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24, July 2026

Iran targets American bases in Bahrain, Jordan as US war continues ⁰

Iran’s Army has targeted two key US bases in Bahrain and Jordan in response to deadly American aerial assaults on the Islamic Republic.

The Army’s Public Relations Department said on Friday that the attacks, launched under the 24th phase of Operation Saeqe (Lightning), involved launching Arash kamikaze drones at fuel storage facilities, large equipment warehouses and sheds, and the accommodation quarters of the terrorist US military personnel at Shaikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.

Iranian drones, it added, also hit aircraft shelters, aircraft maintenance hangars, and accommodation facilities for forces of the aggressor US army at Jordan’s al-Azraq Air Base.

“Any action against the legitimate and lawful interests of the Iranian nation and the sacred Islamic Republic establishment will also jeopardize the security and economic interests of other countries in the region,” it asserted.

For thirteen consecutive nights, the US military has conducted waves of air raids on Iran, committing war crimes by targeting civilian sites.

In response, Iranian armed forces have launched heavy reprisal attacks against strategic American targets across West Asia.

The US attacks, which have mainly targeted southern Iranian provinces, have so far destroyed several infrastructure sites, such as bridges and water desalination plants, and killed 55 and injured 645 Iranians.

Source: Presstv

24, July 2026

Beti Assomo says military should increase focus on economic warfare threats ⁰

Cameroon’s Defence Minister Joseph Beti Assomo has called on senior military officers to strengthen their ability to identify and counter financial, technological and information-based threats.

Speaking in Yaounde on July 22 at the graduation ceremony of the 21st class of the International War College, or ESIG, Beti Assomo said modern economic warfare increasingly relies on financial pressure, strategic resources, digital technologies and information manipulation rather than conventional military force.

According to the minister, economic warfare extends beyond trade disputes and includes the use of financial flows, technology, supply chains, strategic resources and manipulated information to weaken rival states.

“The weaponization of financial flows, strategic resources and digital technologies has become a weapon in its own right. Our officers must learn to identify, analyze, master and counter these threats,” he said.

The minister’s remarks come as Cameroon remains dependent on international trade, foreign financing, imported technologies and cross-border infrastructure networks.

Potential vulnerabilities include reliance on imported equipment, exposure of transport and energy infrastructure, dependence on foreign markets for commodity exports, access to international payment systems, cyber operations and financial networks linked to armed groups. Pressure on supply chains, financial channels, strategic resources or digital systems could therefore have security consequences without involving direct military confrontation.

The issue is particularly relevant to sectors in which external dependence can affect both economic activity and national-security capabilities. Disruptions affecting imported technology, defense equipment, energy infrastructure or payment networks could constrain the state’s ability to operate and respond to crises.

Growing Institutional Attention

Beti Assomo’s remarks add to a series of initiatives showing that economic-security issues are receiving increased attention within Cameroon’s military and intelligence institutions. However, the government has not publicly presented these efforts as part of a single national strategy on economic warfare.

In May 2026, ESIG held its annual international colloquium in Yaounde under the theme, “Economic Warfare: What Are the Strategic Challenges for Africa?”

Opening the forum, Secretary of State for the National Gendarmerie Galax Etoga Yves Landry said modern conflicts were increasingly being conducted through economic and financial means, making strategic intelligence and economic autonomy important components of national security.

The colloquium examined sanctions, trade restrictions and control over strategic resources as instruments of influence and power projection. Discussions also covered industrial resilience, strategic planning, regional integration and technological sovereignty.

Participants highlighted strategic autonomy, technological sovereignty, regional economic integration and control over information narratives as areas requiring greater attention. These conclusions were presented as recommendations from the forum rather than as formally adopted government priorities.

Economic warfare has also featured in initiatives involving Cameroon’s intelligence services. In July 2025, the General Directorate of External Research, or DGRE, organized specialized training in economic intelligence and economic warfare for 50 intelligence professionals. The program focused on strategic intelligence, informational sovereignty, counter-influence operations and geoeconomic risks.

Reports on the training also referred to discussions over the possible creation of a National Centre for Economic and Strategic Intelligence. No formal announcement regarding the establishment of such a body has been made.

Efforts to Reduce Defense-Sector Dependence

Separately, Cameroon has pursued projects intended to expand domestic production capacity in the defense sector and reduce reliance on imported equipment.

In September 2025, the Ministry of Defence inaugurated a Central Tailoring Workshop for the Armed Forces and Gendarmerie in Yaounde’s Ekounou neighborhood. The facility can produce more than 750 combat uniforms a day, while the government has also referred to plans for footwear and ballistic-equipment factories.

In April 2026, the government also signed three agreements with local private-sector partners covering armored-vehicle conversion, ballistic-protection manufacturing and the production of mechanical spare parts. The agreements were presented as part of an import-substitution drive under Cameroon’s National Development Strategy, or NDS30.

Source: Business in Cameroon

23, July 2026

Minister Nalova shuts 105 private schools ⁰

Weeks before the start of the 2026-2027 school year, Cameroon has ordered the closure of 105 private schools across seven of the country’s 10 regions for failing to comply with education regulations. While the move is part of a years-long effort to clean up the private education sector, it also highlights the limits of an oversight system that continues to struggle to stop unauthorized schools from operating.

In a statement issued on July 20, the Ministry of Secondary Education said Minister Nalova Lyonga had signed three ministerial orders shutting down the schools for the upcoming academic year. The institutions were found to have violated legal requirements governing their creation, operation, or expansion.

According to official documents, the decisions follow inspections carried out in June by the National Brigade for the Inspection of Private Schools. Most of the violations involved schools operating without official authorization or accreditation, in breach of Cameroon’s 2004 law regulating private education.

The latest closures are far from unusual. Every year, in the weeks leading up to the new school year, the Ministries of Secondary Education and Basic Education publish lists of private schools ordered to close while urging parents to enroll their children only in approved institutions.

The recurring pattern underscores the difficulty of regulating a fast-growing private education sector. Despite repeated inspection campaigns, new schools continue to open before completing the administrative procedures required by law. This year’s closures, including 52 schools in the Littoral region alone, suggest that while enforcement actions punish violations, they have done little to prevent new cases from emerging.

The spread of unauthorized private schools is partly driven by growing pressure on Cameroon’s education system. Population growth, rapid urbanization, and limited capacity in many public schools have increased demand for private education, particularly in urban areas. Some school operators respond by opening before obtaining all required permits, hoping to regularize their status later. Others expand existing schools or open new branches without prior approval.

The timing of inspections also contributes to the problem. They typically take place only weeks before the school year begins, even though many of the schools have already been operating for months or even years. As a result, the closures often function as corrective measures rather than preventive ones.

Although the sanctions target school operators, families bear much of the immediate impact. Parents may learn only days before classes begin that the school where they enrolled their child will not open, forcing them to secure another place after already paying registration or tuition fees. The closures also disrupt students’ education and leave teachers employed by the affected schools without work just before the new academic year starts.

The ministry stressed that operating authorization is more than an administrative formality. It is intended to ensure that schools meet minimum standards for infrastructure, safety, teaching quality, staff qualifications, and curriculum compliance.

As the 2026-2027 school year approaches, the latest wave of closures serves as both a reminder of regulatory requirements and a sign of a deeper challenge: balancing rising demand for education with effective oversight of the private school sector. Until that balance is achieved, school closure lists are likely to remain a recurring feature of back-to-school preparations in Cameroon.

Source: Business in Cameroon

23, July 2026

Where is Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state? ⁰

For a nation that prides itself on stability, the Republic of Cameroon finds itself trapped in an increasingly familiar cycle: the head of state disappears, rumors flourish and his government responds not with transparency but with silence.

At 93 years old, President Paul Biya is the world’s oldest serving head of state. He has ruled Cameroon since 1982 longer than many of the country’s citizens have been alive. Yet once again, his prolonged absence has become the story. The ruling CPDM party faces mounting criticism as Cameroonians ask a simple, legitimate question: Where is their president?

This is not idle curiosity. In any functioning or “advanced” democracy, the whereabouts and health of a sitting president are matters of public interest. They are questions of governance, national security and accountability.

Cameroon has been here before. In 2024, Biya vanished from public view for 42 days while abroad, prompting widespread speculation that he had died. Rather than addressing public concerns with openness, authorities reportedly banned public discussion of the president’s health. That response did little to reassure citizens. Instead, it reinforced perceptions of a government that sees transparency as a threat rather than a duty.

The current episode risks repeating the same mistakes. Every day without credible information creates a vacuum. In that vacuum, rumors become headlines, conspiracy theories gain traction and confidence in state institutions erodes further.

Biya’s supporters who are looting the treasury argue that a president, like any citizen, deserves medical privacy. That is true—to a point. But public office comes with obligations that transcend personal preference. When one individual occupies the highest office in the land, especially after more than four decades in power, questions about their ability to govern are not an invasion of privacy. They are part of democratic accountability.

Cameroon’s political system has become so closely identified with one man that every unexplained absence raises unsettling questions about who is actually making decisions. If Biya is governing effectively, the government should demonstrate that. If Biya is temporarily unable to perform his duties, constitutional mechanisms exist to ensure continuity. What cannot be defended is prolonged official silence.

The issue extends beyond Paul Biya himself. It speaks to a broader challenge confronting nations led by aging leaders who have remained in office for decades. Institutions should be strong enough to function regardless of one person’s health or presence. When they are not, uncertainty becomes inevitable.

The question confronting Cameroon is no longer simply “Where is President Biya?” It is why the government continues to believe that withholding basic information serves the public interest.

Citizens deserve answers, not censorship. They deserve transparency, not speculation. And they deserve confidence that their country is being governed by institutions—not by mystery.

Until those answers are provided, one question will continue to echo both within Cameroon and beyond its borders:

Where is the world’s oldest head of state?

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

23, July 2026

Yaoundé: CPDM barons meet as Biya’s long absence draws criticism ⁰

Cameroon’s ruling party called a rare meeting of senior leaders on Wednesday as criticism mounted over the continued absence of President Paul Biya, 93, who has spent the last 45 days abroad.

Biya, the ‌world’s oldest head of state, left Cameroon on June 7 for what the civil cabinet described as “a brief private stay in Europe” and has since not returned. The government has provided no information as to when he might be back.

Jean Nkuete, secretary-general of the central committee of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), who summoned the ⁠meeting, did not disclose its agenda, describing it in a statement only as “an important working session.” There was no immediate indication that the meeting was linked to Biya’s prolonged absence from public view.

In office since 1982, Biya has for years spent extended stretches in Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe, though his advanced age means they have increasingly fuelled speculation about his health, whereabouts and ability to govern. The current overseas trip is his longest yet.

DISCUSSION OF HEALTH BANNED

After a similarly extended period out of the country in 2024, the ‌government banned discussion ⁠of Biya’s health.

That has not stopped some opposition figures from commenting on Biya’s absence.

The Cameroon Democratic Union, an opposition party, said in a statement on July 18 that officials should “provide the nation with the necessary clarifications regarding the effective continuity of the state.”

In a Facebook post on July ⁠17, opposition lawmaker Jean Michel Nintcheu said the Constitutional Court should declare the position of head of state vacant.

A government spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. The government has previously ⁠dismissed reports that Biya is receiving medical treatment and said he can effectively run the cocoa- and oil-producing country from overseas.

Lawmakers in April approved the re-introduction of the role ⁠of vice president, who would be first in line to succeed Biya, but the role has not been filled.

Biya has also not appointed a new government despite having won re-election last October.

Source: Reuters

22, July 2026

Iran says 53 killed, 592 wounded in US airstrikes since June 27 ⁰

Iran’s Health Ministry says recent US airstrikes on the country have killed 53 people and injured 592 others, including women and children.

“From June 27 to 8:30 a.m. today (July 22), US airstrikes on our country left 592 injured and 53 martyrs,” Hossein Kermanpour, head of the Health Ministry’s Public Relations Center, said in a post on X on Wednesday.

Kermanpour said six women and three minors were among those killed, while 39 women and 23 minors were among the injured.

“So far, 535 people have been discharged [from hospital] after treatment, 36 are still hospitalized, and 21 people have been treated on site,” he added.

The US military has carried out waves of deadly strikes across southern Iran and reinstated an illegal blockade of Iranian ports in flagrant violation of a war-termination deal.

In response, Iranian armed forces have launched heavy reprisal attacks against strategic American targets across the region, declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed “until further notice” and at least until “the end of US interference in the region.”

The latest escalation comes after the US and Israel launched another round of aggression against Iran on February 28.

Iran swiftly retaliated by launching barrages of missiles and drones at the Israeli-occupied territories, as well as US bases and interests across the region.

Since then, the aggression has increasingly centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies pass.

Source: Presstv

22, July 2026

Call Chantal Biya to order ⁰

The conduct of public figures is never judged solely by what is legal; it is also measured against standards of judgment, dignity and public responsibility. First Ladies, while often holding no elected office, occupy positions of immense symbolic importance. Their public appearances inevitably send messages about values, priorities and leadership.

If reports are accurate that First Lady Chantal Biya chose to attend a high-profile sporting event while her husband, President Paul Biya, was seriously ill and receiving medical treatment abroad, many citizens would understandably question whether such a decision reflected appropriate priorities. In times of personal and national uncertainty, the public often expects those closest to a nation’s leader to demonstrate solidarity, compassion and discretion.

Likewise, public figures like Chantal Biya should recognize that the way they dress at internationally televised events inevitably attracts attention. While every individual has the right to personal expression, those who represent their country on the global stage also carry a responsibility to uphold standards of decorum that reflect the dignity of the office they symbolize. When attire becomes the dominant story rather than the event or the nation being represented, it risks distracting from more important issues.

Leadership is as much about perception as it is about action. Those entrusted with representing a country should be mindful that their choices—whether involving travel, public appearances or personal presentation—can influence public confidence and shape international perceptions.

Public office, whether elected or ceremonial, requires restraint, sensitivity and an appreciation that personal freedom is accompanied by public responsibility. Actions that appear inconsistent with those expectations are likely to invite criticism and should encourage reflection. Those who occupy such prominent positions would do well to exercise greater discretion in the future, ensuring that their conduct promotes respect for the institutions they represent rather than unnecessary controversy.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

22, July 2026

Yaoundé begins preparations for Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit ⁰

The Government of Cameroon has begun preparations for the official visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Head of the Anglican Communion, the Right Honourable Sarah Mullally, scheduled to take place from July 31 to August 4, 2026.

Preparations gathered momentum on July 20 when the Minister of External Relations, Mbella Mbella, chaired a high-level coordination meeting with a British delegation led by the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to review logistical and protocol arrangements for the visit.

The official programme of the Archbishop’s visit is expected to include meetings with state authorities, religious leaders and members of the Anglican community, alongside other activities aimed at strengthening partnerships and fostering mutual understanding.

The preparatory session brought together Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu, senior officials of the Ministry of External Relations, the High Commissioner of Cameroon to the United Kingdom, and representatives from several government institutions involved in the organisation of the visit.

Discussions focused on ensuring the smooth conduct of the Archbishop’s stay in Cameroon, including diplomatic protocol, security, logistics and coordination among the various institutions concerned.

The visit by the Right Honourable Sarah Mullally is expected to further deepen the longstanding relations between Cameroon and the Anglican Communion while reinforcing cooperation between Cameroon and the United Kingdom in areas of shared interest. The visit also carries significant religious importance, providing an opportunity for engagement with Anglican faithful and church leaders in Cameroon, while promoting dialogue on peace, reconciliation and social development.

Government authorities expressed their commitment to ensuring the success of the visit, as the visit is widely seen as another step in consolidating Cameroon’s diplomatic engagement with international partners while highlighting the important role of faith-based institutions in promoting peace, unity and sustainable development.

Culled from Pan African Visions

22, July 2026

Issa Tchiroma Calls for Overthrow of Biya’s Government ⁰

Opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary has made a direct appeal to the country’s defence and security forces, urging them to facilitate his return from The Gambia, where he says he is living in forced exile.

In a message on his official Facebook account and addressed to members of the National Gendarmerie, the Army, the Air Force, the Navy and the Fire Brigade Corps, Issa Tchiroma reiterated his rejection of the official results of the October 12, 2025 presidential election, which declared incumbent President Paul Biya the winner.

Issa Tchiroma maintains that he won the election and described himself as the “President-elect” of Cameroon.

Addressing military personnel, Tchiroma paid tribute to their role in defending the nation’s territorial integrity, maintaining peace and protecting citizens in accordance with the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Tchiroma promised that, if he assumed office, he would modernise the country’s defence forces and improve the welfare of military personnel. “Under my leadership, I will ensure a more professional, stronger and more modern army with a status that matches your role and the risks and threats we all face,” he said.

The exiled opposition leader accused the current administration of refusing to recognise the will of the electorate and claimed to have initiated international legal proceedings to defend democracy and human rights in Cameroon.

He further alleged that Cameroonians were facing persecution and intimidation, accusing what he described as “misguided elements” within the security services of acting against the population.

Tchiroma also claimed that he received overwhelming electoral support during the 2025 presidential election, including significant backing from members of the defence and security forces. These claims differ from the official election results announced by Cameroon’s electoral authorities.

Calling on members of the military to remain faithful to their constitutional responsibilities, Tchiroma urged them to uphold the sovereign will of the people. “Remember that you have sworn an oath to serve the Cameroonian people,” he told members of the armed forces. “You must take your responsibilities and not allow yourselves to be drawn into this calamitous path with no future.”

In the strongest part of his address, Tchiroma appealed directly to the military to facilitate his return to Cameroon. “I solemnly ask you to come and take me home from The Gambia where I find myself in constrained and forced exile,” he said.

“I am eager to be by the side of my people, the Cameroonian people who elected me, and to serve them with honour and loyalty for a brighter future.”

Tchiroma Bakary added that he believed it was his constitutional duty to preside over this year’s Armed Forces Day celebrations (on August 14), as Commander-in-Chief, based on his claim that he was the legitimate winner of the 2025 election.

The appeal comes as Tchiroma continues to challenge the official outcome from abroad. Cameroon’s electoral authorities declared President Paul Biya the winner of the poll with 53.7 per cent, a result that Tchiroma and some opposition supporters have rejected. The official election results gave Tchiroma 35.2 per cent of the votes.

Source: Panafricanvisions

21, July 2026

Yaoundé: Biya’s prolonged absence raises questions ⁰

Described as one of the longest-serving presidents in Africa, President Paul Biya’s absence from the country continues to draw criticism.

Forty-four days after Biya left Cameroon on June 7 for what was described as a short private stay in Europe, the 93-year-old head of state has still not returned and speculation is growing.

Rumors about his health have intensified public debate, while an opposition lawmaker has asked the Constitutional Council to declare the presidency vacant.

The ruling RDPC is pushing back, insisting the state remains functional. In an editorial on July 15, party official Christophe Mien Zok said, “The office is not vacant. The Lion(Biya) has not left.”

Since Biya’s departure, official presidential social media accounts have continued to post messages from him, including congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on France’s National Day and to Montenegro’s president on July 13. But there has been no direct public appearance or update from the president himself.

The opposition UDC says a prolonged absence does not automatically mean a vacancy, but argues it does raise legitimate questions about continuity in government and the exercise of presidential powers.

Several analysts say the Constitutional Council should act after 45 days, though no law sets a clear limit on how long the president may remain outside the country.

With no vice president in place, the debate over succession and institutional continuity is now intensifying.

Source: Africa News