Headline News

17, July 2026

Cameroon advances key trade corridor upgrade to Equatorial Guinea ⁰

Cameroon has moved a step closer to rehabilitating the Ebolowa-Ambam highway, a strategic trade corridor linking the country’s southern region to Equatorial Guinea, as technical studies enter a more advanced stage.

According to a statement published on July 15 by the Ministry of Public Works, contractor HAB S.A. has intensified topographic and geotechnical surveys along the section between kilometer point 0 and kilometer point 47+600.

The studies are intended to refine the engineering design and identify the most appropriate technical solutions before rehabilitation work begins. The ministry said the contractor has strengthened its field operations by deploying a project director, topographic and geotechnical teams, laboratory technicians, an environmental specialist, and specialized equipment, including a deflection testing truck, a dual-frequency GPS station, and additional support vehicles.

Administrative procedures are also underway to secure authorization for the quarry that will supply construction materials for the project.

A key trade corridor

The rehabilitation carries significant economic importance. The 92-kilometer Ebolowa-Ambam section forms part of National Road No. 2, which links the capital of Cameroon’s South Region to the border with Equatorial Guinea.

The corridor is a major route for transporting agricultural products, timber, and other goods to border markets while facilitating trade with neighboring members of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). Over time, however, the road’s deteriorating condition has increased transport costs, lengthened travel times, and raised vehicle maintenance expenses, reducing the competitiveness of businesses operating in the region.

The project forms part of the broader rehabilitation of the Ebolowa-Ambam-Olamze road. In June 2025, Public Works Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi launched a restricted national tender under an emergency procedure for the first phase of rehabilitation works.

The CFA15 billion project will be financed through the government’s public investment budgets for 2025, 2026, and 2027. Planned works include pavement rehabilitation, pothole repairs, shoulder restoration, and replacement of road signs.

Supporting regional integration

For Cameroon, upgrading the highway is about more than improving mobility. The project is part of a broader strategy to strengthen transport corridors connecting the country with its neighbors at a time when trade within CEMAC remains relatively limited.

A more efficient road is expected to facilitate cross-border trade, reduce logistics costs for businesses, and improve market access for agricultural producers. For investors in agriculture, forestry, logistics, and related sectors, transport infrastructure remains a key factor in investment decisions and business expansion.

The technical studies currently underway therefore represent more than a routine administrative step. They will determine when construction can begin on a project expected to generate economic benefits well beyond the Ntem Valley department, supporting development across Cameroon’s South Region while strengthening commercial links with Equatorial Guinea.

Source: Sbbc

16, July 2026

Biya’s absence in Yaoundé is testing the limits of the nation’s political system ⁰

President Paul Biya’s prolonged absence from public view has once again exposed a structural weakness at the heart of Cameroon’s governance: the concentration of decision-making in a single office.

As speculation over his whereabouts and health continues, Yaoundé appears to be operating in slow motion, with reports and widespread perceptions suggesting that major political and administrative decisions have been delayed while officials await direction from the presidency.

Whether every government function has stalled is open to debate, but the perception of institutional paralysis is itself significant. Investors, civil servants, political actors and ordinary citizens increasingly question how a modern state can remain so dependent on the availability of one individual.

The uncertainty has also revived an old constitutional and political debate. Cameroon has no vice-president. Under the Constitution, if the presidency becomes vacant, the President of the Senate assumes interim responsibilities until an election is held. Yet the absence of a permanently designated deputy means there is no clearly visible second-in-command to reassure the public during periods when the president is unavailable. The result is a leadership vacuum in the public imagination, even if constitutional mechanisms exist on paper.

This arrangement has fueled renewed calls from some analysts and opposition figures for reforms that would create the office of vice-president or otherwise clarify executive succession. Supporters argue that such a position could provide continuity and reduce uncertainty during periods of presidential absence, while critics contend that introducing a vice-president could create competing centers of power within the executive.

More broadly, the current situation underscores concerns about the resilience of Cameroon’s political institutions. A system that depends heavily on a single leader inevitably raises questions about succession planning, institutional autonomy and the ability of government to function smoothly under extraordinary circumstances.

Suggestions that the country is on the verge of a political rupture should, however be treated with caution. While prolonged uncertainty can heighten political tensions and deepen divisions among competing elites, predicting a rupture goes beyond the available evidence. What is clear is that sustained ambiguity over leadership risks eroding public confidence, encouraging speculation and increasing pressure for constitutional and institutional reforms.

Cameroon stands at an important moment. The issue is no longer simply the president’s absence, but whether the country’s institutions are sufficiently robust to ensure continuity, transparency and public confidence regardless of who occupies the highest office.

A stronger framework for executive succession and clearer communication during periods of presidential absence would not eliminate political uncertainty, but they would strengthen the credibility of the state and reduce the risks that uncertainty poses to governance.

Biya has been stuck in Geneva, Switzerland, for a month – alternating between a private clinic and his favoured suite at the InterContinental Hotel. This follows multiple false alarms about the 93-year old president’s declining health but the arrival of so many of his family and political associates in Geneva suggests that the concerns of those closest to him are mounting – leaving an ominous power vacuum in Yaoundé.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

16, July 2026

Iran strikes US targets with missiles, drones amid warning of expanding retaliation ⁰

Iran’s Armed Forces have announced new rounds of retaliatory operations against US military targets in the region featuring missile and drone strikes against facilities in Kuwait and Jordan following overnight US attacks on the Iranian coastline and southern cities.

The operations, which were carried out on Wednesday, were accompanied by a warning from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) that, for now, Iran’s reprisal remains focused on US offensive infrastructure in the region, but additional phases will follow.

‘Crushing blow’

Announcing its latest reprisal, the IRGC said that, during the eighth wave of its retaliatory Operation Nasr- (Victory) 2, its Navy and Aerospace Force carried out a combined missile-and-drone operation in response to “the enemy’s attacks last night on locations along the country’s southern coastline and in southern cities.”

According to the Corps, the operation targeted the early-warning radar of the C-RAM system at Kuwait’s Ali al-Salem Airbase as well as “a gathering point of the criminal soldiers of the terrorist US army.”

The reprisal, the announcement asserted, dealt US forces “a crushing blow.”

Addressing the Kuwaiti people, the IRGC reminded that the United States was using the Arab nation’s territory to carry out unprovoked acts of aggression against Iran, urging the nation to “rid your country of the presence of these aggressors and, by fulfilling your Islamic duty, preserve your historical honor and dignity.”

Separately, the Army of the Islamic Republic said it had launched a drone strike against US military facilities in Jordan during the ninth phase of its retaliatory Operation Saeqeh (Lightning).

According to the Army’s statement, loitering munitions targeted the fixed radar site, communications systems, and fuel depots of the US military at al-Azraq Airbase in Jordan. The statement described al-Azraq as a deployment site for missile defense systems and “one of the most important strategic and command centers for US forces operating in the West Asia region.”

The Army said the strike was carried out in retaliation for enemy attacks on parts of Iran, including the Bampur Army garrison in Iranshahr in the south, which led to the martyrdom of seven non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Army’s Ground Force.

It condemned the enemy’s “barbaric attacks” on military barracks in Iranshahr, saying such actions reflected the enemy’s “inhuman nature.” Stressing that the attacks “will never be erased from the pages of history,” the statement added that Army personnel “will not retreat in the slightest from the honorable duty of defending the Iranian nation and the Islamic homeland or avenging the blood of the beloved martyrs.”

IRGC warns of further retaliatory phases

Meanwhile, commenting on the latest developments, IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi said the enemy should not expect to prolong the confrontation by turning it into a war of attrition.

“The enemy should not assume that it can sustain the current dynamics of the battlefield and turn the war into a war of attrition,” he wrote in a post on X.

“Iran’s operations are currently focused on destroying the US’s offensive infrastructure in the region. The next phases will then begin,” he added.

IRGC hunts down invading hostile drones

Separately, the IRGC announced that its air defense units had intercepted and shot down a US LUCAS unmanned aerial vehicle over the skies of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. According to the Corps, the drone was detected by the country’s integrated air defense network before being struck by a surface-to-air missile system.

In another statement, the IRGC also said one enemy MQ-9 drone was also intercepted and destroyed over the southern Iranian city of Andimeshk by an advanced air defense system of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force.

The United States has perpetrated numerous violations against Iranian territory since April 7, when US President Donald Trump announced a unilateral ceasefire in the latest bout of wholesale American-Israeli aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.

The violations continued even after Washington and Tehran signed a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding last month, whose first clause clearly mandates cessation of aggression on all fronts.

The US has also been trying to help vessels evade the maritime route designated by the Islamic Republic for safe and legal passage through the Strait of Hormuz, by seeking to escort trespassing vessels through an illegal passageway.

Iran’s Armed Forces have staged uncompromising retaliation in the face of each instance of violation, including those in support of illegal vessel movement in the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: Presstv

15, July 2026

Martinez Zogo Murder Trial: Colonel Otoulou’s testimony directly implicates Amougou Belinga and Eko Eko ⁰

The trial over the murder of Cameroonian journalist Martinez Zogo reached a pivotal stage on July 14, 2026, as Colonel Jean-Pierre Otoulou, who led the initial investigation, delivered testimony that directly implicated businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, former external intelligence chief Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, and former operations director Lieutenant Colonel Justin Danwe.

Appearing before the Yaoundé Military Court one day after cybercrime expert Jean-Pierre Ouloumou concluded his testimony, Otoulou detailed the early stages of the investigation and recounted statements he said pointed to the involvement of the three defendants.

Now commander of the Littoral Gendarmerie Legion, Otoulou headed the Centre Gendarmerie Legion when Martinez Zogo was abducted and killed in January 2023. He oversaw the initial investigation before a joint police-gendarmerie commission later took over the case on the instructions of President Paul Biya.

The colonel told the court his team had completed “about 80%” of the investigation before the commission assumed responsibility. Over nearly seven hours of questioning by prosecutors, he described how investigators identified their first suspects.

Danwe initially points to Eko Eko

According to Otoulou, the investigation began in earnest on January 20, 2023, after the prosecutor in Mfou informed him that a body had been discovered in Ebogo. The first leads reportedly placed Justin Danwe, then director of operations at the Directorate General for External Research (DGRE), at the center of the investigation.

Otoulou testified that during questioning, Danwe initially claimed he had acted on instructions from Eko Eko while insisting he did not know Amougou Belinga. After learning of those statements, Otoulou said he contacted Eko Eko, who allegedly replied: “Do not bother me. Ask Amougou Belinga and Danwe what they did.”

According to the witness, Eko Eko later sent him an audio recording of a conversation between Amougou Belinga and co-defendant Bidzongo. In the recording, the businessman allegedly described Danwe as “his person” within the DGRE. Otoulou further testified that the same recording contained another statement in which Amougou Belinga allegedly said, “Even Eko Eko is my person.”

Additional evidence cited

The colonel also pointed to other elements that, in his view, reinforced investigators’ suspicions. He said Eko Eko’s phones stopped transmitting signals on the day Martinez Zogo’s body was discovered.

He also testified that the DGRE headquarters and Danwe’s office were covered by surveillance cameras, with monitoring screens located in the director general’s office. Based on those elements, Otoulou said he concluded Danwe “was not lying” when he implicated his superior.

These assertions, however, remain allegations presented by a prosecution witness. Their evidentiary value will ultimately be assessed by the court in light of cross-examination and the full body of evidence.

Amougou Belinga acknowledges relationship with Danwe

Otoulou told the court he initially had no direct evidence against Amougou Belinga. “I had nothing on Amougou Belinga. It was Eko Eko’s statement that led me to him,” he testified.

The colonel said subsequent witness statements strengthened that line of inquiry. He testified that Bruno Bidjang told investigators Amougou Belinga had contacts within the justice system who could have Martinez Zogo jailed. According to Otoulou, when questioned, Amougou Belinga downplayed his conflict with the journalist, allegedly saying, “Martinez meant nothing to me.”

Asked about his relationship with Danwe, the businessman allegedly acknowledged both a personal and professional connection, describing him as a friend who regularly provided information that helped him win contracts abroad.

Confrontation changes Danwe’s account

Otoulou testified that he later organized a face-to-face meeting between Amougou Belinga and Danwe.

According to the witness, Danwe immediately revised his earlier statement, saying he did, in fact, know the businessman.

The colonel said Danwe then told investigators he had approached Amougou Belinga for help obtaining an advance on his salary through Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze, whom he described as one of the businessman’s associates.

It was during that meeting, Otoulou testified, that Amougou Belinga allegedly asked Danwe to “silence” Martinez Zogo.

According to the testimony, Danwe later met the businessman again at the Ekang building to begin planning the operation. Otoulou further testified that Danwe said he received payments of roughly CFA500,000 after each meeting. During a second meeting, Danwe allegedly told Amougou Belinga, “We are going to launch the operation.”

According to the witness, Danwe later informed the businessman that the mission had been carried out. Amougou Belinga allegedly responded, “I am waiting to see the result.” When Danwe later reported that Martinez Zogo’s body had been found, Amougou Belinga allegedly said, “He deserved his punishment.”

Otoulou testified that this final meeting was the only occasion on which Danwe left without receiving money.

Disappearance of an iPhone

The colonel also addressed the disappearance of an iPhone belonging to Amougou Belinga. He testified that the phone was allegedly hidden by one of the businessman’s wives, Melissa Amougou, before being handed to a domestic worker.

According to Otoulou, the housekeeper later told investigators that Melissa Amougou returned to retrieve the device. The testimony echoed earlier statements by cybercrime expert Jean-Pierre Ouloumou, who previously told the court that one of Amougou Belinga’s phones had never been recovered.

Testimony still subject to challenge

At this stage of the proceedings, Otoulou has only been questioned by prosecutors. His testimony, which strongly supports the prosecution’s case, will still be tested through cross-examination by defense lawyers and questioning from lawyers representing the civil parties.

That next phase will allow the defense to challenge the chronology presented by the witness, the accuracy of the statements he attributed to the defendants, and the conclusions he drew during the investigation.

For now, Otoulou’s testimony does not amount to a finding of guilt. It does, however, place the alleged relationships between Amougou Belinga, Danwe, and Eko Eko back at the center of the trial while providing prosecutors with a detailed account of what they allege was the planning of the operation that led to Martinez Zogo’s murder.

Source: Sbbc

15, July 2026

Douala port resumes operations after vessel collision ⁰

Cameroon’s main port of Douala has resumed operations, its transport minister said on Tuesday, after a collision between two cargo vessels at the weekend temporarily obstructed ‌the navigation channel.

The accident occurred early on Sunday near buoy No. 20 in the Douala-Bonaberi port channel when the outgoing Tuvalu-registered cargo vessel MV Sea Honor collided with the inbound Cyprus-flagged MV Black Rhino.

No fatalities were reported, but both vessels sustained significant damage and the ⁠collision temporarily blocked access to the channel, disrupting maritime traffic at one of Central Africa’s busiest ports. The impact of the disruption was not disclosed.

The Port of Douala-Bonaberi handles the majority of Cameroon’s seaborne trade and serves as a crucial transit corridor for imports and exports destined for Chad and the Central African Republic.

The Port Authority of Douala said a technical investigation has been launched to establish the exact circumstances of the accident. ‌However, ⁠it noted that initial findings suggested that a loss of steering control on board MV Black Rhino may have been the cause of the collision.

“MV Sea Honor was cleared from the channel and towed to the anchorage area, while ⁠MV Black Rhino was deliberately run aground along the line of red buoys to ensure the safety of navigation and facilitate clearance operations,” Minister Jean Ernest Massena ⁠Ngalle Bibehe said in a statement.

The 15 crew members aboard MV Black Rhino were evacuated safely and received assistance in line with national maritime ⁠rescue procedures, the transport ministry said.

The ministry said the channel had since been fully cleared and maritime traffic had returned to normal under standard safety conditions.

Source: Reuters

15, July 2026

Far North region: 1 civilian killed, 4 soldiers injured in Boko Haram attack ⁰

One woman was killed and four Cameroonian soldiers were injured in a recent Boko Haram attack on an army outpost in Cameroon’s Far North region, security and local sources said Tuesday.

The attack occurred at Tourou village in the Mokolo subdivision of the Mayo-Tsanaga department on Monday night.

An infant was also shot and seriously injured during the raid, a security source said.

The attackers reportedly seized military equipment before withdrawing. The wounded soldiers and the infant were rushed to a regional hospital for treatment.

The attack came just hours after government troops repelled another Boko Haram assault in the same area, killing two militants and injuring several others.

The Boko Haram terror group has been carrying out attacks in Cameroon’s Far North region since 2014, inflicting heavy human and material losses across the region.

Source: Xinhaunet

15, July 2026

SNH reports CFA49.3 billion available for transfer to state in Q1 ⁰

Cameroon’s National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH) reported a balance of CFA49.253 billion ($about 87 million) available for transfer to the government at the end of the first quarter of 2026.

According to the state-owned company, the amount represents 52.2% of the CFA94.345 billion generated from the sale of the state’s share of oil and gas production and other related income during the quarter.

The remaining CFA45.093 billion, or 47.8% of total revenue, was allocated to expenses and commitments. These included CFA17.406 billion in partnership-related expenses, CFA18.052 billion in gas-sector commitments, and CFA9.635 billion in other commitments.

SNH, however, did not provide a breakdown of those categories or indicate which amounts had already been paid and which remained accounting commitments.

The distinction is important because the published balance is described as “available for transfer” rather than “transferred.” The report shows the amount remaining after expenses and commitments but does not indicate whether the funds had actually been transferred to the Treasury or when such a transfer might occur.

As a result, the figure cannot be treated as government revenue already received. It also differs from the “SNH royalty” reported in Cameroon’s budget accounts.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the Treasury received CFA91.8 billion in SNH royalties by the end of March 2026, compared with a quarterly target of CFA106 billion. The nearly CFA42.5 billion gap between that figure and SNH’s transferable balance may reflect differences in timing, accounting methods, or reporting scope. The available documents do not allow for a detailed reconciliation.

Crude oil remained the government’s main source of hydrocarbon revenue

Crude oil continued to generate the largest share of government hydrocarbon income. Sales of 1.662 million barrels produced CFA64.218 billion, accounting for 68.1% of total gross revenue recorded for the state’s share of production.

The cargoes were sold at an average price of $69.74 per barrel, generating total sales of $115.877 million. Natural gas ranked second, contributing CFA22.112 billion, or 23.4% of quarterly revenue. Gas sales to Gazprom alone generated CFA15.103 billion, ahead of sales to Kribi Power Development Company (KPDC) and Keda.

Sales of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the government and Tradex added CFA3.421 billion, while other revenue totaled CFA4.594 billion. Overall, hydrocarbon sales attributable to the state reached CFA89.751 billion. Including other revenue brought total gross receipts to CFA94.345 billion.

Rio del Rey remained the main oil-producing basin

Total crude oil production allocated to the government and its operating partners reached 4.599 million barrels during the first quarter. The government received 2.691 million barrels, representing 58.5% of the total, while private partners were allocated 1.908 million barrels. Production remained heavily concentrated.

The Rio del Rey basin accounted for about 2.357 million barrels, or 51.3% of total output. Lokele produced 1.053 million barrels and Iroko 335,000 barrels. Other fields contributed a combined 854,000 barrels, or 18.6% of quarterly production.

Natural gas production was even more concentrated. Of the 17.806 billion cubic feet produced during the quarter, the Sanaga South field accounted for 17.529 billion cubic feet, or 98.4% of total output. Logbaba produced only 277 million cubic feet. All 7,282 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas produced during the period also came from Sanaga South. Production and sales, however, did not necessarily occur during the same period.

The government sold about 1.029 million fewer barrels than were allocated to it during the quarter, while operating partners sold roughly 1.063 million more barrels than their first-quarter production share. These differences likely reflect the timing of production, storage, and cargo liftings, meaning quarterly sales may include oil produced earlier or exclude volumes still in storage.

Partners generated nearly CFA199 billion in hydrocarbon sales

Hydrocarbon sales attributable to private operating partners totaled CFA198.891 billion during the quarter.

Crude oil accounted for CFA147.370 billion, natural gas for CFA50.076 billion, and LPG for CFA1.445 billion. The report shows that partners sold their crude at an average price of $87.17 per barrel, compared with $69.74 per barrel for the state’s share.

That 25% difference should not be interpreted as evidence of stronger commercial performance, however. Without additional information on crude quality, shipment dates, market conditions, and contract terms, the figures are not directly comparable.

Including both the government’s and partners’ shares, total hydrocarbon sales reached CFA288.642 billion during the quarter. Adding other state revenue brought the total commercial value recorded by SNH to CFA293.236 billion. That figure reflects the scale of commercial transactions handled by SNH but does not represent government budget revenue.

Only the balance available after expenses and commitments—CFA49.253 billion—is presented as transferable to the state. Whether that amount ultimately appears in Treasury accounts will depend on when, and if, the transfer is completed.

Source: Business in Cameroon

14, July 2026

Football: Spain delivers master class to sink French Armada and reach World Cup final ⁰

European champions Spain scored a goal in each half to defeat favourites France at the Dallas Stadium on Tuesday and book a place in the World Cup final, where they will face the winner of the other semi-final between England and Argentina.

Spain stunned tournament favourites France 2-0 to reach the World Cup final on Tuesday, producing a tactical masterpiece to shatter Les Bleus’ dreams of winning the title for the third time.

A first-half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal and a 58th-minute Pedro Porro goal sealed an utterly clinical victory for the European champions at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Spain, World Cup winners in 2010, will now face either Argentina or England in Sunday’s final in New Jersey.

France had entered the showdown as the overwhelming favourites for the tournament after a dazzling, goal-laden run to the semi-finals.

But France’s vaunted front four of captain Kylian Mbappé, Ballon D’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise were snuffed out by a combination of Spanish poise and power.

Spain, who had beaten France in their previous two competitive meetings, had vowed to go on the front foot in the pre-match build-up and they proved as good as their word.

A commanding performance by Spain’s midfield led by Manchester City star Rodri and assisted by Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo never allowed the French to gain a foothold in the contest.

Spain’s midfield quickly overran the outnumbered French duo of Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni, passing around their opponents with ease to control the early exchanges.

The first signs of French frustration came after just nine minutes when midfielder Rabiot was booked for treading on Olmo’s foot on the edge of the area.

Yet despite the early dominance it was France who looked the more threatening when venturing into the final third, and it needed a desperate late block by Pau Cubarsi to thwart Mbappe in the 16th minute as the French captain looked to break clear.

Early dominance

Spain’s early dominance got its reward in the 20th minute, though, when a hopeful cross by Marc Cucurella flew across the penalty area.

Lucas Digne didn’t get enough purchase on his attempted headed clearance and as the Aston Villa player instinctively swung out a leg he kicked Yamal, sending the Barcelona star crashing to the turf.

El Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton pointed immediately to the spot and after a brief delay as French players loitered, Oyarzabal stepped up to sweep in a spot-kick that beat the dive of French goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

France’s rocky start got worse after 31 minutes when key central defender William Saliba hobbled off with an injury to be replaced by Maxence Lacroix.

Spain almost doubled their lead with a sublime passing move on 38 minutes when wonderful interplay on the edge of the area sliced open France’s defence, with Dayot Upamecano’s block denying Fabian Ruiz.

France enjoyed their best spell in the closing minutes of the first half and only excellent anticipation from Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon denied Mbappe after Rabiot’s clever through ball.

Spain though reasserted themselves at the start of the second half and Deschamps’ failure to adjust France’s tactics again left the Spanish midfield in charge.

On 58 minutes, Spain struck the hammer blow. Porro and Olmo worked a sensational one-two on the edge of the area that sent Porro through and the Tottenham defender clipped a fine finish past Maignan.

Only a fractional offside decision denied Spain a third goal in the 61st minute, when Lamal had the ball in the net.

Deschamps made a flurry of substitutions but France were unable to penetrate Spain’s smothering defence, their best chance coming when Mbappe’s shot was blocked at the near post by Simon.

French frustration was symbolised by Mbappe in the closing minutes, booked for following through on Simon as Spain closed out the victory.

Source: AFP

14, July 2026

European Union backs International Criminal Court ⁰

The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), rejecting a renewed campaign by the administration of US President Donald Trump to undermine the Hague-based tribunal.

Speaking on Tuesday, European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said the bloc’s position on the ICC remained unchanged, stressing the EU’s commitment to the fight against impunity.

“We stand firm in our support for the International Criminal Court,” El Anouni said, highlighting the court’s role in prosecuting perpetrators of some of the world’s gravest crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

He said attempts to undermine the court were unacceptable.

“Attacks or threats against the court, its elected officials, personnel or those cooperating with the court are simply not acceptable,” El Anouni said.

Rejecting Washington’s argument that the ICC threatens national sovereignty, he said the court “does not target sovereign states, nor does it constitute a threat to their sovereignty.”

Instead, he added, the tribunal “exercises jurisdiction over individuals, perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.”

European Commission spokesperson Siobhan McGarry also reaffirmed the bloc’s support for the court, saying the EU remained committed to safeguarding its independence and ensuring it could continue its work.

“The Commission continues to support the ICC’s work, including its investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity, and we are already facilitating all appropriate measures, including diplomatic, legal and financial avenues that could help ensure the continuity of the ICC’s operations,” she said.

The remarks came a day after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a campaign to “systematically disable” the ICC, accusing the tribunal of interfering with US military and law enforcement operations and claiming it threatened American sovereignty.

In an accompanying opinion piece, Rubio said that the court endangered “every aspect of our political and legal system,” invoking scenarios in which US border patrol agents and elected leaders could be “dragged before an international court” and brought before international judges.

The State Department said the campaign would involve a “wide range of actions,” including efforts to pressure countries to withdraw from the ICC and increased scrutiny of governments that continue to support the court while receiving US assistance.

The ICC, established under the 1998 Rome Statute, investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.

In November 2024, the UN-backed court issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The latest developments also come as more than 100 international law experts in the United States have warned that the US aggression against Iran could constitute war crimes under international law.

The experts expressed particular concern over strikes on schools, healthcare facilities and residential areas, including a late-February missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh all-girls elementary school in Iran.

Since Trump returned to office last year, his administration has steadily intensified pressure on the Hague-based court.

So far, the United States has imposed sanctions on 11 ICC officials, including the chief prosecutor and eight judges, leaving them facing travel bans, frozen access to financial services, and the suspension of accounts with major US technology companies.

Source: Presstv

14, July 2026

Biya regime restores military pension benefits after fraud review ⁰

More than two years after launching a nationwide audit of military pension payments, Cameroon has begun restoring child pension supplements to retirees whose claims were confirmed as legitimate.

In a directive signed on June 18, 2026, Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze instructed the directors general of the Budget and Treasury departments to reinstate the child allowance for pensioners found to be eligible after the review.

The directive also orders the payment of all back benefits from the date the allowance was suspended, without requiring a recovery order. The decision marks a new phase in a process that began after authorities uncovered widespread irregularities in the documents submitted to qualify for the benefit.

A benefit worth up to 10% of a pension

The child supplement is a lifetime benefit paid to retired members of Cameroon’s defense and security forces who raised children meeting the legal eligibility requirements.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the allowance amounts to 10% of a retiree’s basic pension for the first three children, plus an additional 5% for each child starting with the fourth.

The benefit may also be paid to the surviving beneficiaries of deceased military personnel. To qualify, children must have reached the age of 16 for military personnel and 21 for police officers by the time the beneficiary retired.

Designed to supplement retirees’ income, the program gradually became vulnerable to document fraud. A joint task force created by the Ministries of Finance and Defense in 2022 found what authorities described as an abnormal rise in spending.

Between 2013 and 2020, the number of pensioners receiving the supplement increased by 60%, while the program’s cost rose by 98%. Those discrepancies prompted the Ministry of Finance to order a nationwide review.

Nearly one in three birth certificates found to be fraudulent

The audit focused on verifying the authenticity of birth certificates submitted by retirees. Investigators compared the documents with records held by municipal authorities and civil registration offices. Of the 47,258 birth certificates examined, 15,053 were found to be fraudulent, representing nearly 32% of all documents reviewed.

Following those findings, the government suspended the child supplement for 4,300 pensioners in July 2024. Authorities also opened an appeal process, allowing affected retirees to submit additional evidence and challenge the audit’s conclusions.

According to figures released by the Budget Department on February 27, 2025, 1,537 of the 4,300 affected pensioners filed appeals. The review found that 498 retirees had submitted authentic birth certificates and met all eligibility requirements. They will now have their benefits restored and receive all unpaid amounts dating back to the suspension.

Separating legitimate claims from fraud

The audit also uncovered confirmed cases of fraud. According to the Budget Department, 838 pensioners admitted using fraudulent birth certificates to increase their pension payments. Their pension files were to be revised in accordance with the applicable regulations.

Another 201 cases remained under review by the National Civil Registry Office and the General Delegation for National Security. At the end of the first phase of the process, 2,763 pensioners had not responded, even though the deadline for appeals had been set for the end of April 2025.

By restoring the allowance to retirees whose claims were validated, the government aims to distinguish proven fraud from cases that could be regularized. The objective is both to protect the rights of legitimate beneficiaries and to ensure that efforts to clean up the pension system do not unfairly penalize retirees with valid claims.

The decision also forms part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen oversight of public payroll and pension spending. It highlights the scale of document fraud, with nearly one-third of the birth certificates reviewed found to be irregular.

The next challenge will be to complete the reinstatement of benefits, pay outstanding arrears, and continue reviewing the thousands of cases that remain unresolved.

Source: Sbbc