Monthly Archives: August 2026

31, August 2026

US Department of War faces scrutiny ⁰

The US Department of War is facing mounting scrutiny over the growing presence of military influencers inside the department, a report says.

According to Monday reporting by The Washington Post, the department has “secretly” installed several conservative military veterans with large social-media followings in government roles without disclosing their assignments.

Among those identified are retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness and retired Army Col. Kurt Schlichter, who department records show had active official government email addresses during the past week and were assigned to the office of Anthony Tata, undersecretary for personnel and readiness. Their addresses carried a “.civ” suffix, indicating civilian employment.

A third retired Army colonel and online commentator, Thomas Anderson, was also previously listed with a “.civ” address in Tata’s office, according to people familiar with the matter and records reviewed by The Post. Anderson, who writes under the name Cynical Publius, has more than 323,000 followers on X.

Spokesman Joel Valdez declined to tell the paper whether the three were receiving taxpayer-funded salaries, what their roles were or how long their assignments would last.

The people familiar with the matter said the individuals were assigned either as “special government employees” or “highly qualified experts.” Schlichter appears in a government database with an “HQE” designation.

The appointments have drawn attention because of the men’s public political commentary.

Maness has more than 135,000 followers on X and has publicly supported Pete Hegseth’s agenda, including by arguing that the secretary of war’s team should remove “disloyal” career employees. This is while dismissal over the past months of several department of war officials by Hegseth following reported disagreement over the United States’ unsuccessful campaign of military aggression against Iran has attracted far-and-wide criticism.

Schlichter, who has nearly 620,000 X followers, has likewise dismissed the abortive nature of the aggression, describing President Donald Trump on August 6 as a “hero for finally fighting back against Iran.” On August 14, he wrote of Hegseth, “We are lucky to have @PeteHegseth.”

The three also appeared on behalf of the department’s Senior Service College Task Force at the Army War College in May. The task force was established to examine ideology considered “toxic” or “woke” at senior service colleges.

Separately, The Post reported that senior commanders have warned Hegseth that prolonging aggression against Iran could weaken US capabilities elsewhere.

A classified assessment in the August 14 Secretary of War Orders Book reportedly found that forces diverted to the aggression were limiting other missions and training. Several commanders issued a “non-concur” over extended deployments.

Navy Chief Adm. Daryl Caudle told Hegseth that the Navy could not sustain its present level of support because there was no anticipated end date. Barely one-fourth of the Navy’s destroyer fleet was ready to deploy, according to people familiar with the assessment.

European and Southern commands also warned that diverted ships and surveillance aircraft had degraded their homeland-defense capabilities, while Pacific Command objected to the level of support it was ordered to provide.

The aggression, which has prompted uncompromising Iranian retaliation, has also consumed Patriot and THAAD interceptors, Tomahawk missiles, and Reaper drones. Many Air Force units are also expected to remain in the West Asia region into 2027 amid continued lack of an exit strategy on the part of Washington.

Hegseth’s spokesman Sean Parnell, meanwhile, appeared dismissive by saying the department does not discuss specific internal risk assessments or “non-concurrences.”

29, August 2026

CDC seeks government action over palm tree destruction at Esuke ⁰

The Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) has appealed to the government to intervene after more than 100 palm trees were reportedly destroyed at Esuke in Mutengene, South West region, despite efforts to stop illegal crop destruction and encroachment on its land.

The latest incident occurred on Wednesday 26 August 2026, when CDC workers discovered extensive damage to oil palms in the area. The development follows the felling of 52 palm trees at Esuke, according to the corporation.

Workers say the continued destruction is threatening their livelihoods and could undermine recent investments in the corporation’s operations. They called on the government to take urgent action to protect CDC land and crops from what they described as encroachment by individuals and interest groups.

“We depend on the CDC to feed our families and take care of our needs. They recently brought a new oil mill, and now they are felling the palm trees, which means the mill will be useless. The CDC needs more land, not less,” said Akafor Jackline, a CDC worker.

CDC management said more than 100 palm trees have been reportedly destroyed at Esuke in Mutengene, South West region

The Cameroon Development Corporation is Cameroon’s second-largest employer after the state and has major agricultural operations across the South-West region. Its general manager, Franklin Ngoni Njie, says the dispute over the Esuke land dates back to an application made in 2023 by a group seeking control of the area.

He added the corporation had made clear during the commissioning of a signboard that the land could not be recommended for surrender. “First of all, the palms you see here were planted in 2016. They are at their prime, and this is a very high-yielding area. The yield per hectare here is extremely high,” Njie said.

According to the general manager, CDC had also received several disclaimers from the recognised chief of the Muslim community in Mutengene, who disputed the authority of the person claiming leadership of the group seeking the land.

CDC also said the group had misinterpreted correspondence from the presidency as authorisation to proceed with the land claim, adding that the government had suspended land transactions in Fako and on CDC land. “The Head of State has suspended all land transactions in Fako and on CDC land. For any surrender…” he said.

The dispute comes as CDC seeks to protect its agricultural holdings and sustain production following years of difficulties affecting the corporation. Workers said losing productive plantations could have consequences beyond the immediate destruction of the trees, particularly given the corporation’s role in providing employment and supporting households in the region.

But the Muslim community in Mutengene says its plans for the disputed area are also intended to deliver significant social and economic benefits. Chief Hanasani Iya, leader of the Muslim community in Mutengene, said the proposed development would include a large central mosque, a hospital and a centre for internally displaced people.

“We intend to build a central mosque of 3000 to 3500 capacity, a hospital and also build an IDP centre for our community,” he said as relayed by the Sun Newspaper, adding that the community had potential financial backing from partners in Arab countries in the Middle East who were willing to support the proposed projects.

CDC workers are thus urging the government to intervene before further palm plantations are destroyed and more CDC land is encroached upon.

Source: Panafricanvisions

29, August 2026

Top footballer hits out over Cameroon femicides ⁰

The killing of at least eight women in a week has sparked outrage in Cameroon, with many calling on the government to do more to protect women and girls.

Among those who have spoken out is renowned footballer Nchout Njoya Ajara, who has called for an end to the “tragic wave” of targeting women, saying “silence is complicity”.

The government has also raised concern about the rise in attacks. At least 50 women have been killed between January and April this year, compared to 77 last year, according to official figures.

In the latest case on Tuesday, a 44-year-old woman was killed in a hotel room in the capital, Yaoundé. She was allegedly stabbed to death by a 22-year-old who was later arrested.

“Being a woman in Cameroon should never be a risk,” said Ajara, who is one of Cameroon’s greatest female footballers.

The 33-year-old striker has played professionally in Russia, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia for clubs including Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan.

“In the face of the tragic wave of femicides that has hit our country in recent days, silence is complicity,” Ajara said.

‘We are the friend’ – inspiring those fleeing terror

In a statement, the opposition Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party said it was outraged by the “tragic recurrence of domestic femicides” and accused the government of being passive about the issue.

The femicide cases, most of which are attributed to domestic violence, have been reported in different parts of the country.

In a video published by state media, the minister for Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa, condemned the “worrying” rise in the number of the killings, and said the government was working to address the problem.

She mentioned a bill to protect women against gender-based violence, which she said was being reviewed by the prime minister.

But civil society and women’s rights groups have denounced what they perceive as the government’s delay in turning the bill into law.

A parliamentary session, the last one for the year, is due to be held in November. However, Viviane Tathi, whose organisation documents cases of femicide in the country, told the BBC she was not sure that the bill would be passed at the session.

“We are worried because the November parliamentary session focuses on budgetary debates…So, we don’t know by what magic this bill will be passed,” she said.

She has called for the creation of a special court to handle family disputes, which lead to domestic violence.

According to the latest UN data, Africa had both the highest total number of femicide victims and the highest rate relative to its population in 2024 – with an estimated 22,600 cases.

The numbers are an estimate as some cases of femicide are believed to go unreported and many governments do not consistently record the information.

Culled from BBC

29, August 2026

Hundreds evacuate after Russian strike on warehouse near Kyiv kills at least 27 ⁰

A Russian drone strike triggered a major fire and explosions at a warehouse on the outskirts of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, killing at least 27 people and forcing hundreds to evacuate, ⁠regional governor Tymur Tkachenko said on Saturday.

Writing on ‌the Telegram messaging app, he ‌added that 42 people were also wounded and that more than 380 were being evacuated from the strike area in the Bucha ⁠district.

A fire broke out and was “accompanied by explosions”, Tkachenko said.

“More than 200 people have already been evacuated from the scene, including children.”

Russia and Ukraine have for several months been intensifying their long-range strikes, increasingly targeting civilian infrastructure such as logistics warehouses and oil and port facilities.

These attacks are causing a growing number of civilian casualties.

The prosecutor’s office opened an investigation for “negligence” regarding storage conditions at the premises after the attack, which took place shortly after 8pm (1700 GMT) Friday in the village of Myla in the Bucha district.

The prosecutor’s office specified that its investigation would focus on “the legality of the … storage of explosive objects and materials on the enterprise’s grounds”, as well as whether the company, which was not named, had the “necessary permits and approvals”

Prime Minister Sergiy Koretsky expressed regret that a “lesson” had not been learned after a previous deadly attack in July in Vyshneve near Kyiv on a munitions depot.

That investigation revealed serious failings on the part of the state-owned company, which did not comply with standards despite the proximity of residential buildings.

“In the fifth year of the full-scale invasion, making the same mistakes over and over is criminal negligence,” he said on Telegram.

“Everyone responsible, without exception, must face severe punishment so that such situations never happen again.”

Source: AFP

27, August 2026

Biya regime’s takeover of General Bank deepens concerns over state’s growing role ⁰

Cameroon’s takeover of Société Générale Cameroun, now renamed General Bank of Cameroon (GBC), has become part of a broader concern over the state’s growing footprint in the banking industry, with the African Development Bank warning that repeated public recapitalizations and acquisitions are creating additional fiscal and governance risks.

In its 2026 Country Report on Cameroon, the AfDB describes the expansion of state involvement in banking as a “major source of concern” and cites the acquisition completed on May 12, 2026, as the latest example of the trend.

The warning, however, does not amount to a finding that GBC itself is financially weak. The report is not an audit of the acquired bank. Its concern is broader: the accumulation of government stakes in banks, the governance risks associated with those holdings and the growing interdependence between public finances and bank balance sheets.

The government acquired the 58.08% stake previously held by Société Générale Group. Since the state already owned 25.60% of the subsidiary, the transaction was expected to raise its interest to 83.68%, based on the terms announced when the sale agreement was signed in July 2025.

The government has presented the takeover as a move to strengthen financial sovereignty and ensure stability. When the transaction closed, the Finance Ministry said measures had been taken to ensure continuity of banking services and the security of deposits.

The IMF has raised similar concerns

The AfDB’s warning follows concerns previously raised by the International Monetary Fund.

In its 2026 consultation report, completed on March 9, the IMF said growing government ownership of banks was increasing fiscal, operational and governance risks. It counted eight institutions in which the state held a majority interest.

The IMF recommended clear rules for the management and supervision of state-owned banks, along with restructuring or resolution plans for troubled institutions. It also recommended that the government divest its holdings where feasible. The Fund’s executive board similarly urged caution over the expansion of the state’s footprint in the banking system.

The issue extends beyond GBC’s ownership.

Cameroonian banks’ holdings of government securities increased from 9.5% of their assets at the end of 2015 to 32% in June 2025. According to the IMF, several banks held more than half of their assets in claims on governments within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, or CEMAC.

That concentration strengthens the link between banks’ financial health and governments’ fiscal positions. It can also reduce the resources available to finance businesses and households.

The AfDB also noted that public debt service absorbed 23.8% of Cameroon’s budget in 2025, up from 9.8% in 2013.

Banking indicators are still improving

The increase in these risks does not mean Cameroon’s banking system is experiencing a broad deterioration.

At the end of November 2025, the combined balance sheets of the country’s 18 operating banks had grown 9.3% to CFA13.593 trillion. Customer deposits rose 8.4% to CFA8.865 trillion, while lending increased 17% to CFA6.924 trillion.

Sixteen of the 18 banks were fully compliant with prudential requirements. The gross nonperforming loan ratio also declined to 12.9% in 2025 from 14.3% in 2024.

The AfDB’s concerns therefore center less on an immediate deterioration across the banking industry than on sovereign-risk concentration and the governance of institutions controlled by the government.

In discussions with the IMF, Cameroonian authorities described state interventions in banks as temporary measures designed to restructure troubled institutions, restore their profitability and eventually reduce government ownership.

However, public sources reviewed through Aug. 25, 2026, provide no specific timetable for the government to reduce its stake in GBC or bring additional shareholders into the bank.

The issue raised by the AfDB therefore extends beyond the original rationale for the acquisition. Attention now shifts to how GBC will be governed, how transparent its exposure to the public sector will be and under what conditions the government could eventually share or relinquish control.

Source: Business in Cameroon

27, August 2026

Teachers in Cameroonian Catholic schools cautioned against selling marks ⁰

Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi of Cameroon’s Catholic Diocese of Buea has cautioned teachers and administrators in Catholic schools against examination malpractice, the sale of marks, drug abuse and other misconduct, urging educators to uphold integrity and protect the students entrusted to their care.

In his homily during a thanksgiving Mass for teachers of the Diocese of Buea at the Divine Mercy Co-Cathedral, Bishop Bibi reflected on the 2025-2026 academic year and issued recommendations for the new academic year.

“Education is about the formation of the whole human person,” he said during the Wednesday, August 26 Eucharistic celebration, describing education as “one of the greatest investments we can make in the future of our society.”

Through education, he added, young people should not only be prepared to pass examinations but also to develop their minds and character, discover their talents and become positive contributors to society.

Bishop Bibi emphasized that Catholic schools have a responsibility to form students in integrity, discipline and compassion.

“The mission of a Catholic school cannot be reduced to producing excellent examination results. If all we do is produce students with excellent grades, but without integrity, discipline, compassion, that is why Catholic teachers must always make a difference,” he said.

He said teachers working in Catholic institutions, regardless of their religious affiliation, assume a particular responsibility to respect, uphold and promote the values of Catholic education.

“Our students are watching us. They listen to what we teach, but they also observe how we lead,” the Catholic Church leader said.

He added, “We are supposed to be light bearers. We are supposed to be a good example. We are supposed to be a model for the students that we teach.”

Bishop Bibi issued a particular warning against examination malpractice, insisting that Catholic schools must not compromise academic integrity in pursuit of impressive results.

“We cannot preach integrity in the morning and facilitate examination malpractice in the afternoon. The reputation of our Catholic schools must never be built upon fraudulent results. I would rather have an honest result that challenges us to improve than an impressive result obtained through dishonesty,” he said.

He called on teachers, administrators and other education personnel to protect the integrity of examinations and assessment.

“Marks are not commodities for sale. No student should have to pay a teacher in order to receive marks that he or she has legitimately earned. Likewise, no student should be able to purchase marks that he or she has not earned,” he said.

The Local Ordinary of Buea described the practice as corruption that is unjust to hardworking students and damaging to the education system.

“A teacher has been entrusted with enormous power over students. That power must never be exploited for financial or personal gain,” he said.

Bishop Bibi also urged parents not to encourage teachers to favor their children by offering money or other incentives.

He also warned against the growing challenge of drug abuse and immoral behavior among young people.

The Local Ordinary of Buea, who started his Episcopal Ministry in March 2017 as Auxiliary Bishop of Cameroon’s Bamenda Archdiocese, said Catholic schools cannot remain indifferent when such behaviors affect students and urged teachers never to become part of the problem.

“No teacher should introduce students to drugs, encourage substance abuse, facilitate immoral behavior, or exploit the vulnerability of the students,” he said.

Instead, he said, teachers should serve as protectors and guides by paying attention to changes in students’ behavior, listening to them, correcting them and offering appropriate support.

“Listen to them, guide them, correct them, love them, and make sure that you discipline them so that they don’t get involved in habits that would destroy their future,” Bishop Bibi said.

He reminded educators that the children entrusted to Catholic schools belong first to God and their families, who place them in the care of teachers with confidence.

The Bishop of Buea acknowledged the financial and economic challenges facing teachers, families and Catholic educational institutions.

Despite these difficulties, he praised teachers for continuing to make sacrifices in their work.

“As a diocese, we must continue listening to you and working together to improve our Catholic educational institutions and the conditions under which we carry out our mission,” he said.

Bishop Bibi called for continued dialogue between teachers, school administrators, the education secretariat and the bishop so that challenges can be addressed constructively.

As the new academic year begins on September 7, Bishop Bibi urged teachers to approach their work as a vocation rather than simply as employment.

“Do not enter the classroom simply because another academic year has begun. Enter with a mission,” he said.

Culled from aciafrica

27, August 2026

US: 3 Southern Cameroonians sentenced for providing support to Amba fighters ⁰

Three individuals have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to provide material support or resources to kill, kidnap, and maim persons and use weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in a foreign country. The defendants conspired to provide funds and equipment to separatist fighters in Cameroon to allow them to construct and use IEDs against various targets in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.

Francis Chenyi, Sr., 52, of Saint Paul, Minn. and Lah Nestor Langmi, 49, of Buffalo, N.Y., both citizens of Cameroon, were sentenced to 180 months each in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Claude Ngenevu Chi, 43, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to 63 months, followed by three years of supervised release.

Previously, Chenyi and Langmi, both of whom are U.S. citizens of Cameroonian origin, were found guilty after a federal jury trial of one count of a conspiracy to provide material support or resources intended to be used to carry out conspiracies to kill, kidnap, and maim persons in a foreign country and to use a WMD outside the United States. Chenyi and Langmi were also found guilty of one count of being involved in an international money laundering conspiracy that transferred funds from the United States to Cameroon to promote conspiracies to kill, kidnap, and maim and use WMDs abroad. Additionally, Chenyi was convicted of conspiring to provide material support and resources to use a WMD abroad.

Chi previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to use WMDs abroad.

According to court documents and evidence from trial, Langmi sent an audio message to separatist fighters requesting they kidnap a traditional leader in Cameroon. Following a battle with Cameroonian forces, separatists took the traditional leader along with the Catholic Cardinal Christian Tumi, who was traveling with the traditional leader, from their vehicles. Following the kidnapping, Chenyi, provided the interrogation questions to be asked of the traditional leader and the Cardinal and approved the transferring of funds through peer-to-peer transactions to the separatist fighters in Cameroon to further the kidnapping.

Chenyi was involved in ransom payments by individuals outside of Cameroon for the release of family members taken in Cameroon and communicated with Langmi about these payments. Multiple instances occurred in which co-conspirators, including Langmi, requested funds to purchase IEDs or components of IEDs for construction and use in Cameroon that were approved and funded by Chenyi. Chenyi also coordinated with individuals in Cameroon to ensure separatist fighters he supported obtained training on IED use. The defendants corresponded with co-conspirators in Cameroon to coordinate development, payment for, and logistical support toward IED use upon targets in Cameroon.

Around Dec. 3, 2020, Chenyi was requested to provide funds for construction of multiple IEDs to be used in connection with efforts to enforce a lockdown of an area before an upcoming election. Chenyi, along with Chi, agreed to provide funds for the IEDs’ construction and Chenyi coordinated the transfer of funds from the United States through peer-to-peer transactions to the separatist fighters in Cameroon.

Langmi coordinated with, and provided funds to, an unindicted co-conspirator to develop IEDs and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) in Cameroon and kept Chenyi apprised of the IED and RPG development. Langmi also attempted to coordinate attacks near the 2021 African Cup of Nations soccer tournament hosted in Cameroon, as well as various cities throughout the Northwest Region in the spring of 2022.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean T. Foley and Joseph M. Marquez for the Western District of Missouri, with the assistance of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Kansas City Field Office.

27, August 2026

Indomitable Lions: Baleba has joined Man United from Brighton ⁰

Cameroon’s Carlos Baleba has joined Manchester United from Brighton and Hove Albion, the Premier League giants announced on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old is the third midfielder signed by the Red Devils during the summer transfer window.

“Manchester United is pleased to confirm that Carlos Baleba has joined the club, subject to registration,” the 20-time Premier League champions said in a statement.

His reported £70 million ($95 million) fee takes United’s spending on midfield reinforcements to more than £150m in this window.

He joins Belgium’s Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos of Brazil in a new-look United midfield after veteran Casemiro left at the end of last season.

“Baleba has already established himself as one of the most talented midfielders in the Premier League,” said United.

“During the 2024/25 season, his combined number of tackles and interceptions was the sixth-highest among midfielders in the league, while he also ranked fourth-highest for progressive ball carries per 90 minutes.”

United had been interested in signing Baleba a year ago following two impressive seasons for Brighton, but baulked at the south coast club’s asking price.

His last season was far less impressive, but that did not put off the Old Trafford club.

“It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams,” said Baleba.

“Playing at Old Trafford is always special but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour.

“I cannot wait to work with Michael Carrick; his experience and knowledge of the game make him the perfect coach to help me to reach the highest level.”

Baleba had joined Brighton from French team Lille in 2023 and made 112 appearances for the Seagulls, including 35 last season.

He was hot property a year ago before his star waned a touch during the following campaign.

But it is his athleticism and combativity which have convinced United to sign him.

He ranked “in the top eight per cent of players for combined tackles and interceptions as well as the top one per cent for second balls won” last season, United said.

“Carlos is an elite midfielder with immense potential to develop further,” said United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, who also pointed to Baleba’s determination to join the club.

“He brings a unique combination of qualities that will really complement our squad.”

Baleba is still recovering from an ankle injury he suffered during pre-season.

He has signed a five-year contract with the option of a further year, according to reports.

The fee is £65 million plus a potential £5m in add-ons.

He will compete with Tielemans, Santos, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount for a midfield starting berth at Old Trafford.

Source: AFP

27, August 2026

Cameroon says 5G groundwork nearly complete ⁰

Cameroon’s preparations for fifth-generation mobile technology are nearing completion, but commercial deployment will still depend on operators completing network investments and on several infrastructure constraints being addressed.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB) says most of the preliminary work required before the rollout of 5G has been completed. No date has yet been announced for a commercial launch. ART Director General Prof Philémon Zo’o Zame outlined the progress during an interview with State broadcaster CRTV on August 18. He said the regulator had consulted the Presidency of the Republic, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications as part of the preparations.

TRB has also reviewed operators’ investment plans and inspected data centres and network sites to verify whether announced spending commitments were being implemented.

“We have worked with operators on their investments and visited the field to verify whether the announced investments were effective. We have practically completed the entire process required before launching 5G,” Prof Zo’o Zame said.

What Still Stands Between Cameroon and 5G

Despite that progress, several requirements remain before commercial deployment can begin. Reliable electricity supply is one of the constraints identified byTRB. The regulator has held discussions with energy suppliers because mobile sites, data centres and other network infrastructure require stable power.

Fibre-optic capacity is another priority. TRB said it has consulted passive infrastructure operator IHS Cameroon and State-owned telecoms operator CAMTEL, with discussions involving CAMTEL focusing particularly on the fibre infrastructure needed to carry the higher volumes of data expected from 5G services.

Spectrum management also remains part of the preparatory work. TRB is addressing interference caused by television, radio and other installations operating without appropriate frequencies, which Prof Zo’o Zame said can disrupt mobile networks. The regulator is also working on the frequency bands to be assigned to operators and the technical conditions needed to maintain network stability before and during deployment.

Operators, meanwhile, are being required to step up investment in networks and equipment. MTN Cameroon has already announced an investment programme of nearly $300 million for the 2025-2027 period. During an ART inspection of the operator’s facilities in Douala in April 2026, MTN said the programme would support network expansion, stronger service reliability and technologies such as IMS-VoLTE as part of its preparations for 5G.

The spending comes as demand for mobile data continues to rise. TRB’s 2024 Electronic Communications Market Observatory shows that investment in the sector increased by more than 35% to nearly CFAF194.5 billion. Total industry revenue exceeded CFAF1.022 trillion, up 18% from the previous year, while the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product rose from 2.92% in 2023 to 3.16% in 2024, according to the regulator.

Source: Business in Cameroon

26, August 2026

Cameroon’s cocoa export revenue plunges 63% as shipments and prices fall ⁰

Cameroon’s cocoa export earnings fell 63% during the 2025-26 season, hit by a sharp decline in both shipments and international prices, a reversal that could cost cocoa its newly acquired position as the country’s largest export product.

Cameroon exported 125,469 tons of raw cocoa beans during the season that officially ended July 15, 2026, according to data released by the National Cocoa and Coffee Board, or ONCC, at the launch of the 2026-27 season. That was 66,543 tons, or 34.7%, below the 192,012 tons shipped a year earlier.

The value of those exports at the port of Douala dropped even more sharply, to CFA400.9 billion from CFA1.07 trillion in the previous season, a decline of CFA673 billion.

The ONCC did not provide a specific explanation for the steep fall in export volumes, which came alongside a decline of more than 15% in locally processed beans. Its figures, however, point to lower marketed production and a sharp increase in end-of-season inventories.

Marketed cocoa production fell 19.9% to 247,914 tons in 2025-26 from 309,518 tons the previous season, reducing the volume of beans available for purchase.

Meanwhile, closing stocks nearly tripled to 40,446 tons from 13,946 tons. That means the volume of beans remaining in inventory increased by 26,500 tons between the two seasons.

Europe Takes More Than 84% of Exports

Telcar Cocoa regained its position as Cameroon’s largest cocoa exporter, shipping 40,631 tons, or 32.4% of the season’s total.

The company, led by Kate Fotso, had lost the top spot in 2024-25 following the end of its partnership with U.S. commodities trader Cargill. Telcar exported 30,497 tons that season, giving it a 15.7% market share.

Ofi Cam ranked second in 2025-26 after exporting 24,394 tons, or 19.4% of the total. SBET, the previous season’s market leader, slipped to third place with 23,223 tons, representing 18.5%.

Together, the three companies accounted for 70.3% of Cameroon’s cocoa bean exports.

Europe remained by far the largest destination, led by the Netherlands. ONCC data show the continent received 84.6% of Cameroon’s exports. Asia accounted for 14%, while the Americas and Africa each received about 1%.

Lower Prices Deepen the Revenue Hit

The 63% collapse in export revenue reflects not only fewer shipments but also a steep decline in cocoa prices between the two seasons.

According to the ONCC, FOB prices at the port of Douala ranged from CFA3,808 to CFA7,536 per kilogram during the 2024-25 season. In 2025-26, the range dropped to CFA1,520-CFA3,110 per kilogram.

That represents a decline of roughly 58% to 60% between the two seasons.

The combination of lower production, fewer exports and weaker prices could have broader implications for Cameroon’s external trade.

Cocoa overtook crude oil as the country’s largest export product in 2025 after benefiting from the earlier surge in global prices. According to the National Institute of Statistics, cocoa beans generated 26.3% of Cameroon’s export revenue that year, compared with 22.9% for crude oil.

With cocoa export earnings down 63% in the latest season, maintaining that lead in 2026 could prove difficult. The downturn therefore represents more than a weak cocoa season: it could reshape the composition of Cameroon’s export earnings just one year after cocoa displaced oil at the top.

Source: Business in Cameroon