3, July 2026
Diocese of Nkongsamba announces release of Priest, 2 Franciscan Brothers 0
The Catholic Diocese of Nkongsamba has announced the safe release of a Priest and two members of the Fraternity of Franciscans of Emmanuel (FFE) who were reportedly abducted in the country’s North-West Region.
In the letter that the Diocesan Chancellor, Abbé Luc Roger Dodo issued on Wednesday, July 1, the Diocese gives thanks to God for the release of Fr. John Bosco Bihkong and Brothers Sylvester Sewong and Marie Rodrigue, who were kidnapped during the night of Saturday, June 27.
“Thank you to everyone for your prayers and expressions of support, which have borne fruit,” Fr. Dodo says in the letter quoting the psalmist, “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.”
In a Tuesday, June 30 statement, the Vicar General of the Cameroonian Episcopal See announced the kidnapping of the three.
According to Mons. Joseph Tchinda Dountio, Fr. Bihkong had traveled to his native village of Melim, near Ndop in the North-West Region of Cameroon, to celebrate his first Mass on Friday, June 26.
He was accompanied by Br. Sylvester Sewong, Guardian of the FFE convent in Kékem, and Br. Marie Rodrigue Sop, who is preparing for a perpetual profession. The three were abducted the following night.
No details were provided regarding the identity of the kidnappers, their motives, or whether contact had been established with the abductors.
Cameroon’s North-West Region is one of the two English-speaking regions that have experienced years of insecurity linked to the country’s Anglophone crisis.
Clergy, women and men Religious, and other civilians have periodically been targeted in abductions as violence has persisted in the region.
Source: aciAfrica























4, July 2026
Questions emerge over Biya’s health as family members gather in Switzerland 0
Fresh concerns have resurfaced over the health of the Cameroonian dictator Paul Biya following reports that several close relatives, including family members rarely seen during his overseas stays have traveled to Switzerland, where the 93-year-old head of state has been staying.
The unusual presence of members of Biya’s inner family has fueled widespread speculation about his condition, especially as Cameroon continues to receive limited official information regarding his prolonged stay in Geneva.
The controversy intensified after a sister publication Jeune Afrique reported that President Biya had been admitted to a private clinic in Switzerland after reportedly feeling unwell during celebrations marking Cameroon’s National Day on May 20. The report quickly attracted regional and international attention.
However, the Cameroonian government has strongly rejected claims that the president is hospitalized. Government spokesman René Emmanuel Sadi stated that while President Biya is indeed in Geneva, he is “by no means admitted in any medical facility” and insisted that he remains capable of overseeing state affairs. Officials described reports of hospitalization as “malicious and unfounded speculation.”
Despite these assurances, Biya’s prolonged absence from public engagements, combined with reports of close relatives gathering in Switzerland, has intensified speculation over his health and the possibility of succession discussions behind closed doors. No official evidence has been presented confirming that the relatives’ presence is linked to a medical emergency.
President Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, has frequently spent extended periods in Switzerland during his presidency. His overseas stays have repeatedly sparked rumors about his health, particularly given his advanced age and the government’s traditionally limited disclosure regarding his medical condition.
Some political commentators say the latest developments are likely to increase public debate about leadership succession in Cameroon ahead of future political milestones. Nevertheless, until independent confirmation emerges, claims regarding any severe deterioration in the president’s health remain unverified.
As of now, the only confirmed facts are that President Biya is in Geneva, Switzerland, and that the Cameroonian government denies reports that he has been hospitalized. Assertions that the presence of family members signals a critical health crisis remain speculative and have not been independently confirmed.
By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai