Headline News

2, December 2025

Nigeria: defense minister resigns amid kidnapping crisis ⁰

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned from his position with immediate effect for health reasons, the president’s office has said.

The 63-year-old’s departure coincides with a period of heightened security challenges across Nigeria, with the government under pressure to deal with a spate of mass kidnappings.

Last week, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that at least 402 people, mostly schoolchildren, had been kidnapped since mid-November.

A retired general, Christopher Musa, has been nominated by President Bola Tinubu as Abubakar’s replacement.

General Musa, 58, served as Nigeria’s chief of defence staff from June 2023 until October 2025 and is widely regarded as one of the country’s most experienced military strategists.

He is known in particular for commanding major counter-insurgency operations against jihadist groups in north-east of the country.

In the latest sign of the insecurity, gunmen abducted at least 20 people, including a Christian pastor, a Muslim bride and her bridesmaids, in two separate raids in the north on Sunday.

Some 250 schoolchildren and 12 teachers from a Catholic school in central Niger state are still believed to be missing following the biggest mass kidnapping attack in recent weeks.

It is not clear who is behind the kidnappings – most analysts believe they are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments, however a presidential spokesman has told the BBC the government believes they are the work of jihadist groups.

Source: BBC

1, December 2025

Indomitable Lions: Onana out of Nations Cup squad, Eto’o names Pagou as coach ⁰

Cameroon have omitted goalkeeper Andre Onana from their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations starting this month in Morocco and appointed David Pagou as coach to replace Belgian Marc Brys.

Onana, on loan at Trabzonspor from Manchester United, is one of several experienced players dropped for the December 21 to January 18 tournament, including striker Vincent Aboubakar, who has been a mainstay of the team for the last 15 years.

The changes come after Cameroon failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Manchester United winger Bryan Mbeumo is in the squad along with Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba.

The country’s football federation President Samuel Eto’o has made no secret of his desire to replace Brys, 63, since the latter’s April 2024 appointment by the sports ministry and has tried several times before.

Emboldened by his re-election as president last weekend, Eto’o has had another go and replaced the Belgian with 56-year-old Pagou, who has managed in Cameroon’s domestic league and will be assisted by Martin Ntoungou Mpile.

Cameroon opens their Group F campaign at the Cup of Nations finals against Gabon in Agadir on December 24. They also have defending champions Ivory Coast and Mozambique in their pool.

Cameroon squad:

Goalkeepers: Devis Epassy (Dinamo Bucharest), Simon Omossola (St Eloi Lupopo), Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Montpellier), Edouard Sombang (Colombe Du Dja)

Defenders: Samuel Kotto (Gent), Gerzino Nyamsi (Lokomotiv Moscow), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Al-Duhail), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders), Flavien Enzo Boyomo (Osasuna), Mahamadou Nagida (Rennes), Christopher Wooh (Spartak Moscow), Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City), Darlin Yongwa (FC Lorient)

Midfielders: Martin Ndzie (Rapid Vienna), Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion), Arthur Avom (FC Lorient), Eric-Junior Dina Ebimbe (Brest), Brice Ambina (Valerenga), Jean Junior Onana (Genoa), Olivier Kemen (Istanbul B.B)

Forwards: Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United), Christian Bassogog (Al-Okhdood), George-Kevin N’koudou (Al-Diriyah), Danny Namaso (Auxerre), Frank Magri (Toulouse), Karl Etta Eyong (Levante), Christian Kofane (Bayer Leverkusen), Patrick Soko (Almeria)

Source: Reuters

1, December 2025

Biya’s continued stay in power: Anicet Ekane dies after weeks of detention ⁰

Top opposition leader, Anicet Ekane, has died after weeks of detention at the age of 74, his lawyers and family said Monday, alleging that he had struggled to breathe but didn’t receive proper care.

Ekane was arrested in late October alongside other top figures of his African Movement for New Independence and Democracy party as protests rattled the country over allegations of fraud in the presidential election. He was detained on charges of insurrection, his lawyer Emmanuel Simh told The Associated Press.

“Mr. Ekane was critically sick, he was denied appropriate treatment,” Simh said. “We’re still in the shock and sadness. Ekane committed no crime, so we need to know why he was arrested and abandoned in the prison cell of the paramilitary gendarmerie.”

Cameroon’s communication minister, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, expressed the government’s regret and said President Paul Biya has ordered an investigation into the circumstances leading to Ekane’s death.

Ekane was among opposition figures objecting to the result of the Oct. 12 election in which Biya, the world’s oldest president at 92, was declared the winner of another term. Rival candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary claimed to have won and has called on Cameroonians to reject the official result.

Cameroon’s defense ministry on Monday said Ekane died “following an illness.” It said an investigation has been opened.

“The deceased, who suffered from various chronic illnesses, had since been hospitalized at the National Gendarmerie Military Medical Center,” the ministry said. “He was receiving appropriate care from the Military Medical Corps, in conjunction with his personal physicians, and benefiting from additional follow-up care in local hospitals.”

Both Ekane’s party and the Union for Change political platform that he led asserted in statements that he was “murdered,” and called for an international investigation.

Muna Ekane, Ekane’s eldest son, told the AP his father’s health had worsened Sunday.

“For one week, he had difficulties breathing; he was suffocating,” the son said. “He was diagnosed while in detention but no proper treatment was followed. He had difficulties eating. We spent the whole week alerting public authorities about his worsening health situation but nothing was done.”

He did not say what his father was diagnosed with, describing it as “respiratory problems.”

He added that he believed his father had been arrested for supporting Tchiroma, who fled to Gambia last month.

Following the announcement of the election results, deadly protests erupted in key opposition strongholds. While Cameroon’s government said 16 people were killed, opposition figures and human rights groups estimated the death toll at more than 55.

The European Union has called for the release of those “arbitrarily detained” since the election.

Source: AP

30, November 2025

Football: André Onana wins over Turkey ⁰

In Turkey, André Onana is delighting Trabzonspor fans. All this just three weeks before the kick-off of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Three months after leaving Manchester United, André Onana is putting in a string of top-class performances with Trabzonspor. According to some Turkish pundits, Onana is the best goalkeeper in the Turkish league, ahead of Brazilian Ederson at Fenerbahçe.

Asked to compare the league’s goalkeepers, Zeki Uzundurukan, editor-in-chief of Fotomac—one of Turkey’s leading sports publications—didn’t hesitate for a second. “André Onana is an absolutely fantastic goalkeeper and currently the most in-form shot-stopper in the league. When it comes to decisive saves, Onana is far ahead of Uğurcan (Galatasaray) and Ederson (Fenerbahçe),” declared the journalist.

After two disastrous seasons at Manchester United, the Cameroonian has found new life on the shores of the Black Sea. Ten Süper Lig matches, eleven goals conceded—but more importantly, thirty-four saves from forty-five shots on target. His save percentage exceeds 74%, a rock-solid performance in a particularly open and attacking league. Most impressively, not a single direct error has led to a goal for Trabzonspor.

Source: Africa Foot

30, November 2025

Southern Cameroons: 2 soldiers killed in attack in Bamenda ⁰

Two soldiers were killed Sunday in an explosion in the country’s war-torn English-speaking region of Northwest, a security source said.

A military convoy driving through the region’s chief town of Bamenda stepped on an improvised explosive device planted along the road. The blast killing two soldiers on the spot.

“Some of our brave soldiers were also injured and rushed to the hospital. Our soldiers are pursuing the terrorists behind such a coward act,” the source said, adding that separatist fighters known to be active in the region were responsible for the attack.

The Cameroon army has reinforced security in the region with additional troops to secure voting in the country’s regional elections, which began early Sunday.

Cameroon has been experiencing an armed separatist conflict in its English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest since 2017, as separatists want to create a new nation.

Source: Xinhuanet

30, November 2025

Voting for Cameroon’s regional elections kicks off ⁰

Voting for Cameroon’s regional elections began early Sunday, with polling starting nationwide at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) and set to end at 6 p.m. (1700 GMT) local time.

In the capital Yaoundé and commercial capital of Douala, a Xinhua reporter observed on site that municipal councilors and traditional rulers who make up the electoral college queued outside polling stations.

Officials of the national electoral body, Elections Cameroon, told Xinhua that voting which took place in 58 divisional headquarters of the country began “without any problems.”

Municipal councilors and traditional rulers will elect 900 regional councilors to serve five-year terms, with 90 in each of the country’s 10 regions.

The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement has submitted candidates in all 58 electoral constituencies and is running unchallenged in several of them.

In 2020, Cameroon held its maiden regional election.

Source: Xinhuanet

30, November 2025

Nigeria: Police recover decomposing bodies of female Cameroonians kidnapped in Anambra ⁰

The Anambra State Police on Saturday announced the recovery of two decomposing female bodies believed to be those of kidnapped Cameroonians from a river in Anambra West Local Government Area of the state.

Three Cameroonian women have been missing for some time now, raising posers that they may have been kidnapped.

The police in the state had launched an investigation leading to the arrest of two suspects: Nonso Augustine Akpeh, 37, and Kingsley Akpeh, 44, who had been assisting with information. The third suspect had been on the run.

A statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga, said that the discovery of the decomposing bodies was in continuation of efforts to ascertain the whereabouts of the three ladies.

He said that on the evening of November 28, 2025, operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, working in collaboration with professional river divers and local volunteers, conducted an intensive search along the Omambala River in Anambra West Local Government Area.

“During the operation, the team recovered two (2) female decomposed bodies believed to be victims of the kidnapping incident.

The operatives immediately contacted the family of the kidnapped victims, who positively identified the recovered bodies as his wife, Mrs. Bognou Alice, and his niece, Miss Sandra.

“Both bodies have been deposited in a mortuary for further examination and necessary investigative procedures”, he added.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has extended condolences to the bereaved family and friends, and ordered intensified search efforts to recover the remaining missing victim.

He has also directed all units involved to strengthen operational activities aimed at apprehending the third suspect, Uchenna Nicholas Mmadu, said to be on the run, to ensure he faces the full weight of the law.

The Commissioner further reassured the public of the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives, maintaining security, and delivering justice.

In other news, the Delta State police command has announced it arrested a suspected serial killer and a prison escapee who has been linked to multiple violent crimes in the past.

The suspect, known as Michael Ezenwa,i was apprehended by the Agbor police division of the state on October 24, 2025, while he was attempting to sell a stolen phone.

Meanwhile, further checks revealed the phone belonged to a woman who was later found dead in her apartment.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to murdering her during a robbery at her residence on 23rd October 2025.

Ezenwai has been linked to multiple violent crimes, including a 2020 rape and murder case involving a university student.

Commenting on the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, SP Bright Edafe, said the command swiftly took action after receiving a distress call.

“On the 24th of October 2025, the DPO Agbor received a complaint that one Michael Ezenwai was trying to sell a suspected stolen phone.

“The DPO swiftly mobilised operatives to the scene and immediately arrested the suspect. Upon interrogation, the suspect claimed that he brought the phone from Libya.

Source: The Guardian

30, November 2025

Young Cameroonians: Build social capital to succeed ⁰

It is normal these days to hear young Cameroonians saying that their seniors do not want to help them. Many of these young men are frustrated. Many are unemployed and helpless.

They have gone to school and really want to work but the harsh economic circumstances in our beloved country make it hard for them to find jobs. Even when they find jobs, the salaries are sometimes derisory.

This unfortunate situation is compounded by the fact that these days, many entrepreneurs only hire their family members, forgetting that those family members may not be as productive as non-family members.

Tribalism and nepotism have also made things worse and this is driving some of our bright young men, especially those from poor homes, to seek greener pastures somewhere else, even if that implies heading to Europe through the desert and on the high seas.

Some even try their luck by heading to North America through the Darian Gap which has turned out to be a massive burial ground for many of these young men.

For every ten young Cameroonians who have succeeded to reach Europe or North America through such challenging means, more than twenty-five have lost their lives in the desert, on the high seas and/or in the Darian Gap. Desperation is driving many young Cameroonians into the waiting hands of death.

However, as pathetic as this situation might be, it must be pointed out that if many young Cameroonians are financially and economically desperate, it is also their fault.

Many of them do not listen. They think they know it all and this has caused many people who can share their golden nuggets of knowledge and their pearls of wisdom with them to avoid them.

It is hard to advise a young Cameroonian to use whatever money they may have to launch a small business while waiting for a good opportunity. The rush to prove that they are living abroad has robbed them of their commonsense. Proving a point is more important to them.

This poor judgment and refusal to listen and learn has been made worse by their trademark dishonesty which makes it hard for even family members to help them.

A typical young Cameroonian believes that he is smarter than every other Cameroonian. Today, young Cameroonians cannot be relied upon. They don’t know that their word must be their bond. Even those who live abroad cannot always be trusted.

To young Cameroonians, building social capital is a long and tedious process that must be avoided. They want to be wealthy without putting in the time and effort to gain wealth. They want to embrace the promise without going through the testing process. They want immediate results and they are now addicted to immediate gratification. They can hurt anyone just to have their way.

Give them money for them to implement a project for you and you will see their true color. Hire them in your small business and they will work hard to destroy it. Their minds know no morals and discipline.

They only understand theft and embezzlement. This unfortunate behavior makes it hard for many people who are rich in the milk of human kindness to share that milk with them.

Many young Cameroonians lack consciences. They can kill just to achieve their parochial goal. Many would think the young women could be different. Women are always considered as angels by many men, but the past few decades have proven that many young Cameroonian women must not be taken seriously.

They lack morals. They have not been raised on discipline and dignity. Many go through excruciating psychological pain in life because of the path they have chosen in life. They take pleasure in deceiving men without knowing that Karma will eventually step in at a certain point. You will always hear many of them blaming men, forgetting that they have a past. The cosmic always deliver to us what we have delivered to others.

Honesty is a foreign concept to many young Cameroonians. Dignity seems to have died in Cameroon. Our beloved country is a place where finding a reliable young Cameroonian is as challenging as finding a small needle in a massive haystack. Young Cameroonians do not know that being reliable attracts great ideas and sustainable wealth.

They waste their god-given social capital when they are young only to end up in churches praying for serious husbands and wives. Young Cameroonian men and women do not trust each other and that is why many of their relationships are always short-lived.

Young Cameroonians must understand that the best capital to own is social capital. Education is good but when it is not underpinned by good social capital, even careers suffer. Build your social capital to make things easy for you. Let your word be your bond.

I learned this very early in life and I have reaped the benefits. I am an investor and many people hand their money to me knowing that it is in safe hands. You can be wealthy using other people’s money through honest investments. Attracting investment capital depends on your moral record. Succeeding in business depends on your honesty. Social capital is a financial magnet that many young Cameroonians do not know. Growing in your career also depends on people trusting you.

Managers only promote people they trust and not dishonest people who think they are the brightest. A word to the wise is sufficient.

By Dr Joachim Arrey

29, November 2025

Yaoundé: Divisional Officer blocks MRC Convention planned for Kamto’s return ⁰

Two days before the planned convention of the Mouvement pour la renaissance du Cameroun (MRC), the divisional officer of Yaoundé IV formally prohibited the gathering through an order issued on November 27. The administrative authority justified the ban by citing a “serious threat of public disorder” linked to the opposition party’s event.

Faced with this decision, the MRC leadership was forced to postpone the assembly. Mamadou Mota, the party’s interim president, announced that the meeting would be rescheduled to a later date. The setback is significant for the party, as the extraordinary convention of November 29 was expected to renew its executive board, notably marking the return of Maurice Kamto as president.

Kamto’s planned return to the MRC leadership

Maurice Kamto, the MRC’s emblematic leader, stepped down in July to avoid a conflict with the law when he ran in the October presidential election under the banner of Manidem. With no local elected officials, the MRC could not nominate a presidential candidate. Manidem, led by Anicet Ekane, agreed to sponsor Kamto on the condition that he formally join the party. To avoid belonging to two political parties at once, he handed the MRC presidency to first vice-president Mamadou Mota.

A leadership race without internal competition

The November 29 convention, which opened executive positions to competition, received only one candidacy for the presidency: Maurice Kamto’s. The assembly was therefore expected to confirm his return as party leader, closing the chapter opened by his temporary departure during the presidential race.

With the authorities’ decision to block the convention, a period of uncertainty opens for the MRC, which had intended to use the meeting to clarify its leadership and internal structure.

For the party, the convention was crucial to reorganizing ahead of the 2025 legislative and municipal elections. The administrative block comes at a decisive moment, just as the MRC sought to reposition itself on the political scene.

For the ruling camp, the stakes lie in keeping the MRC out of an upcoming local election cycle seen as challenging. The governing party recently posted its weakest result in more than thirty years in the latest presidential election.

Source: Sbbc

29, November 2025

FECAFOOT: Eto’o secures second term ⁰

Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o has secured a second term as president of the country’s football federation after winning re-election by an overwhelming margin on Saturday.

The vote, held at the CAF Centre of Excellence in Mbankomo, saw the former Barcelona and Chelsea striker run unopposed.

Of the 87 delegates eligible to cast ballots, 85 endorsed his continuity at the helm, with two ballots declared invalid.

The result hands him a commanding 97.7 per cent approval rate and extends his mandate for another four years.

Eto’o’s renewed tenure comes despite a turbulent first term marked by criticism and internal pressure.

Cameroon’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup fuelled dissatisfaction, while a series of controversies involving the federation kept his leadership under scrutiny.

Even so, Saturday’s outcome underscores the enduring influence and support he maintains within Fecafoot, setting the stage for another chapter in his stewardship of Cameroonian football.

Source: Africa Soccer