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13, March 2026

Iran hits US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain with missiles, drones ⁰

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has launched a devastating missile and drone strike on the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet base in Mina Salman, Bahrain, shortly after the first message from the new leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, emphasized Iran’s “determined and regret-inducing” defense efforts.

The IRGC’s public relations office announced that the attack took place on Thursday, with two waves of missile and drone strikes hitting the base.

The statement said that key facilities at the base, including anti-drone defense systems, storage and maintenance areas for drones, support equipment, and fuel tanks, were all targeted with precision missiles and drones.

According to the IRGC, the strike successfully hit American military gatherings, causing significant damage.

“By divine grace, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed,” the statement declared, just after Ayatollah Khamenei asserted that the narrow strategic waterway in the Persian Gulf must remain closed.

“The will of the people is to continue effective defense, and their presence on the scene must be maintained. The Strait of Hormuz must remain closed,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in his first address to the nation on Thursday.

Source: Presstv

12, March 2026

From flight attendant to Parliament Speaker’s Chair: Marlyse Soppo Toute’s unusual path ⁰

From a seat overlooking Cameroon’s National Assembly chamber, lawmaker Marlyse Soppo Toute presided on March 10 over the opening plenary session of the legislative body. The veteran member of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC) is familiar with heights. Long before entering politics, she built her career in civil aviation as a flight attendant.

A native of the Bell canton in Douala, Soppo Toute was among the first winners of Cameroon Airlines’ inaugural recruitment competition for flight attendants in 1971. She was then 24 years old. That marked the start of a long career in air transport, during which she served as a flight attendant, later becoming cabin chief and eventually senior cabin chief.

After graduating from France’s National School of Civil Aviation in 1976, she left the cabin to join the administration of the air transport sector. Her career in the field culminated in 2004 when she became a senior administrative officer, after holding positions as an administrative executive and head of high-value customer service.

A later training program in local government management appears to have encouraged her move into politics. The mother of one child was elected municipal councilor and first deputy mayor of Douala’s 2nd district during the 2007–2013 term.

Already serving since 2004 as chief executive of the real estate firm Société civile immobilière Lek, Soppo Toute then set her sights on national politics. She was elected to the National Assembly in the February 2020 elections. Once in parliament, she joined the Defense and Security Committee and was appointed by the president to the Supreme Council of the Judiciary as a representative of the National Assembly.

Since 2020, she has served as rapporteur on several parliamentary committees. Following the death of Laurentine Koa Mfegue, she became the Assembly’s senior member. In that role, she presided over the opening plenary session of the March parliamentary sitting and will oversee the election of the Assembly’s leadership in the coming days.

Source: Sbbc

12, March 2026

Biya regime schedules nationwide census of population, housing and agriculture ⁰

Cameroon will carry out its fourth General Population and Housing Census alongside a nationwide census of agriculture and livestock between April 24 and May 29, 2026.

The dates were set in a decree signed March 6 by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute. Over the 35-day period, census agents deployed across the country will conduct a comprehensive count of the population, agricultural resources, and national livestock.

According to the government, combining the two operations serves several goals. It reduces public spending by consolidating activities, ensures solid financing with a budget of CFA13.28 billion—CFA7 billion of which is provided by the World Bank through its regional program to harmonize statistics in Africa—and modernizes data collection through a hybrid digital approach designed to produce reliable data and accelerate processing.

Authorities say the initiative is intended to generate accurate and usable statistics to support development planning, assess social needs, and help prepare for the country’s demographic dividend.

Cameroon’s last population and housing census, conducted in 2005, estimated the population at about 20 million people. Today, United Nations projections place the country’s population closer to 28 million, underscoring the need for updated data.

The operation is also designed to be inclusive. More than two million refugees, internally displaced people, and returnees will be included through cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other international partners is expected to ensure coordination among the government, non-governmental organizations, and research institutions.

A Census Framework Established Over the Past Decade

The 2026 population and housing census is based on a presidential decree issued on September 15, 2015. Its purpose is to provide essential data for public policy design, territorial planning, and monitoring development programs, while also incorporating demographic trends into economic and social projections.

The census will cover all individuals living within Cameroon’s national territory, except members of diplomatic and consular missions and their families.

The agriculture and livestock census was established by a separate presidential decree on June 29, 2015. Its main objective is to provide the government and stakeholders in the rural sector with reliable and detailed data needed to plan, monitor, and evaluate initiatives supporting agricultural, livestock, and fisheries development, according to the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries.

Source: Business in Cameroon

12, March 2026

7 key things to know about the Catholic Church in Cameroon ⁰

After concluding the first leg of his African apostolic journey in Algeria, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to travel to Cameroon from April 15–18. In the Central African nation, the Holy Father is set to visit the capital, Yaoundé, and the metropolitan sees of Bamenda and Douala.

If Algeria represents the Church as a small minority navigating a Muslim-majority society, Cameroon presents a different ecclesial landscape. The Catholic Church there is demographically significant, institutionally entrenched, socially influential, and politically attentive.

Ahead of the papal visit officially announced on Feb. 25, here are seven structural realities that define the Church’s profile in Cameroon.

1. A numerically significant and growing Catholic population

Cameroon’s population is religiously diverse, comprising Christians, Muslims, and practitioners of African traditional religions. Within the Christian bloc, Catholics constitute one of the largest denominations. Current estimates place Catholics at roughly 30% to 35% of the national population, translating into several million Catholics.

This scale gives the Catholic Church measurable public presence. Parishes are numerous, Catholic diocesan structures are well developed, and lay movements are active across urban and rural areas. The Church is not a marginal actor; it is a central stakeholder in national life.

Growth trends remain steady rather than explosive. Unlike some East African contexts where Catholic numbers have surged, Cameroon’s expansion is incremental and closely tied to demographic growth. Nonetheless, vocations to the priesthood and Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) continue at levels that sustain ecclesial institutions.

In Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV is set to encounter with a people of God neither defensive nor peripheral but fully embedded in national society.

2. Robust ecclesiastical structure and metropolitan sees

The Catholic Church in Cameroon is organized into five ecclesiastical provinces, each headed by a metropolitan archbishop. These include Yaoundé, Bamenda, Douala, Garoua, and Bertoua.

The Archdiocese of Yaoundé serves the political capital and functions as a strategic center for Church-state engagement. Douala, the country’s economic hub, anchors the Littoral region and reflects the Church’s engagement with commerce, urbanization, and migration.

Bamenda, in the Anglophone Northwest Region, carries particular pastoral and political weight due to ongoing instability in that part of the country. Garoua Archdiocese is in the north of the country, while Bertoua Archdiocese is in the east.

The bishops collectively operate through the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), which regularly issues pastoral letters on social, political, and moral issues.

Pope Leo XIV’s decision to visit three metropolitan sees signals recognition of Cameroon’s regional diversity and ecclesial complexity.

3. A Church with deep historical roots

Catholic missionary activity in Cameroon dates to the late 19th century, particularly under German colonial administration and later French and British rule. Missionaries established schools, clinics, and parishes that became foundational to local communities.

Over time, ecclesial leadership transitioned from missionary congregations to Indigenous clergy. Today, Cameroonian Catholic bishops and priests lead the Church across the country, and missionary institutes have shifted toward collaboration rather than control.

This historical trajectory — from missionary implantation to local ownership — has shaped a confident Church. Catholic institutions in education and health care are not peripheral supplements; they are pillars of national infrastructure.

The historical memory of missionary sacrifice and local perseverance still informs Catholic identity in Cameroon. Papal visits are therefore received not as external interventions but as moments of communion within an already mature ecclesial body.

4. Education and health: The Church as social architect

Few institutions in Cameroon rival the Catholic Church in educational reach. Catholic primary and secondary schools are widespread, often regarded for discipline and academic performance. The Church also sponsors tertiary institutions and teacher training colleges.

Health care is similarly significant. Catholic hospitals and clinics serve urban centers and remote areas alike. In regions where public health systems are strained, Catholic Church-run facilities frequently fill service gaps.

This social footprint gives the Catholic Church influence but also responsibility. It must negotiate regulatory frameworks, maintain quality standards, and manage financial sustainability.

This also means that papal messaging on social justice, youth formation, and health care ethics resonates concretely rather than abstractly.

In Cameroon, the Church’s credibility is measured as much by service delivery as by liturgical vitality.

5. Political engagement and social commentary

Cameroon’s Catholic bishops have consistently engaged in public discourse on governance, elections, corruption, and national unity. Pastoral letters issued around electoral cycles often emphasize transparency, accountability, and peaceful participation.

This engagement places the Catholic Church in a delicate position. While she does not function as a political party, she operates as a moral voice. Her statements can attract both public support and governmental scrutiny.

The Anglophone crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions — marked by tension between separatist groups and state forces — has intensified the Church’s mediating role. Bishops in affected regions, particularly in Bamenda, have appealed for dialogue and protection of civilians.

Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Bamenda is therefore not merely ceremonial. It unfolds against a backdrop of social fragility and political complexity. Any public remarks in that region will be closely analyzed for diplomatic nuance.

6. Vocations, seminaries, and local clergy formation

Cameroon is considered one of the more vocally productive Churches in Central Africa. Major seminaries in the country train diocesan clergy, and religious congregations attract local candidates.

The presence of Indigenous clergy has allowed the Church to contextualize liturgy, catechesis, and pastoral strategy. Inculturation — integrating elements of local culture within Catholic worship and life — has developed within the framework permitted by universal Church norms.

However, vocations also present governance challenges: ensuring adequate formation, preventing clericalism, and addressing global concerns about safeguarding and accountability. As elsewhere, the Cameroonian Church must navigate expectations of transparency and ethical leadership.

A papal visit often includes meetings with clergy and religious. In Cameroon, such encounters are likely to reinforce standards of pastoral responsibility and ecclesial communion.

7. Diversity: Linguistic, cultural, and religious pluralism

Cameroon is frequently described as “Africa in miniature” due to its linguistic and cultural diversity. The country officially operates in both French and English, with numerous Indigenous languages in daily use.

This diversity shapes ecclesial life. The Church must minister across Francophone and Anglophone regions, urban and rural contexts, and varied ethnic identities. Liturgies may incorporate local languages and music while maintaining doctrinal unity.

Religiously, Cameroon is pluralistic. Alongside Catholics are Protestants, Pentecostals, Muslims, and adherents of traditional religions. Inter-Christian competition — particularly with rapidly growing Pentecostal movements — poses pastoral challenges. The Catholic Church must articulate its identity in an environment where charismatic worship and prosperity preaching attract large followings.

Interreligious coexistence with Muslim communities, particularly in northern regions, remains a factor in national stability. The Church has often collaborated with Muslim leaders to promote peace and counter extremism.

For Pope Leo XIV, this pluralistic setting requires calibrated messaging — affirming Catholic identity without undermining interreligious harmony.

Yaoundé: Political and ecclesial nerve center

The capital, Yaoundé, is more than an administrative stop. It is the seat of government and the archdiocese that frequently hosts national Catholic events. Meetings with civil authorities are likely to occur here, reflecting the Vatican’s diplomatic engagement with the Cameroonian state.

Historically, Yaoundé has hosted major ecclesial gatherings and international visitors. A papal Mass in the capital would draw large crowds and symbolize national unity.

Douala: Economic pulse and urban Catholicism

Douala, as Cameroon’s commercial capital, presents a different pastoral profile. Rapid urbanization, youth unemployment, migration, and informal economies characterize the city. The Church in Douala must address urban pastoral issues: catechesis in dense neighborhoods, youth outreach, and social advocacy.

The Archdiocese of Douala has been vocal on national issues, and its leadership has often carried moral authority beyond ecclesiastical boundaries.

A papal stop in Douala situates the Church within the country’s economic heart, where questions of inequality and development are acute.

Bamenda: Faith amid instability

Bamenda lies at the epicenter of the Anglophone crisis. Parishes in the region have experienced disruptions, and clergy have navigated security risks. The Church has called for dialogue, ceasefire, and protection of civilians.

A papal presence in Bamenda carries symbolic weight. It signals solidarity with communities affected by violence and underscores the Vatican’s concern for peace.

However, such a visit must balance encouragement with diplomatic caution. Explicit political statements could complicate local dynamics, while silence might disappoint those seeking moral clarity.

Continuity with past papal engagement

Cameroon has previously hosted a papal visit. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI visited the country, marking a major ecclesial event that included the promulgation of the Instrumentum Laboris for the Second Synod for Africa. That visit reinforced Cameroon’s role within the continental Church.

Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 journey will inevitably be compared with past papal engagements. Expectations will be shaped by memory: large public liturgies, strong doctrinal messages, and calls for ethical governance.

A Church of scale, influence, and responsibility

If Algeria represents the Church as historical memory and minority witness, Cameroon represents scale, institutional density, and public influence. The Catholic Church in Cameroon is not fragile in numbers; it is substantial. Its challenges are not invisibility but responsibility — how to steward influence in a politically sensitive and religiously competitive environment.

From April 15–18, as Pope Leo XIV moves through Yaoundé, Douala, and Bamenda, he will engage a Church that is confident yet tested, numerous yet diverse, socially influential yet morally scrutinized.

For observers of African Catholicism, Cameroon offers a case study in how demographic strength intersects with political engagement and social service. The papal visit will not redefine that structure overnight. It will, however, place it within the broader narrative of a global Church attentive to Africa not as periphery but as center.

In that sense, Cameroon stands not only as the second stop on the Holy Father’s itinerary, but as a microcosm of the contemporary African Catholic experience — complex, vibrant, and consequential.

Source: aci Africa

12, March 2026

New Iranian Leader’s first message calls for strong national unity ⁰

The first message from new Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei was released on Thursday, outlining key strategic points on the nation’s direction.

The message, delivered in seven major sections, stresses the importance of avenging the blood of martyrs and the crucial role of active participation in national events such as the Quds Day march.

In his statement, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that Iran will not hesitate to seek retribution for the blood of martyrs, reaffirming the country’s unwavering resolve in the face of external threats.

He also called for an effective presence in key national activities, particularly highlighting the significance of participating in the Quds Day march, stressing that all citizens must contribute to such pivotal moments to show strength and unity.

The message also discussed the roles and responsibilities of the people, the armed forces, executive bodies, the resistance front, and regional countries, framing these elements as vital in confronting the nation’s enemies.

Source: Press TV

12, March 2026

North Korea unveils image of leader’s daughter firing pistol ⁰

Kim’s teenage daughter Ju Ae featured prominently in state photos published to mark the closing stages of the nuclear-armed country’s key ruling Workers’ Party congress last month.

She has long been seen as next in line to rule the country, a perception stoked by a string of recent high-profile outings, as well as a rare image released late last month of her firing a rifle at a shooting range.

Pyongyang’s state media released an image of Ju Ae firing what looked like a pistol with one eye closed, flames shooting from the muzzle of the gun.

She was attending an event, along with her father, at a “major munitions factory” that produces new pistols and other “portable light arms”, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency said.

State media images showed the duo, donning matching leather jackets — often seen as a symbol of power in North Korea — being briefed by officials as they inspected the facility.

There, leader Kim visited the factory’s “shooting gallery” where he got to test the “new-type” pistol himself, and expressed satisfaction over the weapon’s “excellence”.

The Kim family has ruled North Korea with an iron grip for decades, and a cult of personality surrounding their “Paektu bloodline” dominates daily life in the isolated country.

Despite her young age, “it appears the regime is trying to cultivate the image of a strong and formidable woman,” Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at South Korea’s Kyungnam University, told AFP.

“The pistol-shooting scene clearly serves to signal that she is cultivating the attributes of a military leader.”

Ju Ae was publicly introduced to the world in 2022 when she accompanied her father to an intercontinental ballistic missile launch.

Before then, the only confirmation of her existence had come from former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who visited the North in 2013.

Source: AFP

11, March 2026

Iranian minister says country will not play in World Cup ⁰

Iran are not in a position to participate in the 2026 World Cup, says the country’s Minister of Sports and Youth Ahmad Donyamali.

The team are scheduled to play three group matches in the tournament, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico and gets under way on 11 June.

Iran are due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June respectively, and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

But their participation has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched strikes on the country, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and other nations which host US military bases.

Earlier on Wednesday, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said US President Donald Trump had told him Iran are “welcome to compete” at this summer’s finals.

But in an interview with the IRIB Sports Network on Tuesday, Donyamali said: “Given that this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances do we have the appropriate conditions to participate in the World Cup.

“Our boys are not safe, and conditions for participation do not exist.”

He added that “over the past eight or nine months, two wars have been imposed on us and several thousand of our people have been killed and martyred. Therefore, we definitely do not have the possibility for participation.”

Infantino had earlier posted on Instagram that he had met with President Trump to discuss preparations for the tournament and “spoke about the current situation in Iran”.

He said: “We all need an event like the Fifa World Cup to bring people together now more than ever, and I sincerely thank the President of the United States for his support, as it shows once again that football unites the world.”

Mehdi Taj, the head of Iran’s Football Federation, had also questioned their ability to participate in the World Cup, following six members of Iran’s women’s national team receiving “humanitarian” visas from Australia over concerns for their safety.

The remaining Iranian players left Australia on Tuesday after the team’s elimination from the Asian Cup.

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said seven people were granted asylum, but one woman later changed her mind and opted to return home.

Taj said: “Given the problems created for the female footballers, if the World Cup outlook is like this, no sound mind would accept sending the team to the US.”

Fifa rules state “if any participating member association withdraws and/or is excluded” from the 2026 tournament, world football’s governing body “shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary”. It “may decide to replace the participating member association in question with another association”.

Source: BBC

11, March 2026

100 American soldiers wounded in Iran’s attack on Kuwait’s al-Udairi base ⁰

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced that around 100 American “terrorists” have been injured in a retaliatory attack by Iran’s navy on al-Udairi base in Kuwait.

The IRGC said in a statement that its naval forces carried out “glorious and powerful” operations against the remnants of the American forces in West Asia.

According to the statement, the operations included “two heavy and simultaneous missile strikes” on the al-Udairi helicopter base, which left “more than 100” American soldiers injured.

The wounded were transferred to al-Jaber and Al-Mubarak hospitals, it said.

The statement added that Iranian missiles and drones also struck the key infrastructure of the US base at Mina Salman port in Bahrain, which serves as the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, and also hosts critical systems like the Leeds.

“The Patriot camp and the equipment warehouses, as well as the accommodation and gathering centers of American terrorist soldiers at the two naval bases of ‘Muhammad Al-Ahmad’ and ‘Ali Al-Salem’ [in Kuwait], were also intensely struck.”

The IRGC vowed that the war against “the terrorist Americans and the criminal Zionist regime” will continue powerfully until “the complete surrender of the enemy.”

Iran conducts drone attacks on ‘Aman, Unit 8200’

Meanwhile, Iran’s Army announced that it has launched drone attacks on the military intelligence organization of the Israeli army, Unit 8200, the Green Pine radar, and the headquarters of the submarine Haifa Naval Base since the early hours of Wednesday.

According to the statement, the military intelligence organization of the Israeli army, known as “Aman”, which was targeted in the recent drone attack played a role in “identifying targets and military actions in the Ramadan war.”

It added that the other target, “Unit 8200,” was responsible for “collecting intelligence signals, tracking digital communications, and conducting offensive cyber operations.”

The statement also described the targeted Green Pine radar as “one of the main pillars of the regime’s army in countering Iranian missiles,” noting that the damage inflicted to these radars has “significantly reduced” the regime’s ability to intercept missiles.

The US and Israel started a fresh round of aerial aggression on Iran on February 28, some eight months after they carried out unprovoked attacks on the country.

Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the strikes by launching barrage of missiles and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on US bases in regional countries.

Source: Presstv

10, March 2026

Football: triumphant return of the 2025 Ballon d’Or to Garoua ⁰

Serge Daura made an emotional return to his hometown of Garoua. The Gazelle FA striker, crowned Cameroon’s best player of the year, came to present his trophy to his family and loved ones in a festive, jubilant atmosphere.

A hero’s welcome awaited Serge Daura. Arriving in the afternoon at Garoua International Airport, the new Cameroonian Ballon d’Or winner was greeted by a jubilant crowd. Teammates, supporters, and partners were all present to celebrate the return of the player who lit up the 2025 season with his remarkable performances.

The striker received a guard of honor before leaving the airport amid an impressive motorcade. The procession, accompanied by songs and applause, wound through several city streets, turning his arrival into a true public celebration.

Presenting the trophy to his family

Beyond the public tribute, this visit held deep symbolic meaning for the player. By holding his trophy aloft in front of his loved ones, Serge Daura wanted to share this moment with those who have supported him since the very beginning.

Pride runs high in his home region. The player’s triumph represents not only a personal achievement but also a source of inspiration for countless young footballers in Northern Cameroon who dream of following in his footsteps. This Ballon d’Or also rewards the outstanding season delivered by the striker with Gazelle FA.

Source: Sports Yahoo

10, March 2026

Francis Ngannou returns to MMA against Philipe Lins on Netflix ⁰

MMA superstar Francis “The Predator” Ngannou is set to make a highly anticipated return to the cage on May 16, 2026, in Los Angeles.

According to a press release from Most Valuable Promotions on March 9, Ngannou will face Brazilian heavyweight Philipe “Monstro” Lins in a headline bout that will be broadcast globally on Netflix. This event, titled “Rousey vs. Carano, Ngannou vs. Lins,” is historic as it marks the first time a live mixed martial arts event will be streamed on the platform.

Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, remains one of the most feared strikers in combat sports history, renowned for a career defined by devastating knockouts, including seven finishes within the first two minutes of the opening round. His opponent, Philipe Lins, a 2018 Professional Fighters League heavyweight tournament winner, brings his own reputation as a formidable finisher to the cage. Promoters expect a high-stakes clash between the two, noting that they hold a combined total of 22 knockout victories.

In his statement, Ngannou addressed his time away from the sport, describing his silence as the sound of a predator approaching and framing his return not merely as a comeback, but as a reconquest of the heavyweight division. The fight card will also feature a landmark women’s featherweight bout between MMA pioneers Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, further elevating the profile of the evening.

This announcement follows closely on the heels of the formal conclusion of Ngannou’s partnership with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) on March 6, 2026. After joining the PFL in May 2023 to help drive the organization’s international expansion, Ngannou competed just once under their banner, securing a first-round victory over Renan Ferreira in October 2024. During his tenure with the league, Ngannou also pursued high-profile crossover boxing matches against heavyweight titans Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Culled from APA News by Queen Besumbu Agbaw