At least three Cameroonian security personnel have been killed in Bafut, North West Region, following an ambush reportedly carried out by armed separatist fighters.

Details surrounding the attack remain limited, but the incident adds to a growing list of similar assaults targeting security forces in the region in recent weeks, underlining the persistent insecurity in the area.

The latest killings come amid a conflict that has now stretched close to a decade. What began in 2016 as protests by lawyers and teachers in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions has since evolved into an armed separatist insurgency.

Over the years, the violence has taken a heavy toll on both civilians and combatants. According to international monitoring groups and humanitarian organisations, more than 6,500 people have been killed since the crisis began, with the real figure believed to be higher.

Civilian populations have borne a significant share of the impact. Reports indicate that at least 6,000 civilians have lost their lives as a result of abuses committed by both separatist fighters and government forces.

On the military side, while exact figures are difficult to independently verify, estimates suggest that hundreds of Cameroonian soldiers and security personnel have been killed since the escalation of armed confrontations in 2017.

The conflict has also triggered a major humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands displaced and entire communities affected by repeated clashes, raids and retaliatory operations.

Source: Lebledparle.com

A traditional ruler in Cameroon’s conflict-affected North West region has been arrested and is currently being questioned by security forces in Bamenda as he suspected to be aiding the separatist fighters.

Fon Mormah III of Ndzerem Nyam was reportedly taken into custody and initially held at the Gendarmerie Legion before being transferred to the Mendakwe Gendarmerie Brigade, where he remains under interrogation. His phone was also said to have been confiscated.

Although authorities have not issued an official statement, the arrest comes weeks after a deadly military operation in the village on April 26, during which several people were killed. The victims were presented by the army as separatist fighters, an account that has continued to fuel debate locally.

‎Security sources are said to suspect the presence of armed separatist elements in Ndzerem Nyam and are questioning whether local complicity may have facilitated their activities. The Fon is reportedly being investigated on allegations of allowing or maintaining links with fighters operating in the area.

However, a statement released by the Ndzerem Nyam Development Association expressed concern over the monarch’s detention, describing his continued questioning as troubling for the community. The group insisted that the ruler has long been regarded as neutral and committed to maintaining peace.

“Many people who know him can testify to his peaceful, neutral, and responsible character,” the statement noted, adding that his presence in the palace during the crisis should not be interpreted as alignment with any armed group.

‎Complicating matters further, the Fon is also reportedly facing accusations from separatist factions, who allegedly suspect him of cooperating with government forces. This dual suspicion places the traditional leader in a precarious position, caught between opposing sides in a protracted conflict.

Across the North West and South West regions, traditional rulers have increasingly found themselves at the centre of the crisis. Some have been targeted by armed groups, while others have faced pressure or scrutiny from state authorities.

The absence of an official government position on the latest arrest leaves several questions unanswered, including the precise nature of the allegations and the legal steps that may follow.‎

Source: Lebledparle.com

In 2016, Cameroon handed down the highest number of death sentences. Although the death penalty has not been carried out in the country since 1997, nearly 300 death sentences were handed down in 2015 and 2016. Together Against the Death Penalty, Droit et Paix and the Network of Cameroonian Lawyers Against the Death Penalty (RACOPEM) have published a fact-finding mission report highlighting the human tragedy that the death penalty represents. Through the stories of those sentenced to death, as well as their families and lawyers, it highlights their experiences in the criminal justice system and their harsh conditions of detention.

This report is the result of a fact-finding mission carried out in Cameroon between March and October 2025 by the Cameroonian association Droits et Paix, the Network of Cameroonian Lawyers Against the Death Penalty (RACOPEM) and ECPM. The teams of investigators visited 10 prisons, met with 45 people sentenced to death and 6 prison staff members.

The death penalty as a political tool since Independence

This report traces the key stages in the history of the death penalty in Cameroon, showing how, since independence, this punishment has been used as an instrument of political control and legitimisation.

Assessing trends in the use of the death penalty in Cameroon remains difficult due to the authorities’ marked lack of transparency on the issue. This opacity, which seems to reflect a resolve to maintain secrecy around death sentences, severely limits access to reliable data. During the examination of Cameroon’s state report at the 67th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 2023, the authorities nevertheless indicated that as of 31 October 2020, 120 people were sentenced to death, including 80 Cameroonian men, 36 foreign nationals and 4 women. According to monitoring by Droits et Paix and RACOPEM, 105 people are believed to be sentenced to death in Cameroonian prisons by the end of 2025, including at least one woman.

The criminal justice system of Cameroon: a chain of black holes

From the moment of arrest through to the exhaustion of legal remedies, the criminal justice trajectory of those sentenced to death unfolds in a context where investigations are frequently conducted under duress, legal assistance remains largely illusory, challenging the charges is often impossible, and cases remain unaddressed for years. Some die in detention, having waited decades for legal remedies that never materialised.

The report examines in detail the structural failings of Cameroon’s criminal justice system, drawing on a number of testimonies and case studies documenting breaches of the right to a fair trial.

Precarious and unfair detention conditions

“Here, if you have no money, you’re not entitled to anything.” Kelvin, sentenced to death in Buea.

There are no prisons specifically designated for individuals sentenced to death. Although the Cameroonian authorities provide no official data on where such people are held, civil society estimates they are scattered across approximately 50 of the country’s 76 prison facilities. During visits to ten prisons in both French- and English speaking areas, the fact-finding mission was able to confirm the presence of people sentenced to death in eight of them.

In these prisons, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, food shortages and very limited access to healthcare – including psychiatric care – create an environment where suffering becomes a daily experience, marked by depletion, distress and abandonment. The testimonies gathered from people sentenced to death reveal constant fear, persistent physical and mental harm, and a widely shared feeling of having been forgotten by the state.

Culled from ecpm.org

The weekend turned tense for residents of Bamti in Noni Subdivision, Bui Division, after dozens of civilians were forcefully taken by armed separatist fighters.

Local sources indicate that the incident occurred on Saturday morning, May 23, when the fighters rounded up community members accused of refusing to participate in a road work activity they had imposed on the population.

Among those taken were pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, raising concerns over the conditions in which they are being held.

Residents say the abducted individuals have been asked to pay a sum of 15,000 CFA francs each as a condition for their release, a demand that has left many families in distress.

In several parts of the North West region, such actions have become increasingly frequent, with armed groups enforcing their own rules through intimidation, financial demands and compulsory participation in local initiatives.

As of now, there has been no official communication from administrative or security authorities regarding the incident.

Source: Lebledparle.com

Cameroon’s customs authorities have ordered telecom operators MTN Cameroon, Orange Cameroon, and Camtel to block mobile phones and digital devices that were not cleared through customs.

In a letter dated May 18, Customs Director General Fongod Edwin Nuvaga instructed the operators to begin blocking the devices starting May 25, 2026.

The measure applies only to undeclared phones and digital terminals connected to local mobile networks for the first time since April 1, 2026, when the country’s new customs collection system for digital devices took effect. In the letter, the customs administration warned that operators could be held responsible if undeclared devices continue to access local networks.

The instruction comes one month after Finance Minister Louis Paul Motazé warned importers suspected of bypassing the new customs system. In a statement issued April 27, the minister said about 700,000 phones connected to local networks for the first time between April 1 and April 25 without customs clearance.

According to a source within the customs administration, the real number could be even higher.Authorities initially avoided systematic blocking and instead gave importers and users time to regularize their situation without penalties before April 30. Under the new rules, devices introduced illegally after that deadline are now subject to blocking.

The government says the reform is meant to restore control over a segment heavily affected by smuggling and undeclared imports. Authorities also want to increase customs revenue from mobile phones and digital devices, an area where tax collection has collapsed despite rising device imports.

Official figures show customs revenue from phones and digital equipment fell from about CFA2 billion per month in the 2000s to around CFA100 million today, even as the number of devices entering the Cameroonian market continued to increase.

Through the reform, customs authorities now aim to raise at least CFA25 billion in annual revenue from the sector.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Online recruitment is not new in the world but in modern times, it is no longer sure bet. It has been around for some time now, especially following the development of new and innovative technologies but in recent times it has taken a dimension which has become worrisome for many governments in Africa.

These technologies are designed to facilitate things for people around the world, but the forces of darkness are using these technologies for other purposes which are unfortunately unorthodox.

Many young desperate Africans, caught up in the web of unemployment are yet to understand that online recruit has a very dark side which can put an end to their lives if they are not lucky.

Online recruitment is today related to cyber fraud which is a highly organized transnational operation with hubs in countries such as Nigeria, Mali, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

In recent times, young Cameroonians who are desperate for work and better salaries have been looking outwards for greener pastures. In their warp thinking, any pasture out of their country is greener than what they have in Cameroon.

Strangely, things do not always work according to plan. The promise of a better life in some of these West African countries could easily turn into a massive never-ending nightmare.

Some of those unfortunate situations have really occurred to these young Cameroonians. Once, Nigeria and Mali were in the news for online scamming, but today, Côte d’Ivoire is in the spotlight for fake jobs opportunities which are hurting many young Africans.

Many young Africans have had a taste of what awaits those who do not listen to wise counsel. Once they have been convinced that a job has been secured for them, they start doling out huge chunks of money to their future preys who will end up enslaving them.

Once in Abidjan, their passports get seized and they get locked up in parts of the city they don’t know. They get asked to call their family members back home for more money. They also get asked to convince their friends and family members that they are working and that if they come to Abidjan, their lives will change for the better.

In many cases, their greener pastures turn into brown pastures. Some have had to be used as slaves and the experience has been traumatizing for many.

In certain circumstances, Cameroonians who are legally resident in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire have had to step in to help and this could be a costly venture, not just in terms of money. Getting new identification documents for a victim who has escaped from the claws his captors is always a stressful process.

Young Cameroonians have to be careful with some job promises. It is not everything that glitters that is gold. Before jumping into such deals, it is wise to ask the following questions:

If the job is in Abidjan, why are Ivoirians not filling such positions? Do I have the right skills to earn such a huge salary? Can I contact any Cameroonian who is legally living in that country for me to get more information about the opportunity? Why should I be spending money to fill a position I am not so sure about?

These questions can help young Cameroonians to figure out if they are being dragged into something that might cost them their lives. While life could be challenging in Cameroon, it will always be advisable to err on the side of caution.

By our West Africa Correspondent

Cameroon on Wednesday marked the 54th anniversary of its National Day with military and civilian parades held across the country.

In Yaoundé, the country’s capital, President Paul Biya presided over a ceremony that featured hundreds of soldiers and civilians marching in front of national and international dignitaries.

A contingent of the Chadian Armed Forces also participated in the parade, underscoring growing military cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

“These are special Chadian forces dispatched to partake in the celebrations. We have excellent relations with Chad, and our armies collaborate in several fields, especially in the fight against terrorism,” army spokesperson Cyrille Serge Atonfack Guemo told reporters.

Marches also took place in all 10 regions of the country, including the war-torn English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions, where separatist fighters had imposed a lockdown to disrupt the celebrations.

May 20 is a key date in Cameroon’s national calendar. It commemorates the 1972 referendum in which Cameroonians voted to replace the federal system with a unitary state.

Source: Xinhuanet

At least two soldiers have reportedly lost their lives following a late-night attack on a military installation in Muyuka, Fako Division.

‎The incident is said to have occurred on Sunday, when armed assailants targeted the position in what appears to be a coordinated operation. Local sources indicate that the assault resulted in casualties among government forces, although official figures have yet to be confirmed by authorities.

‎Shortly after the attack, a separatist faction identifying itself as the Fako Meme Unity Warriors circulated a video online, claiming responsibility. In the footage, fighters are seen displaying a cache of weapons they allege were taken during the raid, including several firearms and what appeared to be a rocket launcher.

‎The group also issued warnings to residents of Muyuka, urging them not to cooperate with state authorities, further heightening tension in the area.

‎The regime in Yaoundé has not issued a formal response regarding the incident.

Source: Lebledparle.com