Headline News

28, March 2026

Etoudi fast-tracks urban upgrades as WTO Summit opens, Papal visit looms ⁰

As the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization gets underway in Yaoundé, the government has rolled out a large-scale urban upgrade program across three major cities. The WTO meeting runs from March 26 to 29, 2026. A papal visit is also scheduled, with Pope Leo XIV expected in Cameroon from April 15 to 18.

In a March 19 communiqué, Housing and Urban Development Minister Célestine Ketcha Courtès announced the launch of works in Yaoundé, Douala and Bamenda aimed at improving mobility, cleaning up urban areas and enhancing the cities’ appearance ahead of the two events.

A Push Against Structural Constraints

The effort comes as urban conditions remain strained. In Yaoundé and Douala, persistent waste management issues, deteriorating roads and chronic congestion have fueled public frustration for months. The accelerated upgrade push highlights long-standing infrastructure gaps that remain visible in daily life, making efforts to project a polished image particularly delicate.

Previous initiatives in the capital, including the “Yaoundé intramuros sans nids de poules” program, reflected similar attempts to fast-track repairs to address entrenched deficiencies.

The minister also warned that continued disregard for public rules could undermine the ongoing works. Authorities are targeting the occupation of public spaces, illegal parking and roadside dumping.

Residents are being urged to comply with traffic plans, respect parking restrictions along official routes and follow hygiene measures. Those living along key roads are also encouraged to repaint building facades to improve the visual environment for visiting delegations.

Echoes of 2009

The current drive recalls preparations for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit in 2009, when authorities rehabilitated major roads, restored street lighting and upgraded public spaces in Yaoundé.

As then, the objective was to present the capital in its best light. But those efforts also raised questions about their durability once the events concluded.

With the WTO conference and the papal visit, Cameroon is entering a period of heightened international visibility with clear diplomatic and economic stakes.

Beyond the immediate push to improve appearances, the key question is whether these short-term interventions will translate into lasting improvements in cities facing persistent challenges in mobility, sanitation and infrastructure. For many residents, the issue goes beyond these events to whether sustained urban transformation can occur independently of high-profile visits.

Source: Business in Cameroon

27, March 2026

13 Cameroonians selected for the 2026 cohort of Tony Elumelu Foundation Program ⁰

Thirty Cameroonian entrepreneurs have been selected for the 2026 cohort of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), securing a combined $150,000 (approximately 90 million CFA francs) in seed funding to support business creation and expansion. The beneficiaries were announced on Sunday, March 22, at an official unveiling ceremony in Abuja, where 3,200 entrepreneurs from across Africa were confirmed for the Foundation’s 12th cohort.

Each entrepreneur will receive $5,000, along with structured training, mentorship and access to a continent-wide business network. The initiative targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), identified as key drivers of employment and economic activity, particularly amid high youth unemployment and limited formal job opportunities.

The 30 Cameroonian beneficiaries, 12 of them women, were selected from a pool of more than 265,000 applicants across all 55 African countries. According to TEF Chief Executive Officer Somachi Chris-Asoluka, the programme maintains a success rate of over 77.5 per cent. Since its launch in 2015, the Foundation has invested $100 million to support more than 24,000 entrepreneurs across the continent. These businesses have collectively generated over $4.2 billion in revenue and created approximately 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs, highlighting the scale of SME-led economic activity linked to the initiative.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, TEF founder Tony Elumelu said the selected entrepreneurs demonstrated resilience in challenging conditions.

“We did not choose you because your path was easy. We chose you because you kept going when it wasn’t,” he said, adding that supporting entrepreneurs remains central to tackling poverty. He stressed that SMEs remain the most effective engines of job creation and urged beneficiaries to drive Africa’s economic development.

In Cameroon, TEF-backed businesses have generated more than $20 million (around 12 billion CFA francs) in revenue and created over 58,000 jobs since 2015, with more than 800 entrepreneurs supported across sectors such as agriculture, technology, retail and energy. The programme’s regional footprint extends across the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), where supported enterprises in countries including Chad, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo report revenues estimated in the tens of millions of dollars alongside significant job creation. Cameroon remains a consistent participant, with 56 beneficiaries selected in 2025, bringing the national total over the past decade to 866. For the Foundation, the continued funding reflects efforts to strengthen SME capacity, expand self-employment opportunities and reduce reliance on traditional job markets amid evolving economic conditions.

Source: Business in Cameroon

27, March 2026

Iran says American military structure in West Asia has ‘collapsed’ ⁰

Iran’s military is closely monitoring US forces across the region, the senior spokesman for Iran’s Armed Forces said on Thursday, asserting that the American military structure in West Asia has “collapsed in the shortest possible time.”

In a wide-ranging interview broadcast on national television, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi expressed strong criticism of US military adventurism in the region, while highlighting the Iranian response to ongoing aggression against the country.

He said that US personnel are now forced to abandon certain military bases and take refuge in civilian hotels, a move that he condemned as an attempt by the US to use civilian structures for military cover.

“The Americans, who once relied on their military bases to establish a presence, are now hiding in hotels and relying on the civilian areas of our region as a protective shield,” Shekarchi said.

“This marks a humiliating retreat and an admission of their inability to defend themselves.”

He said that the American forces are no longer able to sustain a military presence in several regions of West Asia, citing the destruction of key US bases.

“We have dismantled 17 US bases in the region, and they have failed to protect their forces or their installations,” Shekarchi stated, adding that the failure of US military plans is a significant blow to American credibility.

The spokesman further discussed Iran’s evolving defense strategy, stating that the 12-day war in June had catalyzed a major shift in the country’s military doctrine.

“Following the 12-day war, we changed our defensive doctrine to an offensive one,” Shekarchi said.

“This does not mean we are waging aggression against others, as the US does, but rather that any state that initiates aggression against us will be struck until it is destroyed. We will not relent until we have achieved victory and punished the aggressors.”

He clarified that Iran’s new offensive posture is defensive in nature, aimed at safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and deterring foreign intervention.

“Our goal is to continue the fight until the enemy is punished, and we can remove the shadow of war from the Islamic Republic forever,” Shekarchi explained.

The general also emphasized that Iran’s military doctrine is strictly focused on responding to aggression and that Tehran does not seek to engage in unnecessary conflict.

However, he stressed that Iran’s resolve would not falter in the face of continued foreign interference. “If they attack us, we will retaliate with everything we have,” he stated.

Despite the ongoing US-Israeli terrorist war, Shekarchi made it clear that even if the hostilities were to cease, Iran’s conditions for peace would have to be met.

He referenced the conditions laid out by the new Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, asserting that these conditions are non-negotiable.

“The Strait of Hormuz will never return to the way it was before,” Shekarchi declared. “We have set four conditions, and until they are met, we will not leave the Americans alone.”

He added that Iran’s security in the region would not be compromised, and that any foreign forces operating near Iranian borders would be targeted.

“The Americans have lost their grip on the region, and their F-35 fighter jets will no longer be safe,” he warned.

“Any base that hosts US forces in the region will be a target for us. We are fully prepared to respond wherever the threat originates.”

Shekarchi also shared grim figures regarding the toll the war has taken on US and Israeli forces.

He confirmed reports of heavy casualties among American personnel, estimating that between 600 and 800 US soldiers have been killed, with nearly 5,000 others wounded.

In addition, the general cited sources within Israel, who said that 1,321 Israeli soldiers have been killed in retaliatory strikes from Iran.

He noted that these numbers were likely understated by the Israeli regime, which has downplayed its losses in the war.

“In the first few days of the war, we targeted a hotel where American soldiers were hiding, and 160 American personnel were either killed or wounded,” Shekarchi stated.

“This was just one of many strikes that have taken place, and the casualties on both sides continue to mount.”

The general also pointed to the significant damage inflicted on Israeli infrastructure, noting that key military and industrial targets have been struck, resulting in extensive damage to Israel’s military capabilities.

“Israeli defense systems, including their air defense and military centers, have been completely destroyed,” Shekarchi said. “Even their most advanced facilities have been targeted, and the impact has been devastating.”

Iran’s strategy in the war

The military spokesman emphasized that Tehran is determined to maintain control of the situation in the region. “We have always maintained the initiative in this war,” Shekarchi said.

“We have not been on the defensive; we have been on the offensive from the beginning, and we will continue to lead the conflict until we achieve our objectives.”

He highlighted that the Iranian military had deployed a range of advanced technologies and capabilities in its retaliation, including cutting-edge air defense systems that have successfully targeted US F-35 fighter jets.

“Our capabilities are growing stronger by the day, and we are constantly improving our military systems to ensure that we can meet any challenge,” Shekarchi said.

Addressing the regional countries that have been affected by the war, Shekarchi urged them to take a stand against the US and Israeli forces.

“We call on the Muslim nations of the region to stop providing shelter to US forces,” he said.

“We respect the sovereignty of all countries, and we do not seek to impose our will on anyone. However, if you allow foreign forces to use your land and airspace for military operations against Iran, you will bear the consequences.”

The general also reiterated that Iran’s military actions are aimed at defending its sovereignty and ensuring the security of the region, not at attacking innocent civilians.

“The land and airspace of the Muslim world are sacred to us, and we do not seek to harm anyone. However, if foreign forces use these lands to attack us, we will retaliate accordingly,” Shekarchi said.

US strategy and NATO’s reluctance

In his analysis of the US strategy, Shekarchi pointed out that the US is seeking a way to exit the war with its reputation intact.

“The U is trying to exit the war with honor, but it is clear that they have already failed in their objectives,” he said.

“The longer they remain, the weaker they become, and the more they risk further damage to their military and political standing.”

He also noted that even NATO allies have refused to join the US in the war. “NATO members have declined to support the US in this war,” Shekarchi said.

“They understand that engaging in this conflict would only bring more instability and harm to their own nations.”

Despite the heavy toll the war has taken on US and Israeli forces, Shekarchi emphasized that the Iranian economy remains resilient.

“Even in the face of the most intense military pressure, our economy has held up,” he said. “We have faced challenges, but our resolve has only strengthened. The Iranian people are united, and they will not be broken.”

He pointed out that the US is facing significant economic costs as a result of the war, and that these costs would continue to mount as the conflict drags on.

“The world is beginning to see that the US is no longer the dominant power it once was,” Shekarchi said.

“We are confident that in the long run, the global community will shift its stance on the U.S. and its aggressive policies.”

As the war continues, Shekarchi emphasized Iran’s determination to press on until its goals are achieved.

“The US and Israel are mistaken if they think we will back down,” he warned. “Our resolve is stronger than ever, and we will continue to fight until we achieve our objectives.”

He reiterated Iran’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and ensuring the security of the region.

“We will not stop until the American and Israeli forces are removed from the region, and until our conditions are met,” Shekarchi said.

Source: Press TV

27, March 2026

Yaoundé: Trade ministers gather for make-or-break WTO reform talks ⁰

Trade ministers from across the world convened in Cameroon’s capital on Thursday for four days of negotiations on reforming the World Trade Organization, with diplomats warning that failure to reach an agreement could push countries to set trade rules outside the body entirely — a development that could accelerate the fragmentation of the global trading system.

The gathering in Yaoundé arrives at an exceptionally fraught moment. Ministers are contending with the economic fallout from the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has sent energy prices soaring and disrupted food supply chains, compounding a year of tariff turmoil triggered by President Donald Trump’s aggressive use of trade measures. “From a business perspective this could yet become the worst industrial crisis in living memory,” said John Denton, secretary-general of the International Chamber of Commerce, pointing specifically to fertiliser supply disruptions that threaten food security across Africa.

Deep divisions, no roadmap

Ministers arrive without a clear reform agenda, after years of stalled multilateral deals and six years of paralysis in the WTO’s dispute settlement system. The divisions are significant: the United States supports reform in principle but is resisting a detailed work plan, while the European Union, Britain, and China are pushing for one, according to internal documents seen by Reuters. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said she expected the talks to be difficult.

The stakes of failure have been laid out starkly by several delegations. Swiss Ambassador Erwin Bollinger warned that without concrete outcomes, “the WTO will lose its attractiveness and relevancy.” UK trade minister Chris Bryant went further, raising the prospect of institutional collapse. “My anxiety is if we ministers don’t get this week right, you might see a disorderly collapse of the WTO and some people writing a new rule book,” he said.

Flash points

Among the most contentious issues is the future of a moratorium on customs duties for digital downloads, which has become a battleground between Washington and New Delhi. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is expected to tell members the United States is “not interested” in a temporary extension, insisting only a permanent arrangement is acceptable. India is likely to hold its opposition, while other countries are seeking a two-year extension. South Korea’s trade minister called a failure to extend the moratorium a “big blow” to both the WTO and the global economy.

The talks have also been overshadowed by the absence of Taiwan, which was excluded after host country Cameroon described it as a province of China — a move likely to draw its own diplomatic fallout on the sidelines of the conference.

Source: Businessday.ng

27, March 2026

Cameroonian, Chinese FMs exchange congratulations on 55th anniversary of ties ⁰

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday exchanged congratulatory messages with his Cameroonian counterpart Lejeune Mbella Mbella on the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that over the 55 years since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, China and Cameroon have always supported each other and moved forward together regardless of changes in the international situation, and that the friendship has withstood the test of time and continues to grow stronger.

Wang noted that, particularly in recent years, under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cameroonian President Paul Biya, China-Cameroon relations have maintained a sound momentum of growth, with continued deepening of political mutual trust, notable achievements in cooperation across various fields, and close coordination in international affairs.

He said he stands ready to work with Mbella to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, as well as the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, advancing the China-Cameroon comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights.

For his part, Mbella said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Cameroon-China bilateral ties have continued to deepen, and economic and trade cooperation has remained dynamic. The Chinese side has assisted Cameroon in implementing a large number of key infrastructure projects, which have become symbols of the friendship between the two countries, he said.

Cameroon and China have worked in solidarity, upheld multilateralism, and jointly supported the building of a fair and transparent multilateral trading system, said Mbella, noting that the two sides have signed a framework agreement on economic partnership for shared development.

The Cameroonian side will make every effort to deepen the Cameroon-China comprehensive strategic partnership, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, so as to bring greater benefits to the two peoples, he said.

Source: Xinhuanet

27, March 2026

World Bank Group statement on the conflict in the Middle East ⁰

A number of the World Bank Group’s clients in emerging markets have reached out to us as the conflict in the Middle East has started to impact commodity prices and logistics. We are working with governments, the private sector, regional partners, and other stakeholders to help them through this new set of challenges.

We are closely monitoring global market developments, and we are in direct contact with the most affected client countries to understand what they are facing on the ground. Shipping route disruptions are increasing costs, and supply risks are spreading from energy into fertilizers and other critical agricultural inputs. Crude oil prices increased by nearly 40 percent between February and March, the price of liquefied natural gas shipments to Asia rose by almost two-thirds, and the prices of nitrogen-based fertilizers increased by nearly 50 percent in March.

The World Bank Group is moving quickly to help client countries to navigate this crisis. We are ready to respond at scale — combining immediate financial relief with policy expertise and private sector support for the recovery of jobs and growth. We will draw on the full range of instruments we have available to support governments, firms, and households. Our aim is to deliver immediate relief by leveraging our active portfolio, our crisis response toolkit, and pre-arranged financing facilities. We will transition progressively to fast-disbursing instruments anchored in sound policies to underpin recovery. Through our private sector arms, we will provide firms with essential liquidity, trade finance, and working capital.

Clearly, this is an evolving situation and we cannot predict the full range of impacts. As everyone has said, the longer this lasts, and the more damage there is to critical infrastructure, the more challenging this will be for our clients. That said, we are determined to be helpful and do all we can to safeguard some of the hard-won economic progress that these countries are making.

26, March 2026

Anglophone Vice President: a deeply counterproductive idea ⁰

The Biya regime’s recent proposal to create an Anglophone Vice President in Cameroon appears to be a very appetizing and conciliatory gesture toward a long-marginalized people. But in reality, this monstrous political suggestion is a deeply counterproductive idea. It is a plan that is designed to entrench divisions, trivialize legitimate Anglophone grievances and above all, substitute symbolism for the substantive reforms that Cameroon as a nation urgently needs.

The crisis in Southern Cameroons known popularly today as the Federal Republic of Ambazonia has never been a problem of representation at the very top of the executive hierarchy in Yaoundé. It is rooted in decades of structural inequities including the erosion of the common law system, the marginalization of English in public administration, uneven development and a persistent sense of cultural and political exclusion. For some Anglophone comedians from the South West Region to suggest on social media that appointing an Anglophone Vice President would resolve or even meaningfully address these issues is to misunderstand the nature of the crisis itself. For those who do not know, English speaking Cameroonians need policy positions NOT political positions.

The so called Anglophone Vice President proposal risks reducing a very complicated national question into a matter of identity tokenism. It sends the wrong message to the international community that the concerns of English speaking Cameroonians can be appeased by elevating a single individual, rather than by reforming institutions and policies that affect millions of Southern Cameroonians. This approach has failed in countless contexts. Even the common man on the streets of Southern Cameroons is aware that representation without power, without structural change and without accountability does little more than create the illusion of progress.

A regime that divided the nation again by going back to both the Francophonie and the Commonwealth is now on the path of institutionalizing an explicitly Anglophone vice presidency that would formalize the very linguistic divide that Cameroon should be striving to overcome. By embedding the Anglophone identity into the constitutional architecture of executive power in Yaoundé, the ruling CPDM crime syndicate would be fanning the flames of Francophone-Anglophone divide and by extrapolation acknowledging and perpetuating a binary that fuels mistrust and political fragmentation. Biya and his men should get this straight into their heads: nation-building requires bridging divides, not codifying them into permanent features of governance.

The leaked plan is already creating new tensions rather than resolve existing ones. Questions are already being asked as to what powers would this so called Anglophone Vice President hold? Is the role going to be merely ceremonial like that of the Prime Minister? Who is going to select the officeholder and to whom would he be accountable? From every indication, the position will not have any meaningful authority and will eventually become a political ornament with little real impact on the ground. To be more accurate, it will be an ill disguised scheme fabricated to continue hiding the weak and aging President Biya from the public eye.

The timing of this CPDM proposal is also worrying. In the midst of an ongoing war in Southern Cameroons marked by violence, displacement and deepening resentment, what is needed in Anglophone Cameroon is not a constitutional gimmick but a credible inclusive dialogue process. Progressive forces deep within English speaking Cameroon territories affected by the Ambazonia crisis have repeatedly called for a federal structure or some form of genuine decentralization with respect for legal and educational systems within a united Cameroon. These demands cannot be met through symbolic appointments; they require political courage and systemic reform.

Frankly speaking, a call for an Anglophone Vice President is distracting the nation from more urgent priorities which includes restoring trust in public institutions, ensuring justice and accountability, rebuilding war-torn communities in Southern Cameroons and creating a framework for sustainable peace. We of the Cameroon Concord Group are of the opinion that the Anglophone Vice President is now becoming a convenient talking point for those inside the Unity Palace unwilling to engage with the harder, more consequential work of national reconciliation.

Cameroon as a nation does not need a cosmetic fix. Cameroon badly requires a reimagining of the social contract—one that guarantees equality, respects diversity, and empowers all its citizens through strong, inclusive institutions. Until those foundations are addressed, proposals like an Anglophone Vice President will remain what they are: well-intentioned, perhaps, but ultimately inadequate and counterproductive.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

26, March 2026

Netanyahu’s spokesperson resigns after leaked audio reveals scathing criticism ⁰

The spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has resigned following his scathing and scornful criticism of the premier, according to Hebrew media.

The resignation of Ziv Agmon came following the release of audio recordings in which he sharply criticized the premier, his family, and his right-wing regime, reports said on Thursday.

In the recordings, he reportedly held Netanyahu responsible for the October 7 failure and asserted that the beleaguered prime minister should have stepped away from politics in the aftermath of the historic Hamas-led operation.

According to Channel 12 news, which made the damning revelations on Tuesday, Agmon decried Netanyahu as “old” and said he was “finished” after the events of October 7, 2023.

According to reports, the spokesperson also slammed Netanyahu for tying the regime’s fate to his own personal political survival, adding that the prime minister’s political career had effectively reached its end.

The leaked remarks have sparked political fallout, though further details regarding the timing of the resignation and any official statements from Netanyahu’s office have not been released.

It adds to mounting internal pressures facing Netanyahu’s regime amid unpopular multi-front wars, including against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The war against Iran was launched on February 28 as Tehran was engaged in indirect nuclear talks with Washington, which triggered massive and powerful Iranian retaliation, forcing settlers to hide in underground shelters.

Agmon’s resignation comes less than a year after Omer Dostri, another spokesperson for Netanyahu, resigned over friction with the premier’s wife, Sara Netanyahu.

Source: Press TV

25, March 2026

Inside the failed mediation between Afriland and Cameroon’s Deposit Fund ⁰

More details have emerged about the failed mediation attempt in the dispute between Cameroon’s Deposit and Consignment Fund (CDEC) and Afriland First Bank over a guarantee of about CFA4.3 billion. Initiated at the bank’s request, the effort ultimately collapsed, even as it sought to prevent the forced recovery of funds linked to a public contract worth more than CFA14 billion awarded to BOFAS Sarl for the rehabilitation of the Babajou-Bamenda road. Despite the involvement of financial authorities, the talks broke down over fundamental legal disagreements.

A mediation push led by Afriland First Bank

On July 10, 2025, Afriland First Bank’s chief executive, Célestin Guela Simo, formally requested mediation from Pierre Emmanuel Nkoa Ayissi, secretary-general of the National Economic and Financial Committee (CNEF).

In a letter reviewed by Business in Cameroon, the bank warned that enforcement measures targeting its assets could trigger panic, lead to mass withdrawals, and destabilize the financial system. It also cautioned that “such a situation could create lasting mistrust between banks and public contracting entities, undermining future commitments to finance major projects.”

The bank further argued that “the use of enforcement measures outside legal channels, or in disregard of court decisions, would weaken confidence in how state guarantees are managed, with consequences for the banking sector’s ability to support public projects.”

Behind the initiative was a clear objective: to de-escalate a dispute that had become sensitive due to both the sums involved and its implications for relations between banks and public institutions.

A draft agreement that stalled

Less than a month later, on August 7, 2025, a meeting was held at the national headquarters of the BEAC in Yaoundé. At the end of the session, a mediation agreement was signed by Afriland’s deputy CEO, Youssouf Bouba, and the CNEF secretary-general.

But the process stalled. The agreement was never finalized, as it lacked the signature of CDEC Director General Rivard Evina Obam, effectively blocking the mediation.

The draft deal included a partial payment of CFA900 million and the creation of a working group, under the Ministry of Finance, to define how provisions linked to the guarantees would be handled before CDEC’s intervention.

The legal barrier

To explain his refusal to endorse the agreement, Rivard Evina Obam wrote on September 10, 2025, to the CNEF secretary-general, noting that “legal proceedings initiated by Afriland First Bank against CDEC have led to a contentious phase.”

By that point, the dispute had already moved into the courts.

Afriland First Bank had filed an urgent application before the president of the Yaoundé Administrative Center Court of First Instance, naming Orange Money Cameroon and BGFIBank, with SCB Cameroon brought in as a third party. The bank sought to suspend the effects of the third-party seizure order (ATD) issued by CDEC as part of its recovery process.

However, following the December 3, 2025 hearing, the judge ruled, under Order No. 887/D/HH, that the court lacked jurisdiction to halt the ATDs. Despite this, Afriland First Bank continued the legal fight by filing a motion to challenge the enforcement of that decision.

Why CDEC considers mediation ineffective

The shift to litigation had a direct impact on the mediation process. According to CDEC, once legal proceedings are underway, the matter enters a formal dispute phase governed by Article 71 of Law No. 2023/011 of July 25, 2023, on the recovery of public debts.

In such cases, mediation can only occur within a judicial framework—either at the request of the parties or at the invitation of the competent court. In other words, any mediation conducted outside that framework loses its legal effect. This is the basis of CDEC’s position.

The institution argues that Afriland First Bank’s decision to pursue court action effectively rendered any out-of-court settlement attempt void.

A red line: full recovery of the debt

In the same letter, the CDEC chief also raised substantive objections to the draft agreement, going beyond procedural concerns.

“The proposed mediation agreement provides for a transfer of CFA900 million against a claim of CFA4.296 billion and puts an end to all actions by CDEC related to contract No. 131/M/MINTP/CSPM-PFC/CCM-TR/2022, from which this claim arises. It is essential to note that this measure violates Article 5 of the aforementioned law, which states that debts owed to public entities benefiting from Treasury privilege are sovereign state claims, imprescriptible and inalienable, except by decision of the President of the Republic,” he wrote.

For CDEC, it is therefore not legally acceptable for a partial payment of CFA900 million to settle a dispute involving CFA4.296 billion, nor to abandon recovery actions without full repayment, given the sovereign nature of the claim.

Criminal liability raised

Rivard Evina Obam went further, stating that “unlike other parties (…), Afriland First Bank continues to hold these funds, which are treated as public funds under current regulations, thereby engaging the criminal liability of the bank and its executives under the offenses provided for in Article 184 of the Penal Code.”

This position significantly raises the stakes. Beyond a civil or administrative dispute, CDEC is introducing a criminal dimension by classifying the funds as public money.

Despite this firm stance, the CDEC director general said he remained open to a settlement, provided it strictly complies with the law. “I remain willing to consider any solution consistent with applicable legislation,” he wrote.

According to the letter, this would require Afriland First Bank to withdraw all ongoing legal proceedings, while the full CFA4.296 billion would need to be repaid, with the option of a payment schedule starting with an immediate CFA900 million installment. The remaining balance would have to be settled no later than December 31, 2025.

In other words, a resolution remained theoretically possible, but under one non-negotiable condition for CDEC: full repayment and the end of all litigation.

BGFIBank and Orange Money targeted as third-party holders

On February 26, 2026, CDEC issued two payment orders to BGFIBank Cameroon and Orange Money Cameroon. According to documents reviewed by Business in Cameroon, the institution is seeking a total of CFA3.68 billion, including CFA3.58 billion in principal and CFA101 million in late payment interest.

CDEC gave the institutions eight days to comply. Failing that, it reserved the right to seize bank accounts, securities, movable assets, and other property.

However, the amounts in question correspond to funds belonging to Afriland First Bank. They are distributed across accounts held with BGFIBank and Orange Money, meaning each entity is not being asked to pay CFA3.68 billion separately.

These institutions are targeted as third-party holders of Afriland’s funds, not as original debtors in the contract.

According to CDEC, failure to comply with the payment orders could expose them to joint liability, on the grounds that they held funds linked to Afriland and the guarantees tied to the disputed contract without releasing them.

Beyond the standoff

As more details emerge, the failed mediation appears less like a procedural setback and more like a reflection of deeper disagreements over the nature of the funds involved. It also raises questions about how much room a bank has to negotiate when a claim is treated as sovereign.

Based on the available evidence, Afriland First Bank’s strategy appears to have reached its limits. The bank sought to ease pressure from recovery actions while simultaneously pursuing litigation, undermining the basis for de-escalation.

What began as a dispute tied to a strategic road project has now moved beyond a simple standoff between a bank and a public institution. It highlights a rarely documented tension point at the intersection of public project financing, guarantee mechanisms, Treasury privilege, and legal certainty in the banking sector.

The Babajou-Bamenda case could set an important precedent—not only in court, but in how such disputes are handled going forward. It also raises a broader question for future state projects: how far can a bank negotiate when disputed funds are no longer treated as financial obligations, but as public money?

Source: Business in Cameroon

25, March 2026

Taiwan pulls out of Yaoundé WTO Summit after visa dispute over China ⁰

Cameroon is set to host the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, but the summit has been overshadowed by a diplomatic row with Taiwan.

For the first time in 25 years, Taiwan has withdrawn after Cameroonian visas labelled its officials as “Taiwan, Province of China” and contained multiple errors.

Taipei condemned the move as political interference and lodged a formal protest with the WTO. Cameroon defended the designation as part of its foreign policy.

Analysts say the dispute reflects China’s growing influence in Africa, raising concerns over whether global institutions can ensure equal treatment for all members.

Source: First Post