Monthly Archives: August 2026

6, August 2026

Archbishop Nkea, Bishop Bibi and Samuel Eto’o: Social media popularity should not come at the expense of truth ⁰

There is a growing tendency in today’s digital age for some individuals to seek relevance and popularity by launching sensational attacks against prominent public figures. The latest targets appear to be Bishop Michael Bibi of the Buea Diocese, Archbishop Andrew Nkea of the Bamenda Archdiocese and Cameroon football legend Samuel Eto’o.

Each of these personalities has recently found himself at the centre of fierce online criticism. Bishop Bibi has been attacked for urging women during a homily, to respect the vocation of priests. Archbishop Andrew Nkea has faced backlash for advocating peace in Anglophone Cameroon while also reiterating the Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality. Samuel Eto’o meanwhile has attracted relentless criticism over his efforts to restore the credibility and competitiveness of Cameroon’s local football championship.

What links these three cases is not merely the criticism itself but the apparent motivation behind much of it. Increasingly, social media has become a platform where controversy generates attention and attention translates into followers, likes, shares and fleeting notoriety. In such an environment, attacking well-known personalities has become an easy route to online visibility.

Constructive criticism has an important place in any democratic society. However, there is a clear distinction between thoughtful engagement and calculated attacks designed primarily to attract clicks and applause from social media audiences. When public discourse is driven more by the pursuit of digital popularity than by a genuine search for truth or solutions, everyone loses.

Bishop Bibi, Archbishop Nkea and Samuel Eto’o occupy different spheres of public life—religion, national reconciliation and sport—but they have all become convenient targets for those who appear more interested in cultivating online influence than contributing meaningfully to public debate. Their experiences should serve as a reminder that not every viral controversy is rooted in substance. Sometimes, it is simply the latest performance in the race for social media relevance.

Cameroon deserves better than a culture where personal attacks become the quickest path to internet fame. Public figures should be judged on the merits of their actions and ideas, not on the ability of others to manufacture outrage for online consumption.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

6, August 2026

Russian strikes target Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Sumy regions, killing at least six ⁰

At least six people were killed in Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight into Thursday, including three in the city of ‌Balakliia in the Kharkiv region and another three in the northern region of Sumy, local authorities said. Russia ⁠also struck two dry cargo vessels near Ukraine’s Black ‌Sea ⁠port ‌of Odesa ⁠late on Wednesday.

Rescuers worked on Thursday to douse fires and clear debris in Ukraine’s eastern city of ‌Balakliia after Russian strikes ⁠on homes killed three overnight, authorities said ‌on the Telegram messaging app.

Three ⁠people were also killed overnight and at least 19 wounded in Russian attacks on ‌settlements in the northern region of Sumy. Twelve more were wounded in ‌the city of Sumy itself, following an attack with guided aerial bombs, the Ukrainian police said on Telegram.

A drone attack on a van wounded six in the southern region of Kherson, the regional administration said on Telegram. Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in the war triggered by Russia’s invasion of ⁠Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia ⁠also struck two dry cargo vessels near Ukraine’s Black ‌Sea ⁠port ‌of Odesa ⁠late on Wednesday, TASS ‌news agency reported, citing ‌the Russian Defence Ministry.

The vessels were transporting military goods, the ministry said.

Russia says it downed 605 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russia shot down 605 Ukrainian drones during the night over its territory and the annexed Crimean Peninsula, the defence ministry said Thursday.

“During the night … air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 605 Ukrainian aerial drones,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry flagged attacks in the Tver region about 180 kilometres northwest of Moscow, where local authorities reported a logistics centre belonging to the e-commerce giant Wildberries had been damaged.

Regional governor Vitaly Korolyov said air defence systems had repelled the Ukrainian attack.

“As a result of the fall of debris from one of the drones, the facade of the Wildberries logistics centre was slightly damaged,” he wrote on Telegram, adding that no one had been wounded.

Ukraine has repeatedly struck sites belonging to Wildberries – a popular online commerce platform often described as Russia’s Amazon – across the country since mid-July.

Mikhail Yevrayev, governor of the Yaroslavl region around 250 kilometres north of Moscow, reported the “most massive attack” against his region, saying 92 drones had been shot down.

Debris caused fires in houses and damaged cars, he added on Telegram.

More than four years after the start of Russia’s large-scale offensive against Ukraine, diplomacy is at a standstill and the two countries are ramping up long-range strikes, causing a growing number of civilian casualties.

Source: AFP

6, August 2026

Trump grows increasingly frustrated over Iran retaliation, confronts Hegseth ⁰

US President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the consistent failure of the country’s war machine in the face of Iran’s retaliation and confronted Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over shortages of key US munitions, a report says.

According to a report carried by The Washington Post on Wednesday, the confrontation took place at Camp David last Friday, where Trump demanded answers from Hegseth over why he had apparently been given an “inaccurate picture” of US military capabilities as Washington faces shortages of long-range guided missiles and air-defense interceptors.

The shortages have become a constraint on American military options, with the United States running low, among other things, on Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems needed to protect American personnel stationed at the bases that have come under Iranian reprisal.

According to two people familiar with the situation, who were cited by The Post, Trump’s frustration over the situation boiled over during a Cabinet meeting.

The frustration peaked over “why he (Hegseht) had apparently been misled on extreme munitions shortages that now threaten to limit military options with Iran,” the sources told the daily.

Trump told Hegseth that he believed the munitions problem “had been fixed,” they said.

Hegseth reportedly attributed responsibility for the shortages and the failure to adequately communicate their extent to Deputy Secretary of War Stephen Feinberg.

The White House has, however, strongly denied that the confrontation occurred.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Post that the report was “false” and rejected the account of a dispute between Trump and Hegseth.

The depletion of THAAD systems is particularly significant for US forces, given that Iranian strikes have targeted American personnel and positions in the region.

The shortages have also been cited as a reason Trump has refrained from ordering additional major strikes against Iran.

Late last month, American investigative outlet the Intercept cited a US official as saying that Iran had demonstrated an increasing ability to strike US military facilities across West Asia by combining attack drones with advanced ballistic missiles.

5, August 2026

FIFA: Embattled Infantino holds emergency talks amid calls to step down ⁰

FIFA President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with other directors in Morocco on Wednesday, a source told AFP, amid a wave of criticism over his now-shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment.

Infantino has come under increasing pressure, even from within FIFA, over his handling of the proposal, and calls for him to step down have grown since he abandoned it last Saturday.

One of those believed to be at the meeting is FIFA’s secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom, whose internal email to staff criticising the plan was leaked on Tuesday.

Infantino, a 56-year-old Swiss lawyer – who is holding the meeting in FIFA’s Africa regional office in Sale close to Rabat – was in Morocco to celebrate last week’s Feast of the Enthronement.

Morocco is to co-host the 2030 World Cup and Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa is one of the few to have publicly supported Infantino since the humiliating climbdown.

Lekjaa last Saturday had praised his “wise” move to scrap the plan in the interests of “unity and cohesion”.

He reiterated his backing for Infantino for “all the initiatives aimed at the development of world football” during his 10 years in charge.

Infantino had been basking in the warm afterglow of a highly successful World Cup – the largest ever with 48 teams and co-hosted by three countries, Canada, Mexico and the US.

His wish to serve a fourth and final term looked likely to be rubber-stamped in Rabat next March – no other candidate had come forward to challenge him.

However, Tuesday last week all that faded.

FIFA, world football’s governing body, floated the plan, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

It said that, if approved, the project could provide each of FIFA’s 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.

‘Sad and reproachable’

Instead of acting as a sweetener it produced a furious backlash, with European football’s governing body UEFA resorting on Thursday to the nuclear option of boycotting the sport’s jewel in the crown, the World Cup.

By Saturday Infantino held his hands up and withdrew the plan.

“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve,” said Infantino.

If he had hoped for that to be sufficient to shore up his authority he was to be swiftly disabused.

UEFA termed the proposal a “shabby, back room, opaque deal” hatched by Infantino.

“The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” UEFA said in a statement.

North and Central American football’s governing body CONCACAF went further still and called for “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency” while slamming Infantino’s “poor governance and leadership”.

Grafstrom’s leaked email only added fuel to the fire.

He described the fiasco surrounding the proposal as “a sad and reproachable series of events”.

He added: “Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue.”

Source: France 24

5, August 2026

U.S.-Cameroon economic dialogue set for August 27 ⁰

A strategic economic bilateral dialogue between Cameroon and the United States is scheduled for August 27, 2026, as both countries seek to strengthen trade and investment ties and improve the business climate for private-sector operators.

The dialogue was announced during an audience between Transport Minister Jean Ernest Masséna Ngallè Bibèhè and the United States Interim Chargé d’Affaires in Cameroon, John G. Robinson. According to information released by the Ministry of Transport, the dialogue will focus on three main objectives: improving the business climate between the two countries, identifying trade opportunities and promoting investment partnerships.

The announcement confirms remarks made by John G. Robinson during a conference organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Cameroon (AmCham) on the sidelines PROMOTE 2026. At the event, he said the United States seeks to be “a reliable partner for economic growth” through trade, investment and technology transfer rather than traditional aid programs.

The forthcoming dialogue takes place against a backdrop of expanding economic exchanges between the two countries. American and Cameroonian businesses have recently pursued partnerships in agribusiness, poultry production, energy and hospitality. US agencies, including the International Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the US Commercial Service, continue to support financing, export promotion and commercial partnerships involving African businesses.

According to AmCham Cameroon, business missions and commercial exchanges have already contributed to investment projects in several sectors, while financing mechanisms from US institutions continue to support eligible ventures involving American and Cameroonian partners.

The August 27 dialogue is expected to provide a platform to identify new investment opportunities and deepen commercial cooperation between the two economies, with transport among the sectors under discussion.

Source: Business in Cameroon

4, August 2026

Etoudi reshuffles military as Biya’s absence stokes unease ⁰

Cameroon’s veteran leader Paul Biya – who has not been seen in public for nearly two months – has reshuffled the country’s military amid growing concerns over his prolonged stay abroad.

The 93-year-old president appointed officials to key positions within the army and promoted five colonels to the rank of brigadier general.

One of the newly promoted brigadier generals is Raymond Jean Charles Beko’o Abondo, who was immediately reappointed as commander of the elite presidential guard – responsible for protecting Biya – a position he has occupied since 2013.

Such shake-ups are not unusual under Biya’s administration, particularly at times of intense public scrutiny or perceived weakness.

The nonagenarian president who never loses

After an unexpected coup three years ago in neighbouring Gabon, which toppled the Bongo dynasty sending shockwaves across the continent, Cameroon immediately reshuffled its military leadership.

Then, while running for a controversial eighth term in power at last year’s presidential election, Biya reshuffled the top brass of the army.

Again in June this year, he promoted several members of the defence and security forces to higher ranks.

The circumstances under which the latest changes were made have sparked debate, especially among social media users.

Biya made the appointments in separate decrees on Monday from the Swiss city of Geneva, where he has been staying since leaving Cameroon on 7 June for what his team described as a “brief private stay”.

Many in Cameroon have criticised the lack of information about his activities and the uncertainty surrounding the duration of his foreign trip.

After last year’s election, he promised to name a new cabinet, but has yet to do so. A new post of vice-president that was created this April remains unfilled.

During his nearly 60-day period abroad so far, he has signed several other decrees, including some authorising his government to sign loan agreements with international financial institutions.

His absence sparked further speculation about his health, but the government has continually debunked reports that the head of state has been in hospital.

Press freedom groups were outraged when it was announced two years ago that the media in Cameroon were banned from reporting on Biya’s health.

Cameroon’s Communication Minister René Emmanuel Sadi has said the president is alive and will be returning to the country soon, during an interview with French-language broadcaster RFI.

He also dismissed allegations by the opposition that the nonagenarian leader’s absence amounted to a vacancy at the helm of the state, saying Biya continues to work from Geneva.

But President Biya’s continuing absence means Cameroon has a “glaring institutional vacuum”, says the opposition CRM party’s vice-president, Mamadou Mota.

“Executive power is exercised at the heart of the nation, not through smoke signals or telepathy from hotel suites on the other side of the world,” he said last month.

Culled from the BBC

4, August 2026

AI offers lifeline to developing economies in an era of weak growth ⁰

Artificial intelligence (AI) could allow developing countries to do in a decade what might otherwise take a century—provided that governments act swiftly to close the gaps in power, connectivity, skills, and institutional quality that threaten to leave them behind, according to the World Bank Group’s World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence.

The report, released today, finds that jobs in high-income countries are more than three times as likely to be at risk of automation by generative AI than those in low- and middle-income countries, where 4.5% of existing jobs are at risk, compared with 14.2% in high-income countries. At the same time, 16.2% of jobs in developing economies could see productivity meaningfully boosted by AI — close to the 18.7% expected in high-income countries. The greatest promise for developing countries lies not in replacing workers, but in amplifying what they can do.

“AI has thrown developing economies a lifeline, and they should seize it”, said Indermit Gill, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. “They do not need large models or big data centers to reap its benefits. By adapting small, low-cost AI tools to local conditions, they can bring better medical care, education, judicial services and agricultural extension within reach of millions. But they must hurry: AI is spreading faster and is more context-specific than earlier general-purpose technologies like electricity and the internet. World Development Report 2026 shows how developing countries are responding—and succeeding.”

The report is the first comprehensive assessment of AI’s implications for developing countries, revealing how businesses and governments in these countries have begun to use AI. It finds that AI is already helping people, businesses, and governments solve problems, analyze information, improve forecasts, and deliver services at a larger scale. These capabilities are especially valuable in countries where trained professionals, reliable records, and public capacity are often limited. AI tools can make it easier for doctors to diagnose patients, farmers to improve crop decisions, and businesses to become more productive. Governments, too, could use AI to improve tax collection, social programs, disaster response, health care, and education.

Developing economies today are in the midst of their weakest average growth performance in three decades. AI could significantly boost that performance before the end of the 2020s while delivering tangible benefits to people, the report finds. The opportunity is not guaranteed, however. The most advanced AI systems are being built by a small number of countries and companies, while many developing economies still lack the power, internet access, data, skills, and institutions needed to use AI effectively. Without deliberate action, AI could widen gaps between countries, increase inequality within them, concentrate market power, weaken trust in public institutions, and create new risks for safety, rights, and social cohesion.

The report sets out a clear, three-step path: adopt available tools, adapt them to local conditions, and — over time — advance toward frontier AI development. This sequenced approach helps countries avoid costly and inefficient attempts to replicate advanced AI before the foundational conditions are in place.

“The window to get this right is narrow,” said Gaurav Nayyar, Director of the World Development Report 2026. “AI presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to solve problems that have resisted solutions for generations. Developing countries that build the foundations now—power, connectivity, skills, and institutions—will be positioned to adopt and adapt AI for their people.”

None of this is possible without first investing in the basics. In Sub-Saharan Africa, nearly one-third of rural schools still lack reliable electricity, and more than two-thirds lack dependable internet access. Closing this gap is already a priority — the World Bank Group is working with partners through Mission 300 to provide energy access to 300 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, laying the foundation for broader digital and AI inclusion.

Countries also need to expand access to computing power and improve the availability of local data, including in local languages, so AI tools can be tailored to serve their own people and economies. Governments should make it easier for new firms to attract investment, test ideas, and scale what works. Many AI pilots are already underway, but the bigger challenge is knowing which ones deliver results. Better evidence, stronger skills, and clearer procurement and evaluation frameworks will be essential.

Building public trust is equally important. As AI evolves rapidly, governments should begin by drawing on voluntary industry standards to encourage responsible use, anchored in international cooperation to prevent regulatory fragmentation. When voluntary measures fall short, governments should apply existing laws to address harms directly. Improved public services and better learning outcomes in schools will reinforce trust — but if AI embeds bias in government decisions or erodes data privacy, that trust will be difficult to recover.

4, August 2026

Cameroon wins 5 Commonwealth Games medals as Eseme sets 100m record ⁰

Cameroon concluded the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which ended on Aug. 2 in Glasgow, with five medals: one gold, one silver and three bronze. The country’s delegation, which consisted of 21 athletes, improved on its performance at the 2022 Birmingham Games, where it won three medals.

Eseme Wins Gold in Record Time

Emmanuel Eseme secured Cameroon’s only gold medal by winning the men’s 100 meters. The 32-year-old sprinter crossed the finish line in 9.83 seconds despite rainy conditions, finishing ahead of Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy and Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi.

Eseme’s performance established both a new Commonwealth Games record and a new Cameroon national record. Earlier in the semifinals, he had already lowered the national record to 9.89 seconds. Moreover, his winning time ranks as the third-fastest performance in African history and the third-fastest time in the world during the 2026 season as of the date of the race.

Judo Delivers Three Medals

Judo accounted for three of Cameroon’s five medals. Richelle Soppi Mbella claimed the silver medal in the women’s over-78 kg category after losing the final to New Zealand’s Sydnee Andrews. Meanwhile, Marie Céline Baba Matia won bronze in the under-52 kg division, while Franck Ulrick Tahman Zan also secured bronze in the under-100 kg category.

Cameroon’s fifth medal came from para-athlete Cédric Idriss Lekezo Azamdzi, who finished third in the F57 shot put with a throw of 12.57 meters. Consequently, Cameroon won medals in athletics, para-athletics and judo.

Medal Count Improves on Birmingham 2022

Cameroon increased its medal tally to five podium finishes, compared with three medals at the 2022 Birmingham Games, representing a 66.7% increase. However, the country maintained the same number of gold medals. At Birmingham 2022, weightlifter Junior Périclès Ngadja Nyabeyeu won Cameroon’s only gold medal in the 109 kg category.

Nevertheless, comparisons between the two editions require caution because the 2026 Glasgow Games featured 215 events across 10 sports, compared with 283 events across 19 sports at Birmingham 2022.

Cameroon Ranks Fifth Among African Nations

Cameroon finished 16th overall in the final medal standings and ranked fifth among African countries, behind Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius. Although Cameroon won one more medal than Mauritius, Mauritius ranked higher because it secured one additional silver medal. The Commonwealth Games ranking prioritizes gold medals, followed by silver and bronze medals.

Nigeria led the African medal table with 24 medals, including 10 gold medals, while South Africa collected 28 medals, including seven gold medals. Australia topped the overall medal standings with 171 medals, including 70 gold medals, ahead of England and Canada.

Source: Sbbc

3, August 2026

Cameroon Concord News to put up an obituary announcement on Biya soonest ⁰

For weeks, the people of Cameroon have been left to grapple with one question that should never have become a national mystery: Where is President Paul Biya?

The prolonged absence of the world’s oldest serving head of state has fueled intense speculation both within Cameroon and across the international community. In any democracy, prolonged uncertainty surrounding the condition and whereabouts of a sitting head of state would demand prompt, factual and transparent communication from the authorities. Instead, Cameroonians have been met with silence, secrecy and a climate in which even discussing the president’s health has reportedly become a matter of legal risk.

Governments do not own the truth. They hold it in trust for the people they serve. When a nation’s leader disappears from public view for an extended period without credible official updates, speculation is inevitable. It is not journalists who create rumors; it is official silence that gives them life.

Unity Palace has both the responsibility and the means to put an end to the uncertainty. A clear, verifiable statement detailing President Biya’s whereabouts, his capacity to discharge the duties of his office and the constitutional arrangements in place—if any—would go a long way toward restoring public confidence. Such transparency would serve not only the Cameroonian people but also the country’s institutions and international partners.

Cameroon Concord News has a duty to report facts, not rumors. We also have an obligation to ask difficult questions when those entrusted with public office refuse to provide answers. We therefore call upon the Government of Prime Minister Dion Ngute to immediately issue a comprehensive and credible statement addressing President Paul Biya’s prolonged absence.

Should the government continue to withhold basic information regarding the Head of State’s status and whereabouts, Cameroon Concord News will be left with no other option than to put up an obituary announcement on Biya soonest. The burden of ending speculation rests squarely with Prime Minister Dion Ngute and his cabinet, which possesses the information the public, has every right to know.

History has repeatedly shown that transparency strengthens governments, while secrecy weakens public trust. Cameroon deserves facts, not whispers; accountability, not censorship; clarity, not uncertainty.

The time for silence has long passed.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

3, August 2026

Bishop Francis Lysinge: revisiting his courage to step aside ⁰

The Bishop has defined in practical terms, the true meaning of leadership, in a country held hostage by a gerontocracy. Surely he personifies the leader that Cameroon needs.

The decision of Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge to retire from his exalted position as Bishop of Mamfe Diocese, upon reaching the canonical age (75years) for the retirement of bishops on December 28, 2013, speaks of an uncommon courage and humility. By stepping aside and walking away from the ephemeral active Episcopal ministry in favour of a well-deserved retirement; a spiritual life dedicated to prayer, Bishop Lysinge has set a template for true leadership, not only in the spiritual world but in the secular too.

A prodigally gifted man, Bishop Lysinge is an erudite and well-travelled scholar, whose ebullient stature and convivial nature are ably augmented by his simplicity. He is also an urbane social crusader and motivator with a self-effacing and unassuming style. What’s more? He is tenacious with a magnanimous disposition, but he is not vociferous. Besides his pastoral and intellectual pedigree, he has been a dogged promoter of justice and champion for the poor, and an inspiration to many who have met him. An intellectually sophisticated man of distinction, Bishop Lysinge knows when to quit the stage, and has chosen to leave honorably; when the ovation is loudest.

This move has, naturally, shocked not only the community of Catholic faithful in Mamfe Diocese, the entire Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province, but even the whole nation. For the reasons that the Bishop was both the spiritual head of the local Church, and pioneer Bishop of Mamfe Diocese, this move cannot but bear in different ways – doctrinal, spiritual and moral implications for the church. Bishops are men of no mean influence. As ecclesiastical authorities, they have their Diocese as their constituency, and as servants in the Lord, they enjoy the powers and privileges that high public office bestows. Besides being men of demonstrable spirituality, they are also men of perceptible moral stamina, champions of faith and instruments of peace and compassion, and defenders of human dignity. In short, Bishops are great men. Being part of this clique carries a great responsibility. This in itself speaks volumes of the prestige, power, authority, and influence that attend this one-of-a-kind office; privileges and appurtenances that would derange the thinking of and entrap most mortals.

Not so for Bishop Francis Lysinge. His candor in admitting that, “after fourteen years as Bishop of Mamfe, and forty-seven years as a priest, by the grace of God, the Holy Father rightfully thinks that I deserve some rest from active pastoral ministry. I will therefore, be at the service of my bishop, the Most Rev. Andrew Nkea, once I hand over the baton to him upon reaching the canonical age for the retirement of bishops, on the 28th of December 2013” is worthy of commendation and his example is rare, in present day Cameroon; where the mantra is: “he is up, so he must be brought down; he wants my post, so I must destroy him; pull him down and take his place.” Announcing the appointment of his successor in a pastoral letter entitled “Something Beautiful for God”, Bishop Lysinge said: “it was my wish that (Mamfe) Diocese be assigned a Coadjutor who will govern with me for a while to ensure that there is a smooth transition when I turn the canonical age of retirement. From the very beginning of my Episcopal ministry, I have always prayed for a smooth transition so that the work of evangelization in our young diocese of Mamfe continues without any interruption…I did not want to leave things to a vague future after I retire”

However one looks at it, Bishop Lysinge’s Episcopal retirement is indeed an epochal event. There has not been one in the Mamfe before. It is, therefore, important to emphasize the lessons – spiritual and temporal – to draw from this unusual incident; lessons that are worth commending to all men and women in leadership positions at any level in Cameroon; where the humility to admit to advancing age or failing health is viewed as a sign of weakness. The country is replete with too many ignoble examples of sit-tightism. In contradistinction, Bishop Lysinge had no difficulty recognizing that both the strength of body and mind are necessary to fulfil the episcopal ministry entrusted to him. His popularity as the “Peoples’ Bishop” is a measure of the trust placed on him, his distinct attribute as a leader; his incorruptibility, courage, sincerity, firmness and decisiveness. These traits, highly required of a true leader, are sadly in short supply with Cameroonian leaders.

Put in perspective, between a choice to remain in office while still capable of providing effective leadership; and the desire to respect the rules of engagement and stand down for another able shepherd, Bishop Lysinge chose the latter. By putting the common good of Mamfe Diocese above his self-interest, Bishop Lysinge demonstrated that he has conquered the self; indeed, he has waged and won the first and the greatest of all human struggles, without compromising principles. This is the hallmark of greatness. In truth, the work of a bishop is to be a father; responsible to those for whom he cares but at the same time accountable to the Lord for the divine commission given by the Good Shepherd Himself; to be faithful is to be true to the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, not seeking personal gain or private fulfilment but always and only what the Lord requires.

Therefore, the Ministry of a Bishop is not measured in terms of achievements or successes but is understood only in the language of faith, hope and love. Steadfast in faith, inspired by hope, and motivated by love, Bishop Lysinge employed his eloquence and personal charisma to articulate an evangelization campaign that brought the “medicine of mercy” to thousands of Christians and non-believers alike. He was unwavering in this pursuit. An intellectual of no mean order, Bishop Lysinge, read the signs correctly that, after 51 years in the service of the Lord, he is entitled to a well-deserved rest from active episcopalism. Surely he personifies the leader that Cameroon needs.

The appointment of Andrew Nkea as Coadjutor Bishop of Mamfe Diocese could not have been more proverbial. However, among those who have known Bishop Nkea or followed his career, the appointment was not a surprise. In Bishop Lysinge’s own words, Bishop Nkea: “is my spiritual son, having been his spiritual director in the Major Seminary in Bambui. As an efficient administrator and canon lawyer, he will definitely lead our diocese along the beautiful path of God. It is a happy coincidence that the then Bishop of Buea, Most Rev. Pius Awa, charged the Bishop-Elect, then his Secretary and Chancellor of the Diocese of Buea, to prepare for my Episcopal ordination in Mamfe on the 21st of April 1999. He read the bull of my appointment by the Holy Father at that mass. How mysterious are the ways of God! Who could tell that fourteen years later, the one reading the bull will take over from me? How mysterious are the ways of God! How unfathomable his ways!”

As admirers wait to see how the new Bishop would engage his flock, Bishop Nkea should be reminded that being a Bishop lends him a transcendent voice that translates his position to a call to duty. The trickling effects of his profound intellect, cultural intelligence, motivating power, and solicitude, as well as the influence of his new position should be harnessed to resolve the hydra-headed problems bedevilling not just Mamfe Diocese, but the entire country. In practical terms, this would entail turning his lectern into a bully-pulpit to fight not only for the souls of his congregation, but for the cause of all Cameroonians; speaking truth to power, when and where necessary.

As the first Bishop of Mamfe Diocese is celebrated in impressive words and colours – a well-deserved celebration – the question for the Catholic faithful and Cameroonians is: what lessons can be learned from Bishop Lysinge? His retirement signals a new direction in the Mamfe Diocese, as well as introduces a new value into, not just the Diocesan leadership, but leadership everywhere. Deriving from this, it may be said that any man worth the honour of leading at any level must have the humility, the courage, and the selflessness to, in a manner of speaking, walk away from it all. It is in this context then that it can be said that, like great men who define real greatness by challenging the spirit of their age, Bishop Francis Lysinge has, by his decision to retire, altered the spirit of the age in Cameroon where a gerontocracy has taken the nation hostage. And in doing so, he defined in practical terms, the true meaning of leadership. The lessons of his episcopal ministry ought to be paramount and imbibed by present and future Cameroonian leaders.

By Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai