28, May 2026
Celebrating the 3-Day Catholic Women Association Cameroon Convention in UK 0
This weekend’s 3-day Catholic Women Association (CWA) Cameroon-Europe Convention in Great Britain stands as a phenomenal testimony to the enduring strength of faith, culture and community among Cameroonian Catholics in Europe.
Under very inspiring themes, “Catholic women leading families to holiness” and “Building Strong Families Through the Example of Mary Our Mother,” the CWA Cameroon-Europe come together promises to be not only a spiritual gathering but also a profound moment of reflection, renewal and collective purpose.
At a time when Cameroonian families across Europe and even beyond are facing increasing social, moral and economic problems, the role of the members of the Catholic Women Association as custodians of faith and pillars of the Cameroonian family has never been more crucial.
The Catholic Women Association of Cameroon has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment to nurturing Cameroonian homes grounded in Christian values, promoting unity within Cameroonian communities and supporting the spiritual growth of future generations particularly those born in the Western world. We of the Cameroon Concord News Group believe and fervently that the UK meeting therefore comes as a timely and necessary initiative.
The choice of Our Lady of Good Counsel as a guiding inspiration is deeply significant. Mary, the Mother of Christ, remains the perfect model of humility, wisdom, obedience and unwavering trust in God. In a nation like Cameroon often characterized by uncertainty and division, turning together to Our Lady of Good Counsel symbolizes a collective desire for divine guidance, peace and wisdom in addressing the challenges facing Cameroonian families and Cameroonian communities today.
Equally commendable is the convention’s emphasis on building strong Cameroonian families through the example of Mary Our Mother. The family remains the foundation of every society and strong families are built on love, sacrifice, prayer, mutual respect and moral integrity. By drawing inspiration from Mary’s virtues, the Cameroonian Catholic women are reaffirming their commitment to raising children in faith, strengthening marital bonds and preserving values that sustain healthy and peaceful homes.
Beyond its spiritual dimension, this convention also reflects the beauty of cultural solidarity among Cameroonians living in continental Europe. Gatherings such as this provide an opportunity to strengthen ties among members, celebrate shared traditions, encourage younger generations and reinforce a sense of belonging within the Cameroonian diaspora community. It is through such unity that Cameroonian communities thrive and continue to contribute positively both to their host nations and to their homeland.
The organizers and members of the Catholic Women Association Cameroon-Europe deserve sincere praise for their dedication, vision and tireless efforts in bringing this important event to life. Their work reflects the enduring mission of the Holy Roman Catholic Church to evangelize, uplift families and foster Christian fellowship.
As the convention unfolds over the three days, one hopes that participants will leave spiritually enriched, morally inspired and more deeply committed to their roles as mothers, wives, leaders and ambassadors of Christ in society. May the 3-Day Catholic Women Association Cameroon-Europe Convention in UK strengthen bonds of sisterhood, renew faith and inspire practical actions that will continue to transform families and Cameroonian communities long after the convention concludes.
Indeed, this come together is more than an event. It is a powerful indication that faith, unity and family values remain central to the life and future of the Christian community. In honoring Mary Our Mother and seeking the counsel of Our Lady of Good Counsel, the Catholic Women Association Cameroon-Europe is lighting a path of hope, resilience and spiritual renewal for generations to come.
To this I put my name
By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai




















28, May 2026
CPDM Crime Syndicate: Yaoundé losing CFA 162.8bn a year to timber export mispricing 0
Cameroon is losing an estimated 162.8 billion CFA francs annually through illicit financial flows linked to timber export mispricing, according to a report released on May 26 by the Financial Transparency Coalition in Financial Secrets of the Forests: How Secrecy Fuels Deforestation in Brazil and Cameroon.
The report found that between 2013 and 2023, illicit financial flows in Cameroon’s timber sector averaged $289 million per year, nearly five times the $59 million annual loss estimated by the National Agency for Financial Investigation. The discrepancy stems from undervaluation of timber exports, where declared export values differ from import records reported by destination countries.
The analysis focused on Cameroon because of its position as Africa’s largest timber exporter. In 2025, the country recorded 105,000 hectares of primary forest loss, the highest on record.
Timber trade losses widen
The report identifies China, Vietnam, European Union countries and the United States among the main destinations where pricing discrepancies were recorded. According to the coalition, the losses represent foregone customs duties, taxes and other public revenues.
Cameroon has tightened forestry export policies in recent years, increasing duties on raw log exports from 17.5% in 2017 to 75% under the 2024 Finance Act, while preparing a ban on exports of 76 wood species from 2028 to encourage local processing. The report says illicit financial flows continue to undermine these efforts by allowing timber products to leave the country at under-declared values.
Matti Kohonen, Executive Director of the Financial Transparency Coalition, said:
“This report shows that billions of dollars are illicitly channelled each year from Global South countries through illegal deforestation and financial secrecy. The lack of public data on land ownership and beneficial ownership makes it difficult to trace who profits directly from forest destruction.”
Transparency gaps complicate enforcement
Researchers said financial and land ownership secrecy prevents authorities from identifying the ultimate beneficiaries of logging concessions.
Using Geographic Information Systems data, the coalition mapped forest concessions and ownership structures but said beneficial ownership information remains inaccessible, complicating enforcement efforts.
Jean Mballa Mballa, Executive Director of CRADEC in Cameroon, said:
“This report confirms that although Cameroon can map forest loss and identify the legal owners of concessions, beneficial ownership records remain closed. Without transparency, efforts to sanction illegal operators and enforce international anti-deforestation regulations will face serious limits.”
The report also states that Cameroon has continued granting logging licences to companies previously sanctioned for illicit trade, allowing some operators to continue exporting to markets that prohibit illegally sourced timber.
Trade rules and market access implications
The findings come as international market requirements tighten ahead of the European Union Deforestation Regulation, due to take effect in December 2026, prohibiting products linked to deforested land from entering EU markets.
Victor Galaz, associate professor at the Stockholm Resilience Centre and contributor to the report, said stronger transparency measures are increasingly tied to market competitiveness.
“Crimes linked to deforestation often thrive in opaque financial systems. Making ownership and concession data more accessible is essential not only for accountability but also for preserving long-term access to export markets.”
The Financial Transparency Coalition is calling for the creation of public beneficial ownership registries, improved access to land ownership records and publication of sanctions data related to environmental offences.
The report warns that unresolved transparency gaps could continue draining billions of francs from public revenues while exposing timber exports to compliance risks in international markets.
Source: Business in Cameroon