The crisis that broke out in 2016 was the climax of a problem that started about 50 years earlier. I went to Sasse in 1960, the year French-speaking Cameroon gained independence. In October that year, there was debate on whether the English-speaking part would join Nigeria or Cameroon. At the time, Southern Cameroon had quasi-independence — it was not under Nigeria and was self-governing.

Talks to join French-speaking Cameroon began. I remember political parties like KNDP and KNC. Different opinions existed, but the plebiscite only presented two options, omitting the option for full independence, which many desired.

That lack of choice was unjust and led to long-term grievances. The French part of Cameroon and the English-speaking part of Cameroon however agreed on a Federal Constitution, which was abrogated through a referendum in 1972.

Do you think the dissolution of the federal system led to today’s crisis?

Absolutely. The federal system was not respected. The French-speaking side and their political leaders disregarded it for no valid reason except by claiming it was costly to run, but good things are often expensive. The problem started with denying people the right to choose their future. The situation has been like a festering wound that eventually exploded.

You were kidnapped in 2019. Can you recall what happened? What did you tell your captors?

Yes, I was kidnapped by boys [a reference to separatist fighters] blocking roads. I told them clearly that their way was wrong. They were fighting for freedom and against abuse, but why make the same people they are fighting to free suffer? I continue to believe that without truth and justice, our problems cannot be solved.

In 2019, there was a major national dialogue, yet the crisis persists. Why do you think it failed?

I felt it was more of a monologue than a dialogue. Most participants were chosen by the government, and many were part of the status quo. What could they decide differently?

The dialogue was supposed to address the highest aspirations of Anglophones, including deciding on a form of government that respects both traditions. Yet, the form of government was excluded from the agenda, and no one answered when I questioned this. Many important issues were left off the table, which is why suffering continues. The organizers need to be realistic and put the right questions on the agenda.

Pope Leo XIV during his recent visit to Cameroon spoke about peace and justice. Do you think his words have had any impact?

I hesitated about the pope’s visit, fearing it might seem like condoning the situation. But I was happy he came and spoke the truth. The Church believes there can be no peace without truth and justice. Jesus prays for peace—not the peace the world gives, but the peace God gives, based on truth, justice, respect for human rights, and dignity. The pope insisted on this, emphasizing that justice and peace must embrace to achieve genuine peace. Otherwise, it’s just a silent armistice, not real peace.

From your perspective now, do you think the people who should act on the pope’s words are doing so? Are they moving the needle?

That is the question we all ask. The pope has come and gone. As a pastor and leader, he gave us a recipe for justice and reconciliation. Now it is our challenge to listen, understand, and carry out his agenda.

Culled from Crux

5, June 2026

In open letter to Putin, Zelensky calls for meeting and ceasefire ⁰

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has published an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging a face-to-face meeting and a full ceasefire to finally end the war.

The proposal, released Thursday by the Ukrainian presidential office, comes as Russian forces continue advances and Moscow reiterates its long-standing readiness for serious negotiations.

Zelensky wrote, “Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us – and you. I am proposing a meeting.”

He added that Ukraine is prepared for a complete ceasefire during negotiations and suggested a bilateral summit in a neutral country, along with full prisoner exchanges and broader security arrangements involving Europe and the United States.

The letter arrives amid Ukrainian long-range drone attempts near St. Petersburg, where Russia was hosting a major international economic forum.

Yet President Putin responded measuredly earlier in the day, confirming that Russia’s air defense systems “must be strengthened” while emphasizing battlefield progress.

“We are advancing along the entire line of contact,” Putin told journalists, underscoring Russia’s consistent military achievements even as it keeps the door open to diplomacy.

Russia has never closed the path to peace. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Zelensky “can come at any time to Moscow,” a straightforward invitation that highlights Moscow’s pragmatic approach.

President Putin has made clear he would meet to finalize an already-reached agreement, rejecting staged talks but affirmed repeatedly: “We are absolutely ready and willing to reach an agreement with Ukraine through peaceful means.”

Putin’s stance aligns with Russia’s core demands since the 2022 special military operation began, protecting the people of Donbas and ensuring Ukraine’s neutrality and demilitarization.

Zelensky’s letter acknowledges the heavy costs of prolonged fighting, citing Russian casualties and domestic pressures, yet it also reflects growing recognition in Kiev that time is not on Ukraine’s side.

Russian forces maintain the initiative, and Moscow’s economy has proven resilient despite external pressures.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who has consistently called for a quick end to the war, welcomed the overture.

“I think it would be great if they met. They should – get it done,” Trump told reporters. He noted that both sides will need to make compromises and credited US diplomacy for helping bring the parties closer.

Battlefield realities favor resolution

Recent weeks have seen Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets, which Kiev describes as retaliation. Russia, however, continues to push forward methodically.

Russian forces have sustained momentum overall since late 2025, with Russian industry and public resolve intact.

Zelensky’s direct appeal, rare from the Ukrainian leader, frames the conflict as needing personal leadership to resolve.

Putin, with more than a quarter-century of experience guiding Russia through challenges, has questioned the legal status of Ukraine’s leadership after 2024, a point grounded in Ukraine’s own martial law rules. Still, Russia has expressed openness to a referendum on any final deal once a ceasefire holds.

The world has grown weary of endless conflict. Zelensky’s proposal for a neutral-hosted summit, prisoner swaps, and security guarantees offers a practical route forward.

Russia has always sought a just and lasting peace that addresses the root causes, NATO’s eastward push, the rights of Russian-speaking populations in eastern Ukraine, and reliable security guarantees.

As Putin put it, Russia stands ready for peaceful agreement. Zelensky’s letter may mark the beginning of the serious talks both nations have long needed.

With Russia’s strength evident and its peace overtures consistent, a meeting could finally turn the page toward stability, reconstruction, and a safer future for all.

Source: Press TV

5, June 2026

Cameroon, Canadian mining investor BWA Group appoints new CEO ⁰

UK-listed mining investment company BWA Group has promoted nonexecutive director Peter Taylor as CEO effective June 1.

Taylor has been a nonexecutive director of BWA Group since August 2024, providing strategic guidance on the development of the company’s exploration portfolio comprising nickel, copper, cobalt and gold in Canada and Cameroon.

He brings to the position extensive experience across exploration, project development and mining having previously worked as CEO of Aim-listed Pathfinder Minerals, which has two heavy mineral sands licences in Mozambique.

Taylor also held senior operational roles at Affero Mining where he was involved in the development of the New Liberty gold mine, in Liberia, and the Nkout iron-ore project, in Cameroon.

BWA Group’s principal asset is three exploration licences in Cameroon comprising the Aracari project, in addition to five mineral sands licences it has in the country, while its main focus in Canada is the work of Kings of the North Corporation on two licence groups in Isoukustouc and Winterhouse, Quebec.

These projects are considered early exploration stage, prospective for structurally controlled gold and silver at Winterhouse, and intrusion related copper, nickel and cobalt at Isoukustouc.

Source: miningweekly

5, June 2026

Edéa: Pope Leo accepts retirement of Bishop Jean-Bosco Ntep ⁰

Pope Leo XIV has accepted the retirement of Bishop Jean-Bosco Ntep from the pastoral care of Cameroon’s Catholic Diocese of Edéa and appointed Mons. Paul Nyaga Nwaha, Secretary General of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese.

The changes were made public by the Holy See Press Office on Thursday, June 4 and announced by the President of NECC, Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea, during the Catholic Bishops’ 51st Plenary Assembly.

Born on 3 April 1951 in Hikoamaen, Cameroon, Bishop Ntep was ordained a Priest on 25 March 1979.

In 22 March 1993, St. John Paul II appointed him the first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Eséka, which had been erected the same day. He was Consecrated Bishop in July 1993.

After 11 years and three months leading Eséka Diocese, Bishop Ntep was appointed Bishop of Edéa on 15 October 2004 and installed on 4 December 2004.

Mons. Nyaga, who will govern the Diocese Edéa until a Local Ordinary is appointed was born in 1959 and ordained a priest for Cameroon’s Catholic Archdiocese of Douala in 1987.

He studied theology at the Pontifical Urbanian College in Rome and later attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, earning doctorates in both Canon and Civil Law and in Ecclesiology.

Following his Priestly Ordination, he served as Vice-Rector of Saint Paul Minor Seminary in Nylon before undertaking assignments in several Apostolic Nunciatures.

Upon returning to Douala, he served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese, Rector of St. Jerome Catholic University of Douala, and President of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of the Ecclesiastical Province of Douala.

Before his appointment as NECC Secretary General, Mons. Nyaga was Parish Priest of Saint Monica of Makèpè.

He also served as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes of Japoma, St. Paul of Nylon, and Saint Louis of Bonabéri. In addition, he taught at the Major Theological Seminary of Douala and served as Episcopal Vicar for the Wouri 8 pastoral zone.

On 2 May 1994, he was named Chaplain of His Holiness (Cappellanus Sanctitatis Suae), a papal honorific that confers the title “Monsignor.”

The Diocese of Edéa covers 10,500 square kilometers and, according to 2023 statistics, has 185,368 Catholics, representing 60.8 percent of the total population.

Part of the ecclesiastical province of the Archdiocese of Douala, the Diocese was erected on 22 March 1993.

Source: aci Africa