Headline News

Iran: Khamenei laid in state in Tehran as dignitaries pay tribute ahead of funeral

3, July 2026

Iran: Khamenei laid in state in Tehran as dignitaries pay tribute ahead of funeral 0

The body of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was lying in state in Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex Friday as foreign dignitaries, multi-faith religious leaders and senior officials paid tribute to Iran’s slain leader. Funeral ceremonies and processions will be held for a week across the country. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

In photos: Mourners pay respects to slain leader Khamenei at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla

Senior Iranian political and military officials, multi-faith religious leaders and mourners paid their respects to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as they filed past the caskets of the slain supreme leader and members of his family killed in airstrikes at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran in Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex Friday.

In photos: Mourners pay respects to slain leader Khamenei at Tehran's Grand Mosalla

Foreign religious leaders and other mourners walk past the coffins of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his slain family members during a viewing ceremony at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, July 3, 2026.

In photos: Mourners pay respects to slain leader Khamenei at Tehran's Grand Mosalla

The casket of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani, is displayed alongside the caskets of family members killed in the first Israeli strikes at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

In photos: Mourners pay respects to slain leader Khamenei at Tehran's Grand Mosalla

IRGC members pay their respects on the esplanade of the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, July 3, 2026.

New IRGC chief Gen. Vahidi makes first public appearance since war

Iran’s new IRGC chief emerged from hiding to pay his respects to the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Tehran prepares Friday for the dayslong funeral ceremonies.

Photos published online by Iranian state media showed Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi attending a meeting about the funeral of Khamenei, 86, then sitting alongside his casket as the country held a smaller service for him Thursday night near the supreme leader’s former home in downtown Tehran. 

Vahidi has become a major player in formulating Iran’s tough stance in negotiating a possible permanent end to the war with the US, experts say. He is believed to be part of a small clique in direct contact with Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who remains in hiding after being reportedly wounded in the Febraury 28 Israeli strikes that killed his father, the elder Khamenei. 

Vahidi himself hasn’t been seen publicly since February 8, weeks before the Iran war began.

Video published by Iranian state media showed the mourning ceremony for Khamenei near the husseiniyah at his compound in Tehran. 

New IRGC chief Gen. Vahidi makes first public appearance since war

Supreme leader’s body arrives at Tehran religious complex for funeral: state media

The body of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes, arrived at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex ahead of his funeral, state media reported Friday.

“The body of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution has arrived at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla,” IRNA wrote on Telegram, using the complex’s official name.

Preparations for funeral of Iran’s supreme leader in full swing, 15-20 million expected

Preparations for the funeral of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei were in full swing on Friday, with authorities expecting millions and a coterie of foreign dignitaries to attend the official ceremony. Pakistan, a key mediator in talks between the United States and Iran on ending the Middle East war, said its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would be at the funeral in Tehran on Saturday. China, Afghanistan and Iran’s neighbours in the Caucasus region said they would also be sending representatives.

Tehran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had called on Thursday for a massive turnout at the event as a way to avenge the supreme leader’s death in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war. “The nation’s call for vengeance must ring in the ears of the whole world,” said Ghalibaf, who is also Iran’s parliament speaker.

Khamenei’s funeral, initially delayed at the height of the war, will take place as Iran and the United States observe a fragile ceasefire after signing a preliminary deal to halt the conflict. Khamenei, a spiritual figure for many Shias, was killed at the age of 86 in strikes on his compound in the centre of the Iranian capital. He will lie in state for three days at the colossal Grand Mosalla, which has been draped in banners featuring images and quotes of Khamenei. The bodies of his slain relatives will also be presented.

The ceremonies are expected to draw between 15 and 20 million mourners, according to officials, which would make it the biggest state funeral in the country’s history.

Source: France 24

Inoni Ephraim: how yesterday’s indispensable Biya ally quickly became today’s discarded liability

2, July 2026

Inoni Ephraim: how yesterday’s indispensable Biya ally quickly became today’s discarded liability 0

The public humiliation endured by some of President Paul Biya’s most loyal collaborators, including former Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni, serves as a powerful reminder of a political reality that has defined the Biya era for decades: unwavering loyalty to the regime offers no guarantee of protection.

For years, Inoni was among the most trusted faces of the ruling CPDM crime syndicate. He occupied one of the highest offices in the land, faithfully implementing government policy and defending the Biya system. Yet when political winds shifted, he found himself prosecuted, imprisoned and stripped of the prestige that had accompanied his years of service. Whether Cameroonians believe the legal proceedings against Inoni were fully justified or politically motivated, the broader lesson remains difficult to ignore. In the Biya system, yesterday’s indispensable ally can quickly become today’s discarded liability.

Inoni is far from an isolated case. Several prominent ministers, senior civil servants, military officers and ruling party stalwarts have similarly fallen from grace after years of devoted service. Many who once stood at the very center of power eventually discovered that political survival depended less on loyalty than on the ever-changing calculations of the presidency and the balance of power within the regime.

This recurring pattern raises important questions about governance and institutional trust. Stable political systems are built on predictable institutions, transparent accountability and equal treatment before the law. When prosecutions or political downfalls appear selective or unpredictable, they inevitably fuel public perceptions that justice may be influenced by political considerations rather than applied consistently.

The message sent to those serving within the current administration is sobering. Absolute loyalty does not necessarily translate into lasting security. Years of dedicated service may not shield an official from disgrace should circumstances change. In such an environment, trust becomes fragile, and fear often replaces confidence.

For the Cameroonian public, these episodes also reinforce a broader concern about the concentration of power. Institutions that depend heavily on the decisions of a single political center rather than on strong, independent processes risk creating uncertainty for both officials and ordinary citizens alike.

The story of Chief Ephraim Inoni and other once-powerful figures is therefore more than the personal tragedy of fallen elites. It illustrates the precarious nature of political patronage in an entrenched system where proximity to power can be temporary and where loyalty, however steadfast may not be reciprocated.

Ultimately, the humiliation suffered by many of President Biya’s closest former associates stands as a cautionary tale. It suggests that in a system where political fortunes can change overnight, trust is not earned through years of faithful service but remains contingent on circumstances that few can control. That is a lesson not only for those within the corridors of power but for every observer seeking to understand the dynamics of Cameroon’s political landscape.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Camtel’s bill of health: higher profit, poor service quality

2, July 2026

Camtel’s bill of health: higher profit, poor service quality 0

Cameroon Telecommunications (Camtel) continued to improve its financial performance in 2025, posting higher revenue and profit as the state-owned telecom operator extended a recovery that has been underway for several years.

Speaking at the National Management Days in Douala, CEO Judith Yah Sunday Achidi said Camtel generated net profit of more than CFA13 billion in 2025, up from CFA12.7 billion the previous year.

Revenue also increased, rising above CFA235 billion from CFA217 billion in 2024. The growth continues a steady upward trend. In a statement released in December 2025, Camtel said its revenue had doubled from CFA108 billion in 2018 to CFA217 billion in 2024.

According to the CEO, the company’s performance reflects years of internal reforms, including the digitalization of services, tighter revenue controls, and a stronger focus on operational performance. She cited the expansion of online subscriptions, electronic bill payments, and improved revenue monitoring, saying these measures boosted efficiency without additional capital injections from the state.

That claim, however, deserves some context. Camtel has also said it has invested more than CFA145 billion since 2021 to upgrade and expand its telecommunications network. The company’s stronger financial results therefore reflect both management reforms and sustained investment in its infrastructure.

Fixed Services Remain the Backbone

The financial gains come even as Camtel’s business model continues to depend largely on its traditional activities.

According to an audit by the Audit Bench of Cameroon’s Supreme Court covering 2015 and subsequent years, the company operates under three concession agreements signed on March 12, 2020, covering transmission infrastructure, fixed telecommunications, and mobile services.

Between 2015 and 2020, Camtel’s fixed-services business generated most of its revenue, ahead of transmission services and mobile operations. But the nature of that business has changed significantly. Traditional landline services have steadily declined as mobile telephony expanded, while fixed broadband has become the company’s main growth driver.

That shift explains Camtel’s increasing focus on fiber-optic services, enterprise connectivity, and wholesale data transport. According to the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (ART), the transmission segment where Camtel is the dominant operator continues to benefit from rising demand for bandwidth. The company operates a national fiber-optic network stretching nearly 12,000 kilometers and connected to several submarine cable landing stations.

The picture is less encouraging in mobile services. Despite expanding its Blue mobile brand, Camtel remains a distant competitor in a market dominated by Orange Cameroon and MTN Cameroon. According to the ART, mobile service revenue reached CFA631 billion in 2024, with growth driven largely by mobile data.

The regulator’s figures also highlight the market’s concentration. Orange Cameroon and MTN Cameroon account for most mobile revenue, while Camtel continues to hold only a small share. That limits the public operator’s ability to turn its nationwide infrastructure into a stronger position in the mobile market.

Better Service Remains the Real Test

Service quality remains Camtel’s biggest challenge.

The company’s stronger financial performance contrasts with frequent customer complaints about slow internet speeds, service outages, and difficulties accessing both fixed and mobile services. Such complaints remain common on social media, highlighting the gap between the company’s financial progress and users’ day-to-day experience.

Camtel acknowledges that network modernization remains a priority. In its December 2025 statement responding to the Supreme Court audit, the company said it had committed more than CFA145 billion since 2021 to modernize and expand its telecommunications infrastructure.

That effort continued in 2026 with the signing of a CFA44.884 billion syndicated financing agreement with Commercial Bank Cameroon. According to Camtel, the funding will support the first phase of its Mobile Network Expansion project, which aims to strengthen existing infrastructure and extend 2G, 3G, and 4G coverage across regional and divisional capitals, university towns, strategic economic zones, and selected rural communities.

The challenge now is to turn those investments and stronger financial results into tangible improvements for customers. In a market increasingly driven by mobile data, Camtel will narrow the gap with Orange Cameroon and MTN Cameroon only if it improves network coverage, service reliability, internet quality, and its commercial performance.

The 2025 results show a company that is more profitable, financially stronger, and further along in its transformation. But they also underline the company’s biggest test: customers will judge Camtel less by its earnings than by the quality of the service it delivers.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Priest, 2 Franciscan Brothers Kidnapped in Ndop

1, July 2026

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Priest, 2 Franciscan Brothers Kidnapped in Ndop 0

The Catholic Diocese of Nkongsamba has appealed for prayers for the safe release of a Priest and two members of the Fraternity of Franciscans of Emmanuel (FFE) who were abducted in the country’s North-West Region.

In a Tuesday, June 30 statement, the Vicar General of the Cameroonian Episcopal See announced that Fr. John Bosco Bihkong, a Priest serving in the Diocese of Nkongsamba, and two FFE members were kidnapped during the night of June 27.

According to Mons. Joseph Tchinda Dountio, Fr. Bihkong had traveled to his native village of Melim, near Ndop in the North-West Region of Cameroon, to celebrate his first Mass on Friday, June 26.

He was accompanied by Br. Sylvester Sewong, Guardian of the FFE convent in Kékem, and Br. Marie Rodrigue Sop, who is preparing for perpetual profession. The three were abducted the following night.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way,” Mons. Dountio said.

He said the Local Ordinary, Bishop Dieudonné Espoir Atangana is appealing for prayers for their safe release.

“Bishop Dieudonné invites the People of God, as well as all people of goodwill, to pray and support the Franciscan Brothers of Emmanuel for the release of these servants of God,” he said.

No details were provided regarding the identity of the kidnappers, their motives, or whether contact had been established with the abductors.

Cameroon’s North-West Region is one of the two English-speaking regions that have experienced years of insecurity linked to the country’s Anglophone crisis.

Clergy, women and men Religious, and other civilians have periodically been targeted in abductions as violence has persisted in the region.

Source: aciAfrica

World Cup: Mbappé’s brace sends France into round of 16

1, July 2026

World Cup: Mbappé’s brace sends France into round of 16 0

France defeated Sweden 3-0 in a dominant round of 32 performance on Tuesday evening, with Kylian Mbappé’s brace and Michael Olise’s assist setting the tone for a comprehensive victory. The French superstar struck twice, first from close range after Olise’s through ball, as Les Bleus overwhelmed their opponents with superior skill, movement, and execution.

Mbappe finished a superb move to break the deadlock just before half-time in the last-32 tie watched by 80,663 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, after France had already hit the woodwork twice, once through Mbappe and once through Olise.

The French were on top throughout against a limited Swedish side, utterly dominating in terms of possession and shots on goal.

Olise set up Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola for the second on 53 minutes, and then delivered a delightful pass for Mbappe to complete a convincing victory.

Mbappe’s 18th World Cup goal

Mbappe’s strikes saw him move level with Lionel Messi on six goals in the all-star golden boot race at this World Cup.

The France captain now has 18 World Cup goals in total, meaning he is just one behind Messi’s overall record of 19, a mark which 27-year-old Mbappe will keep chasing.

He celebrated his first goal by running across to embrace coach Didier Deschamps, who missed France’s final group game against Norway to travel home for his mother’s funeral.

Deschamps will step down at the end of the competition after 14 highly successful years in charge.

Going out in the last 32 would have been such an anti-climactic way to depart for Deschamps, who captained the first France team to win the World Cup in 1998 and coached them to glory in 2018.

In 1998, France’s run to victory on home soil included a 1-0 last-16 win over Paraguay, when Laurent Blanc scored a golden goal in extra time.

Les Bleus will face the South Americans in the last 16 again this time, on Saturday in Philadelphia.

France will be fully expected to win and march on.

Mbappe and Olise were again central figures, with Ousmane Dembele also showing flashes of his brilliance while Barcola was preferred to Desire Doue as the fourth forward.

Sweden have quality in attack too, with the Premier League trio of Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Anthony Elanga. But they couldn’t get enough of the ball to create chances and Graham Potter’s team now go home.

Getting this far should really be seen as a success for them, however, after they only made it to North America through the back door of the play-offs.

Intense pressure 

Olise released Mbappe through the middle to put the ball in the net in the 20th minute, only for a tight offside call to cut short the celebrations.

However, that sparked an intense spell of French pressure which eventually resulted in the opening goal.

Some of their football was mesmerising, as Mbappe hit the post from a Jules Kounde ball across the face of goal and Adrien Rabiot fired narrowly over.

Olise then struck an upright with a breathtaking overhead bicycle kick before Dembele put the rebound wide.

The opener came right on half-time, after an Olise effort was tipped behind by Swedish ‘keeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

Dembele and Olise combined at the resulting corner before finding Mbappe, and he did the rest.

Sweden needed the interval to regroup, but they conceded again eight minutes after the restart as the magical Olise threaded a pass through the legs of Gustaf Lagerbielke for Barcola, who lashed in.

Olise couldn’t score when clean through, but soon after he delivered an exceptional assist for Mbappe to curl in again on 74 minutes.

France look untouchable even if the toughest tests are still to come, although Paraguay will find it hard to live with them.

Source: AFP

Iran: Over 90 countries declare readiness to attend funeral ceremony of Ayatollah Khamenei

30, June 2026

Iran: Over 90 countries declare readiness to attend funeral ceremony of Ayatollah Khamenei 0

Representatives from more than 90 countries, along with religious leaders, scholars and prominent figures from across the world, have expressed their readiness to attend the funeral ceremonies of martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, according to an Iranian official.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister for Security affairs and secretary of the funeral organizing committee, said that more than 30 countries have already submitted formal requests to send high-ranking delegations to the ceremonies.

Pourjamshidian went on to say that the funeral had been postponed to allow sufficient time for organizing a major national and international event amid the country’s recent circumstances.

He also noted that, in accordance with decisions by the office of the late leader and the guidance of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the ceremonies will be held over several days.

The official said the events have been planned under the supervision of the Supreme National Security Council, the Office of the Leader and a national headquarters established by the administration under First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref.

Specialized committees covering security, logistics, infrastructure, cultural affairs, media, universities and international relations have also been formed to oversee the ceremonies.

Funeral and farewell ceremonies will take place in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad and Iraq. Provincial headquarters have been established in Tehran, Qom and Khorasan Razavi Province, while coordinating committees have also been formed across the country to facilitate public participation.

Source: Presstv

CDC left 14,300 hectares of mature plantations idle in 2025

30, June 2026

CDC left 14,300 hectares of mature plantations idle in 2025 0

The Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), the country’s second-largest employer after the state, was unable to exploit a significant share of its agricultural assets in 2025. According to the company’s financial statements, 14,349 hectares of mature oil palm and rubber plantations remained unexploited during the year, significantly affecting its agricultural performance.

The company reported that 9,423 hectares of mature rubber plantations were left unexploited, representing about 51% of its 18,595 hectares of mature rubber estates. In the oil palm business, 4,926 hectares remained idle, or nearly 36% of the company’s 13,690 hectares of mature plantations.

The large amount of idle farmland highlights the operational difficulties facing the state-owned agribusiness, whose operations are concentrated mainly in the Southwest and Littoral regions. According to CDC, it was one of the main reasons the company failed to meet its 2025 production targets.

Insecurity continues to disrupt production

CDC attributed the weak performance to reduced cultivated areas, insufficient agricultural inputs, and ongoing security challenges in some production zones. In its rubber operations, the company said it lost two months of peak harvesting because of lockdowns imposed during the school reopening period and ahead of the election campaign. The disruptions affected tapping operations, which depend on regular access to plantations.

The company also reported several serious security incidents, including the killing of senior field staff in Ekona, Mungo, and Sonne/Likomba. According to CDC, the attacks disrupted operations across several plantations and continue to limit the company’s recovery efforts.

CDC said the socio-political crisis affecting Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions since 2016 continues to weigh on its operations. Since 2018, the conflict has forced the company to suspend activities on several estates, led to the deterioration and loss of assets, and contributed to accumulated losses that weakened shareholders’ equity between 2019 and 2024.

Lower spending on farm inputs

Operational difficulties were also reflected in procurement. Spending on agricultural inputs fell 12% in 2025, mainly because of lower purchases of fertilizers, crop protection products, and other farming supplies. The reduction limited the company’s ability to improve yields on the plantations that remained in production and constrained efforts to gradually restore operations on mature estates that are still idle.

Purchases of other supplies, including spare parts, banana packaging materials, irrigation equipment, lubricants, and construction materials, declined by 1%, reflecting efforts to maintain a minimum level of industrial and logistics activity despite the challenging operating environment.

CDC also generated CFA74.5 million from the disposal of fixed assets. This included CFA58.5 million from the sale of oil palm and coconut seedlings produced at its Bota nursery and CFA16.1 million from the sale of rubber stumps used for grafting.

While these revenues provided some additional income, they remain modest compared with the scale of the idle plantations and the investment needed to revive operations.

The 2025 financial statements show that CDC’s main challenge remains restoring production on its mature plantations. Until a significant share of these estates returns to operation, the company’s financial recovery is likely to remain fragile.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Spain: undocumented migrant amnesty scheme draws more than a million applicants

30, June 2026

Spain: undocumented migrant amnesty scheme draws more than a million applicants 0

More than one million undocumented migrants in Spain have sought legal status under a scheme that has defied a wider European crackdown on irregular immigration, the government said on Tuesday, the final day for submissions.

The vast scheme was predicted to benefit around 500,000 people, most from Latin America, when the left-wing government launched it in April.

“The more than one million applications submitted… show how necessary this recognition of rights and responsibilities was,” Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told an event in Madrid.

Sanchez has become a standard bearer of more open immigration policies as his European neighbours – including some Socialist peers – toughen measures in response to pressure from ascendant far-right parties.

He has long argued that immigrants are needed to sustain the economy, the welfare state and pensions amid Spain’s ageing population and depopulation in rural regions.

The number of applications submitted does not necessarily indicate the number of migrants who will secure their legal status.

Applicants must prove they have a clean criminal record and spent at least five consecutive months in Spain before January 1.

The authorities have three months to process their paperwork and decide whether to issue a work and residence permit only valid in Spain.

“When we condemn a person to invisibility, I think we make our country a worse country. We all lose,” Sanchez explained, saying his government aimed to “offer an opportunity and future” to migrants.

“We want the world to view Spain as a country that respects, protects and upholds human rights.”

Economic boost

For Juana Hernandez, a 59-year-old Cuban who has lived in Spain for two and a half years and whose application was recently approved, the plan “is a huge opportunity”.

She told AFP she had paid a lawyer roughly €200 ($225) to handle the administrative formalities “to be on the safe side”, as well as receiving help from a migrant aid association.

Although she was “a little worried” at the start, the English degree holder now aims to work at Madrid’s airport.

REPORTERS

A land of emigrants for centuries, Spain is a key entry point into the European Union for tens of thousands of undocumented asylum seekers and migrants, alongside Italy and Greece.

Many come via a long and perilous Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands, although numbers dropped last year after peaking in 2024.

Since April, streams of men, women and children have queued in the streets to obtain documents and attend appointments for their regularisation, in addition to online applicants.

Although fears arose of a saturation of the services handling the scheme, Mohamed, a Moroccan who lives in the northern region of Cantabria, felt the administrative journey was “relatively easy”.

The 23-year-old jobseeker, who declined to give his surname, has been in Spain irregularly for about four years and hopes “to be able to work legally, to pay contributions”.

Gaining legal status will also spare him from unscrupulous employers who “take advantage” of irregular migrants “by paying low salaries, without any rights or… don’t pay at all,” he told AFP.

Sanchez, who has presided over one of the world’s fastest-growing developed economies in the last few years, has touted the benefits of immigration for sectors such as construction that need to boost their workforce.

Spanish business leaders have welcomed the regularisation drive but the conservative and far-right opposition are furious about a policy they claim will encourage more irregular immigration.

While accepting “tensions” and “challenges” linked to immigration and integration, Sanchez on Tuesday accused the right of “fuelling fear (and) stirring up xenophobic discourse that does not solve any problem”.

Source: AFP

World Cup: Morocco beat Netherlands on penalties to reach round of 16

30, June 2026

World Cup: Morocco beat Netherlands on penalties to reach round of 16 0

Morocco defeated the Netherlands on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw following extra time in Monterrey to book their place in the World Cup round of 16. Cody Gakpo’s second-half opener looked set to send the Dutch through before Issa Diop headed home deep into stoppage time.

The Atlas Lions’ goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made the crucial save to block the Netherlands’ fifth penalty from Crysencio Summerville before striker Ismael Saibari stepped up to blast home the winning spot-kick that sealed a 3-2 shootout win.

The victory sends Morocco into a last 16 clash with Canada in Houston on Saturday.

An enthralling match had gone to extra time after Issa Diop had glanced in a dramatic equaliser for Morocco in the first minute of stoppage time as the Netherlands closed in on victory.

Advertising

The Dutch had taken the lead midway through the second half with a goal from Cody Gakpo, playing just days after his partner had confirmed the death of the couple’s unborn son.

Liverpool forward Gakpo sank to the turf and appeared overcome with emotion as he was surrounded by team-mates in a prolonged group embrace.

But Morocco forced extra time when an unmarked Diop headed home from substitute Chemsdine Talbi’s cross in injury time.

Morocco had created the better chances of a fractious encounter, which saw players from both sides flying into tackles to test the patience of Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio.

The Atlas Lions almost took the lead on 20 minutes when Neil al-Aynaoui glanced an Achraf Hakimi corner goalwards only to be denied by a superb reflex save from Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

Verbruggen was pressed into action moments later, this time doing well to tip a vicious strike from Hakimi over the bar.

The fierce nature of the contest was on full display midway through the half when Saibari was lucky to escape sanction after elbowing Jan Paul van Hecke in the face.

The Dutch continued to enjoy plenty of possession but were unable to convert it into goalscoring chances.

2-hour drama

Their best effort came on 44 minutes when Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven uncorked a ferocious shot from the edge of the area that was tipped over by Bounou.

Van Hecke continued to find himself in the thick of the action, and after bloodying his head in a collision in the penalty area, made his presence felt with a crunching tackle that upended el-Aynaoui just before half-time.

As the half ended Saibari just failed to connect with a cross that flashed across the Dutch goal before going behind.

The drama continued into an end-to-end second half, but appeared to have tilted in the Netherlands’ favour when coach Ronald Koeman brought on forward Wout Weghorst in a flurry of substitutions after the hydration break.

Weghorst made an immediate impact flicking on a long ball to send Summerville bearing in on goal. Summerville crossed to Gakpo, who hurled himself at the ball to score.

The Netherlands, superbly marshalled by Gakpo’s Liverpool team-mate Virgil van Dijk, appeared to be heading for victory but Diop’s late header sent it to extra-time.

Morocco looked to have made the breakthrough when Soufiane Rahimi went through on goal in the 96th minute, only to be denied by a jaw-dropping save from Verbruggen.

The Netherlands held on for penalties but despite Morocco missing their first when El-Aynaoui hit the bar, the north Africans recovered to win.

Source: AFP

La Francophonie: Rwanda seeks Yaoundé backing for Mushikiwabo

29, June 2026

La Francophonie: Rwanda seeks Yaoundé backing for Mushikiwabo 0

Eight years after winning Cameroon’s backing for Louise Mushikiwabo’s successful bid to lead the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Rwanda has returned to Yaoundé seeking support for her re-election.

With President Paul Biya currently abroad, Secretary General of the Presidency Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh received former African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka at the Unity Palace on June 25.

Kaberuka delivered a sealed letter from President Paul Kagame to his Cameroonian counterpart. While the visit was officially presented as a goodwill mission between the two countries, it also had a clear diplomatic objective: securing Cameroon’s support for Mushikiwabo’s campaign for another term as OIF Secretary General.

Speaking after the meeting, Kaberuka confirmed that Rwanda was actively campaigning for Mushikiwabo’s re-election.

“I brought a message of friendship and brotherhood from President Paul Kagame to his brother and friend, President Paul Biya. Cameroon and Rwanda have long enjoyed deep ties. We came to strengthen those relations and deliver the sealed letter to the Secretary General of the Presidency,” he told reporters.

The former AfDB president added that Kigali is seeking a new mandate for Mushikiwabo so she can continue the reforms launched since taking office in 2018 and further strengthen multilateral cooperation.

A Familiar Diplomatic Strategy

The latest diplomatic effort echoes Rwanda’s campaign eight years ago. Ahead of the 17th Francophonie Summit in Yerevan, Armenia, Kigali launched an extensive diplomatic campaign to rally support for Mushikiwabo’s candidacy. Cameroon was among the countries approached before the former Rwandan foreign minister was elected Secretary General.

While the political context has changed since then, Rwanda’s strategy remains largely the same: secure the backing of influential African and French-speaking member states before the election. Cameroon once again appears to be one of Kigali’s priority partners.

A Key Stop Ahead of the Vote

Kaberuka’s visit also comes amid heightened diplomatic activity at the Unity Palace. Only days earlier, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh received an envoy from Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, who was promoting the candidacy of Coumba Bâ for the same position.

Those successive visits underscore Cameroon’s importance in the upcoming election. As an influential OIF member and a leading diplomatic player in Central Africa, the country has become an essential stop for candidates seeking support ahead of the decisive summit. The election is scheduled for November during the 20th Francophonie Summit in Cambodia.

Four candidates are officially in the race: incumbent Secretary General Louise Mushikiwabo, backed by Rwanda; Coumba Bâ of Mauritania; Juliana Amato Lumumba, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s former foreign minister and daughter of Patrice Lumumba; and former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș. With several months still to go before heads of state and government cast their votes, bilateral lobbying is expected to intensify.

In a race where diplomatic alliances may prove just as important as campaign platforms, Rwanda appears to be relying on the same strategy that worked in 2018: securing the support of key African partners early. By returning to Yaoundé, Kigali is signaling that it still views Cameroon as one of the most influential voices in the contest for the leadership of the OIF.

Source: Sbbc

«< 10 11 12 13 14 >»
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

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