News

20, August 2026

Kyiv targeted by massive Russian strikes killing several people ⁰

Russian bombardments killed at least 12 people and wounded dozens in Ukraine’s capital and its surrounding region overnight, authorities said on Thursday.

The foes have ramped up long-range attacks in recent months, driving up the civilian death toll on both sides in the four-and-a-half-year war.

The massive missile attack on Kyiv struck residential areas and warehouses, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram Thursday.

A medical facility and an educational institution were also damaged, according to the city’s military administration.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later wrote on X that the death toll in the capital had risen to 12 and that 40 people had been wounded.

“The Russians had been preparing for a long time, combining different types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, aiming to cause as much damage as possible to civilian infrastructure,” he wrote.

An attack in the Brovary district of the broader Kyiv region killed one man and wounded another, Kyiv regional governor Tymur Tkachenko said.

“One industrial facility has been damaged. All relevant services are on site, working to extinguish the fire,” he added.

Ukrainian air forces said on Telegram that Russia launched dozens of ballistic, cruise, ‌and ⁠hypersonic missiles, as well ‌as 168 drones in ⁠its overnight attack on the country.

It said that air ‌defence units downed 145 drones and ‌most of the cruise missiles but none of the missiles that run on ballistic trajectory.

Russia’s defence ministry said on Telegram that it hit facilities producing drone components, a military depot and a logistics hub.

Ukraine’s air force had earlier warned of Russian “Kalibr” missiles in the vicinity of the village of Kagarlyk within the Kyiv region, heading towards the capital.

The attacks also prompted security responses in neighbouring NATO member states.

Poland’s military command said it had mobilised aircraft and activated air defences aimed at protecting Polish airspace, particularly in areas bordering Ukraine.

Romania’s defence ministry said radar systems detected aerial targets near the Ukrainian border overnight, prompting the scrambling of two Spanish fighter jets deployed on NATO missions and a Romanian air force helicopter.

The ministry said a drone entered Romanian airspace near Galati before crashing in an unpopulated area in Tulcea county.

Russia also reported a large Ukrainian drone attack.

Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 250 drones had flown towards the Moscow region between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with most destroyed at a significant distance from the capital itself.

“Twenty-eight drones were destroyed in the Moscow region,” Sobyanin added.

While Kyiv has faced near-nightly attacks, Ukraine has also escalated its retaliatory strikes on Russia in recent months, in part to attempt to pressure Moscow into coming to the negotiating table to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.

Source: Reuters

20, August 2026

Ukraine: President Zelensky’s senior aide fired amid corruption crisis ⁰

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed a senior aide amid a new corruption investigation; one day after his former defence minister warned of a “crisis of governance” and called for a wartime presidential election.

Iryna Mudra, a deputy chief of staff in the presidential office, was removed by decree on Wednesday. Ukrainian media reported that investigators were searching her home as part of an alleged money-laundering inquiry.

The case has been described as involving a group of people alleged to have laundered 150 million hryvnias ($3.4 million) to pay bail for a defendant in a major graft case last year, according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The case, which involves the state-owned nuclear power company, brought the resignations of Ukraine’s justice and energy ministers earlier this year.

A former lawmaker, the chairperson of a state bank’s board, the head of the bank’s supervisory board, and a deputy head of the presidential office have now been added as new suspects in the case.

The scandal follows earlier resignations and investigations that damaged the president’s standing, including the departure of former chief aide Andriy Yermak.

Mudra’s dismissal came a day after the former defence minister called for elections.

Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was recently ousted, warned in a video address released late on Tuesday that the country was facing “a crisis of governance” and needed to hold a presidential election.

Zelensky showed no direct reaction to Fedorov’s statement or his election demand, and instead thanked Ukraine’s parliament for voting to confirm Fedorov’s replacement, Yevhen Khmara, as the new defence minister.

For weeks, Ukrainians have protested Zelensky’s dismissal of Fedorov, gathering daily in Kiev. The protests reflect public frustration with frequent reshuffles and a perceived lack of transparency in Zelensky’s administration.

His dismissal became a rallying point for those demanding effective leadership and innovative solutions to address Ukraine’s increasing shortage of young army-age personnel, which has strained the regime’s ability to sustain its war effort.

In the video, Fedorov blamed Zelensky for widespread corruption, saying the actor-turned-president lacked the competence to eradicate the problem from its root.

“Corruption is only a symptom. The main problem runs much deeper. We have a systemic crisis of governance,” Fedorov said in the nine-minute video posted online Tuesday.

The former defence minister said it was possible to “restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war.”

Zelensky’s five-year term as president has been extended indefinitely, as presidential elections are suspended under martial law following Russia’s launch of its special military operation in Donbas in February 2022.

19, August 2026

Yaoundé allocates CFAF400 million to SMEs ⁰

Cameroon has allocated CFAF400 million to finance small and medium-sized enterprises involved in the distribution of locally produced food, targeting a key bottleneck in the government’s import-substitution program: getting domestic products from producers to consumers.

The funding was announced on August 18, 2026 in a Trade Ministry release disclosing an agreement signed by Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana and Amadou Haman, Managing Director of the Cameroon Bank for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (BC-PME).

According to the Ministry of Trade, the CFAF400 million was transferred to BC-PME under the ministry’s 2026 budget. The bank will provide financial and technical support to businesses operating under the Integrated Agropastoral and Fisheries Import-Substitution Plan (PIISAH).

The facility targets companies involved in processing, packaging, storage, logistics and distribution, with rice, maize, flour, palm oil and milk among the priority value chains. The objective is to build distribution networks capable of bringing locally produced goods to market under competitive conditions.

The initiative addresses one part of Cameroon’s broader import-substitution strategy: ensuring that increases in domestic production are matched by the capacity to store, transport and sell those products efficiently.

“Producing more is not enough,” Mbarga Atangana said, stressing the need to strengthen the link between production and consumers. The financing comes as food imports continue to weigh heavily on Cameroon’s import bill. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS), the country spent CFAF543.7 billion on cereal imports in 2024, up 40.3% from 2023.

Rice imports alone reached CFAF318.6 billion, an increase of 58.6% year on year, while wheat imports stood at CFAF214.1 billion. In the first quarter of 2025, cereals accounted for 11.2% of Cameroon’s total import expenditure, with rice representing 7.1% and wheat 3.8%.

The pressure extends beyond food products. INS figures show that Cameroon’s overall trade deficit widened by 22.8% to CFAF2,145.2 billion in 2025, from CFAF1,747.3 billion a year earlier, while total import expenditure increased by 4.6%.

Against that backdrop, the government is seeking to strengthen the commercial side of domestic production. According to the Trade Ministry, locally produced goods must not only be available in sufficient quantities but must also meet requirements related to quality, traceability, regular supply and competitive distribution.

Mbarga Atangana said the partnership with BC-PME is intended to make trade a more active part of the country’s production and industrialization drive.

“This agreement reflects our shared determination to make trade a genuine lever for economic transformation and wealth creation,” the minister said, adding that the partnership is also intended to improve “the competitiveness of Cameroonian enterprises.”

PIISAH covers the 2024-2026 period and forms part of Cameroon’s import-substitution policy under the National Development Strategy 2020-2030. The government has again identified the plan as one of its economic priorities for 2026.

Mbarga Atangana said implementation will require coordination among public institutions, businesses and professional organizations.

“The success of PIISAH depends on the collective mobilization of the State, professional organizations and businesses,” he said.

Source: Business in Cameroon

19, August 2026

East Region: At least 33 dead in landslide at gold mine in Garoua-Boulaï ⁰

At least 33 people have died in a landslide at a gold mine on the border between Cameroon and the Central African Republic, according to local authorities.

Many more miners are believed to be buried under the debris, said Julien Martial Asse, the municipal administrator of the nearby Cameroonian border town of Garoua-Boulaï.

The landslide at the artisanal mining site occurred Tuesday midday. Rescue workers continued searching for survivors on Wednesday. Some injured miners were receiving medical treatment.

The cause of the collapse was initially unclear, as was the number of miners prospecting for gold at the time of the accident.

The border area between Cameroon and the Central African Republic is rich in gold. A lot of gold mining in the region is carried out by hand. Low safety standards mean serious accidents are a repeat occurrence.

Source: dpa

18, August 2026

Cameroon celebrates as WAFCON winners return home ⁰

Thousands of Cameroonians gathered in Yaounde on Monday to celebrate the national football team after they won their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The Cameroonian women were greeted by hundreds of supporters on the tarmac Monday upon their return from Morocco where they beat Malawi 3–0 in Sunday’s final to claim the 2026 WAFCON trophy.

The footballers were swept up in the sea of Cameroonian flags, jerseys and phones held high to film their arrival.

The electrifying atmosphere spilled on to the streets of the capital, where thousands of people lined up on the sidewalks to cheer the players as they passed.

“At the start of this competition, the girls were calm, and their mindset carried them to victory. They deserved it,” said Aline Mvogo, a 63-year-old housewife who was at the airport.

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses claimed the title unexpectedly — they hadn’t even qualified for the tournament until a decision taken in November to expand it from 12 to 16 teams.

Although visibly tired, the players beamed at the elated crowds of supporters who sought to extend the celebrations that began the day before.

On Sunday evening, the festivities continued late into the night in several districts of Yaounde.

Music, car horns and Cameroonian flags resounded throughout the city and accompanied the outpourings of joy in the streets of the capital after the final whistle.

“At the beginning of the tournament, I wasn’t really following it. Little by little, I started to watch. I’m proud; I saw a strong and determined team,” said Florence Manga, a 26-year-old communications student.

The players paraded through the streets of the capital on Monday, proudly displaying their first Cup, amid the cheers of the thousands of people lining the roads.

Cameroonian President Paul Biya, 93, currently in Switzerland, congratulated the “valiant, talented and intrepid Indomitable Lionesses” in a post on Facebook late Sunday, hailing the trophy won at the end of a “well-executed performance”.

Source: AFP

17, August 2026

Unemployment, pessimism and rising interest in emigration mark Cameroon’s youth ⁰

Cameroon’s demographics make youth central to the country’s economic development. Citizens aged 18-35 constitute 57% of the country’s labour force (World Bank, 2025a). But the economy has struggled – and failed – to absorb the growing number of labour-market entrants, and many youth continue to face unemployment, underemployment, or vulnerable informal employment (World Bank, 2025a; Hyéfouais, 2019).

Despite employment and entrepreneurship initiatives implemented by the government and development partners (World Bank, 2025a), almost one in four young Cameroonians (23.2%) are not in education, employment, or training, according to 2021 estimates (World Bank, 2025b).

As Tangko (2020) notes, youth unemployment contributes to economic marginalisation and increases the risk of political instability as exclusion generates frustration, weakens confidence in institutions, and heightens social tensions. Cameroon’s “low” ranking in the 2023 Global Youth Development Index highlights persistent challenges for youth across a wide range of sectors, from education and employment to well-being and civic participation (Commonwealth, 2023).

Findings from the Afrobarometer Round 10 survey (2024) reinforce these concerns. While Cameroonian youth are more educated than older generations, they are also more likely to be unemployed. Young people identify inadequate training, skills mismatch, and a lack of experience as major barriers to employment. Job creation is their top priority for additional government spending to support young people, and unemployment ranks among the most important problems they want the government to address.

Young citizens see the government as largely failing to address their top concerns. Most see the country as heading in the wrong direction, and few express optimism about the near future.

Against this backdrop, a growing majority of young Cameroonians report considering emigration, primarily in search of better economic prospects.

Culled afrobarometer

17, August 2026

Iran vows to ‘decisively crush any threat, aggression’ as deal with US expires ⁰

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it is prepared to deliver a crushing response to any threat or aggression as a war-termination deal between Iran and the United States expires with no breakthrough in sight for talks to permanently end hostilities.

The IRGC issued a statement on Monday, commemorating the 36th anniversary of the return of Iranian prisoners of war (POWs), who were held captive during the 1980s imposed war waged against the country by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

The IRGC said its forces at the current critical juncture are inspired by the self-sacrifice, resilience, and steadfastness of proud Iranian POWs while relying on Almighty God and following the directives of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei.

The IRGC, the statement added, “assures the honorable people of Iran that its forces, who are fully prepared and committed to employing all their capabilities, will work … in close coordination and synergy with the country’s other powerful armed forces to safeguard the Islamic Revolution and defend Iran’s territorial integrity, independence, dignity, and national interests.”

The elite military force also warned that its fighters “will decisively crush any threat or aggression with the utmost resolve, drawing on a strategy of maximum deterrence and powerful offensive operations.”

August 17 marks the day when Iranian POWs returned to their homeland after years of captivity in the notorious prisons of Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist regime, the IRGC said.

It further described the POWs as “living testimony to the legitimacy of Iran’s cause and the injustices it endured. They carry on the legacy of the martyrs, serve as enduring examples of patience and resilience, and embody the ideals of freedom and honor.”

17, August 2026

Women’s Africa Cup of Nations: enfin, we are champions ⁰

Cameroon, who failed to qualify for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations only to get a second chance, beat fairytale finalists Malawi 3-0 on Sunday to be crowned champions.

Marie Ngah scored twice and Naomi Eto once in the final in Rabat as the Indomitable Lionesses became queens of African football for the first time after finishing runners-up on three occasions.

Cameroon lost at home and away to Algeria in the final qualifying round, but the organisers later increased the number of teams for the tournament from 12 to 16.

The four highest ranked losers, led by Cameroon, were added for the two-yearly competition, which Morocco hosted for the third consecutive time.

It was a sad climax for Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world, who had reached the title decider with the Chawinga sisters, captain Tabitha and Temwa, scoring nine goals between them.

Among those who saw Cameroon succeed after losing the 2004, 2014 and 2016 finals to Nigeria without scoring was embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

He was flanked by Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe from South Africa and first vice-president Fouzi Lekjaa.

The CAF leadership have backed Infantino, who is fighting to save his job after a barrage of criticism for his aborted plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

Debutants Malawi defied being the lowest ranked nation at the marquee African women’s football event to reach the final after beating defending champions Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana and Algeria.

The Scorchers started the final impressively, with the power and pace of the Chawingas creating several threatening situations.

But Malawi failed to score and, as the opening half progressed, so did the performance of Cameroon, who took a 20th-minute lead.

A cross was headed off Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo onto the crossbar and Ngah nodded the rebound into the net for her fourth goal of the tournament.

As they became increasingly adventurous, Cameroon doubled the lead on 29 minutes when Eto, with her back to goal, swivelled and struck the ball into the corner of the net.

Ngah netted again three minutes into added time at the end of the opening half, heading an Eto cross into the net.

After scoring twice in the opening half, Ngah should have completed a hat-trick early in the second period but, after taking the ball past Sikelo, fired wide.

Malawi contained Cameroon as the second period progressed and Temwa Chawinga was just wide with a low shot after a goalmouth scramble.

By reaching the semi-finals, Cameroon, Malawi, third-placed Algeria and Morocco qualified for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The number of African qualifiers could swell to six as losing WAFCON quarter-finalists South Africa and Ghana have secured places in inter-continental play-offs.

Source: AFP

16, August 2026

Biya regime raises financial bar for private Hajj Operators ahead of 2027 ⁰

Cameroon has tightened financial and operational requirements for private Hajj organizers ahead of the 2027 pilgrimage, with operators now required to provide a CFA10 million guarantee and demonstrate annual revenue of at least CFA100 million.

The new conditions are set out in an order signed on August 6, 2026, by Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji. They apply to agencies and private operators seeking approval to organize pilgrimages to Islam’s holy sites.

The biggest change concerns the financial guarantees required from operators. Applicants must now show annual revenue of at least CFA100 million and provide a CFA10 million financial guarantee issued by a bank approved by the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC), the regional regulator and supervisor of credit, microfinance and payment institutions in CEMAC.

The guarantee must be secured two months before the start of each Hajj season, according to the ministerial order.

The government wants the requirement to provide greater financial protection for commitments made by organizers to pilgrims and service providers. It also seeks to ensure that operators have sufficient resources to meet obligations related to accommodation, transportation, meals and other services for pilgrims.

Higher Costs Expected for the 2027 Hajj

The new framework also tightens requirements for operators’ experience and qualifications. Applicants must be Cameroonian nationals, speak Arabic or English and have a strong knowledge of Hajj rituals.

They must also have personally completed the pilgrimage “at least three times by the date the application is submitted,” according to the order. The requirement gives greater weight to operators with direct experience of both the religious rites and the logistical demands of transporting and accommodating pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

Agencies must also demonstrate adequate operational capacity. Applicants are required to have suitable premises, IT equipment and qualified permanent staff. They must provide preliminary contracts covering essential services, including accommodation, meals and transportation. Medical personnel must also accompany pilgrims during their stay.

The tighter rules come at a time when organizing the pilgrimage has become more demanding and expensive. On June 3, Cameroon’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Iya Tidjani, announced that the cost of the Hajj would increase in 2027. The rise is linked in part to higher service costs in Saudi Arabia and new requirements governing the pilgrimage.

The official cost for the 2026 Hajj was CFA3,262,620, unchanged from the previous year. The expected increase in 2027 will therefore come at a time when private operators will also need more financial resources to meet the new licensing requirements.

Source: Business in Cameroon

15, August 2026

Yaounde-Bafoussam highway: 16 killed in bus crash ⁰

At least 16 people died early Friday in a crash on the Yaounde-Bafoussam highway in Cameroon, police and witnesses said.

The accident happened in Nomale in the Ndikinimeki subdivision of the Mbam-et-Inoubou division, Centre region.

A passenger bus slammed into a truck loaded with planks that was parked on the road. Among the victims were seven members of the same family who were traveling to a funeral, witnesses said.

State broadcaster CRTV reported that about 40 people were injured in the collision.

Local police said formal investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the crash.

Road accidents are common in Cameroon and are frequently blamed on poor road conditions and reckless driving. Data from the Cameroonian Ministry of Transport shows that about 1,500 people die each year in road accidents across the central African country.

Source: Xinhuanet