About soter

Posts by :

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

3, August 2026

Biya regime secures $160m to improve disease detection and emergency response ⁰

Cameroon has launched a three-year pandemic preparedness program backed by nearly $160 million, with the government and development partners seeking to strengthen the country’s ability to detect and contain disease outbreaks before they escalate.

The financing package includes a $23.5 million grant from the Pandemic Fund, $112.3 million in co-financing from development partners and $24 million from the Cameroonian government. According to the Ministry of Public Health and the Pandemic Fund, the money will be used to reinforce disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, emergency response systems and health workforce training under the One Health approach.

The program comes as Cameroon faces multiple public health risks linked to population displacement, regional insecurity, natural disasters and increasing human interaction with wildlife, factors that heighten the country’s exposure to epidemics before they are detected and contained.

A major part of the project will focus on improving surveillance. The government plans to strengthen monitoring at key entry points, establish seven regional call centers and digitalize community-based surveillance in more than 40 municipalities.

Antimicrobial resistance monitoring will also be expanded through 42 sentinel sites. The program is intended to improve the exchange of information between public health, veterinary and environmental services, allowing authorities to identify emerging threats more quickly.

These investments are aligned with the global 7-1-7 target, under which a suspected outbreak should be detected within seven days, reported within one day and followed by an effective response within seven additional days.

Laboratory capacity will receive substantial support. Fifty laboratories are expected to improve their quality-control and diagnostic systems, while three national reference laboratories will be upgraded to meet international ISO standards. The project will also strengthen the transport of biological samples and expand genomic surveillance for priority diseases, including cholera, meningitis and hemorrhagic fevers.

Emergency response capacity is another focus. Ten regional Public Health Emergency Operations Centers will be equipped and activated, while integrated rapid response teams will be trained to intervene during epidemics and other health emergencies.

The program will also train epidemiologists, veterinary specialists, community health workers, local government officials and environmental health professionals. It is expected to improve coordination among the institutions involved in outbreak prevention and response, as well as the management of funds and equipment assigned to health security.

According to the Pandemic Fund, successful implementation will result in stronger early warning systems, upgraded laboratory networks, enhanced emergency response capacity and improved collaboration across sectors. The program draws on lessons from Cameroon’s response to COVID-19, cholera, Mpox and other outbreaks while reinforcing the country’s long-term health security framework.

Source: Business in Cameroon

3, August 2026

Brazil’s Lula says he is ‘in great shape’ as he launches fourth term bid ⁰

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 80, said Sunday he was “in great shape” as he launched his candidacy for October elections, with pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration looming over the campaign.

Lula, a leftist titan of Latin American politics who is loved and despised in near-equal measure in Brazil, highlighted what he called his stamina and good health as he addressed a convention of his Worker’s Party (PT) in Sao Paulo attended by around 3,000 people.

“I want to fight against old age. I don’t want to be shuffling along. That’s why I work out my legs. That’s why I work out my arms. That’s why I walk for an hour,” said the veteran leftist, adding he was far fitter than when he was first elected in 2002.

The former metalworker and union leader made a dramatic comeback when he returned to power three years ago after a stint in jail on corruption charges that were later annulled.

He is seeking a fourth and final term in office.

Brazil’s constitution allows presidents to serve two consecutive terms. After sitting out at least one term, they can run again, with no lifetime limit on the number of terms.

In his speech to a crowd awash in red, the colour of the PT, Lula compared himself to World Cup icons like Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

“What people don’t realise is that this World Cup of mine is the seventh,” he said, referring to the number of times he has run for the top job in the past four decades.

Standing next to his wife, Rosangela da Silva, 59, he said he would not run again, because “after we hand Brazil back to the Brazilian people in perfect shape – we’re going on vacation to focus on romance for another 20 years.”

Lula’s main election rival is Flavio Bolsonaro, eldest son of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The 45-year-old senator stepped into the role after his father was convicted of plotting a coup to prevent Lula from taking power in 2023.

Source: France 24

3, August 2026

Far North Region: Armed groups kidnapped 308 people ⁰

Non-state armed groups kidnapped 308 people in Cameroon’s Far North region between April and June 2026, up from 141 during the same period in 2025. The number of victims rose 118% year on year, according to Situation Report No. 65, published on July 31, 2026, by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The surge in kidnappings was the clearest sign of deteriorating security in the second quarter. OCHA recorded 207 incidents attributed to non-state armed groups, leaving 72 people dead and 48 injured.

The trend contrasts sharply with the death toll. Violence killed 72 people between April and June 2026, compared with 77 during the same period a year earlier, a modest decline of 6.5%. Over the same period, kidnappings more than doubled, with 167 additional victims.

The figures suggest that the death toll alone does not capture the deterioration in security. Kidnappings were among the main threats facing civilians during the quarter in the region bordering Nigeria.

Beyond their direct impact on victims and their families, kidnappings fuel fear, restrict movement and disrupt livelihoods. They can also force residents to move to areas perceived as safer. The insecurity also limits humanitarian access to affected communities.

Two Incidents Involving Explosive Devices

OCHA also reported two incidents involving improvised explosive devices in the Logone-et-Chari division between April and June 2026, compared with none during the same period in 2025.

Two incidents are too few to establish a broader trend, but they represent an additional threat to residents and humanitarian workers, particularly on roads through conflict-affected areas.

The surge in kidnappings comes as the Far North is already grappling with overlapping humanitarian crises. OCHA cited new population displacements, a worsening measles outbreak, the emergence of cholera and persistent food insecurity.

Although the report does not directly link these crises, their convergence is increasing household vulnerability and placing further strain on the humanitarian response. The figures underscore the continuing threat to civilians in the Far North, even as the death toll remains broadly stable.

Source: Sbbc

3, August 2026

Dangote Cement Cameroon: expansion meets weaker sales ⁰

Dangote Cement’s Cameroon subsidiary sold 596,800 metric tons of cement in the first half of 2026, down 13.1% from a year earlier, according to the company’s unaudited half-year results published on July 29, 2026.

After selling 300,000 tons between January and March, as reported in its first-quarter results, second-quarter sales can therefore be calculated at 296,800 tons. That was down 1.1% from the previous quarter.

The lack of a rebound contrasts with the subsidiary’s June 2026 announcement that it plans to increase its production capacity in Cameroon to 3 million tons a year from 1.5 million by 2028. Annualizing first-half sales would put full-year volume at 1.194 million tons. That would be equivalent to 79.6% of current capacity but only 39.8% of the planned capacity.

These ratios are not capacity utilization rates. The published results provide neither the Douala plant’s actual production nor changes in inventories. They nonetheless illustrate the scale of the commercial challenge: based on a simple extrapolation of the first-half pace, selling 3 million tons would require sales to increase by about 2.5 times.

Two Quarters Without a Rebound

Dangote’s reported 13.1% decline indicates that first-half 2025 sales were about 686,800 tons. The subsidiary therefore sold about 90,000 fewer tons than a year earlier.

The decline appears to have eased, however. After a 15.8% drop in the first quarter, the year-on-year decrease between April and June can be estimated at about 10.2%. The calculation is based on the rounded half-year and quarterly figures reported by the group and should therefore be treated as an approximation.

That relative improvement does not yet amount to a recovery. The calculated second-quarter volume of 296,800 tons remained below the 300,000 tons sold in the first quarter.

Dangote attributed the weak performance to a slowdown in construction following the elections, delays in public spending and slower infrastructure project execution. In its half-year results, the group described the weakness as temporary and forecast a recovery as spending and project execution resume.

That is the company’s assessment. Available public data do not make it possible to separate the effect of slower construction activity from potential market share shifts toward other producers. Without comprehensive statistics covering all cement producers in the first half of 2026, Dangote’s sales decline also cannot be equated with a similar contraction in national consumption.

The first-half performance largely extends the decline recorded in 2025. That year, volumes at the Douala plant fell 14.1% to 1.2 million tons from 1.4 million in 2024, according to Dangote Cement’s 2025 annual results. Annualizing first-half 2026 sales therefore puts the subsidiary almost exactly at the previous year’s level.

Cameroon’s Role in Dangote’s Regional Clinker Network

Dangote’s Cameroon facility is not an integrated cement plant that produces clinker locally. The group describes it as a grinding plant with annual capacity of 1.5 million tons and a jetty that allows clinker to be unloaded directly at the facility. The semi-finished product is then ground with local pozzolana and gypsum to produce cement.

This configuration links the Cameroon subsidiary to the group’s regional industrial and logistics network. Dangote’s Nigerian plants shipped 754,000 tons of clinker to Cameroon and Ghana in the first half of 2026, up 56.7% from a year earlier, according to the cement producer’s half-year results. The group does not disclose how the volume was divided between the two countries.

A Dangote Cement strategy presentation published in June 2026 sets out the economic rationale behind the network. According to the group, the model “maximises utilisation of Nigeria’s asset base” and “leverages Nigeria’s integrated plants to feed African sites without needing to build further kilns.” In other words, Nigerian kilns serve as a regional production base supplying African grinding plants without the need to build new kilns in each market.

The model allows Dangote to increase utilization of its Nigerian plants and limit the industrial investment required in the countries it supplies. But it keeps Cameroon at the downstream end of the value chain, with limestone still being burned into clinker abroad.

The significance of the Cameroon project therefore extends beyond the additional capacity. The planned facility’s configuration is equally important. A new grinding plant would increase local cement-grinding capacity but would also increase the need for imported clinker. An integrated cement plant equipped with a kiln and supplied by a limestone quarry would represent a more significant shift in the industry’s structure.

That distinction is particularly important because Cameroon imported 3,106,782 tons of clinker in 2025 for 97.317 billion CFA francs, according to the preliminary foreign trade report published by the National Institute of Statistics in April 2026. The purchases rose 20.5% by volume and 14.7% by value from 2024. Clinker accounted for 1.9% of the total value of Cameroon’s imports.

A 3 Million-Ton Target First Announced in 2015

The 3 million-ton figure is not new. When the plant was inaugurated in 2015, the Prime Minister’s Office said the facility was expected to reach 1.5 million tons by the end of that year and that its “actual capacity,” according to its promoter, was 3 million tons.

Eleven years later, Dangote still lists its installed capacity in Cameroon at 1.5 million tons a year.

The project resurfaced publicly on July 21, 2026. After a meeting with Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, Dangote Group Vice President Devakumar Edwin announced plans to build a new plant in the country’s economic capital. “We also intend to build a new cement plant in Douala. We will visit sites to determine where to locate this plant,” he said, according to remarks reported by Business & Finance International on July 23.

The statement indicates that the project remains at a preliminary stage. Dangote said it was still searching for a site, with no location finalized. No publicly available information specifies the cost of the Cameroon investment, the construction schedule, the new plant’s capacity or whether it will include a clinker kiln.

The location itself also remains unclear. In June 2026, Dangote Cement Cameroon referred both to an expansion of the Douala facility and the revival of a project for a second 1.5 million-ton plant in an industrial zone in Yaoundé. A month later, the group’s management announced a new cement plant in Douala. Dangote has not publicly clarified whether these are separate projects or whether the company has shifted the proposed location.

Sinoma Agreement Does Not Specify Cameroon Project Costs

The agreement signed with Sinoma International Engineering on February 28, 2026, does not resolve these uncertainties. It covers an estimated investment of more than $1 billion and 12 construction, expansion or modernization projects in seven African countries, including Cameroon, according to information published by Agence Ecofin on March 4, 2026.

No public breakdown identifies the amount allocated to Cameroon. The agreement also does not specify whether the local investment will take the form of a grinding plant, an integrated cement plant or a simple expansion of the existing facility.

The agreement alone therefore does not establish that work to double capacity has begun. It mainly confirms that Cameroon is among the markets included in Dangote Cement’s continental expansion strategy.

The proposed expansion therefore raises two issues. Commercially, Dangote would need to restore growth, gain market share or develop new outlets to absorb the additional capacity. Industrially, it must clarify whether the investment will only expand local grinding capacity or also reduce Cameroon’s dependence on imported clinker.

Until the site, financing, timetable and technical configuration are disclosed, the increase to 3 million tons remains a stated target. It comes as Dangote’s Cameroon sales have remained at about 300,000 tons per quarter since the beginning of 2026.

Source: Business in Cameroon

1, August 2026

Unity Palace: Why accusations against Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh are causing a scandal ⁰

A deserter facing an arrest warrant for fraud, the former head of Paul Biya’s military intelligence bureau has broken his silence from Europe. His accusations against the secretary-general of the presidency Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh are rocking Yaoundé.

Accusations from exile

The former intelligence chief, who is currently characterized as a deserter and is facing an arrest warrant for fraud, has used his position in Europe to target one of the most powerful figures in the Cameroonian government.

His claims against Ngoh Ngoh have triggered a political scandal in Yaoundé, as they come from an individual who once held a high-level security role within the presidency’s inner circle.

Context of the dispute

The situation is complicated by the legal status of the accuser. Having left the country, he now faces official warrants related to fraud allegations, while simultaneously attempting to challenge the reputation of the Secretary-General.

The intensity of the reaction in the capital suggests that the claims have hit a sensitive nerve within the administration of President Paul Biya.

Implications for the presidency

The scandal highlights internal frictions within Cameroon’s top security and administrative apparatus. Because the accusations originate from a former military intelligence lead, they carry a weight that typically causes significant disruption within the halls of power in Yaoundé.

As the situation develops, the presidency has yet to provide a formal response to the specific claims made from Europe.

Source: Businessselitesafrica