Headline News

2, June 2025

Port of Douala and partners sign CFAF50B deal for logistics expansion ⁰

The Port Authority of Douala (PAD) and Douala Port Container Solution SA (DPCS) have signed a landmark agreement to build a 25-hectare logistics platform dedicated to the storage and management of empty containers. Signed on May 30, 2025, in Douala by Cyrus Ngo’o, Director General of PAD, and Evariste Eloundou Onana, General Administrator of DPCS, the project is set to transform operations at the Port of Douala’s timber dock.

The public-private partnership (PPP) is financed and will be executed by DPCS, a project company of the Cameroonian group Project Partners, which specializes in the port, shipping, and maritime industries. The agreement spans 28 years, allocating one year for design studies, two years for construction, and a 25-year operational phase.

Development plans include a 21-hectare area for container storage, a 1-hectare zone for empty container repairs, and a dedicated refrigerated container management area. This refrigerated section will feature approximately 240 outlets, designed to proactively address potential congestion at the main container terminal.

Beyond core container facilities, the project encompasses the construction of a head office, a 5,800-square-meter technical zone, and a 5,000-square-meter green space. Supporting infrastructure will include two 300-square-meter gatehouses, a 5,000-square-meter engine maintenance area, and a 4,000-square-meter administrative building housing various offices for the logistics zone’s services.

DPCS will also undertake complementary activities, such as stacking and preparing empty containers before the stuffing of raw materials like cocoa, coffee, or cotton. The platform will additionally offer rentable storage space. The total project cost is estimated at 50.4 billion CFA francs, with DPCS contributing 10 billion CFA francs (20%) in equity and securing the remaining 40 billion CFA francs (80%) from financial partners.

According to PAD, the project is projected to yield an impressive internal rate of return of approximately 18%. By the end of its operational period, it is expected to generate total revenues of around 220 billion CFA francs. DPCS will receive an estimated 128 billion CFA francs (58%), while PAD royalties and state duties and taxes are projected to amount to 91 billion CFA francs (42%).

Joseph Nguene Nteppe, Head of the Analysis and Cooperation Division at PAD, stated the initiative is expected to create 1,200 direct and indirect jobs. Furthermore, he noted its contribution to modernizing and securing handling operations at the Port of Douala, simultaneously boosting the port’s overall revenues.

Source: Business in Cameroon

1, June 2025

PSG crush Inter Milan to end long quest for Champions League glory ⁰

At long last, Paris Saint-Germain have their hands on the big one.

After a string of embarrassing Champions League debacles, PSG fans had come to despair of ever winning the biggest trophy in European club football.

When victory finally came on a balmy night in Munich, it proved almost too easy, with a thumping 5-0 defeat of three-time winners Inter Milan – the widest margin of victory in the competition’s 70-year history.

PSG’s astonishing triumph caps a rollercoaster journey that began in 2010 with a lunch at the Élysée Palace attended by Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Qatari emir whose tiny gas-rich country was poised to change European club football forever.

Fifteen years, several billion euros, and some notorious Champions League fiascos later, the team owned by Qatar Sports Investments are finally at the apex of the sport.

It’s been a steep learning curve for the Parisian upstarts, who had to first ditch their ‘Galactico’ delusions before finding the winning formula.

On paper, the team that triumphed in Munich was PSG’s least eye-catching in years, stripped of the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, the frustratingly inconsistent poster boy for the club’s “bling-bling” era.

But it was also their most accomplished – and in no small measure.

In two years at the helm, coach Luis Enrique has transformed PSG from an assortment of overpriced soloists to a youthful, cohesive and tactically disciplined unit that has delivered some of the most entertaining football this season.

Source: France 24

31, May 2025

Biya has been hiding cancer for years ⁰

After he peed on his trousers during national day celebration, Cameroon Intelligence Report sources in Yaoundé revealed late on Friday 30 May, 2025 that President Paul Biya has been suffering ever since he had a prostate cancer operation in New York City some two decades ago and he is no longer capable of governing.

The 92-year-old leader’s May 20 outing, caused a political and ethical storm all over the nation with his acolytes and close allies now saying that he is unfit to rule.

A well placed medical source who confirmed that Biya may not get to October sued for anonymity on grounds that he will be denounced for breaking the medical confidentiality rule.

Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV) drew heavy criticism from its viewers for airing very little on the president during the gala inside the Unity Palace.

Biya’s cancer has been kept a state secret for years even after the operation in New York.

Biya is no longer fit to govern because he is so unwell and he spends most of his time lying down in his villa in Mvomeka’a, and is frequently too tired to look at documents.

An unnamed source was quoted recently as saying that Mr Biya knew about his cancer even before he changed the constitution that made him president for life.

In a country where every CPDM baron’s illness is being kept secret, no one expects Etoudi to be open about Biya’s bill of health.

Cameroon Intelligence Report understands that President Biya underwent cancer treatment in the United States under an assumed name in a process that was teleguided by the late Dr Martin Belinga Eboutou. Since then he has been receiving treatment which involved him being put on a drip every day, even at summits and on state visits.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

30, May 2025

Liberia: Plane carrying president involved in landing scare ⁰

Flights were temporarily disrupted at Liberia main airport on Thursday night after a private jet carrying President Joseph Boakai almost crashed while landing.

Part of the presidential jet’s landing gear malfunctioned while approaching the runway, causing a rough landing, airport authorities said.

The incident, which sparked panic at the airport, forced the cancellation of all scheduled flights for the night, local media reported.

President Boakai, who was returning from a trip in Nigeria with his entourage, was safely evacuated unharmed, as authorities announced an investigation.

Executive Mansion - Liberia / Facebook A close-up of President Joseph Boakai wearing a hat — Boakai spoke to journalists at the airport without mentioning the incident

Photos of the stalled jet at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) circulated on social media, triggering concerns about the president’s safety.

Local media, citing airport authorities, said one of the plane’s tyres had burst upon landing leaving it stranded on the runway.

In a statement, the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) confirmed the “unfortunate near-accident situation” involving the presidential jet.

The authority dismissed reports suggesting that the incident was caused by poor runway conditions.

“The runway infrastructure remains fully compliant with international aviation safety standards,” the LAA said.

The aircraft has since been removed from the runway and normal operations have resumed at the airport, the authorities said.

“At this stage, investigation to establish the actual cause of the incident is ongoing, and the airport authority will keep the public informed,” the LAA said.

The Liberian presidency is yet to comment on the incident but it shared photos of Boakai arriving at the airport, where he briefly spoke to journalists without mentioning the plane scare.

He had gone to Nigeria to attend the 50th anniversary of the regional Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas).

Source: BBC

30, May 2025

Yaoundé: police dismantles bank robbers’ network ⁰

Police have dismantled a criminal network responsible for multiple robberies in Yaoundé, the capital. According to CRTV, the gang stole goods over CFA10 million worth of goods in multiple raids, including two robberies in the Nkoabang district and another at a poultry farm about 30 km from the city center.

The Judicial Police Department (DPJ) arrested the suspects after a three-week investigation. “These criminals, most of whom were repeat offenders, operated with bladed weapons, automatic pistols, and other techniques,” said Senior Superintendent Christian Ngom, head of the DPJ’s studies, research, and criminal investigations department. Police seized a vehicle, gas cylinders, electronic devices, and various stolen goods.

Robberies remain a persistent concern in Cameroon. On April 11, assailants attacked a money van in Nkolafamba, also in the Centre region, stealing more than CFA700 million. In September 2024, police arrested six suspects for armed robberies, including at the home of a widow in Emana, where property worth about CFA2 million was taken.

Authorities are reinforcing their commitment to combating insecurity. They urge citizens to collaborate more closely with law enforcement to strengthen the effectiveness of security efforts.

Source: Sbbc

30, May 2025

Yaoundé: FECAFOOT unanimously approves 2025 budget ⁰

The Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) has taken a decisive step forward with the unanimous approval of its 2025 budget during an extraordinary general assembly held on May 24 in Odza, Yaounde. This landmark decision follows months of discussions and signals a new chapter for Cameroonian football, setting the stage for unprecedented strategic investments.

Presiding over this critical session via videoconference, Fecafoot President Samuel Eto’o witnessed full agreement among the federation’s leaders. The unanimous vote reflects a renewed unity within the governing bodies of the national football scene.

“This assembly marks a fresh start for our football,” said Elizabeth Mosima, an observer of Cameroon’s sporting institutions. Attendees approved all proposed amendments focusing on strategic goals set for July 2023.

The meeting also ratified decisions from the executive committee’s December 16, 2024 session in Mbankomo. These resolutions include a financial restructuring plan and an optimized allocation of resources aimed at developing grassroots football.

Such consensus stands in contrast to previous divisions that had stalled key decisions. This restored unity promises more effective management of federation affairs moving forward.

The impact of this budget extends well beyond numbers. It outlines a clear roadmap to modernize the country’s football infrastructure and enhance the performance of national teams.

Coming at a time when Cameroonian football strives to reclaim its stature on both the continental and global stages, the planned investments are expected to benefit the Indomitable Lions as well as domestic leagues.

The unanimous support during the vote bolsters the legitimacy of the budgetary directions championed by Eto’o’s leadership, inspiring hope for a vibrant future in Cameroon’s football landscape.

Source: Footboom

30, May 2025

Football: Bayer Leverkusen to sign Cameroonian talent Christian Kofane ⁰

Bayer Leverkusen have reached an agreement with Christian Kofane (18) of Albacete. The Cameroonian forward scored eight goals and provided one assist for the second division side last season, and will cost a reported €5m.

Bayer Leverkusen have fought off interest from Porto, Benfica and AS Monaco to sign Kofane, whom Real Madrid also ‘put out feelers’ for, per Kicker. Should the Bundesliga side reach a full agreement to sign Kofane, the 18-year-old attacker will be loaned back to Albacete.

Kofane only moved to Spain from Cameroon in November 2024 and was intended for Albacete’s youth teams but after impressing, made his first team debut in January 2025, and went on to play 19 second division games under Alberto González.

The signing of Kofane would add further youth to Bayer Leverkusen’s attack, who already have promising Artem Stepanov within their ranks. The 17-year-old Ukrainian will spend next season on loan at 2. Bundesliga side Nürnberg.

Source: Yahoo Sports

29, May 2025

Sidi Ould Tah elected president of African Development Bank ⁰

Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania was today elected President of the African Development Bank Group at the Bank’s Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Tah was elected by the Bank’s Board of Governors, comprising Finance and Economy Ministers or Central Bank Governors of the Bank Group’s 81 regional and non-regional member countries. The board is the highest decision-making authority for the Bank Group.

The results were announced by Niale Kaba, Minister of Planning and Development for Côte d’Ivoire, and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Bank Group.

The winning candidate is required to obtain at least 50.01% of both the regional and non-regional votes.

A Mauritanian national, Tah brings over 35 years of experience in African and international finance. He served as president of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for 10 years from 2015, where he led a full transformation that quadrupled the Bank’s balance sheet, secured a AAA rating, and positioned it among the top-rated development banks focused on Africa.

A former Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance of Mauritania, Tah has held senior roles in multilateral institutions and has led crisis response, financial reform, and innovative resource mobilization for Africa, including the establishment of BADEA’s $1 billion callable capital program for African MDBs.

The Board of Governors Steering Committee received and approved a total of five candidates by the closing date of 31 January 2025. The list of candidates was officially announced on 21 February 2025.

The other candidates in the election were:

Amadou Hott (Senegal)
Samuel Maimbo (Zambia)
Mahamat Abbas Tolli (Chad)
Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa)

Tah will assume office on 1 September 2025, for a five-year term, following the end of the second mandate of current President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

The African Development Bank’s past heads since its inception in 1964 are:

Mamoun Beheiry (Sudan), 1964-1970
Abdelwahab Labidi (Tunisia), 1970-1976
Kwame Donkor Fordwor (Ghana), 1976-1980
Willa Mung’Omba (Zambia), 1980-1985
Babacar N’diaye (Senegal), 1985-1995
Omar Kabbaj (Morocco), 1995-2005
Donald Kaberuka (Rwanda), 2005-2015
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (Nigeria), 2015-2025.

The election of a new president comes at a crucial time in the Bank Group’s six decades of existence. Africa has remained resilient despite climate shocks, economic disruption, and a shifting geopolitical landscape, but needs to move faster or risk falling behind on delivering on the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, summed up in the Bank Group’s High 5’s.

The 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group are taking place from May 26 to 30 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire under the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development.”

The African Development Bank Group comprises three entities: the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund and the Nigeria Trust Fund. Its shareholder countries include 54 African countries or regional member countries, and 27 non-African countries or non-regional member countries.

Source: CNBC News

29, May 2025

Cameroon emerges as key market for Orange Money in Africa ⁰

Orange Money has achieved significant penetration and usage in Cameroon, ranking the country among the leading African markets for the platform. Representatives from Orange Money Cameroon presented data to the Directorate General of Customs (DGD) in Yaoundé on May 27, 2025, highlighting the service’s extensive reach as part of a proposal to the customs administration.

Orange Money, a subsidiary of Orange Cameroon specializing in mobile payments, now serves more than 11 million customers in Cameroon. This figure represents over 11.5% of the 96 million Orange Money users across 17 African countries.

Official data also show that more than 100,000 sales outlets in Cameroon provide Orange Money services, supporting the creation of over 200,000 jobs to date. These outlets account for more than 25% of the 400,000 points of sale dedicated to Orange Money distribution across Africa, according to Orange Group figures.

The widespread adoption of mobile payment services such as Orange Money and MTN Mobile Money in Cameroon reflects their popularity since launch. Their flexibility in enabling money transfers, withdrawals, merchant payments, mobile banking, and tax payments has fueled a surge in mobile money usage in recent years.

The expansion of mobile money in Cameroon was notably accelerated by restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The global lockdown prompted many Cameroonians to adopt mobile money services, as reducing cash handling in financial transactions was a key preventive measure promoted by the government to curb the spread of the virus. Authorities encouraged the use of mobile money, e-payment, and mobile banking. In response, mobile money operators reduced fees and ramped up promotional offers to attract more users.

Intense Competition for Market Leadership

The impact of these measures, along with the broader benefits of mobile money in promoting financial inclusion, is reflected in the results of the 5th Cameroon Household Survey (Ecam 5), published on April 24, 2024, by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). The survey shows that mobile money usage in Cameroon “increased significantly,” rising from 29.9% in 2017 to 42.7% in 2022 among people aged 15 and older—a 12.8 percentage point increase over five years.

The 2022 Report on Payment Services in the CEMAC region published by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), underscores Cameroon’s dominance in mobile money within the six-nation bloc. According to BEAC, Cameroon accounted for the majority of mobile money transactions in the region in 2022, both by volume (71%, or 1.7 billion transactions) and by value (55%, or 59,003 billion CFA francs).

Local subsidiaries of Orange and MTN are engaged in fierce competition for market leadership. Orange Cameroon claims a 70% market share in mobile money, while MTN contests this, asserting superior performance. “I believe I can also say that we have now become the leader in the mobile financial services market, as our subsidiary Mobile Money Corporation now has the largest active mobile money user base in the country,” said Mitwa Ng’ambi, then CEO of MTN Cameroon, in an interview with Investir au Cameroun in early 2023.

Source: Business in Cameroon

29, May 2025

Football: Saudis in ‘difficult’ talks to keep Ronaldo next season ⁰

Saudi officials are in “difficult” talks to keep Cristiano Ronaldo in the country, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AFP on Thursday, after the star footballer suggested he was leaving Al Nassr.

The Portuguese superstar, whose arrival in 2023 heralded a rush of late-career players to the oil-rich country, could transfer to Al Hilal and feature at the upcoming Club World Club, the source said.

“There is an ongoing difficult negotiation to convince Ronaldo to stay and play” in the Saudi Pro League next season, said the source from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a major investor in Saudi football.

“First option is a transfer to Al Hilal with an opportunity to feature in the FIFA Club World Cup or to Asia champion Al Ahli,” the source added.

The oil-funded PIF, the sovereign wealth fund behind a number of big-ticket Saudi investments, controls a group of Pro League clubs including Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Al Ahli.

Ronaldo posted “This chapter is over” hours after the Saudi Pro League wrapped up this week with Al Nassr finishing third and trophyless once again.

A special transfer window opens from June 1-10 to allow the 32 teams involved in the newly expanded Club World Cup to sign players.

Last week, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said “there are discussions” over the former United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Sporting Lisbon star playing at the tournament in the United States from June 14.

Portuguese forward Ronaldo, 40, joined Al Nassr in early 2023 from Manchester United and his contract expires at the end of next month.

“Ronaldo’s presence is a key factor in developing the Saudi league in the last two years and a half. He opens the door for elite and young players to come to Saudi Arabia,” the PIF source said.

‘Ronaldo might play’

Ronaldo’s announcement comes just months after Brazilian star Neymar ended his injury-plagued 18-month stay in January, after playing just seven times for Al Hilal — on a reported salary of around $104 million a year.

Although Ronaldo was the Pro League’s top scorer with 25 goals, he has been unable to win a Saudi or continental trophy with Al Nassr, who lost in the Asian Champions League semi-finals last month.

Last year, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he could end his career with Al Nassr, the Riyadh team favoured by a number of Saudi royals.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s great rival Lionel Messi will play at the Club World Cup with Inter Miami.

During a recent interview with YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed, Infantino said: “And Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup.

“There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup… who knows, who knows.”

Saudi Arabia has shaken up football by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo’s move, and the desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034.

Source: AFP