The Ziaur Rahman International Research Centre (ZRIRC) has announced the appointment of Sona Ngoh to its Board as a member of its international advisory panel, recognising his extensive professional experience and longstanding commitment to public service. He was elected from a pool of more than 100 nominees with another African MP and lawyer from Zambia, Mr Jeffery Mulebwa. Another Cameroonian, the economist, academic and former banker, Dr Rexon Nting, sits on the board as a member of the editorial committee.

Sona Ngoh is a distinguished chartered accountant with more than two decades of experience in auditing, taxation, and corporate finance. Throughout his career, he has consistently championed fiscal discipline, accountability, and transparency across both private and public sector roles. His strong command of financial systems has enabled him to contribute to sound economic management and responsible governance.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr Ngoh serves as Vice President of the Committee for Finance, Infrastructure, Planning, and Economic Development at the South West Regional Assembly in Cameroon.

In this capacity, he has supported policies aimed at strengthening institutional accountability, encouraging sustainable development, and promoting economic growth for the benefit of local communities.

Mr Ngoh, as discussed by the board Chairman, Dr Mushfiqur Rahman, also brings valuable insight into governance, democracy, and human rights, developed through both research and practical engagement.

His interest in transparent institutions and inclusive development aligns closely with the centre’s mission to promote research, dialogue, and good governance.

His appointment to the Board is expected to enhance the centre’s strategic direction and strengthen its commitment to promote accountability, research excellence, and international collaboration.

He is likewise anticipated to leverage his role to deepen partnerships and commercial ties between Cameroon and Bangladesh. This will require him to frequently lead trade delegations to Bangladesh, as well as facilitate visits by Bangladeshi investors and business leaders to Cameroon and the broader sub-region that are keen to explore investment opportunities there.

He is expected in London soon for a meeting at the House of Commons with other board members.

The Ziaur Rahman International Research Centre was established as a Think Tank in London by scholars, former and current government officials, business figures, and supporters of Bangladesh who sought to honour the outstanding leadership of Ziaur Rahman, the former President and military leader of Bangladesh and founder of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. His son, Tarique Rahman, won the elections this February 2026 and now serves as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Following Ziaur Rahman’s assassination, his wife, Khaleda Zia, served as Prime Minister for many years.

By our London Correspondent

The security situation in the North-West and South-West regions remained tense in December. This period has been marked by frequent and intense violent clashes between non-state armed groups (NSAGs) and state security forces (SSF), leaving the security and humanitarian situation very fragile and volatile. Drawing towards the end of the year, multiplicity of illegal check points led to a high rate of extortion from the civilian population by NSAGs in the name of “Liberation tax” across most of the divisions in the two regions. Also, there has been an increase in arbitrary arrest, kidnapping for ransom, including some government current and former officials.

Over 14 incidents involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting government officials and military convoys were recorded in the North-West and South-West regions. One of these incidents involved IED targeting the convoy of the Donga Mantung Senior Divisional Officer, while another IED detonated beside a military base in Bamenda 1 subdivision targeting a senior SSF official in the North-West region. Another IED detonated against a SSF vehicle travelling along the Mundemba- Bulu road (Mundemba subdivision) in the South-West region. The use of IEDs in public places and on busy highways largely increases fear and poses high risk to civilian populations.

Continuous violence resulted in multiple population displacements with over 2,072 people from 400 households reportedly displaced to nearby bushes, villages, and towns from Donga-Mantung, Bui, and Mezam divisions, in the North-West and Manyu division in the South-West region with Bui, Manyu and Donga Mantung divisions being the most affected respectively. The displacements expose the affected communities to major protection risks among others, as they move to and from their homes seeking safety and protection, placing additional burdens on communities that are already very fragile.

Access was constrained due to insecurity and multiple informal check points with strict verification of “liberation tax” receipts, as well as imposition of large sums on road users including pedestrians. These restricted movements narrowed the humanitarian space and negatively affected response activities. With coordination support from OCHA, humanitarian partners mobilized to carry out needs assessment in preparation for a potential response to the affected population.

Source: reliefweb

Ten years after it began, the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon is worsening and continues to be one of the most under-reported conflicts in the world.

The conflict, which has been ravaging the North-West and South-West regions, started in late 2016 and has grown into the worst crisis in the Central African country post-independence.

Pitting militants agitating for the autonomy of the English-speaking regions citing marginalisation by the French-speaking-dominated government, it has exposed civilians to human rights abuses.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reports how the security situation remains tense, marked by frequent and intense violent clashes between non-state armed groups (NSAGs) and state security forces (SSF), leaving the security and humanitarian situation very fragile and volatile.

The UNOCHA notes that drawing towards the end of the year, multiplicity of illegal checkpoints led to a high rate of extortion from the civilian population by NSAGs in the name of “Liberation tax” across most of the divisions in the two volatile regions.

“Also, there has been an increase in arbitrary arrest, kidnapping for ransom, including some current and former officials,” said a spokesperson.

In December, according to the UN agency’s statistics, at least 14 incidents involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were reported in the North-West and South-West.

More than 2 000 people were reportedly displaced from 400 homes.

Humanitarian agencies decry how the displacements expose the affected communities to major protection risks among others, as they move to and from their homes seeking safety and protection, placing additional burdens on communities that are already very fragile.

Access during December was constrained due to insecurity and multiple informal check points with strict verification of “liberation tax” receipts, as well as imposition of large sums on road users including pedestrians.

“These restricted movements narrowed the humanitarian space and negatively affected response activities,” UNOCHA stated.

The crisis began as peaceful strikes and protests by English-speaking lawyers and teachers against the alleged “Francophonisation” of the legal and educational systems in Anglophone regions.

This situation escalated into an armed conflict between the military and separatist groups following a violent government crackdown in late 2016 and early 2017.

Separatists declared the symbolic independence of “Ambazonia.”

Independent since 1961 and previously a German colony, Cameroon was colonised by both Britain and France following the defeat of Germany in World War I.

Eight of Cameroon’s ten regions are predominantly Francophone.

Around 80 percent of the country of 30 million people is French-speaking.

Source: CAJ News

The United Nations said Friday it was “appalled” by the death in custody of Cameroonian opposition figure Anicet Ekane, who had been arrested in late October.

The left-wing nationalist politician, who died on Monday, was arrested in Douala on October 24, on the eve of the publication of presidential election results that returned 92-year-old Paul Biya to power for an eighth mandate.

The exact circumstances of Ekane’s death in detention in Yaounde remain unclear. He was 74 and led the African Movement for the New Independence of Cameroon (Manidem) party for several years.

“We’re appalled by the death in detention of opposition leader Anicet Ekane and concerned for the wellbeing of protesters detained following the presidential election,” the UN human rights office said on X.

“The authorities must ensure the investigation they have announced is thorough and impartial and results in full accountability.

“All protesters arbitrarily arrested must be immediately and unconditionally released,” it added.

Ekane was close to fellow opposition figure Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who contested Biya’s 43-year grip on power in the October 12 election.

Along with other political leaders, Ekane was arrested for publicly supporting Bakary’s self-proclaimed presidential victory ahead of the publication of official results.

Ekane, whose death triggered a groundswell of reactions on social media, ran as Manidem’s presidential candidate in 2004 and 2011.

Source: Mwanzotv

Starting April 1, 2026, the Cameroonian government will allow third-degree traditional chiefs to issue provisional land certificates for portions of national land.

In a circular dated February 20, Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure Henri Eyebe Ayissi introduced two documents intended to establish “initial proof of the occupation or exploitation of a parcel of national land by the applicant.”

The two documents are the Certificate of Recognition of Customary Land Rights (ARDFC) and the Certificate of Peaceful Enjoyment of Land (AJPTER). According to the circular, the ARDFC and AJPTER are “intermediate documents in the process of obtaining a land title, which is the official certification of real estate ownership.” Their introduction is described as part of an effort to align national practices with international standards in land governance.

The ARDFC is intended to promote land rights of customary communities, family groups and their members. The AJPTER seeks to strengthen protection of land occupation and use rights for individuals actively exploiting the land.

Issuance Assigned to Third-Degree Chiefs

The ministry specifies that these certificates will be issued by third-degree traditional chiefs within national land located in their areas of jurisdiction. One objective is to strengthen the role of traditional authorities in preventing and resolving land disputes involving national land.

The measure also aims to provide customary communities, family groups and land occupants with provisional instruments recognized by traditional authorities, confirming customary possession or peaceful enjoyment pending, where applicable, completion of the formal land title process.

Eligibility Conditions

Customary communities, family groups or their members, as well as holders of customary land rights, are the only parties authorized to request an ARDFC for national land they occupy or exploit.

The AJPTER may be requested by Cameroonian nationals who have demonstrably developed the land and who reside within a customary community, family group or village. It requires at least five years of proven development and peaceful occupation or use.

The minister stresses that these certificates apply only to occupied or exploited land classified as first-category national land. Vacant land, land free of occupation, or land that has not been developed is excluded.

Through these new instruments, the government says it intends to safeguard the vital space of customary communities by initiating a land security process while preventing disputes. The measures are also designed to strengthen recognition and protection of customary land rights for occupants, users and land developers.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Conflict perpetrated by separatists and Islamist insurgents is triggering an economic crisis in Cameroon.

This is most severe in the Northwest and Southwest regions, where militants are agitating for self-rule, and the Northern region, where Islamists have for years carried out terror attacks.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) reports that persistent conflict and insecurity continue to disrupt livelihoods and restrict household food availability and access.

Staple grain and bean prices are currently 10 percent to 25 percent higher than last year and 20 percent to 50 percent above the five-year average.

Staple food prices across much of the country remain elevated, trending moderately to significantly above the five-year average, driven by reduced supplies from conflict affected areas, high transport and fuel costs, and elevated shipping expenses for imported foods.

FEWS NET reports that in January, the average price of imported rice was C₣650 (US$1,17) /kilogram in Yaoundé and Douala, representing an 18percent to 20 percent increase compared to the five-year average.

Prices are projected to seasonally increase further during the March-May lean season.

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) data indicates that attacks by Islamist militants against rural communities remained elevated throughout 2025 and have continued into 2026.

The prolonged insurgency continues to severely undermine agricultural and livestock production, which is the primary livelihoods for poor households, further constraining food availability and income-earning opportunities.

Food security outcomes in conflict-affected divisions of the Far North are projected to deteriorate between February and May 2026.

“This decline will be driven by the early depletion of already-limited household food stocks, low household incomes constraining the purchase of staple foods, persistent insecurity, ongoing displacement and weakened coping capacities,” FEWS NET stated.

The agency noted that despite forecasted favorable rainfall, ongoing conflict, escalating violence against civilians and widespread insecurity continued to limit field access in several parts of the Northwest and Southwest regions, limiting cultivation and undermining overall production prospects.

In these regions, separatists are agitating for self-rule, alleging marginalization of English-speaking communities by the government, dominated by French speakers.

The 2025 re-election of President Paul Biya, for an eighth term in a poll critics say was rigged, has worsened matters in the Central African country of over 30 million people.

Source:  CAJ News