About soter

Posts by :

Top officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey due in Iran for security talks

26, October 2026

Top officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey due in Iran for security talks 0

Top officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey are due in Tehran for a joint meeting aimed at promoting regional security and drawing on Iran’s defense experience, a senior Iranian official says.

Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Bagheri Kani said the three senior officials are scheduled to meet with SNSC Secretary Major General Mohsen Rezaei and participate in a joint session on Monday.

He added that Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey will be represented respectively by Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and National Intelligence Organization Director Ibrahim Kalin.

Bagheri Kani explained that the visit and joint meeting aim to advance the idea of ensuring security by regional countries and drawing on Iran’s experience during the 40-day US-Israeli war on Iran.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s defense model, based on its indigenous capabilities, has become a successful model for ensuring national security,” he said.

He once again reiterated that Iran’s strategic policy is based on the need for regional countries to ensure and guarantee their own security.

“Any foreign interference and influence, particularly by the US regime, as well as the role of the illegitimate Zionist regime at any level, disrupt regional security and stability,” the Iranian security official emphasized.

He noted that the meeting of the four countries in Tehran could act as an “important and effective” step toward shaping a regional security framework.

Bagheri Kani added that Iran’s proposal for establishing indigenous security through the participation of regional countries was a result of the success of the Iranian nation and armed forces during the US-Israel war, which began on February 28.

He expressed hope that implementing the initiative would help bring stability and peace to West Asia.

He also explained that during a visit to Tehran last week, the Pakistani Army chief had informed the SNSC secretary about the decision by senior Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani officials to travel to Iran and hold a joint session.

The United States and Israel waged their illegal war of aggression against Iran on February 28.

In response, the Iranian armed forces launched powerful retaliatory attacks against US and Israeli assets in the region, dealing heavy blows to the invading coalition.

Unity Palace needs a new idea and a new head of state

24, October 2026

Unity Palace needs a new idea and a new head of state 0

The United Republic of Cameroon or the Republic of Cameroon as it is popularly known now stands at a crossroads. As Cameroons looks towards the parliamentary and municipal elections expected in early 2027, a fundamental question demands an honest answer: how long can a country continue to look to the same political leadership for solutions to problems that have persisted for decades?

Paul Biya has been at the helm of state affairs since 1982. For more than four decades, his name has been inseparable from the country’s political landscape. Yet the passage of time inevitably raises questions about political renewal, institutional accountability and the direction in which the nation is heading.

We of the Concord Group now think Cameroon needs more than another electoral cycle. It needs a new idea, a new vision and a serious national conversation about the future of its leadership.

The United Republic or the Republic of Cameroon is a nation blessed with natural resources, fertile land, a strategic geographical position and a population rich in talent and ambition. Its young people possess ideas, energy and the desire to build a prosperous country. Yet many continue to confront unemployment, limited economic opportunities, inadequate public services and uncertainty about their future.

The crisis in the English-speaking regions, the persistent security challenges in parts of the Far North and the wider difficulties of national cohesion have also placed enormous demands on the ruling CPDM crime syndicate. These challenges require more than familiar speeches and promises. They demand policies that produce measurable results, institutions that command public confidence and leadership that is prepared to confront difficult questions.

The issue is not simply how long Biya has been in office. It is whether Cameroon’s political system is creating the conditions for a better future for the next generation. Longevity in power cannot by itself be the measure of national progress.

The anticipated 2027 parliamentary and municipal elections should be an opportunity for Cameroonians to examine the record of their representatives, debate competing visions and demand credible commitments from those seeking public office.

For the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), retaining a parliamentary majority may remain an important political objective. But the national interest must extend beyond the fortunes of any party. A political system cannot be judged solely by its ability to preserve power; it must also be judged by its ability to respond to citizens’ needs.

Opposition divisions are a real political challenge. When opposition parties struggle to cooperate, develop a shared program or build public trust, they risk weakening their ability to present a credible alternative. But opposition unity should not be reduced to a temporary arrangement designed only to defeat the ruling party. It must be founded on a clear program for governance, economic opportunity, national reconciliation and institutional reform.

At the same time, ELECAM’s credibility matters. Cameroonians must be able to participate freely, candidates must have a fair opportunity to compete and ELECAM must operate transparently. The legitimacy of elected representatives depends not merely on the announcement of results, but also on public confidence in the process that produces them.

A new idea does not mean rejecting everything that came before. It means recognising that a country’s needs change and that its institutions must evolve with them.

Cameroon needs a political vision that places young people at the centre of economic policy; treats education and healthcare as foundations of development; supports farmers, entrepreneurs and small businesses; and confronts corruption through transparent institutions and consistent enforcement of the law.

Cameroon needs a government that serves citizens rather than asking citizens to organise their lives around the state. It needs stronger local government, capable of addressing community priorities and using public resources responsibly. It needs a renewed commitment to national unity, one that recognises the country’s linguistic, cultural and regional diversity while protecting the equal dignity of all its citizens. Above all, Cameroon needs a political culture in which leadership is understood as a public responsibility not a permanent entitlement.

These reforms cannot be delivered by slogans alone. Any political movement including the ruling CPDM proposing a new direction must explain how it would finance its promises, strengthen public institutions, improve public services and measure progress. A new generation of leadership must be judged by the substance of its program as well as the credibility of its conduct.

The call for a new head of state is ultimately a call to open a serious debate about political succession and democratic renewal. Biya’s long tenure makes this question unavoidable. But a change of president, on its own, would not automatically resolve Cameroon’s challenges. Without institutional reform, greater accountability and a clear program of national development, a new leader could inherit the same problems and reproduce the same political habits.

The real task is therefore twofold: to create a credible pathway for leadership renewal and to build institutions strong enough to serve the country regardless of who occupies the Unity Palace. Any transition must respect the Constitution, the rule of law and the rights of citizens. It should also be peaceful, transparent and grounded in the principle that public office derives its legitimacy from the people.

Cameroonians deserve a meaningful debate about the qualities they expect from their next head of state: integrity, openness to scrutiny, respect for democratic institutions, an ability to build consensus and a demonstrable commitment to improving ordinary people’s lives. These are not the exclusive qualities of any party or political generation. They are standards by which all aspiring leaders should be assessed.

Cameroon’s future cannot be reduced to the political survival of one party, the ambitions of one opposition coalition or the tenure of one individual. The country is larger than its political class, and its aspirations extend beyond the next election.

The parliamentary and municipal elections expected in 2027 should therefore serve as a moment of national reflection. What kind of country do Cameroonians want to build? What economic opportunities should be available to their children? How can peace be restored and trust rebuilt? What institutions will protect public resources and ensure that leaders answer to the people? These questions deserve serious answers from the ruling CPDM party, the opposition and civil society alike.

After more than four decades under the same president, the debate over political succession is not simply about personalities. It is about whether Cameroon can create a political system that renews itself, welcomes new ideas and responds effectively to the aspirations of its people.

Cameroon needs a new idea because its challenges demand fresh thinking. It needs a credible process of leadership renewal because no nation should confuse continuity with progress. And it needs a future in which the quality of governance matters more than the duration of any individual’s rule.

The time has come for Cameroon to place national renewal at the centre of its political debate. The country’s next chapter should be defined not by the question of who can remain in power, but by the more important question of how power can be used to build a peaceful, prosperous and accountable state for all Cameroonians.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Trump says US may launch ‘another little Epic Fury’ attack on Iran

23, October 2026

Trump says US may launch ‘another little Epic Fury’ attack on Iran 0

US President Donald Trump on Friday said his country may launch “another little Epic Fury” on Iran, referring to the joint Israeli-American military operation that sparked the war with Iran at the end of February.

“We may do another little Epic Fury,” Trump said in remarks at a ​rally in Florida as he ‌spoke about the war.

He did not elaborate but has previously signalled an openness to resuming strikes after a long deadlock in diplomacy – but not before the US congressional elections on November 3.

Source: AFP

Formula 1: Hamilton sets sights on racing in African grand prix

22, October 2026

Formula 1: Hamilton sets sights on racing in African grand prix 0

Lewis Hamilton on Thursday welcomed Formula One’s decision to return to Africa, but revealed reservations over the choice of Rwanda to host the continent’s first Grand Prix in more than three decades.

The seven-time world champion also said he wanted to stay in F1 racing into his forties to make sure he can fulfil his dream of racing in an African Grand Prix.

Speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver said he was aware of concerns regarding Rwanda and said they should not be overlooked.

“Of course, I don’t get to choose where we go and, naturally, there’s problems all over the world today,” he said. “I’ve seen many of the stories, but I think we really have to approach it with humility.”

Formula One announced a 10-year agreement to race in Rwanda last week with the race set to join the calendar after a circuit has been built in the early 2030s.

The last time an F1 race was held in Africa was the 33rd South African Grand Prix near Johannesburg in 1993 when Hamilton was just eight years old.

“There’s a lot that we don’t know,” added Hamilton who has called for a return to Africa for many years.

“Growing up in England, they never taught us anything about Africa. It needs to be on the curriculum…

“A lot of the problems they have there are still the results of colonialism and the west intervening, but if you see the people, you see so many designs that are out there today. Top brands come from Africa, and it’s got all the richest resources.

“I really hope, and I still have hopes, that Africa unites. I know there’s many people that don’t want that to happen — because they would be so powerful if they did, but I’m still hopeful that at some stage they will.

“And, of course, going doesn’t mean that you neglect the things that are happening there.

“So hopefully many people start to educate themselves a little more about what is happening, what has happened for hundreds of years and I hope that does spark the conversation.”

Hamilton, who warmly praised runaway championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes as he sat alongside him at a news conference, revealed also that he hopes to continue racing into his mid-forties.

“I’m looking forward to racing with him longer. I mean, I’m now forced to have to stay a lot longer because we have a race in Africa — and that’s been my dream, to be able to race in Africa.”

“So, you’ve got time,” said the 20-year-old Italian. “You’ve got to do at least the first one.”

“Yeah,” replied Hamilton. “I have to keep fighting to try and stay fit if I can. If I can still punch out good results over the next year, we’ll keep it going.”

Source: AFP

Yaoundé: anti-corruption agency calls for stronger powers after 20 years of limited progress

22, October 2026

Yaoundé: anti-corruption agency calls for stronger powers after 20 years of limited progress 0

Twenty years after its creation, Cameroon’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (Conac) continues to face limited cooperation from government institutions, delays in the implementation of its recommendations and legal restrictions on its authority. Of the 270 organizations contacted to contribute to its 2025 report on corruption in Cameroon, only 112 responded, while the remaining 158 provided no information.

Conac Chairman Dieudonné Massi Gams disclosed the figures on October 8, 2026, in Yaoundé, during the presentation of the commission’s annual report. The low response rate highlights the difficulties the institution continues to face despite two decades of anti-corruption efforts since its establishment on March 11, 2006.

In the report’s foreword, Massi Gams acknowledged that public awareness campaigns, investigations and corruption reporting mechanisms have not been enough to eliminate practices that remain widespread in public administration. He also noted that recommendations issued after investigations are not always implemented as quickly as expected. Reflecting on Conac’s record, Massi Gams described its first two decades as neither a complete success nor a failure. He nevertheless pointed to progress in public awareness and the establishment of corruption prevention mechanisms.

Investigative Powers Without Authority to Prosecute

One of the main obstacles identified in the report concerns the limits of Conac’s legal authority. Under the decree of March 11, 2006, the commission can receive corruption complaints, conduct investigations and gather evidence. However, it cannot initiate criminal prosecutions on its own.

Article 22 of the decree requires Conac to submit investigation files to the president of the Republic for appropriate decisions. In cases where an offense is caught in progress, the commission’s chairman can refer the matter directly to the minister responsible for justice.

Massi Gams believes this arrangement restricts Conac’s ability to act on corruption offenses uncovered through its investigations.

He also criticized the continued failure to effectively implement mandatory asset declarations for public officials. The requirement is established under Article 66 of Cameroon’s Constitution and governed by a law enacted on April 25, 2006. Two decades later, Conac considers the lack of effective implementation an obstacle to detecting illicit enrichment and monitoring changes in the wealth of people who hold public office.

The commission also faces insufficient resources and increasingly complex corruption practices, particularly those associated with the development of digital technologies. According to its 2025 report, financial losses linked to corruption cases identified during the year reached CFA6.27 billion, compared with CFA4.06 billion in 2024. These figures represent losses identified through the oversight and investigative mechanisms covered by the report.

To strengthen the country’s anti-corruption framework, Massi Gams called for updated legislation, more consistent implementation of Conac’s recommendations and stronger protections for people who report corruption. He also recommended greater use of digital tools and artificial intelligence to help prevent and detect corruption.

Source: Sbbc

Martinez Zogo Affair: Biya must clean house and make way for a new generation

21, October 2026

Martinez Zogo Affair: Biya must clean house and make way for a new generation 0

Cameroon cannot move forward while the shadows of the Martinez Zogo affair continue to hang over the corridors of power.

The bitter rivalry between former intelligence chief Léopold Maxime Eko Eko and presidency heavyweight Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, as reflected in allegations surrounding the case, raises fundamental questions about accountability, the use of state power and the credibility of the institutions entrusted with protecting Cameroonians.

At the heart of this tragedy is the brutal murder of journalist Martinez Zogo—a case that has shaken public confidence and placed the conduct of powerful figures under intense scrutiny. Beyond the courtroom battles, competing accusations and alleged political intrigues lies a question that President Paul Biya can no longer afford to ignore: How can a nation restore public trust when a case of such gravity casts a shadow over people associated with the highest levels of government? The answer must begin with accountability, institutional integrity and the political courage to act.

Biya has a responsibility to ensure that the Martinez Zogo affair is not reduced to a contest between rival factions within the state apparatus. This is not merely a struggle between powerful personalities. It is a test of whether Cameroon’s institutions can establish the truth, protect the rule of law and ensure that no individual is beyond accountability.

The allegations made in connection with this affair must be investigated impartially. Accusations are not convictions, and no one should be declared guilty outside a fair judicial process. But neither should political office become a shield against scrutiny. Anyone whose conduct is credibly implicated in wrongdoing must face the full force of the law, regardless of rank, influence or proximity to the presidency.

If Biya’s aides are found to have abused their positions, obstructed justice or participated in criminal conduct, they must be held accountable. Where credible concerns arise about an official’s ability to exercise public responsibilities while under investigation, the government should consider appropriate administrative measures consistent with the law and the presumption of innocence. Cameroonians deserve nothing less.

For decades, Cameroon’s political system has revolved around Mister Biya and a circle of long-serving CPDM officials. Whatever their individual contributions, the country must now confront a difficult question: has the concentration of influence among established power brokers become an obstacle to renewal, transparency and effective governance? The Martinez Zogo affair makes that question impossible to ignore.

Biya should initiate a comprehensive review of the responsibilities held by officials whose conduct is credibly called into question by the Zogo affair. Those directly implicated by reliable evidence should not continue to enjoy the privileges of office as though nothing has happened. Where necessary and legally justified, they should be relieved of their duties pending the appropriate processes. This is not a call for political revenge, nor should it become a pretext for one faction to eliminate another. It is a call to put the credibility of the state above the interests of individuals.

No CPDM official should be indispensable to the Republic. No political alliance should be more important than justice. And no office should be powerful enough to intimidate those seeking the truth. The objective must be a transparent government in which responsibility comes with accountability and public service is treated as a duty rather than a private entitlement.

Beyond the immediate demands of the Martinez Zogo case lies a broader national challenge: the nation is badly in need of a political renewal. Correspondingly, a cabinet reshuffle that simply moves familiar faces from one ministry to another will not address the deeper problems facing the country. Cameroon needs fresh thinking, new energy and a generation of leaders prepared to confront the realities of the twenty-first century.

Biya should use this moment to open the doors of government to competent young Cameroonians—women and men with professional experience, integrity, innovative ideas and a demonstrable commitment to the public interest.

Young people should not be appointed merely because of their age, nor should experienced officials be excluded simply because they are older. The guiding principles must be competence, integrity, accountability and measurable results. But a country with Cameroon’s youthful population cannot indefinitely treat young people as spectators in decisions that determine their future.

A renewed cabinet should prioritize employment, education, healthcare, affordable living, infrastructure, digital innovation, industrial development and support for entrepreneurs. It should also strengthen public financial oversight, improve service delivery and establish clear performance targets for ministers. Cameroon does not lack talent. It lacks sufficient opportunities to translate that talent into national progress.

From the universities to the private sector, from local communities to the diaspora, the country has young professionals and innovators capable of contributing to a more productive economy. They deserve a meaningful place in national leadership and not token appointments designed to give an appearance of change while leaving the old structures untouched.

The greatest danger is that public attention in the Martinez Zogo case will eventually fade, political alliances will shift and the Zogo affair will disappear beneath the weight of other national controversies. That must not happen.

Martinez Zogo was a journalist. His murder raises profound questions about the safety of media professionals, the protection of freedom of expression and the ability of citizens to scrutinize those who exercise public power.

A credible response requires an independent and fair judicial process, the protection of witnesses, respect for due process and the publication of reliable information wherever legally permissible. It requires investigators and judicial authorities to follow the evidence wherever it leads, without political interference.

It also requires the government to demonstrate that the protection of journalists is not a slogan reserved for international audiences but a commitment that applies within Cameroon itself. The pursuit of justice must not depend on who is accused, who is protected or which faction holds the advantage in the corridors of power.

If the evidence establishes individual responsibility, the courts must determine it. If institutional failures enabled wrongdoing, those failures must be exposed and corrected. And if public officials failed in their duties, their conduct must be examined through lawful and transparent procedures. Anything less would deepen public mistrust.

Biya faces a choice about how his government responds to this affair and the broader demand for political renewal. Biya as usual can allow the controversy to remain another chapter in the long history of rivalries within the state, or he can use it as an opportunity to reinforce the institutions of the Republic, demand accountability and open government to a new generation.

A meaningful response would include reviewing the positions of officials such as Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh and Laurent Esso credibly implicated in the Zogo affair, ensuring that investigations proceed without interference, strengthening safeguards against abuses of power and appointing ministers on the basis of merit and integrity. It would also mean setting a clear timetable for reforms and requiring every ministry to demonstrate tangible results for the population.

Biya now understand that the measure of leadership is not the number of loyalists surrounding a president. It is the strength of the institutions that remain when personalities change.

Cameroon needs a state that serves its citizens rather than one perceived to serve competing networks of influence. It needs institutions that command respect because they are impartial, not because they are feared. And it needs a government capable of turning the energy of its youthful population into jobs, opportunity and national prosperity.

The Martinez Zogo affair must never become a convenient weapon in a political war between powerful individuals. Nor should it be allowed to fade without a credible determination of the truth. Biya should demand accountability from every official whose conduct warrants scrutiny, ensure that the justice system is free to do its work and pursue a genuine generational renewal of the cabinet.

Those found responsible for wrongdoing must face the law. Those who have lost the confidence necessary to discharge their responsibilities should be assessed through fair and appropriate procedures. And those appointed to lead the next chapter of Cameroon’s development must be selected for their integrity, competence and ability to deliver results. This is not simply about removing individuals. It is about changing the standards by which public office is exercised.

Cameroon is bigger than any president, minister, intelligence chief or presidential adviser. Its future cannot be held hostage to the rivalries of powerful men. Its institutions must be stronger than the personalities who temporarily occupy them. Biya must put the Republic first: accountability for the Martinez Zogo affair, integrity in public office and a new generation of capable leaders ready to move Cameroon forward.

History will not be defined by how long a government remains in place, but by whether it leaves behind institutions that citizens can trust and a country in which the next generation can believe.

Cameroon deserves justice. Cameroon deserves renewal. And Cameroon deserves a future beyond the rivalries of its political establishment.

To this I put my name

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Biya’s health crisis is starting to alarm investors

21, October 2026

Biya’s health crisis is starting to alarm investors 0

Cameroon is getting hammered by bond investors after a credit downgrade. Having a nonagenarian leader with no public succession plan doesn’t help.

Yields on the oil-producing West African nation’s 2033 eurobonds have been climbing for five days to more than 11%, the highest since the securities were issued in January.

For the first time ever, Cameroon now pays more to borrow than lower-rated neighbor the Republic of Congo for similar-maturity debt.

By Jacques Eboka Eboka

Cameroon’s Eurobond yields hit record high after Fitch downgrade

21, October 2026

Cameroon’s Eurobond yields hit record high after Fitch downgrade 0

The yield on Cameroon’s Eurobond maturing in 2033 surged nearly 30 basis points on Monday, October 19, reaching a record 10.65%. The yield on its 2031 bond rose 20 basis points to 10%. The increases marked the fourth consecutive trading session of rising yields, reflecting growing investor concern about the country’s creditworthiness.

The latest market pressure follows Fitch Ratings’ decision on Friday, October 16, to downgrade Cameroon’s sovereign credit rating from B to B-, with a stable outlook. The U.S. ratings agency cited two main factors: uncertainty over the succession of President Paul Biya and mounting pressure on government financing.

According to Fitch, uncertainty surrounding the succession of Biya, 93, raises the risk of a political transition that could undermine the country’s institutional and economic stability.

Government Financing Needs Rise Sharply

Beyond political uncertainty, Cameroon’s public finances are another source of concern. Fitch estimates that the country’s gross financing needs will reach 7.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026, up from 5% in 2025, before easing to 6.5% in 2027.

The absence of a new program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following the expiration of the previous arrangement in July 2025, has added to the pressure. Cameroon is increasingly reliant on external commercial borrowing, while financing options in the regional market of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) have become more limited. According to Fitch, banks’ exposure to sovereign debt across the region rose from 10% of their assets in 2015 to approximately 30% in 2025.

In early October, Cameroon’s Finance Ministry announced plans to raise an additional $300 million by reopening its 2033 Eurobond, which carries an 8.875% coupon. Rising yields in the secondary market now illustrate the potential increase in the cost of securing new financing.

Cameroon has approximately $1.7 billion in outstanding foreign-currency bonds across its 2031 and 2033 maturities. Since the beginning of October, the bonds have generated losses of nearly 3% for investors, making them the worst-performing African sovereign bonds over the period. By comparison, Bloomberg’s index of emerging-market dollar bonds gained more than 1%.

Fitch nevertheless noted that Cameroon’s public debt, estimated at 42.5% of GDP at the end of 2025, remains relatively low compared with similarly rated countries. For Cameroon, the immediate challenge is therefore less about the size of its debt than its ability to secure financing in a market where investors are demanding increasingly higher returns to compensate for risk.

Source: ecofin agency

World Bank Group launches first digital strategy to expand access and create jobs

20, October 2026

World Bank Group launches first digital strategy to expand access and create jobs 0

The World Bank Group today launched its first digital strategy, bringing together its public and private sector capabilities to help developing countries expand affordable digital access, improve services, and create jobs.

The strategy addresses four priorities: expanding connectivity; making devices and data more affordable; strengthening digital services and skills; and helping countries build the foundations to benefit from artificial intelligence.

“Digital technology can help countries create jobs and make scarce resources go further. Realizing that potential requires a comprehensive approach—from reliable connectivity and affordable devices to digital skills and useful services,” said World Bank Group President Ajay Banga. “Our first digital strategy brings these pieces together, helping countries build the foundations to benefit from today’s digital tools and the promise of small AI—AI for the people.”

The launch comes as developing countries face twin challenges: constrained resources and a growing need for jobs. Over the next 10 to 15 years, 1.2 billion young people will reach working age in developing countries, while their economies are projected to create about 420 million jobs.

Digital technology can support job creation across the World Bank Group’s five priority sectors: infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, health care, tourism, and value-added manufacturing. It can help businesses reach customers, improve productivity, and access finance, while reducing the cost of delivering public services.

Yet substantial barriers remain. Over 2 billion people were offline globally in 2025. Only 23 percent of people in low-income countries used the internet, compared with 94 percent in high-income countries. Many people live within network coverage but cannot afford a smartphone or data, lack digital skills, or have limited access to services relevant to their needs.

The strategy sets out four areas of action:

  • Expand reliable connectivity. The World Bank Group will help countries address gaps across the network, from international cables and national connections to the networks serving homes, businesses, schools, and clinics. Its approach includes supporting shared infrastructure, encouraging competition, and using public finance and guarantees to help attract private investment into underserved markets. Where electricity and connectivity are both missing, the strategy supports planning them together.
  • Make devices and data more affordable. The strategy supports efforts to lower the cost of entry-level smartphones and broadband services that increase the cost of staying connected. Partnerships with manufacturers, mobile operators, financial institutions, and refurbishment businesses can help lower prices and expand responsible options for paying over time.
  • Expand digital services and skills. The World Bank Group will support reliable systems for digital identification, payments, and secure information-sharing that make public and private services easier to access. It will also help countries strengthen digital literacy and training linked to employment, enabling more people and small businesses to use technology safely and productively.
  • Build readiness for AI. The strategy will help countries strengthen connectivity, access computing resources, develop usable local data, and build skills. It emphasizes practical applications of “small AI”—tools adapted to specific tasks and local conditions, such as helping farmers identify crop disease, supporting health workers, or helping businesses manage inventory.

Safeguards—from privacy to cybersecurity and fraud protection—run across all four priorities.

The strategy brings together the World Bank Group’s financing, policy advice, private investment, and guarantees around country priorities. It also provides a basis for working with governments, technology companies, development partners, and philanthropy to extend digital opportunities to more people and businesses. Its aim is to help countries turn digital access into higher productivity, better services, and more opportunities to earn a living.

Complementing the strategy’s AI readiness and adaptation priority, the World Bank Group also announced the AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative. This is a new effort to help governments in emerging markets access affordable compute capacity—and put small AI to productive use—through shared, pay-as-you-go GPU infrastructure (specialized computing power used to develop and run AI applications), offering a practical alternative to standalone national data centers. The initiative will have an initial focus on Africa and Latin America, with knowledge partners including Cassava Technologies and NVIDIA.

Contact: World Bank Media Relations: +1 (202) 473 7660, press@worldbankgroup.org

Biya regime raises stake in Sonara to 98%, diluting TotalEnergies to 0.42%

19, October 2026

Biya regime raises stake in Sonara to 98%, diluting TotalEnergies to 0.42% 0

The Cameroonian government has increased its direct stake in the National Refining Company (Sonara) to 98.09%, up from 81.95%, following a recapitalization that sharply reduced the ownership shares of the refinery’s minority shareholders. TotalEnergies Marketing Afrique’s stake fell from 4% to 0.42%, although the company still holds the same number of shares.

The new ownership structure was disclosed in a notarized notice dated October 14, 2026, in Limbe. The document details the recapitalization approved at Sonara’s extraordinary general meeting on June 17, 2026.

Of the 3,216,058 shares that now make up Sonara’s capital, the Cameroonian government directly owns 3,154,660. TotalEnergies Marketing Afrique retains its 13,592 shares, while the refinery’s three other shareholders, all state-owned entities, also retain their existing holdings but now account for much smaller percentages of the company’s capital. The National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH) has seen its stake decline from 6.06% to 0.64%. The Hydrocarbon Price Stabilization Fund (CSPH) now holds 0.45%, down from 4.22%, while the National Investment Corporation (SNI) has fallen from 3.77% to 0.40%.

Together, public shareholders now control 99.58% of Sonara, compared with 96% under the previous ownership structure documented in Cameroon’s 2023 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) report, published in December 2025. The dilution also affects the collective rights of minority shareholders. The four shareholders other than the government now hold a combined 1.91% of Sonara’s capital, compared with 18.05% before the restructuring.

Under Article 159 of the OHADA Uniform Act on Commercial Companies, shareholders must collectively hold at least 10% of a company’s capital to petition a court to appoint an expert to examine certain management operations. Previously, the four minority shareholders could meet that threshold by acting together. Following the recapitalization, their combined holdings are no longer sufficient to exercise that right independently. The government, however, already held enough shares to control decisions at general meetings before the restructuring.

CFA381 Billion Share Issue Reserved for the Government

The change in ownership resulted from a financial restructuring known as a coup d’accordéon, which combines reductions in share capital with a capital increase. Sonara first canceled 278,777 shares, exactly the number directly held by the government under the previous ownership structure. This initial transaction reduced the company’s share capital by CFA16.03 billion.

The government then subscribed to all 6,628,200 newly issued shares, each with a nominal value of CFA57,500, for a total of CFA381.12 billion. The new shares were reserved exclusively for the government, with the other shareholders’ preferential subscription rights removed. A second capital reduction followed, through the cancellation of 3,473,540 shares, equivalent to CFA199.73 billion.

After these transactions, Sonara’s share capital increased from CFA19.56 billion to CFA184.92 billion, a net gain of CFA165.36 billion. The difference between this net increase and the CFA381.12 billion share issue reflects the two capital reductions, which totaled CFA215.76 billion. The notarized notice specifies that the capital increase was carried out by offsetting claims held by the Cameroonian government against Sonara. These were described as claims that were certain, liquid and due, recorded in the government’s shareholder current account.

In practical terms, Sonara converted amounts it owed the government into equity. The transaction reduced the refinery’s corresponding obligations to its public shareholder and strengthened its equity position, but did not provide an equivalent amount of new cash. Sonara’s recapitalization and the increase in its share capital to CFA184.92 billion had already been announced in June 2026. The October 14 notice now provides the detailed distribution of shares among the company’s five shareholders.

However, the document does not specify the origin of the government claims converted into equity or how they were distributed among the refinery’s different debt categories.

Source: Business in Cameroon

< 1 2 3 4 5 >»
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance (opens in a new tab)
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.