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16, September 2026

Revealed: Colonel Danwe admits ordering Martinez Zogo operation ⁰

Lieutenant Colonel Justin Danwe has acknowledged that he led the operation against journalist Martinez Zogo and gave orders to the men involved, but he denies ordering his death. His defense also maintains that Danwe himself received instructions from higher levels within Cameroon’s external intelligence service, the DGRE.

That position was again presented before the Yaoundé Military Court on September 14, 2026, during the continued examination of Colonel Jean-Pierre Otoulou.

According to Jacques Mbuny, Danwe’s lawyer, the former director of operations at the Directorate General for External Research (DGRE) “fully accepted responsibility, in light of the mission assigned to his men.”

The defense therefore does not dispute that the men involved in the operation acted under Danwe’s authority. It draws a distinction, however, between the violence allegedly ordered against Zogo and the journalist’s death. At the same time, it seeks to establish whether responsibility for the operation extended further up the DGRE chain of command.

“As their superior, he said that his men acted under his orders,” Mbuny said. “Just as he gives orders as a superior and director of operations, he also receives orders.”

The case now centers partly on two separate questions: how far Danwe’s instructions to the commando went and from whom he says he received his own orders.

Danwe Denies Ordering Martinez Zogo’s Death

On the first question, Danwe’s defense has maintained its position that the operation was not intended to kill the journalist. “There was one part that he never accepted responsibility for,” Mbuny said. “Even his men have consistently stated that there was never any question […] of taking the life of the late Martinez Zogo.”

Under the defense’s account, the mission called for violence against Zogo, but some members of the group exceeded the instructions they had received. The court must weigh that argument against the circumstances of the journalist’s death and determine the individual responsibility of the commando members.

The defense has cited statements that some participants made during the investigation. Ebo’o Clément, identified in the case as one of the members of the group assigned to the “treatment” of Zogo, had described a mission to “rough him up” and inflict injuries.

Those statements do not resolve the central legal questions. The court must determine who ordered the violence, whether the acts that caused Zogo’s death fell within the original instructions and what criminal responsibility each defendant bears. No verdict has been issued.

Danwe Points to the DGRE Chain of Command

Danwe’s defense also argues that the operation was not his initiative alone and seeks to place it within the DGRE’s broader chain of command.

According to Mbuny, his client maintains that the operation was prepared within the intelligence service and that senior officials could not have been unaware of it. “He is also demanding […] that those above him accept their responsibilities,” the lawyer said.

During his exchange with Colonel Jean-Pierre Otoulou, Danwe said he had received an order for an operation against Zogo before his December 29, 2022 meeting with businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga.

That timeline forms an important part of his defense. It supports his argument that the decision to conduct an operation against Zogo preceded the meeting and did not originate from an initiative taken on that occasion.

Danwe also maintains that his superiors knew about the operation. Lawyers for Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, then director general of the DGRE and also a defendant in the case, dispute that account.

Mbuny has also cited testimony about where the operation was allegedly prepared. According to the lawyer, Otoulou indicated that the planning took place in the DGRE operations directorate’s “situation room.”

Danwe’s defense argues that the room was under video surveillance and that footage could be accessed from the director general’s office. His lawyers cite this point to challenge the idea that such an operation could have been planned inside the DGRE without senior officials’ knowledge.

That remains a defense argument, and the court must assess it alongside other testimony and evidence in the case.

Calvin Job, a lawyer for Zogo’s family, takes a different view of the testimony presented during the hearings. He argues that statements from commando members support the civil party’s position that the operation had been organized in advance rather than carried out as an improvised or isolated initiative.

According to Job, testimony before the court supports the view that the operation was “planned” and “organized.” The parties continue to disagree over what the evidence establishes about Eko Eko and other officials implicated in the case. The Yaoundé Military Court has yet to determine the criminal responsibility of each defendant.

Otoulou’s examination, which has extended across several hearings, has therefore brought the chain of command to the center of the proceedings. Beyond identifying those who physically participated in the operation against Zogo, the court must determine who authorized it, who knew about it and what instructions were given to those who carried it out.

Source: Sbbc

14, September 2026

White Elephant: Kribi Port sinks to 395th globally after one of the sharpest drops in performance ⁰

Cameroon’s Kribi deep-sea port has recorded one of the world’s steepest declines in container-port performance since 2020, with longer vessel turnaround times placing it near the bottom of the World Bank’s latest global ranking.

Kribi ranked 395th out of 400 ports in the 2025 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), published in June 2026 by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence. Its score fell to -216.5 points from -5 in 2020, a deterioration of 211.5 points over five years.

Calculations based on the report’s statistical appendix show that Kribi posted the fifth-largest decline among the 317 ports with scores available for both 2020 and 2025. Within the CPPI’s West Africa maritime region, only Conakry performed worse over the period, with a 278.9-point decline.

Kribi’s deterioration was not continuous. Its score fell to -118 in 2021 before recovering to -84 in 2022 and -62 in 2023. It then deteriorated sharply to -199 in 2024 and reached its lowest level in 2025. Kribi also performed well below the 2025 averages for West Africa, at -66.2 points, Sub-Saharan Africa, at -72, and lower-middle-income countries, at -9.

An Index of Port Time, Not a Percentage Change

The CPPI measures the time container ships spend in port while accounting for vessel size and the number of container moves during each call. Its data come primarily from Automatic Identification System signals, supplemented by port and operational information held by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Each port’s final score is the average of an administrative index and a statistical index. The report breaks port calls into arrival time, berth time and departure time, but specifies that the CPPI calculation relies on arrival and berth time. The methodology, definitions and aggregation rules have been maintained across the 2020-2025 series to allow comparisons over time.

A score of zero represents the 2024 global average, which serves as the benchmark. A negative score therefore indicates longer turnaround times relative to that benchmark, but index points cannot be converted directly into hours.

Describing Kribi’s change from -5 to -216.5 as a decline of more than 4,200% would be misleading because the calculation would start from a negative value very close to zero. The relevant measure is the 211.5-point deterioration.

Kribi’s 2025 score is based on 183 vessel calls. The appendix shows that ships spent 47.3% of their port hours at berth. That figure does not refer exclusively to productive time: the World Bank defines berth hours as the period from all-fast to all-lines-released, including any idle time.

For Kribi, the report does not provide separate figures for anchorage waiting times, maneuvering, container handling or interruptions while vessels are at berth.

PAK Attributes Decline to Yard Congestion

The report does not provide a Kribi-specific explanation for the decline. Two officials from the Port Authority of Kribi (PAK), contacted by Business in Cameroon, attributed longer vessel stays to congestion at the container terminal operated by Kribi Conteneurs Terminal (KCT).

The first official pointed to “idle time,” including waits before berthing, delayed starts to container handling and interruptions while vessels remain at berth. The official rejected equipment or skills shortages as the cause and said KCT’s cranes regularly reach or exceed 24 container moves per hour, a level described as an international benchmark.

The CPPI, however, publishes no data on crane productivity at Kribi that would independently verify that claim.

The second official cited the lack of an Inland Container Depot, or dry port. Such a facility would allow containers that remain beyond their free-storage period to be transferred away from the maritime terminal. According to the official, the project was already under consideration in 2021 based on traffic forecasts but did not materialize.

The official linked its absence to an eight-hectare expansion of the container yard launched in 2026 to provide additional storage capacity. The source also said the terminal reached “100% congestion” in 2025, without specifying whether that referred to yard occupancy, an annual average or a temporary peak. PAK publicly acknowledged operational difficulties, delays and bottlenecks reported by customs brokers on July 30, 2026, but provided no indicators on yard occupancy or vessel turnaround times.

Feeder Delays May Extend Container Storage

Port officials also point to increased transshipment traffic. Since Phase II officially entered service on May 9, 2025, Kribi has been able to accommodate vessels up to 400 meters long with capacity approaching 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units.

PAK valued the expansion at $793 million. It includes 715 meters of quay and a 51-hectare platform.

According to one official, at least one very large container ship now calls at Kribi each month and can unload several thousand containers for onward shipment to other ports in the subregion, including Douala. A CMA CGM service plan published in December 2025 confirms that Douala is served by feeder vessels on a route that calls at Kribi.

Shipping companies organize those feeder rotations. When a vessel scheduled to collect containers arrives several days or weeks late, cargo remains in the yard. Terminal teams must then move containers to free space before the next ship arrives. “No matter how productive your cranes are, it can be very difficult when you have a congested yard,” one source said.

That explanation is consistent with one of the mechanisms identified by the World Bank: saturated storage areas and poor coordination with hinterland networks can slow vessel handling. The CPPI score alone, however, does not establish that this is what happened at Kribi.

A fuller assessment would require monthly data on anchorage waiting times, berth inactivity, yard occupancy, container dwell times and feeder schedule reliability. Available information also does not specify the timeline for the planned dry port or when the additional eight hectares of container-yard capacity will enter service.

Source: Business in Cameroon

5, September 2026

Bishop Attakruh honoured for inspiring homily at African Catholic Cultural Celebration in Belgium ⁰

The Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi in Ghana was proudly represented in Antwerpen, Belgium, as His Lordship Bishop John Baptist Attakruh joined the Anglophone African Catholic Community for a special celebration of cultural diversity, heritage, faith and unity.

The celebration, held on Sunday, 30 August, brought together a mammoth gathering of Africans and friends of the community from different countries, united by their common Catholic faith and shared cultural heritage. Bishop Attakruh was in Belgium at the special invitation of the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Callistus Uzoma Okponenwu, whose pastoral ministry has continued to play an important role in helping Africans in Belgium remain connected to their faith and the Roman Catholic Church.

In a rich and inspiring homily, Bishop Attakruh called on Africans in the diaspora to remain united and to see themselves as one people, regardless of their different nationalities, languages and cultural backgrounds.

He also encouraged the faithful to remain steadfast in their Catholic faith and to continue to uphold the values of the Holy Roman Catholic Church wherever they find themselves.

The Bishop’s message resonated strongly with the congregation, particularly at a time when African communities across Europe are increasingly seeking ways to preserve their cultural identity while remaining firmly rooted in their Christian faith.

The celebration attracted participants from beyond Belgium. Among those present were members of the Swords Centre African Chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Dublin, Ireland, as well as members of the Cameroon Catholic Community in Mülheim, Germany. Their presence added an international dimension to an occasion that demonstrated the strength and unity of the African Catholic family in Europe.

The gathering was not only a celebration of culture and heritage but also a powerful expression of Christian fellowship. Africans from different countries came together as brothers and sisters, demonstrating that the Catholic faith can serve as a strong bridge across national and cultural boundaries.

The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Alhaji Moses Nji Ndeh, expressed profound appreciation to Bishop Attakruh for honouring the invitation and for contributing so meaningfully to the success of the celebration.

He praised the Bishop for his inspiring presence, his powerful homily and his message of unity, faith and solidarity among Africans in the diaspora. He also extended his gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the event a memorable occasion.

Special commendation was also given to Rev. Fr. Callistus Uzoma Okponenwu, whose dedication to the pastoral needs of Africans in Belgium continues to provide an important source of spiritual support and encouragement.

Through his ministry, Fr. Callistus has helped create opportunities for Africans to come together, celebrate their cultures and, most importantly, strengthen their relationship with the Roman Catholic Church. His commitment to keeping the African faithful connected to the Church and to one another deserves recognition and appreciation.

The Anglophone African Catholic Community in Antwerpen therefore extends its heartfelt gratitude to Bishop John Baptist Attakruh for being part of this great celebration. His presence, fatherly guidance and rich homily left a lasting impression on the faithful and gave renewed meaning to the celebration of African unity, heritage and faith.

The community also expresses sincere appreciation to Rev. Fr. Callistus Uzoma Okponenwu for his tireless efforts in supporting Africans in Belgium and helping them remain strong in their Catholic faith.

The celebration ultimately stood as a reminder that, despite geographical distances and differences in nationality, faith, culture and unity can bring Africans together as one family in Christ.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai on special assignment in Antwerpen

1, September 2026

Momo Division: CPDM Crime Syndicate seeks to hold all 8 elected positions in 2027 ⁰

Cameroon’s ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) is mobilizing to defend its hold on Momo division in the Northwest region, where it aims to retain all three parliamentary seats and five municipalities it won in the 2020 elections.

Party officials, mayors and local leaders set the objective during a seminar on August 22, 2026, as the CPDM steps up preparations for legislative and municipal elections expected in 2027.

The meeting was chaired by Mbah Acha Rose Fomundam, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of the Supreme State Audit and head of the CPDM Central Committee’s permanent divisional delegation for Momo. It followed a regional party seminar held a day earlier in the Northwest with the same stated goal of securing an “overwhelming victory” in the next elections.

In the immediate term, the party is focusing on registering members and supporters on electoral rolls before the annual registration period closes on August 31, 2026. Section officials and mayors were instructed to intensify mobilization ahead of the deadline.

“Massive registration and massive voting will bring us victory on election day,” Mbah Acha Rose said. She urged local party structures to repeat their 2020 performance, when the CPDM won all parliamentary and municipal mandates in Momo.

The division has three members of parliament across two constituencies. Momo East is represented by Injoh Fo’o Ngang Prudencia and Anyeret Charles, while Awutah Philip Atubah represents Momo West. At the municipal level, the CPDM controls all five councils in the division: Batibo, Mbengwi, Njikwa, Widikum-Boffe and Andek, also known as Ngie.

Following the seminar, party officials were instructed to relay the directives to their respective local sections. The mobilization comes after the terms of members of parliament and municipal councilors were extended in 2026. The exact dates of the next elections will, however, depend on the decrees formally convening the electorate.

Source: Sbbc

31, August 2026

US Department of War faces scrutiny ⁰

The US Department of War is facing mounting scrutiny over the growing presence of military influencers inside the department, a report says.

According to Monday reporting by The Washington Post, the department has “secretly” installed several conservative military veterans with large social-media followings in government roles without disclosing their assignments.

Among those identified are retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness and retired Army Col. Kurt Schlichter, who department records show had active official government email addresses during the past week and were assigned to the office of Anthony Tata, undersecretary for personnel and readiness. Their addresses carried a “.civ” suffix, indicating civilian employment.

A third retired Army colonel and online commentator, Thomas Anderson, was also previously listed with a “.civ” address in Tata’s office, according to people familiar with the matter and records reviewed by The Post. Anderson, who writes under the name Cynical Publius, has more than 323,000 followers on X.

Spokesman Joel Valdez declined to tell the paper whether the three were receiving taxpayer-funded salaries, what their roles were or how long their assignments would last.

The people familiar with the matter said the individuals were assigned either as “special government employees” or “highly qualified experts.” Schlichter appears in a government database with an “HQE” designation.

The appointments have drawn attention because of the men’s public political commentary.

Maness has more than 135,000 followers on X and has publicly supported Pete Hegseth’s agenda, including by arguing that the secretary of war’s team should remove “disloyal” career employees. This is while dismissal over the past months of several department of war officials by Hegseth following reported disagreement over the United States’ unsuccessful campaign of military aggression against Iran has attracted far-and-wide criticism.

Schlichter, who has nearly 620,000 X followers, has likewise dismissed the abortive nature of the aggression, describing President Donald Trump on August 6 as a “hero for finally fighting back against Iran.” On August 14, he wrote of Hegseth, “We are lucky to have @PeteHegseth.”

The three also appeared on behalf of the department’s Senior Service College Task Force at the Army War College in May. The task force was established to examine ideology considered “toxic” or “woke” at senior service colleges.

Separately, The Post reported that senior commanders have warned Hegseth that prolonging aggression against Iran could weaken US capabilities elsewhere.

A classified assessment in the August 14 Secretary of War Orders Book reportedly found that forces diverted to the aggression were limiting other missions and training. Several commanders issued a “non-concur” over extended deployments.

Navy Chief Adm. Daryl Caudle told Hegseth that the Navy could not sustain its present level of support because there was no anticipated end date. Barely one-fourth of the Navy’s destroyer fleet was ready to deploy, according to people familiar with the assessment.

European and Southern commands also warned that diverted ships and surveillance aircraft had degraded their homeland-defense capabilities, while Pacific Command objected to the level of support it was ordered to provide.

The aggression, which has prompted uncompromising Iranian retaliation, has also consumed Patriot and THAAD interceptors, Tomahawk missiles, and Reaper drones. Many Air Force units are also expected to remain in the West Asia region into 2027 amid continued lack of an exit strategy on the part of Washington.

Hegseth’s spokesman Sean Parnell, meanwhile, appeared dismissive by saying the department does not discuss specific internal risk assessments or “non-concurrences.”

29, August 2026

CDC seeks government action over palm tree destruction at Esuke ⁰

The Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) has appealed to the government to intervene after more than 100 palm trees were reportedly destroyed at Esuke in Mutengene, South West region, despite efforts to stop illegal crop destruction and encroachment on its land.

The latest incident occurred on Wednesday 26 August 2026, when CDC workers discovered extensive damage to oil palms in the area. The development follows the felling of 52 palm trees at Esuke, according to the corporation.

Workers say the continued destruction is threatening their livelihoods and could undermine recent investments in the corporation’s operations. They called on the government to take urgent action to protect CDC land and crops from what they described as encroachment by individuals and interest groups.

“We depend on the CDC to feed our families and take care of our needs. They recently brought a new oil mill, and now they are felling the palm trees, which means the mill will be useless. The CDC needs more land, not less,” said Akafor Jackline, a CDC worker.

CDC management said more than 100 palm trees have been reportedly destroyed at Esuke in Mutengene, South West region

The Cameroon Development Corporation is Cameroon’s second-largest employer after the state and has major agricultural operations across the South-West region. Its general manager, Franklin Ngoni Njie, says the dispute over the Esuke land dates back to an application made in 2023 by a group seeking control of the area.

He added the corporation had made clear during the commissioning of a signboard that the land could not be recommended for surrender. “First of all, the palms you see here were planted in 2016. They are at their prime, and this is a very high-yielding area. The yield per hectare here is extremely high,” Njie said.

According to the general manager, CDC had also received several disclaimers from the recognised chief of the Muslim community in Mutengene, who disputed the authority of the person claiming leadership of the group seeking the land.

CDC also said the group had misinterpreted correspondence from the presidency as authorisation to proceed with the land claim, adding that the government had suspended land transactions in Fako and on CDC land. “The Head of State has suspended all land transactions in Fako and on CDC land. For any surrender…” he said.

The dispute comes as CDC seeks to protect its agricultural holdings and sustain production following years of difficulties affecting the corporation. Workers said losing productive plantations could have consequences beyond the immediate destruction of the trees, particularly given the corporation’s role in providing employment and supporting households in the region.

But the Muslim community in Mutengene says its plans for the disputed area are also intended to deliver significant social and economic benefits. Chief Hanasani Iya, leader of the Muslim community in Mutengene, said the proposed development would include a large central mosque, a hospital and a centre for internally displaced people.

“We intend to build a central mosque of 3000 to 3500 capacity, a hospital and also build an IDP centre for our community,” he said as relayed by the Sun Newspaper, adding that the community had potential financial backing from partners in Arab countries in the Middle East who were willing to support the proposed projects.

CDC workers are thus urging the government to intervene before further palm plantations are destroyed and more CDC land is encroached upon.

Source: Panafricanvisions

27, August 2026

Biya regime’s takeover of General Bank deepens concerns over state’s growing role ⁰

Cameroon’s takeover of Société Générale Cameroun, now renamed General Bank of Cameroon (GBC), has become part of a broader concern over the state’s growing footprint in the banking industry, with the African Development Bank warning that repeated public recapitalizations and acquisitions are creating additional fiscal and governance risks.

In its 2026 Country Report on Cameroon, the AfDB describes the expansion of state involvement in banking as a “major source of concern” and cites the acquisition completed on May 12, 2026, as the latest example of the trend.

The warning, however, does not amount to a finding that GBC itself is financially weak. The report is not an audit of the acquired bank. Its concern is broader: the accumulation of government stakes in banks, the governance risks associated with those holdings and the growing interdependence between public finances and bank balance sheets.

The government acquired the 58.08% stake previously held by Société Générale Group. Since the state already owned 25.60% of the subsidiary, the transaction was expected to raise its interest to 83.68%, based on the terms announced when the sale agreement was signed in July 2025.

The government has presented the takeover as a move to strengthen financial sovereignty and ensure stability. When the transaction closed, the Finance Ministry said measures had been taken to ensure continuity of banking services and the security of deposits.

The IMF has raised similar concerns

The AfDB’s warning follows concerns previously raised by the International Monetary Fund.

In its 2026 consultation report, completed on March 9, the IMF said growing government ownership of banks was increasing fiscal, operational and governance risks. It counted eight institutions in which the state held a majority interest.

The IMF recommended clear rules for the management and supervision of state-owned banks, along with restructuring or resolution plans for troubled institutions. It also recommended that the government divest its holdings where feasible. The Fund’s executive board similarly urged caution over the expansion of the state’s footprint in the banking system.

The issue extends beyond GBC’s ownership.

Cameroonian banks’ holdings of government securities increased from 9.5% of their assets at the end of 2015 to 32% in June 2025. According to the IMF, several banks held more than half of their assets in claims on governments within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, or CEMAC.

That concentration strengthens the link between banks’ financial health and governments’ fiscal positions. It can also reduce the resources available to finance businesses and households.

The AfDB also noted that public debt service absorbed 23.8% of Cameroon’s budget in 2025, up from 9.8% in 2013.

Banking indicators are still improving

The increase in these risks does not mean Cameroon’s banking system is experiencing a broad deterioration.

At the end of November 2025, the combined balance sheets of the country’s 18 operating banks had grown 9.3% to CFA13.593 trillion. Customer deposits rose 8.4% to CFA8.865 trillion, while lending increased 17% to CFA6.924 trillion.

Sixteen of the 18 banks were fully compliant with prudential requirements. The gross nonperforming loan ratio also declined to 12.9% in 2025 from 14.3% in 2024.

The AfDB’s concerns therefore center less on an immediate deterioration across the banking industry than on sovereign-risk concentration and the governance of institutions controlled by the government.

In discussions with the IMF, Cameroonian authorities described state interventions in banks as temporary measures designed to restructure troubled institutions, restore their profitability and eventually reduce government ownership.

However, public sources reviewed through Aug. 25, 2026, provide no specific timetable for the government to reduce its stake in GBC or bring additional shareholders into the bank.

The issue raised by the AfDB therefore extends beyond the original rationale for the acquisition. Attention now shifts to how GBC will be governed, how transparent its exposure to the public sector will be and under what conditions the government could eventually share or relinquish control.

Source: Business in Cameroon

23, August 2026

Iran urges UK, France to heed veteran diplomats’ warning on Israel ⁰

A senior Iranian diplomat urges the UK and France to take concrete measures against the Israeli regime, citing an open letter signed by 102 former British and French diplomats warning that Israeli policies in the occupied Palestinian territories are moving towards “ethnic cleansing” and the “eradication of Palestine.”

Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi made the remarks in a post on X on Saturday.

He noted how the former diplomats had called for an end to arms transfers to the regime, a ban on trade with illegal settlements, and implementation of decisions by courts in The Hague.

The official added, “London and Paris must not hide behind the phrase ‘expressing concern’ over this situation. Continuing to supply arms and providing any form of support to the regime constitutes a conscious choice to cooperate with and participate in the Israeli regime’s crimes.”

The open letter, published earlier on Saturday by Le Monde, called on France and the United Kingdom to jointly sanction the regime and “act together to uphold international law in Palestine.”

The signatories include former British ambassadors to the United Nations, Jeremy Greenstock and Emyr Jones Parry, and former French West Asia directors, Yves Aubin de la Messuziere and Denis Bauchard.

The diplomats said Palestinian house demolitions and settler violence, which occur with the “connivance of the Israeli army and police,” amount to “ethnic cleansing.”

The letter called for suspending the European Union’s and the UK’s trade agreements with the regime, halting arms transfers and military cooperation, banning trade with illegal settlements, and restricting citizens from purchasing “property” on occupied Palestinian land.

It also called for guaranteed humanitarian access to Gaza through UNRWA and other UN agencies, as well as protected access for journalists, diplomats, and parliamentarians.

Nicholas Hopton, a former British ambassador to Iran, Qatar, and Yemen, said the immediate concern was settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

“There is a move” by Tel Aviv to “allow settlements to be created in the West Bank in a way that would almost realistically prevent a future Palestinian state being able to be created there,” he said.

The letter said France and Britain had recognized a Palestinian state in 2025 and argued that the recognition now needed to be “made real by urgent action.”

It also called for accountability for those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, saying, “Only then can our governments rebut the accusation of double standards.”

Hopton said the United States remained the most influential external actor, warning that continued inaction “will create a longer-term, irreconcilable problem and store up future violence and future tragedies.”

21, August 2026

Hundreds of Ukrainian conscripts desert during military training in Germany ⁰

Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who were forcibly conscripted have deserted their units while undergoing military training in Germany.

Nearly 30,000 Ukrainian troops have been sent for several weeks of military training in Germany since Russia launched its special military operation in Donbas in February 2022.

Yet hundreds of these conscripts have chosen to flee during the training programs, deserting rather than returning to Ukraine to fight Russian forces, according to media reports.

In the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt alone, more than 80 Ukrainian soldiers have absconded during training since 2022, the weekly newspaper Die Zeit reported. Across Germany as a whole, the total number of deserters runs into several hundred.

Under Ukrainian law, these men are classified as deserters and face up to 12 years in prison if apprehended. Many of them were involuntarily drafted into the army in the first place.

Forced recruitment crisis

Kiev has faced a persistent shortage of volunteers willing to confront the larger and stronger Russian army. In April 2024 a mobilization bill was passed under the pretext of “improving mobilization, military registration, and military service.”

Since the new law took effect in May 2024, recruitment officers have ambushed military-age men on the streets of cities and towns across Ukraine. Multiple viral videos have shown officers forcibly seizing men aged 18 to 60 from public places and dragging them into the army.

Human rights groups have condemned the coercive methods used to force these men into service.

In a further sign of desperation, Ukraine has even turned to convicts. Under a presidential decree, some 2,750 Ukrainian prisoners signed voluntary contracts for mobilization in exchange for parole, swelling the ranks of those sent to fight Russian troops.

21, August 2026

Yaoundé: Japan plans 2027 festival to introduce Cameroonians to its culture ⁰

Japan is exploring plans for a cultural festival in Cameroon in 2027, as part of a broader effort to expand bilateral ties into the cultural and creative industries.

The proposed festival was a key topic at an Aug. 14, 2026, meeting in Yaoundé between Arts and Culture Minister Bidoung Mkpatt and Japan’s ambassador to Cameroon, Minami Kentaro.

The initiative has yet to be finalized, but it marks a shift in cooperation that has long been dominated by development projects, infrastructure and support for several economic sectors. Tokyo is now seeking to expand its cultural engagement in Cameroon and increase exchanges between the two societies.

The proposed festival is not expected to focus only on the Japanese cultural products best known to Cameroonian audiences, particularly manga and anime. Discussions also cover the promotion of music, traditional arts, contemporary forms of expression and various Japanese cultural practices and traditional skills.

The Japanese Embassy is seeking support from the Ministry of Arts and Culture for the preparation and organization of the event.

Beyond cultural diplomacy

The festival project comes as the two countries are also exploring cooperation in culture-related sectors with the potential to generate economic activity.

Cinema, design, arts and crafts, heritage conservation, digitization and cultural promotion were among the areas identified during the discussions. These sectors could open the way for cooperation that goes beyond cultural promotion to include training, knowledge transfer and the development of creative industries.

Cameroon is particularly interested in drawing on Japan’s experience in heritage conservation and promotion, as well as in sectors such as animation, design and cultural content.

The renewed push for closer cultural ties follows Cameroon’s participation in the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, where the country sought to showcase its heritage, tourism potential and some of its know-how to an international audience.

The Expo gave Cameroon an opportunity to raise its profile in Japan. The festival planned for 2027 would, in turn, provide a platform for presenting Japanese culture to the Cameroonian public.

Cooperation still to be structured

The Ministry of Arts and Culture says it already provides technical support for events organized by the Japanese Embassy in Cameroon. But developing a more structured framework for cooperation will require translating the discussions into concrete projects.

With that in mind, Bidoung Mkpatt proposed establishing a joint technical unit to coordinate and follow up on the various initiatives discussed.

That step will be critical. At this stage, neither the festival’s budget nor its detailed schedule, financing arrangements or participation terms have been specified in the details released so far.

The extent of the new cultural cooperation will therefore depend on the ability of both sides to turn their intentions into lasting programs, particularly in the cultural and creative industries.

The 2027 festival could serve as an early showcase for this new direction. Its significance would be broader if it also serves as an entry point for partnerships in training, heritage digitization, artistic creation and access to cultural markets.

Source: Business in Cameroon