Monthly Archives: August 2026

12, August 2026

Yaoundé wants to make August 14 a national day of remembrance for veterans ⁰

Cameroon’s National Office for Veterans, Former Military Personnel and War Victims (ONACAM) wants August 14 to become an annual national event dedicated to those who served under the country’s flag.

Through its “Walk for Honor” campaign, the agency seeks to extend recognition of veterans beyond official ceremonies and involve the media and the wider public.

The initiative focuses on the individual stories behind military service: soldiers killed in operations, veterans who returned with injuries or lasting effects, and families affected by conflicts. ONACAM wants their sacrifices to become a lasting part of the country’s collective memory and to be passed on to younger generations.

That goal explains the central role assigned to the media. “We are not asking for simple advertising space, but for a contribution to an effort of collective remembrance,” the agency said in an appeal to news organizations.

A Coordinated Media Campaign

The campaign will culminate on August 14 at 8 p.m., when ONACAM wants television stations to simultaneously broadcast a 23-second tribute to veterans and war victims.

Ahead of the event, broadcasters were asked to air a 28-second teaser on August 8 and 9, featuring a black screen, the national anthem and the message “Cameroon Remembers.” Radio stations are also being asked to broadcast a 30-second spot, particularly during peak listening hours.

The coordinated broadcasts aim to create a shared moment of remembrance that reaches a much wider audience than traditional commemorative ceremonies. ONACAM wants veterans’ stories to reach households across the country and gain greater national visibility.

Beyond Administrative Support

The campaign comes as Cameroon already has an institutional framework to support veterans and war victims. The Secretariat of State for Defense in charge of veterans and war victims handles matters that include pensions, professional reintegration and social assistance.

ONACAM now wants to complement that administrative support with a stronger culture of remembrance. The issue extends beyond benefits for former service members to their place in the country’s national story.

By gradually establishing August 14 as a day of collective remembrance, the agency seeks to give public and intergenerational recognition to the sacrifices made by veterans.

The success of “Walk for Honor,” however, will depend on whether the initiative extends beyond a one-time campaign. For August 14 to become an enduring national remembrance event, it will require sustained participation from institutions, media organizations, schools and families, with veterans themselves given a visible role in telling their stories.

Source: Sbbc

12, August 2026

Congo-Kinshasa: At least 2,000 die in fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record ⁰

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has killed 2,011 people out of 4,381 confirmed cases of the virus, Congolese officials said on Tuesday.

The latest toll puts it close behind the DR Congo’s deadliest Ebola outbreak in 2018 to 2020 when nearly 2,300 people died out of 3,500 recorded cases.

The Ebola outbreak, which has hit the DR Congo’s conflict-plagued eastern and northeastern regions, was declared on May 15 but is thought to have already been spreading for several weeks.

While it took about nine weeks for the outbreak to record the first 1,000 deaths, it’s taken just around three weeks for the figure to double, an evidence that the health crisis is moving faster than efforts to track and manage it.

It is the DR Congo’s 17th surge of the highly contagious disease and is already considered the largest in the country’s history “and could well become the largest outbreak ever”, Sania Nishtar, chief executive of the Gavi global vaccine alliance, has said.

Aid workers say the outbreak continues to outpace response that’s been expanding across the five eastern provinces affected. Many health workers have gone on strike to protest lack of payment for their work since the outbreak was declared. And the World Health Organization (WHO) has said most new cases are still being recorded outside of contacts being monitored, showing that transmission remains out of the control of health workers.

The case fatality rate of the current outbreak is estimated by Congolese health authorities to be 45.9 percent.

On Friday, WHO vaccine experts recommended a full-scale human trial of the only existing approved Ebola vaccine to see if it offered cross-protection against the strain of Ebola currently spreading in the DRC against which no specific vaccine currently exists.

The Ervebo vaccine has proved safe and efficient against the more common Zaire strain of Ebola virus and WHO experts said that early data, notably from animal trials, showed it may also give some protection against the rare Bundibugyo strain exploding in the DRC.

Two potential Bundibugyo vaccines are in the early stages of clinical trials on humans, while a third is being worked on to bring it to that stage.

Source: France 24

12, August 2026

Deadly clash aboard US carrier Abraham Lincoln leaves seven dead, several injured ⁰

Seven US Navy personnel have reportedly been killed and several others wounded in a violent clash aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, as growing unrest among the carrier’s crew has exposed mounting pressure inside the US military amid a prolonged deployment.

The incident erupted after an adviser to US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Brad Cooper boarded the carrier to address mounting complaints from crew members following protests by their families over the ship’s prolonged deployment, according to Tasnim News Agency, citing an informed military source.

The adviser was reportedly met with boos and had water bottles thrown at him while addressing a gathering of personnel.

The confrontation subsequently escalated into a fight among crew members involving knives and other bladed weapons, leaving seven personnel dead and several others wounded, according to the source.

The atmosphere aboard the carrier remains tense and unsettled, Tasnim reported.

The Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for 263 days and is currently operating in the Indian Ocean, where its primary mission is to enforce an illegal naval blockade against Iran.

The carrier has spent 208 consecutive days at sea, the longest continuous deployment of any US aircraft carrier in the modern era, apart from a brief stop in Oman in July.

The reported violence comes amid growing concerns over the living and working conditions facing the roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the carrier.

Personnel have reportedly protested inadequate food supplies, with meals reduced to as little as half a cup of rice and two pieces of meat. The carrier’s laundry facilities have also been out of service for two weeks, while mold in shower areas has caused fungal infections among crew members.

Military families have raised concerns about exhaustion, mental health and the impact of the prolonged operational tempo on the crew’s ability to safely perform their duties.

At a meeting in San Diego on Thursday, around 200 relatives confronted acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao over conditions aboard the carrier and the lack of a clear date for the crew’s return home.

The reported deaths aboard the Abraham Lincoln follow another serious incident involving the USS Gerald R. Ford. On March 12, 2026, a fire broke out in living quarters housing around 600 crew members, leaving 200 personnel injured.

The Gerald R. Ford subsequently took the injured to a naval facility on the Greek island of Crete before being forced to return to the United States.

11, August 2026

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Armed clashes kill 1, injure several in Buea ⁰

One person was killed and several others injured on Monday during armed clashes in Buea, the capital of Cameroon’s English-speaking southwestern region, according to sources.

The fighting began around 1:00 p.m. local time between government forces and suspected separatist fighters, said a military official, who asked not to be named.

“The separatist terrorists opened fire on civilians, killing a taxi driver and injuring several others. Our forces repelled and pushed them back,” the official said.

Residents said heavy gunfire was heard across the town, particularly in the Muea neighborhood, while many people stayed indoors and avoided work.

Police said Buea had been relatively calm since May before Monday’s violence.

Separatist leaders posted on social media that they had intensified their weekly “ghost town” operation every Monday, when all activities in the two Anglophone regions are meant to shut down.

The “ghost town” protests have been in place since 2017, when separatists began fighting government forces in a bid to create an independent state in the Anglophone regions.

Source: Xinhuanet

11, August 2026

Cameroon cannot be governed by absence: It is time for the CPDM to prepare a new leader ⁰

On June 7, 2026, President Paul Biya left Yaoundé with his wife for what the Presidency described as a “brief private stay in Europe.” Sixty-five days later, on August 11, he remains outside Cameroon.

The number matters. But the deeper issue is not the length of one presidential trip. It is what such a prolonged absence says about the resilience of the Cameroonian state.

A modern republic cannot depend on the physical presence of one individual to maintain political certainty. Nor can a country of nearly 30 million people be expected to operate indefinitely on assumptions, rumours and official assurances that everything is under control. The question before Cameroon is therefore no longer simply: When will Paul Biya return? It is: How long can the country continue without a credible transition plan?

President Biya has governed Cameroon since 1982. His political longevity is extraordinary, but longevity cannot itself be a substitute for succession. At 93, and after decades in power, the question of what comes after Biya should no longer be treated as an act of disloyalty. It is an unavoidable matter of national responsibility. The ruling CPDM party above all, should understand this.

The CPDM party has spent decades presenting itself as the guarantor of stability. But genuine stability is not the indefinite preservation of one political personality. Genuine stability is the ability of institutions to function, markets to have confidence, citizens to know who is responsible for decisions and the country to move from one generation of leadership to another without uncertainty or crisis. That is precisely why the CPDM should begin the process of ushering in a new leader.

This is not necessarily a call for the party to abandon its political identity or erase the legacy of Paul Biya. It is a call for the party to recognize that Cameroon is bigger than one man and the CPDM must be bigger than one presidency.

The economic cost of prolonged uncertainty is easy to underestimate. Investors do not only look at macroeconomic statistics; they look at predictability. Businesses need to know who is making decisions, whether policy will remain consistent and whether political succession can occur peacefully. Government itself needs clear authority. Public institutions need confidence. Citizens need to believe that the machinery of the state is working deliberately rather than simply continuing on autopilot. That perception matters.

Reuters has reported that Biya’s prolonged absence has already generated political concern, while his government has provided no clear timetable for his return. The CPDM itself held a senior-level meeting in July as criticism surrounding the absence mounted. Military leadership changes announced during the absence have added another layer of uncertainty.

None of this means that the Cameroonian state has collapsed. It means something more subtle and potentially more dangerous: the country is being forced to confront how dependent its political system remains on a single individual. That is an institutional weakness, not a personal accusation. The CPDM has an opportunity to correct it.

Instead of treating every discussion of succession as an attack on the President, the party should treat succession planning as an essential component of responsible governance. It should openly identify, debate and prepare a new generation of leadership capable of governing Cameroon in the decades ahead.

The alternative is to wait until circumstances make the decision for everyone. That would be irresponsible.

Cameroon has a young population, enormous economic potential and serious security and development challenges. It cannot afford a political system in which the most important question facing the nation is whether its president will return from a private European stay whose duration was never publicly defined.

Nor should the answer be to manufacture rumours about the President’s health. Those rumours are neither a substitute for facts nor a foundation for responsible politics. The stronger argument is simpler: even a healthy president eventually leaves office and a serious political party prepares for that day before it arrives. The CPDM has had more than enough time to prepare. It now has a choice.

It can continue defending the permanence of one man and hope that the system survives every new test. Or it can demonstrate that the party understands the difference between loyalty to a leader and loyalty to a nation. The latter requires courage.

The CPDM should begin an orderly, constitutional and transparent process of political renewal. It should identify credible new leadership, establish a clear succession framework, strengthen the institutions that must outlive President Biya, and give Cameroonians confidence that the country’s future does not depend on the whereabouts of one individual.

Paul Biya’s historic contribution to Cameroon can be debated by history. But the future of Cameroon cannot be postponed until history is ready to write his final chapter.

The time has come for the CPDM to usher in a new leader—not because Cameroon has ceased to need stability, but because Cameroon now needs stability that does not depend on one man.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

11, August 2026

Cameroon rights commission warns corruption threatens indigenous livelihoods ⁰

Corruption is threatening the livelihoods and access to public services of Indigenous communities in Cameroon, while also increasing their exposure to illegal exploitation of land, forests and other natural resources, according to the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CDHC).

The Commission raised the concerns in a statement marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9, 2026. The 32nd edition was held under the theme “Honoring Indigenous Midwives: Preserving Life and Well-Being.”

The CDHC described corruption as a factor that compounds the economic and social difficulties faced by Indigenous communities. It said the problem can seriously undermine their rights, particularly when public resources intended for health, education, social protection or cultural heritage preservation are diverted from their intended purposes.

The issue is particularly significant for communities living in rural or forest areas where access to infrastructure and basic social services can already be limited.

Natural Resources at the Center of Concerns

The CDHC also linked corruption to growing pressure on natural resources. It said corrupt practices can facilitate illegal exploitation of land, forests and other resources on which Indigenous communities depend, sometimes without their free, prior and informed consent.

The consequences extend beyond environmental protection. For some Indigenous communities, access to forests and land supports food supplies, economic activities, traditional medicine and the transmission of knowledge.

Uncontrolled exploitation of these areas can therefore undermine incomes, food security and cultural heritage at the same time. The CDHC called for affected communities to have a more systematic role in decisions that could affect their territories and resources.

Indigenous Midwives Also Affected

Reflecting this year’s United Nations theme, the Commission also highlighted the situation of Indigenous midwives and the preservation of their traditional knowledge.

The CDHC said corruption can weaken the institutional support available to Indigenous midwives by depriving basic health facilities of essential medicines, adequate infrastructure and programs designed to support traditional medicine.

The issue therefore concerns both access to modern health services and recognition of community practices passed down through generations.

The Commission recommended that the ministries responsible for social affairs, public health, women and family affairs, and territorial administration involve Indigenous representatives, including midwives, more closely in policies concerning health, the environment, cultural heritage and local development.

Preserving and Passing On Traditional Knowledge

The CDHC also called on the Ministry of Arts and Culture to work with the ministries responsible for social affairs and public health to develop programs that document and preserve the knowledge of Indigenous midwives.

According to the Commission, these initiatives should respect communities’ free, prior and informed consent and involve traditional authorities, women’s organizations and the communities themselves. The aim is to preserve this knowledge, pass it on to future generations and recognize its contribution to community health.

Through its statement, the CDHC framed corruption as more than the diversion of financial resources. It also presented it as an issue affecting the economic, social, cultural and environmental rights of Indigenous communities.

The next challenge will be to translate these recommendations into mechanisms that give affected communities an effective role in decisions concerning their territories, natural resources and ways of life.

Source: Business in Cameroon

11, August 2026

Iran Supreme Leader makes new appointments to top military posts ⁰

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has made new appointments to six top military posts, including the head of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

In six separate decrees issued on Monday, Major General Ali Abdollahi was appointed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, with Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari as his deputy. Major General Ahmad Vahidi, promoted to the rank of Major General, was appointed commander-in-chief of the IRGC, with Major General Mostafa Izadi as his deputy.

Rear Admiral Ali Ozamaei was appointed IRGC Navy commander, and Hojjatoleslam Hossein Taeb was named head of the Basij Organization.

Gen. Abdollahi appointed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces

In another decree, the Leader appointed Major General Ali Abdollahi as Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, following the martyrdom of his predecessor, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, in a US-Israeli airstrike.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the appointment was made in view of Mousavi’s “glorious and honorable martyrdom” at the hands of the Zionist-American enemy and in appreciation of Abdollahi’s worthy services and valuable experience.

10, August 2026

MECA Manchester welcomes Superstar Maxy Manorh ⁰

It was organised at very short notice, but there was nothing small about the warmth of the welcome when members of the Manyu Elements Cultural Association (MECA) Manchester gathered on Sunday the 9th of August 2026 to receive global Manyu music star Maxy Manorh. With little time for elaborate preparations, members of MECA Manchester did what strong communities often do best: they came together.

A barbecue and lunch were hastily arranged at the home of the association’s president, Chief Richard Agbor, transforming an ordinary afternoon into a memorable celebration of music, friendship and culture. Members arrived proudly in their MECA uniforms, bringing colour, identity and a strong sense of belonging to the occasion. Food and drinks were aplenty.

Maxy Manorh whose music and international profile have made him one of Cameroon’s celebrated cultural ambassadors, treated his hosts to a few songs. His impromptu performance delighted MECA members, who enjoyed the rare opportunity to experience the star’s music in such an intimate and relaxed setting.

For MECA Manchester, the day was more than meeting a famous Manyu son. It was an opportunity to recognise an artist who has carried elements of Manyu identity and culture through his music to audiences far beyond Cameroon for the last ten years.

As a gesture of appreciation, the association presented Maxy Manorh with an envelope containing a token from its members, recognising his contribution to the promotion and preservation of Manyu culture. The gesture reflected something deeper about the Manyu community in Britain: a determination to remain connected to home and to celebrate those who promote its heritage.

For Maxy, who is due to leave the United Kingdom for Cameroon this week, the Manchester reception was particularly touching.“It was amazing being with my brothers and sisters in Manchester,” he said. He noted that the occasion was especially memorable because it was the first time a Manyu group had formally received him in a country when he had not travelled to specifically perform for them.

Chief Richard Agbor, president of MECA Manchester, told Cameroon Concord News that he was immensely proud of the men and women he leads. For him, the speed with which members responded to the invitation demonstrated the character of the association. At very short notice, people adjusted their plans, put on their uniforms and came together to give Maxy Manorh a reception worthy of a son of Manyu who continues to promote the culture through his music.

Culture does not preserve itself. It requires people willing to give their time, open their wallets and wear their identity proudly. Across Britain, Manyu sons and daughters continue to build communities that maintain strong links with their ancestral homeland. Organisations such as MECA Manchester provide not only fellowship but also a platform through which culture can endure across generations.

The MECA Manchester impromptu barbecue and gathering for Maxy Manorh was a simple but powerful example Manyu at its best.

By Isong Asu

London Bureau Chief

10, August 2026

Nyene Mawn in Germany: Manyu Women leading, Manyu girls rising, Manyu communities thriving ⁰

The Manyu Women’s International Association, fondly known as Nyene Mawn, has once again demonstrated what can be achieved when women come together with purpose, vision and an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of their community.

The recently concluded mini summit in Duisburg in the Federal Republic of Germany was more than a gathering of women. It was a celebration of solidarity, leadership, service and the enduring strength of Manyu women. The election of Maureen Tabe as the new President-General has added another important chapter to the association’s remarkable journey.

At a time when societies across the world are increasingly recognizing that the future of any nation depends significantly on how it educates, protects and empowers its girls, Nyene Mawn deserves particular commendation for its contribution to the girl child in Cameroon. By supporting initiatives that encourage girls to dream, learn, develop confidence and become responsible members of society, the association is investing not merely in individuals, but in the future of Cameroon itself.

A girl who is educated is a woman empowered. A woman who is empowered can transform a family, strengthen a community and influence a nation.

This is why the work of Nyene Mawn is so important.

Perhaps even more inspiring is the manner in which the association continues to lead by example. Leadership is not simply about holding positions or making declarations; it is about service, responsibility, integrity and demonstrating the values one wishes to see in others. Through its activities, its commitment to community and its emphasis on the advancement of women and girls, Nyene Mawn is showing younger generations that leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility.

The Duisburg summit also reflected the association’s appreciation of faith, culture and community. Ending the gathering with a Holy Mass celebrated together with the Cameroon Catholic Community in Mülheim was a beautiful reminder that service to humanity is strengthened by fellowship, humility and gratitude to God. It brought a fitting spiritual dimension to a gathering dedicated to unity, renewal and the future.

The election of Maureen Tabe as President-General therefore comes at an important moment. She inherits not merely an office, but a legacy of women who have chosen to make a difference. Her leadership will undoubtedly carry expectations, but it also comes with tremendous opportunities to build upon the achievements of those who came before her.

We of the Cameroon Concord Group congratulate Maureen Tabe most warmly and wish her wisdom, courage, strength and God’s guidance as she takes up the mantle of leadership. May her tenure be marked by unity, inclusiveness, meaningful service and even greater opportunities for women and girls, particularly those in Cameroon.

To Nyene Mawn, we say: keep leading, keep serving and keep inspiring.

Your greatest legacy may not be found only in the programs you organize or the achievements you record, but in the young girls who look at the example you set and begin to believe that they, too, can lead, serve and change their communities.

When women rise together, generations rise with them.

Congratulations, Nyene Mawn. Congratulations, President-General Maureen Tabe. May the journey ahead be fruitful, impactful and blessed.

By Chi Prudence Asong with additional reporting from Soter Agbaw-Ebai

10, August 2026

Indomitable Lionesses dump champions Nigeria out of WAFCON ⁰

A new champion will emerge at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after defending champions Nigeria were eliminated by Cameroon in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

South Africa, who also won the title in 2022, were eliminated by hosts Morocco on Saturday.

The Indomitable Lionesses produced a resilient display in Casablanca to end Nigeria’s title defense and book their place in the semi-finals, while also securing qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Cameroon struck the decisive blow in the 19th minute through 20-year-old Myriam Maéva Nyadjou, who unleashed a thunderous effort from distance that flew into the top corner, leaving Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie helpless.

Nigeria looked for an immediate response a minute later when Rasheedat Ajibade delivered a dangerous cross into the area, but Gift Monday was unable to make a clean connection after Cameroon had dealt comfortably with the initial threat.

The Super Falcons continued to push forward and came close again in the 28th minute. Rinsola Babajide’s delivery found Jennifer Echegini in a promising position, but her effort was well saved as Cameroon protected their slender advantage.

Despite Nigeria enjoying spells of possession and creating opportunities, Cameroon remained organised at the back and carried their 1-0 lead into the half-time break.

Nigeria emerged for the second half with even greater urgency in search of an equaliser but found Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina in inspired form.

The shot-stopper produced one of the saves of the tournament in the 70th minute, stretching out a strong hand to deny Uchenna Kanu’s powerful header and preserve her side’s lead.

Cameroon nearly doubled their advantage six minutes from time when Achta Njoya’s well-struck free-kick from a tight angle forced Nnadozie into a sharp save, with the Nigerian goalkeeper tipping the effort over the crossbar.

The defending champions threw everything forward in the closing stages and almost forced extra time through substitute Esther Okoronkwo.

After using her pace to beat her marker, Okoronkwo sent a left-footed effort agonisingly wide of the post, with substitute Asisat Oshoala waiting for a simple lay-off beside her.

Cameroon held firm through the final minutes to seal a memorable victory, eliminating the 10-time champions and punching their ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Following Nigeria’s defeat, the Super Falcons will face South Africa on Thursday for a place in the inter-confederation World Cup play-offs, with the fixture determining one of Africa’s representatives at the qualifying tournament.

Culled from The PUNCH