At least two Cameroonian soldiers were killed on Thursday in a separatist ambush in the country’s war-torn English-speaking Northwest region, according to security sources.

The soldiers were stationed at a military outpost in the Belo locality when they were attacked, a military official in the region confirmed.

Ambazonia fighters took the Cameroon government army soldiers by surprise and ambushed them around 2 p.m. on Thursday.

Local media have reported an increase in attacks on civilians and security forces in the region in recent weeks. Since Monday, at least four soldiers and five civilians have been killed in shootings in the region, according to local police reports.

Cameroon’s English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions have been gripped by an armed separatist conflict since 2017, with separatist groups seeking to establish an independent state.

Source: Xinhaunet

Cameroon’s National Assembly opened its Second Ordinary Session for the 2026 Legislative Year with a call for stronger oversight of the mining sector, reforms to land governance and preparations for key budget discussions that will shape public spending priorities for 2027.

Opening the session in Yaounde on June 9, Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt. Hon. Theodore Datouo, said Parliament must respond to growing public concerns over the cost of living, youth unemployment, access to basic services and the management of strategic national resources.

The opening session came at a time when lawmakers are preparing for the annual Budget Policy Debate, a process that will help determine government spending priorities for the next financial year. The Rt. Hon. Datouo said the exercise would allow legislators to influence policy choices before budget allocations are finalised.

The Speaker used the occasion to identify mining governance and land tenure as two areas requiring particular attention, arguing that both sectors have direct implications for economic development, investment confidence, public revenue and social stability.

Mining sector under scrutiny

The Rt. Hon. Datouo noted that Cameroon’s mineral wealth represents a significant opportunity for economic transformation, job creation and infrastructure development. However, he said growing public debate surrounding mining revenues and the distribution of benefits has raised important questions for policymakers.

“The sector ministries and government officials must redouble efforts to improve transparency, oversight effectiveness, revenue traceability, and fair redistribution of economic benefits to local population. For its part, Parliament must continue to accomplish its task of legislating and Government oversight,” the Rt. Hon. Datouo said.

He added that discussions surrounding revenues generated from mineral exploitation, as well as mechanisms for collecting and redistributing those revenues, had become increasingly prominent.

“The time has surely come to brainstorm on the reforms needed to enable our country to derive greater benefits from its mining resources, while ensuring that the interests of the communities concerned are more effectively taken into account,” he stated.

The remarks place mining governance at the centre of parliamentary deliberations during a period when resource extraction is increasingly viewed as a potential driver of economic diversification and public revenue generation.

The Speaker also focused on land administration, describing secure land ownership as a key element of legal certainty and economic activity. According to Datouo, recurring land disputes, lengthy administrative procedures and competing ownership claims have contributed to concerns among citizens and investors alike.

“Cameroonians do not expect sterile debates from us. They expect solutions and meaningful reforms. They expect our institutions to work together in the service of the common good,” he said.

He acknowledged efforts already undertaken by public authorities to modernise land governance and called for those initiatives to continue in order to strengthen confidence in property rights and administrative processes.

Budget debate to shape 2027 priorities

Beyond sector-specific concerns, Datouo stressed the importance of the forthcoming Budget Policy Debate. He explained that the debate would focus on identifying national priorities before expenditure figures are established, allowing lawmakers to weigh competing demands against available resources.

“The deliberations we shall hold in this Chamber will help in shaping the State Budget for the year 2027. It is my earnest wish that our deliberations would be conducted in a spirit of responsibility, rigour and constant pursuit of the general interest,” he said.

The Speaker added that the process promotes anticipation, transparency and improved public decision-making while enabling legislators to relay concerns raised by constituents.

Following the session, Social Democratic Front Chairman and Member of Parliament Joshua Osih welcomed the emphasis on evaluating public policies and measuring the impact of government expenditure.

The June session is expected to focus on legislative work, government oversight and budget policy discussions, with mining governance, land reform and public accountability emerging among the key issues likely to shape parliamentary debates in the weeks ahead.

Source: Business in Cameroon

At least four people were shot dead at a bar in Cameroon’s war-torn English-speaking Northwest Region overnight into Wednesday, according to witnesses and security sources.

The shooting occurred in the Noni locality when gunmen, believed to be Ambazonia Restoration Forces, arrived at the bar and opened fire.

“The Amba fighters opened fire, shooting everywhere, and in the process killed two women and two soldiers who were drinking in the bar. We have deployed additional troops to the area to track down these fighters,” a security source in the region said, adding that several others sustained serious injuries.

The Northwest and Southwest regions have been gripped by an armed separatist conflict since 2017, with separatist groups seeking to establish an independent state.

By Fon Lawrence with files fron Xinhuanet

Cameroon has launched a nationwide audit of family benefit payments to public sector employees after a sharp increase in the number of children declared in the government payroll system raised concerns about possible fraud.

The operation, known as AALFA, officially began on June 3, 2026, when the steering committee overseeing the audit held its first meeting in Yaoundé under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze.

The government’s objective is to verify the legitimacy of children registered for family benefits, identify irregularities, and recover any funds paid improperly. The Finance Ministry says the initiative forms part of a broader effort to control public payroll spending.

The review follows a surge in the number of children declared by state employees. According to figures presented by the ministry, the total rose from 594,728 in June 2024 to more than 923,000 in March 2026, an increase of about 55% in less than two years. Officials considered the growth unusual enough to warrant a nationwide audit.

The increase came after family allowances were raised in February 2024 to CFA4,500 per dependent child each month. While the measure was designed to strengthen social support for public employees, it also increased the financial importance of maintaining accurate records.

According to Motaze, the audit is not intended to challenge the rights of public employees who legitimately qualify for family benefits. Instead, he said, the goal is to remove fraudulently declared children from the payroll system and recover improperly paid benefits.

The review will focus on the authenticity of birth certificates, the validity of supporting documents, and the consistency of information submitted by beneficiaries. Authorities hope to identify duplicate records, irregular declarations, and cases where children were registered without reliable documentation.

The initiative follows a series of government efforts to clean up public payroll records. The physical headcount of public employees conducted in 2018 is cited by the Finance Ministry as one of the measures that generated significant annual savings. Additional audits have also targeted pension payments, beneficiaries, and other categories of public spending.

With AALFA, the government is turning its attention to family-related payroll expenses. Although less visible than salaries or pensions, these benefits can place a substantial burden on public finances when beneficiary records are not regularly verified.

The committee responsible for the operation was established in July 2024 and includes representatives from agencies overseeing public finances, the civil service, defense, national security, territorial administration, and civil registration. The multi-agency structure is intended to allow cross-checking of databases, strengthen oversight, and reduce opportunities for document fraud.

The audit will run for 24 months and begin with the collection and verification of birth certificates for children declared by active public employees. Participating agencies are expected to work closely together to ensure reliable results and prevent similar irregularities from recurring.

Beyond its technical aspects, the operation highlights a broader challenge for the government: balancing fiscal discipline with social protection. Authorities say the objective is to reduce losses linked to fraud without depriving eligible beneficiaries of their rights.

As pressure on public finances continues, the credibility of the audit will depend not only on the quality of the checks but also on the transparency of the process. The government will need to show that the initiative leads to lasting improvements in payroll management rather than a one-time review.

Source; Business in Cameroon

President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, has departed the country for a brief private stay in Europe, according to an official communiqué issued by the Presidency of the Republic.

The Head of State left Yaoundé on Sunday, June 7, accompanied by First Lady Chantal Biya. The presidential couple departed from the Nsimalen International Airport aboard a special flight. Authorities did not specify the destination or duration of the visit, stating only that it would be a “brief private stay” in Europe.

According to the communiqué, the President is accompanied by the Minister and Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo; the Special Adviser at the Presidency, Joseph Fouda; and the Chief of State Protocol, Simon Pierre Bikele.

The trip marks President Biya’s first visit to Europe in more than eight months. His previous stay on the continent ended on October 1, 2025, when he returned to Cameroon shortly before the presidential election of October 12, 2025.

At the time, his return ended weeks of speculation over his prolonged absence from the country and enabled him to personally lead his re-election campaign. He subsequently cast his vote in Yaoundé and was declared the winner of the presidential election by the Constitutional Council on October 27, 2025, securing an eighth consecutive mandate with 53.66 per cent of the vote.

Since returning from Europe in October 2025, the 92-year-old President has maintained a busy schedule of official engagements. He presided over celebrations marking the National Day on May 20, received several foreign dignitaries, and took part in events linked to the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Cameroon.

The private visit to Europe comes after several months of sustained state activity and may provide the Head of State with an opportunity to rest and recuperate as he continues his current seven-year mandate, which has more than six years remaining.

Government Reshuffle Still Awaited

The President’s departure also comes at a time when expectations remain high regarding the formation of a new government. During his end-of-year address, President Biya announced plans for significant changes within the executive branch.

Since then, the government successfully enacted constitutional reforms in April 2026 that reinstated the position of Vice President, a major institutional change that many expected would be followed by fresh appointments.

However, no appointments have yet been announced, and Cameroon continues to await a cabinet reshuffle. The country’s last major government reorganisation dates back to January 4, 2019. The prolonged wait has fueled speculation among political analysts and the public alike over the timing and scope of the anticipated changes.

As with previous private visits abroad, the President’s trip is likely to spur discussion regarding his health. Over the years, periods spent in Europe have often generated speculation on the physical condition of the veteran leader.

However, neither the Presidency nor official government sources have indicated any health concerns related to the current visit. In recent months, President Biya has continued to appear at major state functions and official ceremonies, including National Day celebrations and diplomatic engagements.

While questions surrounding the health of Africa’s oldest serving elected head of state frequently surface in public debate, no official statement accompanying the trip mentioned medical reasons for the visit.

For now, Cameroonians await further communication from the Presidency regarding the duration of the stay and the eventual return of the Head of State, whose absence coincides with growing anticipation over the future composition of the government and implementation of recent constitutional reforms.

Source: Panafricanvisions