Cameroon

29, March 2026

Bamenda Airport passes test flight ahead of Papal Visit ⁰

Authorities in Cameroon’s North West Region have confirmed the successful completion of a critical test flight at Bamenda Airport, as preparations intensify for the upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV.

The test flight, conducted on Wednesday, marks a significant step in restoring the airport’s operational capacity after years of limited use. The facility had largely been reserved for military operations amid the ongoing Anglophone Crisis, which has affected civilian aviation activities in the region.

Leading the inspection exercise was the Governor of the North West Region, Adolphe Lele L’Afrique, accompanied by the President of the North West Regional Executive Council, Professor Fru Angwafo III, alongside senior administrative and security officials.

The mission aimed to assess the airport’s readiness to handle the Papal aircraft and ensure that all systems meet the required operational standards ahead of the high-profile visit scheduled for next month.

The test flight was completed without incident, confirming the functionality of key infrastructure. These include the runway, navigation and communication systems, as well as ground handling operations necessary for safe aircraft movement and passenger reception.

Security arrangements were also a major focus of the exercise. Authorities reviewed coordination mechanisms between civil aviation services and security forces, expressing satisfaction with the level of preparedness observed on the ground.

In parallel with aviation readiness, rehabilitation works have intensified on the main road leading to the airport. The access route, considered vital for the smooth movement of the Papal convoy and accompanying delegations, is currently undergoing upgrades to improve safety and traffic flow.

The planned visit of Pope Leo XIV is expected to be a landmark event for the region, drawing thousands of faithful and dignitaries. Bamenda has been selected as one of three cities on the Pope’s itinerary during his apostolic journey to Cameroon.

The test flight was led by the Governor of the North West Region, Adolphe Lele L’Afrique, alongside the President of the North West Regional Executive Council, Professor Fru Angwafo III

Beyond its immediate purpose, the rehabilitation of Bamenda Airport could have lasting benefits, potentially paving the way for the resumption of regular civilian flights and boosting connectivity to the region.

Authorities have added that efforts will remain focused on ensuring that all logistical, security, and infrastructural requirements are fully met. The successful test flight is widely seen as a strong indication that Bamenda is ready to host the historic visit, with officials expressing confidence that the city will deliver a smooth and memorable visit for the Holy Father.

Source: Pan African Visions

28, March 2026

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

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

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

A Push Against Structural Constraints

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

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

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

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

Echoes of 2009

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

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

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

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

Source: Business in Cameroon

27, March 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Business in Cameroon

27, March 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Xinhuanet

25, March 2026

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

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

A mediation push led by Afriland First Bank

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

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

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

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

A draft agreement that stalled

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

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

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

The legal barrier

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

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

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

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

Why CDEC considers mediation ineffective

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

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

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

A red line: full recovery of the debt

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

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

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

Criminal liability raised

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

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

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

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

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

BGFIBank and Orange Money targeted as third-party holders

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

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

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

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

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

Beyond the standoff

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

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

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

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

Source: Business in Cameroon

25, March 2026

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

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

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

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

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

Source: First Post

25, March 2026

Saudi Arabia signs $75m development deal with Cameroon ⁰

The Saudi Fund for Development’s CEO Sultan Al-Marshad has signed a development agreement in Cameroon with the country’s Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development Alamine Ousmane Mey.

The agreement will finance the restoration of the Sorawel–Dourbey Road Project with a concessional loan of $75 million. It was signed in the presence of the Saudi Ambassador to Cameroon Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi, the Saudi fund said in a post on X on Tuesday.

The post added: “The project aims to reduce isolation and strengthen domestic and cross-border connectivity by upgrading road infrastructure and facilitating trade between Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria.”

It includes the construction of a dual carriageway extending over 77 km to enhance road safety and transport efficiency.

Source: Arab News

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

18, March 2026

Yaoundé: Customs launches mobile device duty system to recover lost revenue ⁰

Cameroon’s Directorate General of Customs (DGC) has activated a new electronic mechanism for collecting import duties on mobile phones, tablets and other mobile devices, effective 16 March 2026, after customs revenue from these goods collapsed from 12 billion CFA francs to about 100 million CFA francs over a relatively short period.

The system was launched during a briefing in Yaoundé presided over by Director General Fongod Edwin Nuvaga, bringing together major importers of mobile devices to present the new collection architecture ahead of its go-live date.

According to Customs, the reform is based on Article 7 of the 2019 Finance Law, which established an electronic mechanism for collecting duties on imported mobile terminals. A first implementation attempt in 2020 met with resistance and was shelved, before the mechanism was reintroduced following a successful test phase.

Importers liable, mobile money payments

Under the new framework, the legal taxpayer is the importer, not the consumer. Payments will be made via Mobile Money, Orange Money and other secure digital payment platforms, replacing the previous system based on communication credit.

Mobile operators will no longer collect and remit customs duties. Their role is now limited to blocking and unblocking devices within the new system.

Paul Olivier Libii, senior inspector at the DGC’s Division of Legislation and Disputes, detailed the system’s technical architecture, which connects three platforms: Camcis, the customs management system; a partner platform dedicated to device information management; and mobile operators’ operating systems.

“From the moment of importation, upload to the manifest all IMEI numbers of the devices you are importing; the manifest is then transferred electronically to Camcis. Once in the country, you validate a customs declaration, which will be automatically retrieved by the platform, which then analyses the IMEI numbers you uploaded,” Libii said.

Amnesty for active devices, regularisation for stock

Devices that had connected at least once to the networks of MTN, CAMTEL or Orange before 16 March 2026 are exempt from the new mechanism and benefit from fiscal amnesty.

However, devices in stock that had not connected to any network by that date must be regularised with the nearest customs office. Importers have two months to submit IMEI files for these devices, along with documents confirming regular customs clearance.

The framework for handling pending cases was outlined by Marcelin Djeuwo, Head of the DGC’s IT Division, during the briefing.

Libii described the system as a tool to enhance transparency, ensure fiscal compliance, reduce risks related to money laundering and terrorist financing, and protect the economy against fraud and contraband. The reform is also expected to modernise customs administration and sanitise the mobile device market.

Eight categories of mobile phones have been identified under the new framework, with the DGC indicating it remains open to additional proposals. Major importers present at the briefing expressed support for the reform, while Customs noted that the system’s success will depend on the buy-in of all stakeholders and targeted actors.

Source: Business in Cameroon