Calvin Zang Oyono, a Cameroonian Senator who represented the South Region on the platform of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement is dead. CRTV, Cameroon’s state radio and television confirmed this to Cameroon Concord News on Sunday 16 February 2025.

Zang Oyono was a Francophone politician who until his death served as deputy managing director of COTCO.

Elected senator three times, in 2013, 2018 and 2023, Calvin Zang was born in Nsimi in the Zoétélé Sub Division in the Dja et Lobo Division in the South region.

The late senator was a graduate of the National School of Administration and Magistracy (Enam).

By Rita Akana

A fatal road accident occurred on the evening of February 12, 2025, at 4 Étages in Bonaberi, located in Douala’s 4th district. According to initial, yet-to-be-confirmed reports, five people lost their lives in the crash involving two heavy-duty trucks and a taxi.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that a speeding cement truck collided with a stationary semi-trailer carrying iron bars. In an attempt to avoid the impact, the cement truck swerved and crashed into a taxi carrying the driver and four passengers. All five occupants of the taxi died instantly, witnesses reported.

This tragedy comes just two weeks after a similar accident at Carrefour Meec in Yaoundé’s 6th district. In that incident, a poorly secured shipping container fell off a truck onto a taxi, killing two of the four passengers on board.

Source: Sbbc

The Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) has strengthened its military footprint in the conflict-ridden Southwest region with the construction and inauguration of two new military camps on February 7. The new installations are located in Ekona, within the Muyuka district, and Ombe, in the Tiko district, both in Fako Division.

According to the army, these camps are part of efforts to bolster security in an area frequently targeted by armed separatist groups fighting against the Cameroonian military, which remains loyal to the central government in Yaoundé.

These new deployments add to previous reinforcements in the region. In November 2024, the BIR had already set up two camps in Nguti and Alou. Similarly, the elite force has been expanding its security presence in the Northwest region, which faces the same crisis. In May 2024, the BIR established a command post in Bui, a department known as a stronghold of separatist militias. The army has conducted several military offensives in this area, known as “Operation Bui Clean.”

The security crisis in Cameroon’s Southwest and Northwest regions began in 2017 when separatist armed groups launched attacks against defense and security forces, as well as civilians. The deployment of the BIR, the best-trained and best-equipped unit in the Cameroonian military, has so far helped to contain the insurgents.

According to United Nations data, the conflict in the country’s two Anglophone regions has resulted in nearly 6,000 deaths, displaced more than one million people internally, and forced over 35,000 refugees to flee to Nigeria.

Source: Sbbc

Concerns over working conditions at Cameroon’s main sugar producer, Société Sucrière du Cameroun (Sosucam), have reached the European Parliament following a violent strike that turned into a riot on February 4, 2025. At least one worker was killed in the unrest, drawing criticism from Marina Mesure, a French member of the European Parliament.

In a letter dated February 5, 2025, addressed to the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Mesure denounced what she called the “repression and violations of workers’ rights” at Sosucam’s sugar cane plantations in Cameroon.

The controversy stems from the fact that Sosucam is 74% owned by the French agro-industrial group Somdiaa, which is itself controlled by Castel, a major player in Africa’s beverage industry. Mesure reminded the European Commission that, under the EU’s new corporate due diligence directive, companies headquartered in EU member states must be held accountable for labor practices in their overseas operations.

Beyond what she called the “bloody crackdown” on Sosucam workers during the February 4 strike, Mesure pointed to a broader pattern of labor rights abuses. She referenced a May 1, 2023, report by the Cameroonian Sugar Cane Workers’ Union, which accused the company’s management of systematically suppressing union activities. According to Mesure, this violates internationally recognized labor rights, including the right to organize.

The lawmaker has called on the European Commission to clarify what steps it plans to take to ensure that sugar industry workers in Cameroon are treated fairly. She also urged EU officials to raise the issue with French authorities, questioning Somdiaa’s role in what she described as repeated violations of Sosucam employees’ rights.

On February 7, 2025, Sosucam publicly addressed the growing tensions, though it did not respond directly to Mesure’s letter. In a statement signed by the company’s newly appointed CEO, Jean-Louis Liscio, the company announced several measures agreed upon after discussions with stakeholders. The base salary for 2A-category laborers will increase by CFA1,000, bringing it to CFA57,000 per month. The monthly dirt allowance will rise from CFA600 to CFA750. The company’s employer contribution for seasonal workers will also increase by CFA500 per month.

Following these adjustments, Sosucam’s management has called on all employees to return to work starting Saturday, February 8, 2025.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Boko Haram insurgents reportedly attacked Sanda Wajiri, a remote village near Kolofata in northern Cameroon, late Sunday night, killing four people and setting fire to homes and food stores.

According to security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, who reported the incident on his X handle, the terrorists stormed the village heavily armed, shooting indiscriminately.

It is normal for people of Manyu Division to scream that “Mamfe” has declined without them making any suggestions which could help the once vibrant Division to regain its past glory.

Many of us simply do not understand that Manyu’s steady and painful decline is the outcome of our own behavior. Our nauseating indifference and devastating spirit of competition are hurting our beloved Manyu in a big and bad way.

None of us ever agrees that our behavior is to blame for the fast decline of a Division which was once our pride. Unity is strength but we have not yet understood that. We think we can always go it alone, but given our limited resources, we can only do so much as individuals.

Our towns and villages are shadows of their former selves today and this unfortunate situation did not start with the current socio-political situation which has hit the country’s two English-speaking regions like a ton of bricks. None of our towns or villages has a development master plan and the chaotic construction of homes in towns such as Ossing, Kembong, Eyumojock, Tali, Mbinjong and Mamfe is not giving our Division a good name.

Despite this gloomy picture, there is hope on the horizon. The young mayors and dynamic chiefs of Manyu Division now understand that our Division’s economic and financial viability depends on our own abilities. It is obvious that our development is in our hands.

The young mayor of Eyumojock, Ntuifam Ayamba Jacques Ita, who also doubles as the chief of Eyumojock is clearly demonstrating that things can be done differently in Manyu Division.

Under his admirable leadership, the Eyumojock Council has acquired its own heavy-duty equipment, a clear sign that the council is determined to approach things differently. Chief Ita’s acts clearly demonstrate that you can still be a CPDM politician and bring development to your people.

Eyumojock, the sub-division’s chief down, is being given a facelift as neighborhood roads will be broadened with the imported heavy-duty equipment. The council will only have to ensure that houses are built according to plan and that each house gets a house number for ease of identification.

This also implies that any new roads opened up in the towns will be given a street name for better planning. The procurement of the heavy-duty equipment is the right step in the right direction and Chief Ita and his councilors deserve the people’s confidence and they should be re-elected in the 2026 Municipal Election for them to complete the major projects they are currently implementing in the Eyumojock Sub-division.

The Mayor of Mamfe, Tabenchong Robertson Ashu, for his part, is also taking the bull by the horn. By working very closely with administrative officials in Manyu, Mayor Tabenchong has helped to roll the armed robbers who have been threatening innocent civilians out of Mamfe and there are no signs that they will be returning anytime soon. Their footprints in Mamfe Central have been significantly reduced.

This demonstration of leadership by the Mamfe mayor is worthy of commendation and it deserves support from all peace-loving Manyu citizens. There cannot be development in Manyu Division without peace.

This young and new generation of politicians in Manyu is pointing the Division in the right direction and the Manyu Diaspora cannot be indifferent to these efforts. The Diaspora has a key role to play in Manyu’s development and it is time for those dollars to start flowing into Manyu..

However, if Manyu has to change as we all want, then there must be a mindset shift which will trigger a new brand of politics in our Division. Politics is key when it comes to development.

As citizens of Manyu, we have to be intentional when it comes to bringing development to our Division by carefully making the right political decisions. We must choose only those politicians who can help the Division have job-creating projects. Good, dynamic and thoughtful politicians will help to give the Division’s economy a shot in the arm.

In this regards, when our politicians come to us to seek political mandates, we should ask them to present to us their Manyu development plan. We should stop taking food and drinks from them. This approach has failed us. It has hurt our Division and if we do not engineer new ways of doing things, we will expose future generations to the same pain and disgrace.

We must stop thinking that our politicians who are seeking our votes must give us food and money in exchange for our votes. We should stop consuming our own development money. What Manyu needs right now are job-creation projects, projects which will help our children get jobs. Without such opportunities, the Manyu economy will continue its descent to the abyss of economic desperation.

We must stop devaluing ourselves by thinking that when we accept drinks from politicians, then we are enjoying. No we are not enjoying. On the contrary, we are devaluing ourselves and reducing our chances of living a dignified life. There is also a currency known as dignity and we all must strive to have that currency. A bottle of beer cannot change our unfortunate economic and political destiny.  Times are changing and our mentalities must change with the  changing times. We need development projects in Manyu and not food and drinks.

Similarly, we also have to take a look at our divisive politics which is ruining our efforts to work as a united group. People of my generation grew up to know that Mamfe meant the entire Manyu. We never identified ourselves as either Mamfe Central, Eyumojock, Akwaya or Upper Bayang. Over the last two decades, we have opened ourselves up for our politicians to exploit us by always playing the card of division. We need to come together as a people to get those who have Manyu unity at heart to represent us. We have the capacity to do that.

A major project in Mamfe will serve us without any discrimination. Unity is strength! When we work together, we will enhance our bargaining power. If a major project is going to Upper  Bayang, we must all rally behind those who are seeking to bring that project to Tali. If it is going to Akwaya, we should demonstrate our support to ensure that Akwaya gets the project. A house divided within itself will never stand.

Manyu must be united if it is serious about developing. There is power in numbers and Manyu has the numbers. We must leverage our numbers to transform our fate. Our destiny is in our hands. It is up to us to make Manyu a better place or we will continue to grumble that Manyu is falling apart.

By Dr. Joachim Arrey