Life

18, August 2026

Angelique Kidjo immortalised on Hollywood Walk of Fame ⁰

Five-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo on Tuesday became the first Black African to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In a glitzy ceremony under palm trees and picture-perfect California skies, Kidjo was feted by film stars and music industry titans as she unveiled the star on the busy thoroughfare.

“We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world,” the 66-year-old said.

“Without us, there’s no music possible on this planet.”

After offering thanks to her team and family, Kidjo erupted into song as those present sat in rapt attention.

Born in Benin, Kidjo has built an international career spanning more than 40 years and 18 albums.

As well as being named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, she has also been nominated as one of Africa’s 50 most iconic figures by the BBC, and one of the 100 most inspiring people in the world by The Guardian.

Harvey Mason Jr. of the Recording Academy hailed Kidjo as a “rare artist.”

“Your example has elevated our global music community, and your work continues to remind us that music is more than entertainment; it’s connection,” he said.

“This star is a permanent symbol; it’s not going anywhere, and it’s a symbol of your achievements. But your legacy, it lives in the people that you’ve touched, that you’ve inspired, the barriers that you’ve broken, the connections you’ve created all around the world.”

Actor Willem Dafoe praised Kidjo’s immense energy on stage.

“The first time I saw Angelique perform live, I thought her music, her dancing, her commitment were incredible,” the “Platoon” star said.

“She is, without a doubt, the hardest-working woman in show business.”

But, he said, more impressive was her dedication to the humanitarian work of her Batonga Foundation, which strives to empower girls and young women in Africa.

“This is not a token celebrity involvement; it is an extension of what she does with her music. She stirs us, lifts us up, and reminds us that we’re all connected, and that love and understanding is the way.”

Source: AFP

14, August 2026

Germany: Mfuni annual convention has kicked off in Mulheim ⁰

The European chapter of the Mfuni Cultural and Development Association (MFUCADA) has kicked off its annual convention and uniform launch in the beautiful German city of Mülheim, bringing together members and supporters in a celebration of culture, unity and community development.

The convention, which began today, will culminate in a grand gala night in Duisburg, where Cameroonians and friends of Manyu culture are expected to come together in their numbers to celebrate the Mfuni community and its cultural heritage.

Speaking on the program Dr. Eta Valerie Ayamba, President of MFUCADA, announced that the gala night will be animated by Eyum Anneh, Manyu Division’s Germany-based cultural ambassador. His participation is expected to add colour and vibrancy to an evening dedicated to culture, entertainment, fellowship and community solidarity.

Mfuni is a village in Eyumojock Subdivision of Manyu Division in Cameroon’s South-West Region, and the European chapter of MFUCADA continues to provide a platform for sons and daughters of the community in the diaspora to preserve their cultural identity while contributing to the development of their home community.

Beyond the celebration, the convention and uniform launch represent an opportunity for Cameroonians in Germany and across Europe to demonstrate solidarity with grassroots community initiatives. Such gatherings help strengthen bonds among Cameroonians abroad, promote cultural heritage and create opportunities for collective development.

Cameroonians, particularly sons and daughters of Manyu and friends of the Mfuni community, are therefore being called upon to come out en masse and support MFUCADA. Their presence at the gala will not only make the celebration more colourful but will also send a strong message of unity, pride in Cameroonian culture and commitment to community development.

From Mülheim to Duisburg, the MFUCADA European chapter is inviting everyone to be part of what promises to be a memorable celebration of Mfuni, Manyu and Cameroonian cultural heritage.

Come out, support the Mfuni community, celebrate our culture and make the gala night a resounding success!

By Soter Agbaw-Ebai

12, August 2026

Congo-Kinshasa: At least 2,000 die in fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record ⁰

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has killed 2,011 people out of 4,381 confirmed cases of the virus, Congolese officials said on Tuesday.

The latest toll puts it close behind the DR Congo’s deadliest Ebola outbreak in 2018 to 2020 when nearly 2,300 people died out of 3,500 recorded cases.

The Ebola outbreak, which has hit the DR Congo’s conflict-plagued eastern and northeastern regions, was declared on May 15 but is thought to have already been spreading for several weeks.

While it took about nine weeks for the outbreak to record the first 1,000 deaths, it’s taken just around three weeks for the figure to double, an evidence that the health crisis is moving faster than efforts to track and manage it.

It is the DR Congo’s 17th surge of the highly contagious disease and is already considered the largest in the country’s history “and could well become the largest outbreak ever”, Sania Nishtar, chief executive of the Gavi global vaccine alliance, has said.

Aid workers say the outbreak continues to outpace response that’s been expanding across the five eastern provinces affected. Many health workers have gone on strike to protest lack of payment for their work since the outbreak was declared. And the World Health Organization (WHO) has said most new cases are still being recorded outside of contacts being monitored, showing that transmission remains out of the control of health workers.

The case fatality rate of the current outbreak is estimated by Congolese health authorities to be 45.9 percent.

On Friday, WHO vaccine experts recommended a full-scale human trial of the only existing approved Ebola vaccine to see if it offered cross-protection against the strain of Ebola currently spreading in the DRC against which no specific vaccine currently exists.

The Ervebo vaccine has proved safe and efficient against the more common Zaire strain of Ebola virus and WHO experts said that early data, notably from animal trials, showed it may also give some protection against the rare Bundibugyo strain exploding in the DRC.

Two potential Bundibugyo vaccines are in the early stages of clinical trials on humans, while a third is being worked on to bring it to that stage.

Source: France 24

10, August 2026

MECA Manchester welcomes Superstar Maxy Manorh ⁰

It was organised at very short notice, but there was nothing small about the warmth of the welcome when members of the Manyu Elements Cultural Association (MECA) Manchester gathered on Sunday the 9th of August 2026 to receive global Manyu music star Maxy Manorh. With little time for elaborate preparations, members of MECA Manchester did what strong communities often do best: they came together.

A barbecue and lunch were hastily arranged at the home of the association’s president, Chief Richard Agbor, transforming an ordinary afternoon into a memorable celebration of music, friendship and culture. Members arrived proudly in their MECA uniforms, bringing colour, identity and a strong sense of belonging to the occasion. Food and drinks were aplenty.

Maxy Manorh whose music and international profile have made him one of Cameroon’s celebrated cultural ambassadors, treated his hosts to a few songs. His impromptu performance delighted MECA members, who enjoyed the rare opportunity to experience the star’s music in such an intimate and relaxed setting.

For MECA Manchester, the day was more than meeting a famous Manyu son. It was an opportunity to recognise an artist who has carried elements of Manyu identity and culture through his music to audiences far beyond Cameroon for the last ten years.

As a gesture of appreciation, the association presented Maxy Manorh with an envelope containing a token from its members, recognising his contribution to the promotion and preservation of Manyu culture. The gesture reflected something deeper about the Manyu community in Britain: a determination to remain connected to home and to celebrate those who promote its heritage.

For Maxy, who is due to leave the United Kingdom for Cameroon this week, the Manchester reception was particularly touching.“It was amazing being with my brothers and sisters in Manchester,” he said. He noted that the occasion was especially memorable because it was the first time a Manyu group had formally received him in a country when he had not travelled to specifically perform for them.

Chief Richard Agbor, president of MECA Manchester, told Cameroon Concord News that he was immensely proud of the men and women he leads. For him, the speed with which members responded to the invitation demonstrated the character of the association. At very short notice, people adjusted their plans, put on their uniforms and came together to give Maxy Manorh a reception worthy of a son of Manyu who continues to promote the culture through his music.

Culture does not preserve itself. It requires people willing to give their time, open their wallets and wear their identity proudly. Across Britain, Manyu sons and daughters continue to build communities that maintain strong links with their ancestral homeland. Organisations such as MECA Manchester provide not only fellowship but also a platform through which culture can endure across generations.

The MECA Manchester impromptu barbecue and gathering for Maxy Manorh was a simple but powerful example Manyu at its best.

By Isong Asu

London Bureau Chief

10, August 2026

Nyene Mawn in Germany: Manyu Women leading, Manyu girls rising, Manyu communities thriving ⁰

The Manyu Women’s International Association, fondly known as Nyene Mawn, has once again demonstrated what can be achieved when women come together with purpose, vision and an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of their community.

The recently concluded mini summit in Duisburg in the Federal Republic of Germany was more than a gathering of women. It was a celebration of solidarity, leadership, service and the enduring strength of Manyu women. The election of Maureen Tabe as the new President-General has added another important chapter to the association’s remarkable journey.

At a time when societies across the world are increasingly recognizing that the future of any nation depends significantly on how it educates, protects and empowers its girls, Nyene Mawn deserves particular commendation for its contribution to the girl child in Cameroon. By supporting initiatives that encourage girls to dream, learn, develop confidence and become responsible members of society, the association is investing not merely in individuals, but in the future of Cameroon itself.

A girl who is educated is a woman empowered. A woman who is empowered can transform a family, strengthen a community and influence a nation.

This is why the work of Nyene Mawn is so important.

Perhaps even more inspiring is the manner in which the association continues to lead by example. Leadership is not simply about holding positions or making declarations; it is about service, responsibility, integrity and demonstrating the values one wishes to see in others. Through its activities, its commitment to community and its emphasis on the advancement of women and girls, Nyene Mawn is showing younger generations that leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility.

The Duisburg summit also reflected the association’s appreciation of faith, culture and community. Ending the gathering with a Holy Mass celebrated together with the Cameroon Catholic Community in Mülheim was a beautiful reminder that service to humanity is strengthened by fellowship, humility and gratitude to God. It brought a fitting spiritual dimension to a gathering dedicated to unity, renewal and the future.

The election of Maureen Tabe as President-General therefore comes at an important moment. She inherits not merely an office, but a legacy of women who have chosen to make a difference. Her leadership will undoubtedly carry expectations, but it also comes with tremendous opportunities to build upon the achievements of those who came before her.

We of the Cameroon Concord Group congratulate Maureen Tabe most warmly and wish her wisdom, courage, strength and God’s guidance as she takes up the mantle of leadership. May her tenure be marked by unity, inclusiveness, meaningful service and even greater opportunities for women and girls, particularly those in Cameroon.

To Nyene Mawn, we say: keep leading, keep serving and keep inspiring.

Your greatest legacy may not be found only in the programs you organize or the achievements you record, but in the young girls who look at the example you set and begin to believe that they, too, can lead, serve and change their communities.

When women rise together, generations rise with them.

Congratulations, Nyene Mawn. Congratulations, President-General Maureen Tabe. May the journey ahead be fruitful, impactful and blessed.

By Chi Prudence Asong with additional reporting from Soter Agbaw-Ebai

3, August 2026

Biya regime secures $160m to improve disease detection and emergency response ⁰

Cameroon has launched a three-year pandemic preparedness program backed by nearly $160 million, with the government and development partners seeking to strengthen the country’s ability to detect and contain disease outbreaks before they escalate.

The financing package includes a $23.5 million grant from the Pandemic Fund, $112.3 million in co-financing from development partners and $24 million from the Cameroonian government. According to the Ministry of Public Health and the Pandemic Fund, the money will be used to reinforce disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, emergency response systems and health workforce training under the One Health approach.

The program comes as Cameroon faces multiple public health risks linked to population displacement, regional insecurity, natural disasters and increasing human interaction with wildlife, factors that heighten the country’s exposure to epidemics before they are detected and contained.

A major part of the project will focus on improving surveillance. The government plans to strengthen monitoring at key entry points, establish seven regional call centers and digitalize community-based surveillance in more than 40 municipalities.

Antimicrobial resistance monitoring will also be expanded through 42 sentinel sites. The program is intended to improve the exchange of information between public health, veterinary and environmental services, allowing authorities to identify emerging threats more quickly.

These investments are aligned with the global 7-1-7 target, under which a suspected outbreak should be detected within seven days, reported within one day and followed by an effective response within seven additional days.

Laboratory capacity will receive substantial support. Fifty laboratories are expected to improve their quality-control and diagnostic systems, while three national reference laboratories will be upgraded to meet international ISO standards. The project will also strengthen the transport of biological samples and expand genomic surveillance for priority diseases, including cholera, meningitis and hemorrhagic fevers.

Emergency response capacity is another focus. Ten regional Public Health Emergency Operations Centers will be equipped and activated, while integrated rapid response teams will be trained to intervene during epidemics and other health emergencies.

The program will also train epidemiologists, veterinary specialists, community health workers, local government officials and environmental health professionals. It is expected to improve coordination among the institutions involved in outbreak prevention and response, as well as the management of funds and equipment assigned to health security.

According to the Pandemic Fund, successful implementation will result in stronger early warning systems, upgraded laboratory networks, enhanced emergency response capacity and improved collaboration across sectors. The program draws on lessons from Cameroon’s response to COVID-19, cholera, Mpox and other outbreaks while reinforcing the country’s long-term health security framework.

Source: Business in Cameroon

26, July 2026

New Bell: The notorious Cameroonian prison with its own record label ⁰

New Bell – a notorious prison in Douala, Cameroon – is a city within a city.

The facility has its own “taxis” (inmates who whizz through congested courtyards on foot to hand deliver messages), its own law enforcement (burly prisoners who help stretched guards police the facility) and market (a string of stalls where convicts sell and buy goodies, like fried cassava and beignet pastries).

Basically, the occupants of New Bell have adapted the jail’s slack laws to work for them. The clearest example of this spirit is Jail Time Records, an on-site music studio and label making mini stars out of the most talented prisoners.

Empereur, the feared leader of gangs inside and outside of the prison, has amassed 24,000 YouTube views with a music video filmed entirely in prison.

Songs from the inmates have gained fans from as far away as South Africa, the US and Argentina, while earlier this year Jail Time Records put on a huge concert for the prisoners in New Bell’s courtyard.

“It’s this instrument of resistance… where we can really share friendship, love and our voices can be heard,” Steve Happi, the former inmate who co-founded Jail Time Records, tells the BBC’s Talking Movies programme.

“We don’t think anymore about the four walls – we find the freedom.”

The Jail Time Records studio is rudimentary – a small, sweaty recording booth attached to a room inhabited by a solitary computer.

But it is also the site of great catharsis and creativity, as per a recent, acclaimed documentary named after the studio.

Directed by Happi and Italian artist Dione Roach, his Jail Time Records co-founder, it was filmed in New Bell over six years.

Last month it won three prizes, including best documentary feature, at New York’s Tribeca film festival.

In the film, a prisoner named Stone raps into the studio’s microphone: “Heart of stone, it’s war. My senses shatter like broken glass.

“I’m closed and tight like a cell door. No solid ground I slip like a fish.”

Artists Equity Rapper Stone uses a computer. Two men watch him. — Stone (R), a former soldier in the presidential guard, raps and produces music with Jail Time Records

Stone, who used to be a soldier in Cameroon’s presidential guard, was sentenced to 10 years in New Bell for robbery and illegal possession of firearms. He insists he is not guilty.

The film captures him trying – often unsuccessfully – to reach his young daughter Maira on the phone.

“It’s been a long time. She needs to hear my voice from time to time, so she doesn’t forget about her father,” he says in a voice message to a family member, after failing to get through to Maira yet again.

The music video for Heart of Stone is a typical Jail Time Records affair. The production value is high, storytelling is captivating and hordes of fellow inmates get involved as actors and crew.

“The music that comes out of there is amazing,” says Taika Waititi, the New Zealand Oscar-winning director who, with his wife, the singer Rita Ora, served as an executive producer for the Jail Time Records documentary.

“Just in terms of the power of art in relation to redemption and what that can mean to someone who, you know, some of these people are in prison for life. I think having an outlet is an incredibly powerful and humane thing,” he says.

Jail Time Records was founded in 2018, when Roach volunteered for a non-profit organisation running events inside New Bell.

During a dance class for the prisoners, a crew of rappers took over the microphone and began freestyling. Impressed by their performance, she asked the prison authorities for permission to start up a studio.

The powers that be were receptive and so Roach enlisted Happi to run the studio as a producer and sound engineer.

Artists Equity Inmates form a crowd in the courtyard - some of them can be seen standing on a corrugated iron roof. — The inmates attempt to secure an optimal view for the Jail Time Records concert in February

According to Happi, he ended up in New Bell following a family argument over what should be done with his late father’s body.

Amid the dispute, his aunt, a high court judge, allegedly arranged for him to be thrown into jail for killing his father. He was acquitted of the crime two years later, Jail Time Records says.

In 2022, Happi, Roach and the prisoners released an album named Jail Time Vol 1. As is customary for Jail Time Records’ music, half the profit from the album’s sale went to the artists and the rest was reinvested into the label.

The studio’s survival is paramount to many of the artists, especially given New Bell’s bitter environment.

In 2022, Human Rights Watch reported that New Bell was housing 4,700 prisoners within its crumbling walls – four times its capacity.

The prison’s packed population, along with its unsanitary conditions, enabled cholera to spread rapidly during an outbreak four years ago, rights groups have said. At least six inmates died from the disease.

New Bell also has a reputation for violence. In 2008, guards shot 16 inmates dead during an attempted breakout.

Prisoners also attack and intimidate each other – the documentary captures Empereur, who is serving 10 years for multiple crimes, shaking down a bewildered young inmate for a necklace chain and some flip-flops.

Asked if the Jail Time Records project might glorify Empereur, the son of a traditional Douala chief, and other criminals who have committed violent crimes, Roach tells the BBC: “The process we’re doing is a rehabilitation process, basically.

“We enter the prison without any judgment and it’s the only way we can really approach this kind of work.

“Music, as with any creative process, is also a way of self-discovery… coming to terms with things you’ve done and hopefully changing for the better”.

Getty Images for Tribeca Festival Taika Waititi, Dione Roach and Steve Happi pose for a photo in front of a Tribeca Festival step and repeat — Former New Bell prisoner Steve Happi (R) directed the documentary with Dione Roach (C) and Taika Waititi (L) was an executive producer

The prison authorities appear to share this view.

“They were really welcoming of the project. Cameroon is a super musical country… everyone loves music,” Happi says, adding that the head of the prison attended this year’s concert and proceeded to dance with the performers.

With official support, Jail Time Records has been able to flourish, offering opportunities to more prisoners, including those in New Bell’s women’s wing.

Jeje, Jail Time Records first female artist, made her debut in 2022 with brooding Afrobeats song Show Me The Way.

“Nobody show me the way, nobody show me the way, I did it all alone,” sings Jeje, who was jailed after stealing money and running away from an allegedly abusive uncle.

Jail Time Records Jeje, a female prisoner, in a T-shirt standing in a prison yard with a guard tower behind her. — Jeje recorded her Afrobeats song in the yard of New Bell’s women’s wing

As well as working with the women’s wing, Jail Time Records have expanded their project outside New Bell and Cameroon.

Roach and Happi set up a studio 1,000 miles (1,600km) away in 2023, in the central prison of Burkina Faso’s capital city, Ouagadougou.

Jail Time Records hopes it can replicate the success of the original New Bell studio, with its accompanying label, music video production arm and now, award-winning documentary.

The film ends with an “in memoriam” sequence; a tribute to six prisoners who died while the Jail Time Records project has been running.

New Bell may appear to be endlessly bleak, but according to Happi, music provides the inmates with a “lantern for a brighter future”.

“Before that, they had the stubborn mentality: it’s them against the world,” he says.

“They feel now important – they feel like they have a place in the society.”

Culled from the BBC

23, July 2026

Minister Nalova shuts 105 private schools ⁰

Weeks before the start of the 2026-2027 school year, Cameroon has ordered the closure of 105 private schools across seven of the country’s 10 regions for failing to comply with education regulations. While the move is part of a years-long effort to clean up the private education sector, it also highlights the limits of an oversight system that continues to struggle to stop unauthorized schools from operating.

In a statement issued on July 20, the Ministry of Secondary Education said Minister Nalova Lyonga had signed three ministerial orders shutting down the schools for the upcoming academic year. The institutions were found to have violated legal requirements governing their creation, operation, or expansion.

According to official documents, the decisions follow inspections carried out in June by the National Brigade for the Inspection of Private Schools. Most of the violations involved schools operating without official authorization or accreditation, in breach of Cameroon’s 2004 law regulating private education.

The latest closures are far from unusual. Every year, in the weeks leading up to the new school year, the Ministries of Secondary Education and Basic Education publish lists of private schools ordered to close while urging parents to enroll their children only in approved institutions.

The recurring pattern underscores the difficulty of regulating a fast-growing private education sector. Despite repeated inspection campaigns, new schools continue to open before completing the administrative procedures required by law. This year’s closures, including 52 schools in the Littoral region alone, suggest that while enforcement actions punish violations, they have done little to prevent new cases from emerging.

The spread of unauthorized private schools is partly driven by growing pressure on Cameroon’s education system. Population growth, rapid urbanization, and limited capacity in many public schools have increased demand for private education, particularly in urban areas. Some school operators respond by opening before obtaining all required permits, hoping to regularize their status later. Others expand existing schools or open new branches without prior approval.

The timing of inspections also contributes to the problem. They typically take place only weeks before the school year begins, even though many of the schools have already been operating for months or even years. As a result, the closures often function as corrective measures rather than preventive ones.

Although the sanctions target school operators, families bear much of the immediate impact. Parents may learn only days before classes begin that the school where they enrolled their child will not open, forcing them to secure another place after already paying registration or tuition fees. The closures also disrupt students’ education and leave teachers employed by the affected schools without work just before the new academic year starts.

The ministry stressed that operating authorization is more than an administrative formality. It is intended to ensure that schools meet minimum standards for infrastructure, safety, teaching quality, staff qualifications, and curriculum compliance.

As the 2026-2027 school year approaches, the latest wave of closures serves as both a reminder of regulatory requirements and a sign of a deeper challenge: balancing rising demand for education with effective oversight of the private school sector. Until that balance is achieved, school closure lists are likely to remain a recurring feature of back-to-school preparations in Cameroon.

Source: Business in Cameroon

14, July 2026

Buea: UB mourns Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Sakwe Masumbe ⁰

The University of Buea (UB) has been plunged into mourning following the death of Professor Peter Sakwe Masumbe, Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Internal Control and Evaluation, whose passing has left a deep void within the institution and the country’s higher education sector.

The sad news was officially announced by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea, Professor Horace Ngomo Manga, in a memorandum dated July 10, 2026, addressed to members of the university community. In the message, the Vice-Chancellor expressed profound sorrow over the passing of the senior academic administrator, who died on Monday, July 6, 2026.

“It is with profound sadness and deep regret that I announce to the entire University of Buea Community the death of Professor Peter Sakwe Masumbe,” the Vice-Chancellor stated, describing the loss as one that has deeply affected the institution.

Professor Masumbe served as Deputy

Vice-Chancellor in charge of Internal Control and Evaluation, a strategic position he assumed in June 2022. Throughout his tenure, he played a pivotal role in strengthening the university’s internal control mechanisms and evaluation systems, contributing significantly to institutional accountability, quality assurance and effective administrative oversight.

As Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Masumbe was entrusted with ensuring transparency and efficiency in the university’s internal governance structures. His office was instrumental in monitoring institutional performance and supporting the implementation of policies aimed at improving academic and administrative standards within the University of Buea.

Colleagues who worked closely with him remember him as a committed academic, disciplined administrator and a humble leader whose dedication to service earned him the respect of staff, students and stakeholders alike.

In his condolence message, Professor Ngomo Manga called on members of the University of Buea community to keep the late professor and his bereaved family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult period.

He further disclosed that details concerning the funeral programme and institutional arrangements to honour Professor Masumbe’s memory would be communicated in due course. “Members of the UB Community are requested to keep Professor Masumbe and his family in their thoughts and prayers. Details of the funeral programme and any institutional arrangements to honour his memory will be communicated in due course,” the memorandum stated.

The announcement has generated an outpouring of sympathy from members of the university community, alumni and well wishers, many of whom have described the late professor as an accomplished scholar and dedicated servant whose contributions to higher education will not be forgotten.

Professor Masumbe’s death comes at a time when the University of Buea continues to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening institutional governance and improving academic excellence. His experience and commitment to internal control and evaluation were widely regarded as essential to achieving those objectives.

As the university community reflects on his legacy, many have praised his professionalism, integrity and unwavering commitment to the advancement of the institution.

The University of Buea, one of Cameroon’s leading state universities, has extended its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family while assuring that the institution will appropriately honour the life and service of the late Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Peter Sakwe Masumbe leaves behind a legacy of dedicated public service, academic excellence and institutional leadership that will continue to inspire future generations within the University of Buea and beyond.

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace

Source: The Sun Newspaper

13, July 2026

Southern Cameroons Crisis still disrupts healthcare despite decline in attacks ⁰

Violence and disruptions targeting healthcare services declined in Cameroon’s English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions in 2025, but medical workers continue to face kidnappings, assaults, arrests, and extortion that threaten access to care, according to a report published on July 10, 2026, by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC).

The report recorded 22 incidents affecting healthcare services in 2025, down from 30 in 2024 and 25 in 2023. The improvement comes as fighting between separatist groups and government forces approaches its tenth year. Although the overall number of attacks has fallen, insecurity continues to undermine healthcare delivery in the regions most affected by the conflict.

“A total of 22 incidents of violence against or obstruction of healthcare were reported in the Anglophone regions in 2025, compared with 30 in 2024 and 25 in 2023,” the report, Cameroon: Violence Against Health Care in Conflict 2025, states.

Uneven progress across departments

The decline was not evenly distributed across the two regions. According to the SHCC, incidents decreased in parts of Mezam and Momo in the Northwest but rose slightly in Boyo and Bui. In the Southwest, attacks on healthcare services continued in the Fako department.

The report documented at least 16 healthcare workers kidnapped in nine separate incidents in the Northwest during 2025. While the number of victims matched that recorded in 2024, the kidnappings occurred across more incidents. In 2023, five healthcare workers were abducted in six incidents.

“At least 16 healthcare workers were reportedly abducted in nine incidents in the Northwest Region in 2025, compared with 16 in five incidents in 2024 and five in six incidents in 2023,” the SHCC said. Most kidnappings were reported in the Bui and Ngoketunjia departments, whereas Mezam had recorded more cases in 2024. The shift suggests the threat has moved geographically rather than disappeared.

Ransoms of up to CFA10 million

According to the report, separatists and unidentified armed attackers intercepted healthcare workers at illegal checkpoints while they were traveling to remote communities. Others were abducted from health facilities or their homes. Some were reportedly accused of collaborating with opposing forces, while others were released after ransoms ranging from CFA5 million to CFA10 million were paid.

“Some kidnapped healthcare workers were released after ransoms ranging from CFA5 million to CFA10 million were paid to their captors. Others were abducted and accused by their captors of collaborating with opposing forces,” the coalition said.

Healthcare workers were also reportedly assaulted for refusing to treat fighters or to pay levies imposed by armed groups. Ambulances were likewise subjected to extortion during lockdowns declared by separatists.

Healthcare workers also arrested by police

The report documents not only abuses attributed to armed groups but also arrests carried out by Cameroonian security forces. Between May and June 2025, nine healthcare workers were reportedly arrested in six incidents, compared with 19 people in four incidents in 2024 and seven people in four incidents in 2023.

The arrests were reported in Fako in the Southwest and in the Boyo, Momo, and Donga-Mantung departments in the Northwest. Those detained were reportedly suspected of collaborating with separatist groups or providing them with medical treatment. “The Cameroonian police also raided health facilities in Fako department while searching for opposition fighters, disrupting the delivery of healthcare,” the coalition reported.

Fragile improvement

The decline in the total number of incidents is an encouraging sign, but it has not been enough to secure healthcare services in the long term. In the affected areas, kidnappings, ransom demands, accusations of collaboration, and incursions into medical facilities continue to create a climate of fear for healthcare workers. Caught between the demands of separatist groups and the suspicions of security forces, medical staff continue to operate in an environment where maintaining medical neutrality remains difficult. That pressure risks driving more healthcare workers away, limiting travel to isolated communities, and further reducing access to care for civilians.

The decline recorded in 2025 therefore reflects a statistical improvement rather than a return to normal conditions. As long as healthcare facilities, ambulances, and medical personnel remain exposed to violence from all sides of the conflict, the Anglophone crisis will continue to be measured not only by the fighting itself, but also by interrupted medical services and patients left without care.

Source: Sbbc