Headline News

21, March 2026

CPDM Crime Syndicate: regime delays parliamentary elections, lawmakers to stay until end 2026 ⁰

Cameroonian lawmakers yet again voted on Thursday to extend their mandate, according to official media.

Originally set to be dissolved on March 10, 2025, the central African country’s current parliament will now sit until December 20, 2026, according to the Cameroon Tribune.

Lawmakers, elected in the January 2020 ballot for what was meant to be a five-year-long mandate, had already voted to prolong their stay on the parliament benches for a one-year period.

President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state at 93 years of age, had already hinted on February 10 at a “slight readjustment” of the timetable for parliamentary and local elections expected at the beginning of that month.

By law, the parliamentarians’ mandates can be extended for a maximum of 18 months.

Having held power with a firm grasp since 1982, Biya’s re-election last October for an eighth term sparked protests in several large cities, which the authorities brutally repressed.

Source: Africa News

20, March 2026

Iran debuts multi-warhead ‘Nasrallah’ missile to strike Israel’s oil refineries ⁰

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched the 65th wave of its ongoing retaliatory Operation True Promise 4 targeting Israel’s oil refineries, debuting multi-warhead “Nasrallah” ballistic missile.

In a statement on Thursday, the IRGC said that the fresh wave of retaliatory strikes targeted Ashdod and Haifa oil refineries, which are among the Israeli regime’s biggest refineries, using Nasrallah ballistic missile system for the first time.

Nasrallah is the upgraded and the guided version of Qadr missiles used in previous strikes against US military assets in the region and targets in the Israeli-occupied territories.

The 65th wave employed a variety of other domestically manufactured long-range precision missiles, the statement said.

The IRGC has so far employed a variety of powerful weaponry in the latest strikes, including multi-warhead Qadr missiles, Kheibar Shekan missiles, Emad missiles, and Haj Qassem missiles.

According the statement, the new retaliatory wave of strikes also employed medium-range missiles of Qiyam and Zolfaghar for hitting US military assets in Al Kharj Air Base in Saudi Arabia, which is the main logistics and refueling center for F-16 and F-35 fighter jets as well as AWACS surveillance aircraft.

Furthermore, the same missile targeted Fujairah Sheikh Isa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which serves as the headquarters and the data center control and the communication center of the US military in the region.

The US terrorist army forces at al-Zafra base in the UAE, which played a supporting and intelligence role in the attack on Iran, was also targeted by medium-range missiles of Qiyam and Zolfaghar and long-range ballistic missile of Kheibar Shekan, which carries multiple warheads.

Operation True Promise 4, a sequel to the IRGC’s previous instances of successful reprisal against adversaries, began late last month momentarily following the launch of Washington’s and Tel Aviv’s latest bout of unlawful aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.

The IRGC has pledged to sustain the reprisal until the enemies’ “complete defeat.”

Sources from Hebrew media reported strong and consecutive explosions heard in northern Israeli occupied territories, including Haifa, Kiryat, Carmel, and the Golan Heights. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu held his press briefing in a reinforced underground bunker.

The missile strike by Iran resulted in significant damage to aircraft and infrastructure at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.

The spokesperson for the Central Command of the Iranian Armed Forces, in a statement, emphasized that all US and Israeli assets would be targeted as part of Iran’s retaliatory actions, taking full responsibility for the attack.

“As previously stated, we will target all American and Zionist regime infrastructure, and we officially accept responsibility for this operation,” the spokesperson added.

As a result of the damage inflicted on its aviation sector, Israel’s airline industry has faced unprecedented disruption.

The Ben Gurion airport’s management announced a 50% reduction in international flight capacities, and several airlines, including El Al, were forced to cancel flights, with El Al halting all flights scheduled between March 21 and March 27.

According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, the Israir carrier also suspended all scheduled flights until March 31 and stopped selling tickets for the foreseeable future, citing new restrictions imposed by the so-called ministry of transport.

The airline also mentioned limited capacity on remaining flights, though it would attempt to accommodate some passengers.

The strike comes just days after a bombing campaign that targeted fuel depots in Iran.

In Israeli occupied territories, the attack has sparked widespread panic, with reports of long queues at airports, ticket offices, and even border crossings as settlers attempt to flee the occupied lands.

Concerns about further missile attacks have led to fears of being trapped in the event of additional strikes, especially after the announcement of the 50% flight capacity reduction.

Source: Press TV

20, March 2026

Smarter Water Use Could Feed 10 Billion and Create Nearly 250 Million Jobs ⁰

Rebalancing water use across the global food system is key to meeting future food demand sustainably and could generate 245 million long-term jobs, largely in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new World Bank Group report launched today.

The report – Nourish and Flourish: Water Solutions to Feed 10 Billion People on a Livable Planet – notes that current agricultural water management practices, marked by overuse in some countries and underuse in others, can only sustainably support food production for less than half the global population. By 2050, 10 billion people will need to be fed. Addressing both the overuse that depletes water in stressed regions and the underuse that leaves available water and productive capacity untapped in water-abundant regions will be essential to meet that demand sustainably.

It introduces a new framework for agricultural water management that links water availability with food production and trade. By categorizing countries based on water stress and their food import or export status, the framework helps identify where expanding rainfed agriculture can increase food production, where irrigation investments can unlock jobs and growth, where water use must be rebalanced to protect ecosystems and future productivity, and where trade offers a more sustainable path than local production.

“The way we manage water for food will have profound implications for jobs, livelihoods, and economic growth. By making smarter choices about where crops are grown, how water is allocated, and how trade supports food security, we can strengthen resilience, expand opportunity, and safeguard the resources which we all rely on,” said Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Bank Group.

Realizing these outcomes will require stronger private sector participation and financing alongside public investment, supported by effective policies, institutions, and regulations to boost food production, create jobs, and support sustainable growth. Public funding alone cannot deliver the sustained services, innovation, and scale needed to expand irrigation, improve performance, and maintain results. Farmers, who are the primary users of irrigation and its main investors, are already willing to co-invest when access to finance, quality equipment, markets, and digital tools reduces the risks and transaction costs they face.

“When investments in infrastructure and natural resources, business-enabling policies, and private capital mobilization come together, the impact can be greater than the sum of its parts,” said Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Planet at the World Bank Group. “By linking global evidence with country realities, this framework can help policymakers navigate trade-offs and adapt food production to today’s water and climate realities—delivering food, jobs, and resilience together.”

Expanding irrigation where water is available, alongside modernizing existing systems, is estimated to require an additional $24–70 billion per year through 2050. Governments already spend roughly $490 billion annually on agricultural support, most of it on subsidies. Redirecting a portion of current spending—combined with regulatory reform, use of blended finance, and public-private partnerships—will crowd in private capital, including co-investment by farmers themselves, and support financially sustainable water and food security.

The World Bank Group works alongside countries, companies, partners and people to translate these insights into action by combining policy reform, public investment, and private capital to strengthen food systems, create jobs, and protect natural resources. It has committed to doubling annual agribusiness financing to $9 billion by 2030 and mobilizing an additional $5 billion per year under the AgriConnect initiative to help smallholders move from subsistence to surplus. Through the Water for Food and Water for the Planet pillars of its Water Strategy Implementation Plan, the World Bank Group addresses the twin challenge of water and food security by strengthening food production systems and improving farmer livelihoods.

Reported by the World Bank Group

20, March 2026

Yaoundé: Catholics invited to throng Pope Leo XIV’s procession ⁰

The Archbishop of Cameroon’s Archdiocese of Yaoundé has encouraged animated participation in the planned Apostolic Visit of Pope Leo XIV to the central African country, calling on Catholics in the country to turn out in large numbers along the routes of the papal procession.

In a pastoral letter on Monday, March 16, Archbishop Jean Mbarga said that to ensure a fitting welcome of the Holy Father, attention should be paid to three key areas of preparation: mobilisation, unity, and prayer.

Archbishop Mbarga described the papal visit scheduled for April 15–18 as “an event of grace,” emphasizing its spiritual significance for the local Church.

“This visit is, for all of us, an event of grace. The Pope comes, as Vicar of Christ and Successor of the Apostle Saint Peter, to strengthen us in the faith. But he also comes as a Father in the midst of his family,” Archbishop Mbarga said.

“I invite the faithful to gather along the various routes that the papal procession will take. May our streets vibrate to the rhythm of our songs and our joy!” he said.

The Catholic Church leader added, “At each movement of the Holy Father, we will form honor guards to show him our affection and our unity, following the routes that will be indicated.”

Archbishop Mbarga also underscored the importance of visible unity among Church groups during the visit.

“I strongly encourage all members of movements, associations, and choirs to wear their group attire or the various uniforms available. May this visual harmony reflect the unity of our hearts,” he said.

Archbishop Mbarga further called on groups responsible for liturgical animation to prepare vibrant performances.

“I would like all groups in charge of song and dance performances to prepare the most beautiful hymns, tune their musical instruments, and offer choreographies of great rejoicing,” he said.

He implored, “May the city of Yaoundé, the convergence point of our three Ecclesiastical Provinces, be in celebration, thus bearing witness to a living, joyful, and fraternal Church!”

A special prayer has been prepared for the Apostolic Journey, and members of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) have requested that it be recited daily at the end of every Eucharistic celebration in all parishes and religious communities.

Archbishop Mbarga emphasized that this be respected in all parishes and religious communities of his Metropolitan See.

He urged the faithful to participate actively in the liturgical highlight of the visit.

“In this spirit, let us all pray for this Apostolic Journey of the Supreme Pontiff in our country. Let us especially be numerous in attending the Pontifical Mass that the Holy Father will celebrate on April 18, 2026, at exactly 9:30 a.m. at Yaoundé Air Base 101, where our Communion around the Altar, supported by free and open public participation, will be even stronger,” the Catholic Archbishop said.

He invited the people of God to remain united in anticipation and prayer, saying, “In the Joy and Prayer of this anticipation, may God watch over us!”

On March 16, the Vatican released the official itinerary for the first Apostolic Journey of Pope Leo XIV to Africa, scheduled for April 13–23.

The visit is expected to take the Holy Father to four countries – Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea – marking his first pastoral journey to the continent since his election to the Papacy in May 2025.

The 11-day visit combines pastoral encounters with Catholic communities, meetings with political leaders and civil society, and symbolic gestures of interreligious dialogue and reconciliation.

Source: aciafrica

20, March 2026

Indomitable Lions: Pagou unveils squad for 2026 FIFA Series ⁰

The head coach of Cameroon’s national men’s football team, David Pagou, on Thursday announced a 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA Series.

The squad includes four goalkeepers, 10 defenders, nine midfielders, and three forwards.

Key midfielder Carlos Baleba, who plays for Premier League club Brighton, is not included in the squad, which also features local players.

“We have chosen players with a high level of positive spirit. We played well during the Africa Cup of Nations and we want to consolidate that by introducing new players. There are great players in our national championships,” Pagou told reporters while unveiling the list at a press conference in the capital, Yaoundé.

“This competition is important to us and we want to play well and earn points in the FIFA rankings,” he said.

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will face Australia on March 27 in Sydney and China on March 31 in Melbourne.

The FIFA Series is an invitational competition. The 2026 edition will feature 48 teams divided into 12 groups, including nine men’s groups and three women’s groups, with all six continental confederations represented. The tournament will run from March 25 to April 18.

Culled from Xinhuanet by Queen Besumbu Agbaw

19, March 2026

Ambazonia Crisis: latest on Sisiku Ayuk Tabe’s arrest, trial and conviction ⁰

FRENCH CAMEROUN SUPREME COURT ORDERS RETRIAL IN LANDMARK CASE OF NERA 10, NULLIFIES APPEAL COURT PROCEEDINGS

Yaoundé, Cameroon – 19-03-2026

We wish to inform the public and the international community that following today’s proceedings at the Supreme Court in Yaoundé, our leaders, SisikuAyuktabe and his team have been returned to prison after a significant and dramatic development in their case.

We wish to officially inform the public of the following outcomes:

In its ruling, the Supreme Court annulled the judgment and entire proceedings of the Appeal Court.
The Court further ordered that the matter be sent back to the Appeal Court for a fresh hearing before a newly constituted panel of judges.

This decision marks an important, though modest, step forward in the pursuit of justice. By nullifying the earlier proceedings, the Supreme Court has effectively recognized that the prior Appeal Court trial was fundamentally flawed and constituted a miscarriage of justice.

This also marks a significant turning point in the legal journey of the Nera 10. While it does not yet bring final closure, it reopens the path toward a fair hearing and reinforces the continued pursuit of justice.

While our leaders remain in detention in good spirits, they take solace in this development as a sign that truth and justice are gradually prevailing. They are resolute, encouraged, and unwavering in their commitment to see justice fully served.

We call on all people, people of goodwill, supporters, and the International Community to remain attentive, engaged, and supportive as this case returns to the Court of Appeal. The struggle for justice, fairness, and the respect of fundamental rights continues.

Further updates will be communicated as developments unfold.

Dabney Yerima

Vice President,

The Federal Republic of Ambazonia

19, March 2026

No tickets will be sold for Pope Leo XIV’s masses in Cameroon ⁰

A poster circulating widely on WhatsApp claims that access fees will be charged for masses to be celebrated by Pope Leo XIV during his apostolic visit to Cameroon. The poster, shared for several hours on the messaging platform, lists fees ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 CFA francs to attend celebrations in Yaoundé, Bamenda and Douala. The claim is false: the Apostolic Nunciature in Cameroon has formally denied that any tickets are being sold.

An image widely shared on WhatsApp claims to be an official poster for the apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon, scheduled for April 15-18, 2026. The image lists several categories of access to papal masses: “ticket” (10,000 CFA francs), “comfort” (30,000 CFA francs), “premium” (50,000 CFA francs) and “ultra VIP” (100,000 CFA francs), and includes a WhatsApp number for reservations.

Several elements suggest the poster is not authentic. It does not display the official logo of the Catholic Church in Cameroon, refers to a ticketing system that is unusual for papal masses, and uses a graphic style more typical of commercial promotional posters.

Official framework of the visit

On February 25, 2026, the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of Cameroon announced that Pope Leo XIV would undertake an apostolic visit to the country from April 15 to 18 at the invitation of President Paul Biya. The program includes stops in Yaoundé, Bamenda and Douala.

Local church authorities have also begun announcing the celebrations planned during the visit. The Archdiocese of Bamenda, for example, confirmed in a communiqué dated March 8 and published on March 13 that a mass will be celebrated at Bamenda Airport on April 16. The document does not mention any payment required to attend.

Official denial

Following the circulation of the poster, the Apostolic Nunciature in Cameroon issued a clarification stating that no tickets are being sold for the papal visit.

In its statement, the Nunciature confirmed that access to all liturgical celebrations presided over by Pope Leo XIV in Yaoundé, Bamenda and Douala will be entirely free. It added that no ticket sales or paid reservations have been authorized.

The Nunciature also warned against any private initiative seeking to charge for access to papal masses and called on the faithful to focus on the spiritual preparation for the visit.

The Archdioceses of Yaoundé and Douala also dismissed the poster on social media, stating that access to papal celebrations is free and that the message circulating online is a scam.

The poster claiming that access to Pope Leo XIV’s masses in Cameroon requires payment is misinformation. Church authorities confirm that attendance at the celebrations during the apostolic visit will be free.

Source: Sbbc

19, March 2026

President Putin condoles with Iran’s Leader over Dr. Larijani’s martyrdom ⁰

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a letter of condolence to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei over the martyrdom of Iran’s top security official during unprovoked American-Israeli aggression.

The Russian head of state submitted the message to the Leader on Wednesday, a day after official confirmation of the martyrdom of Dr. Ali Larijani, secretary of the Islamic Republic’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

Putin also condoled with Dr. Larijani’s survivors and the Iranian nation, while noting his lifelong services and contributions across various fields.

He stressed how Dr. Larijani would consistently endeavor towards further enhancement of the countries’ bilateral ties and work towards additional promotion of their common goals.

The Russian president described his martyrdom as a “great loss” for both the Islamic Republic and the wider region, besides reiterating the need for further reinforcement of the nations’ relations.

The SNSC announced Dr. Larijani’s martyrdom in a statement on Tuesday, saying the attack targeting the official also led to the martyrdom of his son, Mortaza, the deputy for security at the Council’s Secretariat, and a number of their bodyguards.

Iranian authorities and regional personalities have reacted to Dr. Larijani’s martyrdom, asserting that the development would further reinvigorate the Islamic Republic’s and the regional Axis of Resistance’s resolve to more decisively confront adversaries.

Source: Press TV

19, March 2026

2025 Africa Cup of Nations: Patrice Motsepe should go and go now! ⁰

Corruption in all walks of life across Africa is well documented. But even by African standards, the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to retroactively award the 2025 AFCON title to Morocco, more than 60 days after Senegal won the final 1:0 is not merely controversial, it is absurd. CAF’s statement, invoking Articles 82 and 84, declared Senegal to have forfeited the final, converting a completed match into a 3: 0 victory for Morocco. What makes the decision indefensible is that the match was played to completion, overseen by match officials, and accepted at full-time with CAF and FIFA official presenting the medals and trophy to the players and teams. One cannot have it both ways; a game cannot be fully played and retrospectively forfeited.

AFCON 2025, hosted in Morocco was clouded with controversy. Throughout the competition, particularly in matches involving the host nation, there were persistent complaints about questionable refereeing and inconsistent VAR interventions. Supporters of Cameroon and Nigeria pointed to ignored penalty appeals and un-reviewed fouls by VAR during their games against Morocco in the quarter and semi-finals respectively. Cameroon and Nigeria fans were aggrieved, but accepted the oldest principle in football, that when the referee blows the final whistle, the result stands.

Had Articles 82 and 84 been applied on that day and Morocco declared winner there and then, there would have been outrage, certainly in many parts of the football world, but also closure. Instead, CAF failed to act in real time, only to resurrect its rulebook in a dark committee room weeks later in a move that is incoherent and institutionally damaging. The result is not justice, but confusion and accusations of corruption. This decision has the potential to break CAF up as an organization. There are many in sub-Saharan Africa who already believe that Morocco and the North African nations are using their financial resources to create their own rules in CAF and this is unacceptable.

As explained by Osasu Obayiuwana on Talksport Radio in the UK, rules must be applied prospectively, not retrospectively. If an authority fails to enforce a rule at the relevant moment, it cannot later invoke it to alter an outcome, unless fraud or fundamental illegality is proven. No such finding has been established here. This is not the correction of injustice; it is the creation of it by denying Senegal their victory. If matches completed under a referee’s authority can be rewritten in backrooms, then the referee ceases to be an arbiter. He becomes a temporary facilitator whose decisions are provisional and negotiable.

If Senegal forfeited the match, why was it allowed to continue after the seventeen minutes delay? Even within football circles, the reaction has been scathing. A member of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) described the decision as “unacceptable and disgraceful to African football.” There are the whispers that officials empowered to influence outcomes may have taken their rewards but failed to deliver. This has led to awkward conversations between the parties involved in the scheme. Many say this ruling is less about law and more about settling accounts by the parties. Whether true or not, CAF has once again created the conditions in which such suspicions of corruption thrive.

Senegal’s government has called the ruling as “unprecedented and exceptionally serious,” and called for an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within CAF. They have rightly signaled their intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. There is hope within lovers of African football and justice that the original result will be restored. But even if it is, the damage has already been done. Because in football, the final whistle is supposed to end the argument. In African football, it has just started one.

African football has never lacked brilliance. From George Weah to Didier Drogba, from Roger Milla to Samuel Eto’o, the continent has produced generations of extraordinary talent. What it has too often lacked is institutional credibility. Decisions like this erode the very foundations of trust upon which the beautiful game in Africa depends. For the credibility of the game, many now argue that Patrice Motsepe must take responsibility for this mess and resign immediately.

By Isong Asu

Cameroon Concord London Bureau Chief

18, March 2026

Changes in the Senate and National Assembly: who becomes next head of state? ⁰

Cameroon as a nation now stands at a very quiet but consequential crossroads. The recent changes in the leadership of both the Upper and the Lower House have not merely reshuffled the Senate and the National Assembly hierarchies but they have subtly altered the geometry of succession in a Francophone dominated system where constitutional order and political reality do not always move in lockstep.

At the heart of the so called political changes in Yaoundé lies a 60 million dollar question: who becomes the next head of state?

Under Cameroon’s present constitution, the head of the Senate is first in line to assume interim leadership in the event of a vacancy. This provision was designed to guarantee President Biya’s continued stay in power and not to ensure continuity and institutional stability. With new figures now presiding over both the Senate and the National Assembly, the predictability of that succession has become even more complicated. Change is not only needed in both the Senate and the National Assembly but also in the Unity Palace and the Star Building.

Having a new leadership in the Senate is of course significant. In theory, the President of the Senate is a transitional political figure in a caretaker presidency with limited powers tasked with organizing elections. But in practice, Senator Aboubakary Abdoulaye occupying that seat becomes the face of the nation in a moment of potential uncertainty. Correspondingly, Senator Aboubakary Abdoulaye’s political alliances, administrative competence and perceived neutrality matters far more than the constitution suggest.

The National Assembly’s leadership shift from the 86 year old Cavaye Djibril to Theodore Datoua adds another layer to the puzzle. Though not directly in the line of succession, the National Assembly plays a vital role in shaping the political environment in which any transition unfolds. The Speaker of the National Assembly can influence parliamentary priorities, manage consensus and perhaps most importantly signal where the balance of power truly lies within the ruling CPDM institution.

What has emerged from these two changes in both the Upper and Lower House is not a clear successor, but a more fluid and possibly contested pathway to power. Political power in Cameroon revolves around a strong presidency, with the Senate and the National Assembly including the Central Committee of the ruling CPDM party often seen as supportive rather than autonomous. But as Cameroon approaches its moment of transition, these same establishments can become arenas of political negotiation or even rivalry.

The wahala here is not simply “who” will be the next head of state, but “how” that person will emerge. Will the constitution be followed allowing Senator Aboubakary Abdoulaye to step in smoothly and elections organized without friction? Or will political realities such as CPDM party dynamics, tribal and regional considerations and elite bargaining reshape the process behind the scenes?

Added to this very complicated scenario is also a generational undercurrent. Frankly speaking, recent changes in parliament may reflect a cautious attempt to recalibrate the Cameroon political system for the future. If so, the next president of the republic—whether interim or elected—could mark a departure from entrenched patterns.

For now, Cameroon remains in a state of watchful anticipation. The coming of Senator Aboubakary Abdoulaye and Hon. Theodore Datoua has not answered the succession question; they have instead sharpened it. And in doing so, they remind political commentators that in Cameroon, the formal rules are only part of the story. The rest unfolds in the quieter, less visible spaces where power is negotiated, alliances are forged and futures are decided.

The coming weeks and perhaps months will very much reveal whether these institutional adjustments were merely routine or the early signals of a more significant transition.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai