News

16, July 2026

Iran strikes US targets with missiles, drones amid warning of expanding retaliation ⁰

Iran’s Armed Forces have announced new rounds of retaliatory operations against US military targets in the region featuring missile and drone strikes against facilities in Kuwait and Jordan following overnight US attacks on the Iranian coastline and southern cities.

The operations, which were carried out on Wednesday, were accompanied by a warning from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) that, for now, Iran’s reprisal remains focused on US offensive infrastructure in the region, but additional phases will follow.

‘Crushing blow’

Announcing its latest reprisal, the IRGC said that, during the eighth wave of its retaliatory Operation Nasr- (Victory) 2, its Navy and Aerospace Force carried out a combined missile-and-drone operation in response to “the enemy’s attacks last night on locations along the country’s southern coastline and in southern cities.”

According to the Corps, the operation targeted the early-warning radar of the C-RAM system at Kuwait’s Ali al-Salem Airbase as well as “a gathering point of the criminal soldiers of the terrorist US army.”

The reprisal, the announcement asserted, dealt US forces “a crushing blow.”

Addressing the Kuwaiti people, the IRGC reminded that the United States was using the Arab nation’s territory to carry out unprovoked acts of aggression against Iran, urging the nation to “rid your country of the presence of these aggressors and, by fulfilling your Islamic duty, preserve your historical honor and dignity.”

Separately, the Army of the Islamic Republic said it had launched a drone strike against US military facilities in Jordan during the ninth phase of its retaliatory Operation Saeqeh (Lightning).

According to the Army’s statement, loitering munitions targeted the fixed radar site, communications systems, and fuel depots of the US military at al-Azraq Airbase in Jordan. The statement described al-Azraq as a deployment site for missile defense systems and “one of the most important strategic and command centers for US forces operating in the West Asia region.”

The Army said the strike was carried out in retaliation for enemy attacks on parts of Iran, including the Bampur Army garrison in Iranshahr in the south, which led to the martyrdom of seven non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Army’s Ground Force.

It condemned the enemy’s “barbaric attacks” on military barracks in Iranshahr, saying such actions reflected the enemy’s “inhuman nature.” Stressing that the attacks “will never be erased from the pages of history,” the statement added that Army personnel “will not retreat in the slightest from the honorable duty of defending the Iranian nation and the Islamic homeland or avenging the blood of the beloved martyrs.”

IRGC warns of further retaliatory phases

Meanwhile, commenting on the latest developments, IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi said the enemy should not expect to prolong the confrontation by turning it into a war of attrition.

“The enemy should not assume that it can sustain the current dynamics of the battlefield and turn the war into a war of attrition,” he wrote in a post on X.

“Iran’s operations are currently focused on destroying the US’s offensive infrastructure in the region. The next phases will then begin,” he added.

IRGC hunts down invading hostile drones

Separately, the IRGC announced that its air defense units had intercepted and shot down a US LUCAS unmanned aerial vehicle over the skies of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. According to the Corps, the drone was detected by the country’s integrated air defense network before being struck by a surface-to-air missile system.

In another statement, the IRGC also said one enemy MQ-9 drone was also intercepted and destroyed over the southern Iranian city of Andimeshk by an advanced air defense system of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force.

The United States has perpetrated numerous violations against Iranian territory since April 7, when US President Donald Trump announced a unilateral ceasefire in the latest bout of wholesale American-Israeli aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.

The violations continued even after Washington and Tehran signed a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding last month, whose first clause clearly mandates cessation of aggression on all fronts.

The US has also been trying to help vessels evade the maritime route designated by the Islamic Republic for safe and legal passage through the Strait of Hormuz, by seeking to escort trespassing vessels through an illegal passageway.

Iran’s Armed Forces have staged uncompromising retaliation in the face of each instance of violation, including those in support of illegal vessel movement in the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: Presstv

15, July 2026

Martinez Zogo Murder Trial: Colonel Otoulou’s testimony directly implicates Amougou Belinga and Eko Eko ⁰

The trial over the murder of Cameroonian journalist Martinez Zogo reached a pivotal stage on July 14, 2026, as Colonel Jean-Pierre Otoulou, who led the initial investigation, delivered testimony that directly implicated businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, former external intelligence chief Léopold Maxime Eko Eko, and former operations director Lieutenant Colonel Justin Danwe.

Appearing before the Yaoundé Military Court one day after cybercrime expert Jean-Pierre Ouloumou concluded his testimony, Otoulou detailed the early stages of the investigation and recounted statements he said pointed to the involvement of the three defendants.

Now commander of the Littoral Gendarmerie Legion, Otoulou headed the Centre Gendarmerie Legion when Martinez Zogo was abducted and killed in January 2023. He oversaw the initial investigation before a joint police-gendarmerie commission later took over the case on the instructions of President Paul Biya.

The colonel told the court his team had completed “about 80%” of the investigation before the commission assumed responsibility. Over nearly seven hours of questioning by prosecutors, he described how investigators identified their first suspects.

Danwe initially points to Eko Eko

According to Otoulou, the investigation began in earnest on January 20, 2023, after the prosecutor in Mfou informed him that a body had been discovered in Ebogo. The first leads reportedly placed Justin Danwe, then director of operations at the Directorate General for External Research (DGRE), at the center of the investigation.

Otoulou testified that during questioning, Danwe initially claimed he had acted on instructions from Eko Eko while insisting he did not know Amougou Belinga. After learning of those statements, Otoulou said he contacted Eko Eko, who allegedly replied: “Do not bother me. Ask Amougou Belinga and Danwe what they did.”

According to the witness, Eko Eko later sent him an audio recording of a conversation between Amougou Belinga and co-defendant Bidzongo. In the recording, the businessman allegedly described Danwe as “his person” within the DGRE. Otoulou further testified that the same recording contained another statement in which Amougou Belinga allegedly said, “Even Eko Eko is my person.”

Additional evidence cited

The colonel also pointed to other elements that, in his view, reinforced investigators’ suspicions. He said Eko Eko’s phones stopped transmitting signals on the day Martinez Zogo’s body was discovered.

He also testified that the DGRE headquarters and Danwe’s office were covered by surveillance cameras, with monitoring screens located in the director general’s office. Based on those elements, Otoulou said he concluded Danwe “was not lying” when he implicated his superior.

These assertions, however, remain allegations presented by a prosecution witness. Their evidentiary value will ultimately be assessed by the court in light of cross-examination and the full body of evidence.

Amougou Belinga acknowledges relationship with Danwe

Otoulou told the court he initially had no direct evidence against Amougou Belinga. “I had nothing on Amougou Belinga. It was Eko Eko’s statement that led me to him,” he testified.

The colonel said subsequent witness statements strengthened that line of inquiry. He testified that Bruno Bidjang told investigators Amougou Belinga had contacts within the justice system who could have Martinez Zogo jailed. According to Otoulou, when questioned, Amougou Belinga downplayed his conflict with the journalist, allegedly saying, “Martinez meant nothing to me.”

Asked about his relationship with Danwe, the businessman allegedly acknowledged both a personal and professional connection, describing him as a friend who regularly provided information that helped him win contracts abroad.

Confrontation changes Danwe’s account

Otoulou testified that he later organized a face-to-face meeting between Amougou Belinga and Danwe.

According to the witness, Danwe immediately revised his earlier statement, saying he did, in fact, know the businessman.

The colonel said Danwe then told investigators he had approached Amougou Belinga for help obtaining an advance on his salary through Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze, whom he described as one of the businessman’s associates.

It was during that meeting, Otoulou testified, that Amougou Belinga allegedly asked Danwe to “silence” Martinez Zogo.

According to the testimony, Danwe later met the businessman again at the Ekang building to begin planning the operation. Otoulou further testified that Danwe said he received payments of roughly CFA500,000 after each meeting. During a second meeting, Danwe allegedly told Amougou Belinga, “We are going to launch the operation.”

According to the witness, Danwe later informed the businessman that the mission had been carried out. Amougou Belinga allegedly responded, “I am waiting to see the result.” When Danwe later reported that Martinez Zogo’s body had been found, Amougou Belinga allegedly said, “He deserved his punishment.”

Otoulou testified that this final meeting was the only occasion on which Danwe left without receiving money.

Disappearance of an iPhone

The colonel also addressed the disappearance of an iPhone belonging to Amougou Belinga. He testified that the phone was allegedly hidden by one of the businessman’s wives, Melissa Amougou, before being handed to a domestic worker.

According to Otoulou, the housekeeper later told investigators that Melissa Amougou returned to retrieve the device. The testimony echoed earlier statements by cybercrime expert Jean-Pierre Ouloumou, who previously told the court that one of Amougou Belinga’s phones had never been recovered.

Testimony still subject to challenge

At this stage of the proceedings, Otoulou has only been questioned by prosecutors. His testimony, which strongly supports the prosecution’s case, will still be tested through cross-examination by defense lawyers and questioning from lawyers representing the civil parties.

That next phase will allow the defense to challenge the chronology presented by the witness, the accuracy of the statements he attributed to the defendants, and the conclusions he drew during the investigation.

For now, Otoulou’s testimony does not amount to a finding of guilt. It does, however, place the alleged relationships between Amougou Belinga, Danwe, and Eko Eko back at the center of the trial while providing prosecutors with a detailed account of what they allege was the planning of the operation that led to Martinez Zogo’s murder.

Source: Sbbc

15, July 2026

Douala port resumes operations after vessel collision ⁰

Cameroon’s main port of Douala has resumed operations, its transport minister said on Tuesday, after a collision between two cargo vessels at the weekend temporarily obstructed ‌the navigation channel.

The accident occurred early on Sunday near buoy No. 20 in the Douala-Bonaberi port channel when the outgoing Tuvalu-registered cargo vessel MV Sea Honor collided with the inbound Cyprus-flagged MV Black Rhino.

No fatalities were reported, but both vessels sustained significant damage and the ⁠collision temporarily blocked access to the channel, disrupting maritime traffic at one of Central Africa’s busiest ports. The impact of the disruption was not disclosed.

The Port of Douala-Bonaberi handles the majority of Cameroon’s seaborne trade and serves as a crucial transit corridor for imports and exports destined for Chad and the Central African Republic.

The Port Authority of Douala said a technical investigation has been launched to establish the exact circumstances of the accident. ‌However, ⁠it noted that initial findings suggested that a loss of steering control on board MV Black Rhino may have been the cause of the collision.

“MV Sea Honor was cleared from the channel and towed to the anchorage area, while ⁠MV Black Rhino was deliberately run aground along the line of red buoys to ensure the safety of navigation and facilitate clearance operations,” Minister Jean Ernest Massena ⁠Ngalle Bibehe said in a statement.

The 15 crew members aboard MV Black Rhino were evacuated safely and received assistance in line with national maritime ⁠rescue procedures, the transport ministry said.

The ministry said the channel had since been fully cleared and maritime traffic had returned to normal under standard safety conditions.

Source: Reuters

15, July 2026

Far North region: 1 civilian killed, 4 soldiers injured in Boko Haram attack ⁰

One woman was killed and four Cameroonian soldiers were injured in a recent Boko Haram attack on an army outpost in Cameroon’s Far North region, security and local sources said Tuesday.

The attack occurred at Tourou village in the Mokolo subdivision of the Mayo-Tsanaga department on Monday night.

An infant was also shot and seriously injured during the raid, a security source said.

The attackers reportedly seized military equipment before withdrawing. The wounded soldiers and the infant were rushed to a regional hospital for treatment.

The attack came just hours after government troops repelled another Boko Haram assault in the same area, killing two militants and injuring several others.

The Boko Haram terror group has been carrying out attacks in Cameroon’s Far North region since 2014, inflicting heavy human and material losses across the region.

Source: Xinhaunet

14, July 2026

European Union backs International Criminal Court ⁰

The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), rejecting a renewed campaign by the administration of US President Donald Trump to undermine the Hague-based tribunal.

Speaking on Tuesday, European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said the bloc’s position on the ICC remained unchanged, stressing the EU’s commitment to the fight against impunity.

“We stand firm in our support for the International Criminal Court,” El Anouni said, highlighting the court’s role in prosecuting perpetrators of some of the world’s gravest crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

He said attempts to undermine the court were unacceptable.

“Attacks or threats against the court, its elected officials, personnel or those cooperating with the court are simply not acceptable,” El Anouni said.

Rejecting Washington’s argument that the ICC threatens national sovereignty, he said the court “does not target sovereign states, nor does it constitute a threat to their sovereignty.”

Instead, he added, the tribunal “exercises jurisdiction over individuals, perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.”

European Commission spokesperson Siobhan McGarry also reaffirmed the bloc’s support for the court, saying the EU remained committed to safeguarding its independence and ensuring it could continue its work.

“The Commission continues to support the ICC’s work, including its investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity, and we are already facilitating all appropriate measures, including diplomatic, legal and financial avenues that could help ensure the continuity of the ICC’s operations,” she said.

The remarks came a day after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a campaign to “systematically disable” the ICC, accusing the tribunal of interfering with US military and law enforcement operations and claiming it threatened American sovereignty.

In an accompanying opinion piece, Rubio said that the court endangered “every aspect of our political and legal system,” invoking scenarios in which US border patrol agents and elected leaders could be “dragged before an international court” and brought before international judges.

The State Department said the campaign would involve a “wide range of actions,” including efforts to pressure countries to withdraw from the ICC and increased scrutiny of governments that continue to support the court while receiving US assistance.

The ICC, established under the 1998 Rome Statute, investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.

In November 2024, the UN-backed court issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The latest developments also come as more than 100 international law experts in the United States have warned that the US aggression against Iran could constitute war crimes under international law.

The experts expressed particular concern over strikes on schools, healthcare facilities and residential areas, including a late-February missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh all-girls elementary school in Iran.

Since Trump returned to office last year, his administration has steadily intensified pressure on the Hague-based court.

So far, the United States has imposed sanctions on 11 ICC officials, including the chief prosecutor and eight judges, leaving them facing travel bans, frozen access to financial services, and the suspension of accounts with major US technology companies.

Source: Presstv

14, July 2026

Biya regime restores military pension benefits after fraud review ⁰

More than two years after launching a nationwide audit of military pension payments, Cameroon has begun restoring child pension supplements to retirees whose claims were confirmed as legitimate.

In a directive signed on June 18, 2026, Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze instructed the directors general of the Budget and Treasury departments to reinstate the child allowance for pensioners found to be eligible after the review.

The directive also orders the payment of all back benefits from the date the allowance was suspended, without requiring a recovery order. The decision marks a new phase in a process that began after authorities uncovered widespread irregularities in the documents submitted to qualify for the benefit.

A benefit worth up to 10% of a pension

The child supplement is a lifetime benefit paid to retired members of Cameroon’s defense and security forces who raised children meeting the legal eligibility requirements.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the allowance amounts to 10% of a retiree’s basic pension for the first three children, plus an additional 5% for each child starting with the fourth.

The benefit may also be paid to the surviving beneficiaries of deceased military personnel. To qualify, children must have reached the age of 16 for military personnel and 21 for police officers by the time the beneficiary retired.

Designed to supplement retirees’ income, the program gradually became vulnerable to document fraud. A joint task force created by the Ministries of Finance and Defense in 2022 found what authorities described as an abnormal rise in spending.

Between 2013 and 2020, the number of pensioners receiving the supplement increased by 60%, while the program’s cost rose by 98%. Those discrepancies prompted the Ministry of Finance to order a nationwide review.

Nearly one in three birth certificates found to be fraudulent

The audit focused on verifying the authenticity of birth certificates submitted by retirees. Investigators compared the documents with records held by municipal authorities and civil registration offices. Of the 47,258 birth certificates examined, 15,053 were found to be fraudulent, representing nearly 32% of all documents reviewed.

Following those findings, the government suspended the child supplement for 4,300 pensioners in July 2024. Authorities also opened an appeal process, allowing affected retirees to submit additional evidence and challenge the audit’s conclusions.

According to figures released by the Budget Department on February 27, 2025, 1,537 of the 4,300 affected pensioners filed appeals. The review found that 498 retirees had submitted authentic birth certificates and met all eligibility requirements. They will now have their benefits restored and receive all unpaid amounts dating back to the suspension.

Separating legitimate claims from fraud

The audit also uncovered confirmed cases of fraud. According to the Budget Department, 838 pensioners admitted using fraudulent birth certificates to increase their pension payments. Their pension files were to be revised in accordance with the applicable regulations.

Another 201 cases remained under review by the National Civil Registry Office and the General Delegation for National Security. At the end of the first phase of the process, 2,763 pensioners had not responded, even though the deadline for appeals had been set for the end of April 2025.

By restoring the allowance to retirees whose claims were validated, the government aims to distinguish proven fraud from cases that could be regularized. The objective is both to protect the rights of legitimate beneficiaries and to ensure that efforts to clean up the pension system do not unfairly penalize retirees with valid claims.

The decision also forms part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen oversight of public payroll and pension spending. It highlights the scale of document fraud, with nearly one-third of the birth certificates reviewed found to be irregular.

The next challenge will be to complete the reinstatement of benefits, pay outstanding arrears, and continue reviewing the thousands of cases that remain unresolved.

Source: Sbbc

14, July 2026

Yaoundé: Martinez Zogo murder trial resumes ⁰

The trial over the murder of Cameroonian journalist Martinez Zogo resumes on July 13 before the Yaoundé Military Court, with proceedings focused on the continued cross-examination of cybercrime expert Jean-Pierre Ouloumou, who analyzed mobile phones seized during the investigation.

The hearing picks up after proceedings were suspended on June 23 by presiding judge Colonel Jacques Baudouin Misse Njonè at the expert’s request after he showed signs of fatigue following two days of testimony. Accredited by Cameroon’s Ministry of Justice to serve courts in Yaoundé and Douala, Ouloumou was appointed in 2023 by then-investigating judge Lieutenant Colonel Aimé Florent Sikati Kamwo II. His assignment was to examine phones seized during the investigation into the kidnapping, torture, and killing of Martinez Zogo, whose body was found near Yaoundé in January 2023.

Digital evidence comes under close scrutiny

When the expert’s report was presented to the court on June 22 and 23, it triggered tense exchanges with lawyers representing the civil parties, who sought explanations on several issues they consider unresolved.

Among the questions raised was why Ouloumou had recommended that investigating authorities release businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, one of the main defendants. Lawyers for the civil parties argued that by making such a recommendation, the expert may have exceeded the technical scope of his assignment. They also questioned why that recommendation applied only to Amougou Belinga, even though Ouloumou said he had found no incriminating evidence on the phones of two other defendants.

Another issue concerned claims made in court by some defense lawyers that the expert had approached them in an attempt to influence their position. Ouloumou did not confirm those allegations during his testimony.

Defense resumes questioning

The hearing will resume where it left off, with questions from Jacques Mbuny, counsel for Lieutenant Colonel Justin Danwe, the former director of operations at the General Directorate for External Research (DGRE), who is among the principal defendants.

The DGRE occupies a central place in the prosecution’s case, as the investigation implicated alleged members of the intelligence service in the journalist’s kidnapping and murder. However, the court has yet to determine the criminal responsibility of each defendant.

After Mbuny’s questioning, lawyers for the remaining defendants are expected to examine the expert. A total of 17 people are standing trial in the case. Prosecutors will then have the opportunity to re-examine the witness and address issues raised during cross-examination.

Two days of hearings

Hearings are scheduled for July 13 and 14. They are expected to clarify the scope and significance of the cellphone forensic report, which has emerged as one of the main points of contention between the civil parties, the defense, and the prosecution.

Beyond the data extracted from the devices, the court will also assess Ouloumou’s methodology, the limits of his assignment, and the evidentiary value of his conclusions in a case where technical forensic evidence has become increasingly central.

Source: Sbbc

14, July 2026

Iran launches missile strikes on US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, airbase in Jordan ⁰

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has struck multiple US military facilities in Bahrain, including the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, as well as American targets in Jordan with missiles in follow-up retaliation against continued American violations.

The Corps announced the latest stages of its reprisal in three consecutive statements on Tuesday.

The first statement reported retaliatory strikes by the IRGC Navy against several weapons support depots, a satellite communications center, accommodation used by US troops, and several military radar systems in Bahrain. The strikes, it added, “destroyed” the targets.

In a subsequent statement, the Corps said its Aerospace Force had conducted “coordinated missile and drone strikes” against the US Fifth Fleet’s headquarters, setting its fuel storage facilities “ablaze.”

“They also struck and destroyed a Patriot radar system, the Fifth Fleet’s air-control radar, and a C-RAM early warning radar system.”

14, July 2026

Douala: 15 crew members rescued after cargo ship collision ⁰

All 15 crew members aboard a cargo ship were rescued early Sunday after it collided with another vessel near Douala, Cameroon’s main port city, authorities said.

According to the Port Authority of Douala, the collision involved the outbound MV Sea Honor and the inbound MV Black Rhino.

Rescue teams responded swiftly, evacuating all crew members from the MV Black Rhino before launching operations to clear the shipping channel.

The MV Sea Honor was escorted to the anchorage area, while the MV Black Rhino was intentionally run aground to ensure the safety of the navigation channel. Authorities confirmed later on Sunday that the channel was fully reopened.

“No casualties were reported,” the port authority said in a statement. “Both vessels sustained significant material damage, and navigation was temporarily disrupted.”

Preliminary findings indicate that a loss of steering control aboard the MV Black Rhino was the likely cause of the collision. A full technical investigation is underway.

Source: Xinhuanet

12, July 2026

Boko Haram: Military setbacks fail to end raids in the Far North region ⁰

More than a decade after Boko Haram’s insurgency spread into Cameroon, the Far North remains one of the Lake Chad Basin’s main conflict zones. Cameroonian forces regularly report tactical successes but have yet to eliminate the armed groups’ ability to carry out attacks. No longer able to hold territory for long, Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP, now conduct rapid incursions against military posts, villages and key trade routes.

Overnight on July 6-7, 2026, an Operation Alpha post operated by the Rapid Intervention Battalion came under attack in Vreket, in Koza municipality, Mayo-Tsanaga Division. According to the state-run daily Cameroon Tribune, more than 100 Boko Haram fighters attempted to storm the unit’s command post near the Nigerian border.

The attackers failed to catch the soldiers off guard. Cameroon Tribune reported that the troops had received an early warning and immediately returned fire. “The vigilance of troops stationed at the base allowed them to contain the assault immediately,” the newspaper said. By the end of the fighting, more than a dozen militants had reportedly been killed, while the remaining attackers were driven back toward the border.

Weakened Groups Still Capable of Striking

The response in Vreket illustrates the ability of Cameroonian forces to react quickly. It does not, however, eliminate the threat. Although Boko Haram and ISWAP no longer control as much territory as they did at the height of the insurgency, they remain highly mobile in border areas and continue to adapt their tactics.

The fighters now favor hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, nighttime raids and improvised explosive devices. Their strategy focuses less on holding towns and villages than on keeping security forces under pressure, disrupting economic activity and sustaining insecurity across the region.

In a food security analysis published in December 2025, FEWS NET reported an increase in violence in the Far North. According to the organization, attacks against civilians and government forces in 2025 exceeded the levels recorded in 2023 and 2024. Mayo-Tsanaga, where Vreket is located, was among the divisions that recorded the sharpest increase in violence.

Civilians Remain the Main Victims

Beyond military confrontations, the continuing violence directly affects local communities. In a report covering Jan. 1 to March 31, 2026, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said non-state armed groups continued to carry out raids in Mayo-Tsanaga, Mayo-Sava and Logone-et-Chari.

The attacks targeted villages, farms, fishing areas, grazing land and several roads, including National Road No. 1. Incidents were reported in Sandawadjiri, Warawide, Tolkomari, Gouzoudou, Kouyape, Maloumri, Amchidé, Vouzod, Waza and Darak.

According to OCHA, 104 people were killed, 123 wounded and 128 abducted in the first quarter of 2026. The organization also recorded nine incidents involving improvised explosive devices, as well as attacks on two schools and four integrated health centers.

The violence is deepening the hardship facing communities already affected by forced displacement, food insecurity, the destruction of livelihoods and limited access to healthcare and education.

The continuing attacks are also taking a heavy economic toll. In rural areas, fear of violence restricts access to farmland, grazing areas and fishing grounds. Abductions, looting and arson are weakening local trade networks, while insecurity along roads is raising transportation costs and delaying deliveries to markets.

Boko Haram is seeking to keep border communities and security forces under constant pressure without necessarily launching prolonged operations. This war of attrition requires the state to maintain a large military presence while also providing humanitarian assistance to communities whose living conditions continue to worsen.

Contained but Far From Stable

Cameroonian authorities maintain that the security situation remains “generally under control,” citing the sustained presence of security forces, Rapid Intervention Battalion operations and support from local vigilance committees. The military’s ability to repel attacks and inflict losses on armed groups demonstrates its superiority on the ground.

But the situation remains fragile. The porous border with Nigeria, the mobility of fighters, the circulation of weapons, the growing use of explosive devices and socioeconomic hardship continue to enable further attacks.

The thwarted assault in Vreket reflects the security paradox in the Far North: Cameroonian forces can contain attacks and inflict setbacks on Boko Haram, but the threat remains active enough to require a sustained military presence.

Victory in the region will therefore be measured not only by the number of attacks repelled or fighters killed. It will also depend on the government’s ability to provide lasting security for villages, restore economic activity and reduce the vulnerabilities that armed groups continue to exploit.

Source: Sbbc