Whales: Giants of the Ocean

Whales are among the largest and most remarkable animals on Earth. These marine mammals live in oceans around the world, from warm tropical waters to the cold seas surrounding the poles.

Life Beneath the Surface

Although whales spend their lives in water, they breathe air through blowholes located on top of their heads. They must regularly return to the surface to breathe before diving again in search of food or traveling through the ocean.

Whales are warm-blooded, give birth to live young, and nurse their calves with milk. A thick layer of fat called blubber helps protect them from cold water and stores energy during long migrations.

Two Main Groups

Whales are generally divided into baleen whales and toothed whales. Baleen whales filter small animals from the water using flexible plates inside their mouths. This group includes blue whales, humpback whales, and gray whales.

Toothed whales use teeth to catch fish, squid, and other prey. Many of them also use echolocation, producing sounds and listening for returning echoes to understand their surroundings. Sperm whales, belugas, and orcas belong to this group.

The Blue Whale

The blue whale is the largest known animal to have ever lived. An adult can grow longer than a city bus and weigh well over one hundred tonnes. Despite its enormous size, it feeds mainly on tiny crustaceans called krill.

Communication and Migration

Whales communicate using clicks, whistles, pulses, and complex songs. Some sounds can travel across great distances underwater. Humpback whales are especially famous for their long, patterned songs.

Many species migrate thousands of kilometres each year. They often feed in cold, nutrient-rich waters before traveling to warmer regions where they mate and give birth.

Protecting Whales

Commercial hunting once caused severe declines in many whale populations. Today, whales also face threats from fishing gear, ship collisions, underwater noise, pollution, and changes to ocean ecosystems.

Conservation programs, safer fishing practices, protected habitats, and international cooperation can help whale populations recover. Protecting whales also supports healthier oceans because these animals play an important role in marine food webs and nutrient cycles.

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Friday, 26th June 2026, will be remembered as the day Limbe stopped talking about a second entrance and started funding it. In the packed Deliberative Chambers of the Limbe City Council Main Building, Bota, CAMEROG and municipal authorities officially launched the feasibility studies for a good modern tarred road linking Man O’ War Bay – Bimbia – Dikolo – Tiko.

Stakeholders say the project “would be a game-changer for Limbe”. The studies and preparatory works are budgeted at FCFA 251 million . The breakdown is now public: Limbe City Council has provided FCFA 165 million, while the Minister of Public Works has contributed FCFA 86 million.

“We should really know that the City Council has interest to see that Limbe becomes a genuine, a true city,” an official noted during the session, stressing that the minutes will go directly to the Minister of Public Works. “I count on your contributions. Thank you.”

A Second Way In and Out 

For a city that has depended on a single congested entry for decades, the symbolism was heavy. “Not only because of the debts, but equally because many people who had appointments on the other side of our nation could not travel because the roads were blocked,” one stakeholder explained.

“A second access into Limbe, of course, would mean a second access out of Limbe into Tiko, and then to Douala for every other appointment or economic activity that we have to carry out.” For residents of Limbe 3, Bimbia, Dikolo, and Tiko, the promise is mobility, safety, and opportunity.

“This is more than a road project; it is a commitment to our city’s growth, our people’s mobility, and our region in general,” declared Limbe City Mayor Dr. Paul Efome L.M. Ngale in his opening address. He framed the study launch as “the veritable start” of a corridor that will reshape investment across the Southwest coast.

He paid tribute to Mr. Viang Mekala, Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, for his “fatherly involvement,” and credited Prime Minister, Head of Government, His Excellency Dr. Chief Joseph  Dion Ngute, and the Minister of Public Works for making the launch possible. “Without that impetus,” the Mayor said, “this communication jewel would still be on paper.”

Technical Scope: Studies, Design, and Sustainability 

Officials were clear that this phase is not just paperwork. “Within the framework of these studies, we are going to do feasibility analysis, both technical and economical, evaluating which approach is going to be best for the execution of the construction of the road,” the technical team stated.

“Equally, we will have a detailed engineering design that will be done by the contractor. Added to that, we will have environmental and social impact assessments done to ensure sustainability of the project that we are carrying out.”

That means the 27km tarred road will be preceded by route optimization, cost-benefit analysis, slope and drainage studies, and ESIA to protect coastal ecosystems and communities.

From Congestion to Connection 

Mayor Dr. Paul Efome L.M. Ngale was blunt: “We all know that at the moment our city relies heavily on one main entrance and exit point.” The new tarred road will ease congestion, cut travel time, and provide a reliable alternative during emergencies or maintenance. For traders, families, and emergency services, that means “a safer journey.”

The road aligns with the planned expansion of Limbe 3 subdivision, the anchor zone for Limbe’s “New City.” “They say where the road passes, development follows,” Dr. Ngale noted. The corridor will impact Limbe, Tiko, and Douala, and will be critical when the Limbe Deep Sea Port takes shape.

Economic and Social Engine 

In a follow-up interview, Mayor Dr. Paul Efome L.M. Ngale said the road is about people, not just pavement. Citing President Paul Biya’s support and the NDS 2030–2035 strategy, he said it will open Bimbia’s agricultural potential — “where a high percentage of crayfish in the national territory comes from” — and unlock heritage tourism at the historic Slave Tree site.

“This modern tarred road will generate economic development because it passes through Bimbia… and it will facilitate the construction of the port and other municipal priorities,” he said.

The contractor, FULL STUDY SAL, reinforced that logic: the road will boost fishing, agriculture, and local trade, move goods faster, and enhance access to Bimbia’s Slave Trade Heritage Site. The project will follow a “study-design-construct” approach to shorten the gap between studies and works.

Stakeholders Set the Guardrails 

The Secretary-General of Limbe City Council read out key resolutions. Stakeholders want the topography “well-studied” to prevent landslides and slope failures. They mandated all documents in English, population involvement in mapping history and protected areas, and harmonization with previous studies. They also asked for provision to extend the road in future even if the current budget does not cover it.

Compensation was another concern: affected persons will be compensated “based on the regulations in force” once the best route is chosen. Leaders from Bimbia, Dikolo, and Bonangome said transparency will determine community acceptance.

FULL STUDY SAL requested drone authorization for rapid surveys and expedited bill processing to keep field teams moving. The consultant also appealed for collaboration from traditional authorities.

A Call to Own the Project 

First Assistant SDO Awa Dean closed with appreciation: “I like the very interactive discussions for this project, I saw you guys very enthusiastic with frank remarks.” That frankness, participants said, will make the project succeed.

Mayor Dr. Paul Efome L.M. Ngale ended on partnership: “It is incumbent for us… to follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Public Works… All authorities and the population have been informed, and everybody has shared their opinion.”

With FCFA 251 million  now committed 165 million from the City Council and 86 million from the Ministry of Public Works — Limbe has moved from talk to technical work. If studies proceed, the city will get more than tar. It will get a modern, climate-smart corridor linking tourism, trade, agriculture, and a new urban frontier.

For now, the pen is on paper. The road, at last, has begun.

Cameroon, British Firm Sign MoU to advance construction of Bekoko-Limbe-Idenau road

Government has taken a decisive step toward the construction of the Bekoko-Limbe-Idenau road with the signing of an agreement with British firm PROPAV Infrastructure Ltd, which will now prepare financing proposals for the project.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Yaounde on June 19 by Minister of Public Works Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi and representatives of the British firm. The corridor cuts through the South-West Region and is considered strategic for trade, mobility and economic activity along Cameroon’s Atlantic coast.

The agreement establishes a framework for the next phase of project development, including site visits, technical assessments and the preparation of financial proposals required before construction can begin. Authorities say the move is intended to accelerate implementation of a project regarded as a key component of the region’s economic development plans.

According to the Ministry of Public Works, the Bekoko-Limbe-Idenau road has been identified as the priority project among three major road corridors discussed with PROPAV Infrastructure Ltd. The other routes are Loum-Tombel-Kumba-Mundemba and Mutengene-Buea. Officials said Bekoko-Limbe-Idenau was selected first because technical studies have already been completed, allowing preparations to advance more quickly toward financing and execution.

The project is expected to improve connectivity between major economic centres in the South-West Region, facilitate the movement of goods and people, and strengthen access to commercial and industrial zones. The agreement marks an important step in moving the project from the planning stage toward investment mobilisation and eventual construction. Authorities believe the road will play a significant role in supporting economic activity along Cameroon’s Atlantic coast.

Djoumessi said the MoU was intended to translate a shared commitment into concrete action. He noted that the parties had identified three strategic roads in the South-West Region, with the Bekoko-Limbe-Idenau corridor designated as the priority project.

“Based on this Memorandum of Understanding, PROPAV, which is based in London and has financial backing, will propose financing conditions for the project and we will move forward. Together, we will discuss a timetable so that work can begin very quickly and ensure that the signing of an MoU does not remain only a document,” he said.

The agreement also enables PROPAV Infrastructure Ltd to submit technical and financial offers aligned with the expectations of the contracting authority. Company officials said they are ready to undertake the technical, financial and environmental assessments required before field operations commence.

United Kingdom High Commissioner to Cameroon Matt Woods, who accompanied the PROPAV delegation, welcomed the signing and praised the cooperation between the parties. He also thanked the Ministry of Public Works for its cooperation during discussions leading to the agreement.

“I am very pleased to be here with PROPAV and its Country Manager, Paula Miguel. This is the first step of a collaboration that I believe will be very fruitful. I have seen the personal commitment of the minister and the commitment of PROPAV, and I am confident that this road will be delivered,” Woods said.

British partners also reiterated their commitment to supporting implementation of the project, noting that the required studies for the priority road have already been completed. The MoU now provides the framework for advancing technical preparations, financing discussions and planning ahead of the start of construction works.

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A plenary session dedicated to oral questions was held at the Paul Biya Glass House at Ngoa Ekelle last June 26, 2026 and was chaired by Deputy Speaker, Hon Mary Muyali Meboka, representing the House Speaker, the Right Hon Theodore Datouo.

Discussions focused on key issues directly affecting the daily lives of Cameroonians, including the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), the protection of minors on social media, the quality of telecommunications services, and the safety of Cameroonians living abroad.

Hon. Germain Mengue Mezui questioned the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Prof. Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa on gender-based violence. In response, the Minister highlighted the existing regulatory framework and announced the ongoing development of a specific draft law on GBV. She also noted that 126 support centers for victims are already operational nationwide.

The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng addressed two major concerns. In response to Hon Josephine Ghimbop Simo, she drew attention to the risks associated with TikTok use by minors, in a context marked by insufficient legal, technical, and educational safeguards. She outlined measures including strengthened content monitoring and the implementation of a reporting mechanism to ensure the rapid removal of harmful content.

Responding to Hon. Benilde Djeumeni on the deterioration of mobile and internet services, she reaffirmed the existence of a regulatory framework and clarified the responsibilities of the National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ANTIC) and telecom operators in ensuring service quality and consumer protection.

On his part, Hon Roger Nkodo Dang raised concerns with the Ministry of External Relations regarding acts of extortion and violence against Cameroonians in South Africa, citing the case of businessman Baba Danpullo. He called for a firm yet measured diplomatic response in line with international conventions. Representing the Minister of External Relations, the Minister Delegate in Charge of the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu, assured that the matter is being closely monitored at the highest level of the State, with diplomatic and legal actions underway.

Through this session, the National Assembly once again reaffirmed its commitment to overseeing government action and placing citizens’ concerns at the heart of parliamentary debate.

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About 30 media professionals have been groomed on children’s rights at a workshop organised last June 24 and 25, 2026 by Plan International Cameroon with support the Foundation of the leading mobile telephony operator in the Country, MTN Cameroon.

Experts during the workshop revealed to journalists that ‘‘a child out of 3 is a victim of child abuse in Cameroon.’’

To Protection Specialist at Plan International Cameroon, Gaelle Beri, “a month alone is not enough and media role remains essential. Interventions shall be known and coordinated. MTN Foundation will be a key partner with whom all can be shaped.”

A presentation on Understanding new logics of information in the era of digital world and the economic cost of mediatization of unethical violence done on children was done by Dr Albert Ze of the Institute of Research on Health and Development, IRESADE.

Presenting what MTN Cameroon is doing to protect children online in what is MTN Cameroon Help Children be Children, the Official in charge of Operations at MTN Foundation, Fernande Mengbwa said it is a key initiative put in place for child online programme. Children are protected online because the cyberspace is very complicated with people passing for other people etc.

She told the press that “a child can easily be deceived once the person behind the pseudo name discusses familiarity issues with them such as I am a friend to your father, mother etc.”

Fernande Mengbwa added that “MTN Cameroon is there to connect people for development and we are aware that our children are naive so they ought to be protected against criminals in the cyberspace.”

On the second but last day of the workshop, Dr Eddy Patrick Donkeng schooled media professionals on how to write a non-sensational story that carries child protection messages. He told media professionals that after their Douala workshop with journalists in the Littoral region this week, a media network for the active protection of children’s rights in the country will be created.

Presenting what Plan International Cameroon does for children’s protection, Safeguards Specialist, Josianne Ngouleu said safeguarding children and young people are our framework for keeping children and young people safe and protected in Cameroon.

Other Facilitators at the workshop included; Taka Ebong Nathalie of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Public Health Specialist, Dr Afounde Jeannette, Country Director of Association CityLight Cameroon, Helene Marie Fanny, etc.

It should be recalled that Plan International Cameroon is advocating children’s rights and equality for girls in the country since 1996.

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Mayors, deputy mayors, and city mayors who are non-civil servants, are seething over non-payment of salary arrears.

The arrears which have accrued to ten months since 2025, add to an earlier 16-month arrears which some of them did not receive.. In a chat with one of the aggrieved mayors in the North West Region, who spoke on condition of strict anonymity,  insisting he wasn’t officially mandated to speak to the press, he intimated to The SUN that the first 16 months arrears, spans the period  they were elected into office in 2016 and 2017.

He recalled that the Head of State’s decree of 5th September 2015, instituting salaries for non-civil-servant mayors, was effectively implemented as from April 2017. He continued that when calculations were effected as to what was  owed them, the calculations started from 2017, leaving out 16 months.

The deputy mayor in question admitted that while some mayors, deputy mayors, and Government Delegates’ situations were completely cleared, he doesn’t know why some were left out. He revealed that in October 2023, in Order Number 056, the Director General of Treasury, Mr. Moh Sylvester had directed councils to communicate the situation of salary arrears of non-civil-servant-mayors of the 2013-2020 mandate. He said their files were deposited on October 18, 2023, and in early 2024, some municipal authorities were paid, while others, like them, are still waiting. “It has been impossible to get the Director General of Treasury to have an explanation”, he told The SUN.

The deputy mayor cried out that “they’re really suffering”, especially since salaries that had been flowing normally started witnessing difficulties in 2025, To the point that they have not had salaries since November 2025 .

As to why they haven’t received their invoices, he said one of them was afraid to speak out due to fear of reprisal. A top official at the Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development confided  to The SUN  on condition of anonymity, that 16 months can’t be true, but most, if not all, have salary arrears. He added that it’s the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance.(MINFI). He revealed that his ministry “had calculated and transmitted everything to the Ministry of Finance (MINFI)”.

It should be noted that on November 1, 2022, the Minister of Decentralization and Local Development, George Elanga Obam, in a press release No 000047, informed municipal authorities that following instructions from the Head of State, their salary arrears have been budgeted under the Common Decentralization Fund of that year .

The mayors are in a quandary as to who will rescue them and when will their situation be normalized.

It seems most of them are relying on the Minister of decentralization and Local development, George Elanga Obam to push through their case.

Over 100 mayors and city mayors in the country are non-civil-servants.

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According to information obtained by Investir au Cameroun from sources familiar with the matter, the government has already secured CFA35 billion to replenish the standby letter of credit (SBLC) issued by SCB Cameroun.

The financing operation, launched in March 2026 and arranged by Financia Capital, aims to fully restore the euro-denominated guarantee, valued at more than €86 million, or about FCFA56 billion. The amount raised so far represents just over 62% of the target, leaving approximately FCFA21 billion still to be secured.

The SBLC is a key component of the financial structure supporting the Nachtigal project. It guarantees payments owed to Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC), the company operating the hydropower plant, if the electricity buyer fails to meet its payment obligations. Since the government took control of former utility Eneo, now renamed Socadel, it has sought to reduce the risk of payment defaults on the strategic project, which has become a cornerstone of Cameroon’s electricity supply.

Financing progresses but talks continue

According to a source involved in the negotiations, the financing package has not yet been finalized. “The commitments received from banks now cover the full amount being sought. However, discussions are continuing on the financial terms, the loan structure, and the required guarantees. Once those issues are resolved, the proposals will be submitted to the banks’ credit committees before the financing agreement is signed,” the source said.

That means the government has already secured an initial financial buffer, but completing the guarantee still depends on final negotiations over lending conditions, collateral requirements, and internal approval processes at participating banks.

According to the same sources, the partial replenishment of the SBLC, combined with partial payments on nearly FCFA70 billion owed to NHPC as of February 2026, has helped ease pressure on the project’s broader guarantee framework, including a World Bank-backed guarantee supporting Société Générale Paris.

At the same time, the government has established a revolving fund designed to gradually rebuild the reserve and reduce the risk of future payment defaults. The mechanism is intended to secure payments to NHPC as the Nachtigal plant takes on a growing role in the country’s electricity generation.

Test case for future energy projects

Beyond the immediate financing needs, the Nachtigal project highlights broader questions about how Cameroon manages the financial commitments associated with large public-private partnerships.

As public guarantees, counter-guarantees, and other risk-sharing mechanisms become more common in major energy projects, the government is paying closer attention to the fiscal risks they create. Nachtigal illustrates how even a strategically important infrastructure project can become a financial challenge when the electricity purchaser is unable to meet its payment obligations consistently.

The Ministry of Finance has already acknowledged those concerns. “We need to become much better at structuring the financing of major projects. The NHPC case has provided valuable lessons that are shaping our thinking today. We believe the financial structure of this project did not leave the state in the strongest possible position,” a ministry official said during the second International Financial Conference held in Yaoundé on April 23.

The concerns echo those raised by the International Monetary Fund. In its 2025 report on the seventh review of Cameroon’s economic and financial program, the IMF warned that costs associated with operating the Nachtigal power plant could place additional pressure on public finances.

As Cameroon prepares other major energy investments, including the planned Kikot hydropower dam, Nachtigal is increasingly being viewed as a case study. The project remains critical to expanding the country’s electricity supply, but its financing structure also underscores that the success of large infrastructure projects depends not only on megawatts generated, but also on the state’s ability to sustain contractual commitments, public guarantees, and payment flows over the long term.

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MAGZI plans to add over 9,000 hectares of serviced industrial land by 2035, a 7.5 percent expansion of current capacity. To close Cameroon’s industrial land gap and attract manufacturing. In addition, 1,200 hectares are currently developed across 7 zones from phase to phase through 2035.

Priority locations are focused on the Douala-Bassa extension, Kribi Industrial-Port Complex, Limbe, Bafoussam, Garoua. Priority sectors are agro-processing, construction materials, light manufacturing.  In infrastructure each zone is to include roads, power substations, water, wastewater treatment, and fiber. MAGZI will be positioning plots as “plug-and-play” for investors.

The economic stakes are high. On the manufacturing gap industry is less than14percent of GDP. More serviced land removes this. There are barriers cited by investors in MINPMEESA surveys.

MAGZI hopes to create 50-150 jobs per hectare. Full capacity is envisaged toward 450,000 to 1.3million direct jobs depending on tenant mix.

One of the objectives of MAGZI expansion is to prepare for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) where Kribi/Douala zones give exporters port access, customs advantages and informal industrial areas.

The challenges to watch are funding, land issues and utilities. 9,000 hectares needs FCFA 135billion to 225billion. MAGZI is banking on state budget, pupils Private Partnerships (PPPs) and developers.  Land issues: Past zones stalled on compensation and title disputes. Community engagement will determine speed.  ENEO reliability and water supply must improve. Without dedicated power and water, zones will lose edge to Morocco, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.

SMEs will expect small plots of less than 1 hectare and shared facilities like cold rooms, warehouses, labs to lower entry cost.

Investors tax and customs incentives inside MAGZI zones remain. Land availability is now a priority.

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The management of the Cameroon Development Corporation has promised its workers payment of salaries arrears will commence this week in a move to appease striking workers and generally improve the tense climate throughout the company.

The gesture to pay is not because the company has improved on its finances, on the contrary the company is still in financial dire straits.

The General Manager of Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC),rFranklin Ngoni Njie, says the corporation made FCFA 24 billion in revenue in 2025, but the figure is still less than half of pre-crisis earnings.

He made this revelation on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the Corporation’s annual management meeting at SS Club Bota. The result was “far… less than 50 percent from where we were before the crisis” in the Northwest and Southwest Regions.

“The general picture of our performance for last year is not as good as we expected… We ended the year 2025 with a revenue of above FCFA 24 billion,” Mr. Njie told over 300 top managers, staff representatives and trade union leaders.

From FCFA 50bn to FCFA 4.3bn at crisis peak

The GM noted that insecurity had dragged CDC revenue from an average of over FCFA 50 billion annually to as low as FCFA 4.321 billion in 2019. Revenue is now recovering gradually as peace returns, with income from rubber, bananas and palm oil.

For January to May 2026, the Corporation has already made about FCFA 12 billion, according to Head Office Management Controller Francis Mbock Otto. He said the amount still cannot cover all financial commitments, including salaries for the Corporation’s 15,000+ workers.

Government bailout, but monthly pay still a challenge

The state intervened at the end of 2024 and 2025 with FCFA 35 billion to clear salary arrears from 2018 to 2022. Despite that, CDC has struggled to pay monthly wages regularly. Last week, rubber workers in Tiko downed tools over months of unpaid salaries. CDC must produce more to survive,”

“The only way the corporation can pay monthly wages regularly is for workers to step up production.” He explained that monthly sales fund wages, taxes, healthcare, fuel, electricity and other needs. GM said.

Performance awards launched

To motivate staff, management gave prizes to the three best workers in bananas, oil palms and rubber. Mr. Njie said the scheme will be extended to other service departments by the end of 2026.

 Trade unions table solutions

Union leaders proposed ending insecurity in vulnerable areas, maintaining staff housing, and improving the transport fleet. They also said motivation should include verbal appreciation and equal treatment for production and service workers.

They raised concerns over the Mondoni Oil Mill in Tiko, where irregular electricity has forced reliance on costly thermal generators. The Illoani Oil Mill in Ndian, built in 2011 at FCFA 7 billion, is also out of use after installations were vandalized during the crisis.

Retooling deal pending

Before the close of 2025, the government signed a FCFA 51.8 billion contract with French firm Tylium to build a new oil mill at Idenau and a rubber factory at Tiko within 25 months. Workers say they are still waiting for work to start.

New staff reps installed

The meeting ended with the installation of newly elected staff representatives, commissioned by SW Regional Delegate of Labour and Social Security, Ms. Yvette Lyonga.

GM visits striking workers, appeals for end to strike

The General Manager of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), Franklin Ngoni Njie, has appealed to workers to return to their duty posts while assuring them that management is working to resolve the challenges confronting the corporation. His appeal came during a meeting with disgruntled labourers and staff at the Way Bridge near the Technical Office in Tiko on June 23, following weeks of strike action over unpaid salaries and deteriorating working conditions.

The visit, intended to calm tensions and reopen dialogue between management and employees, provided workers with an opportunity to voice frustrations that have accumulated over several months. While some employees welcomed the General Manager’s outreach, others maintained that meaningful action rather than promises was needed to restore confidence.

During the meeting, workers painted a grim picture of life within the corporation, revealing that salary arrears varied significantly among employees. Some claimed they had gone without pay for as long as 36 months, while others reported not receiving salaries since February or being owed four months’ wages. The prolonged delays, they said, have plunged many families into severe financial hardship.

Several workers narrated how their inability to meet basic household expenses had affected their children’s education, with some pupils reportedly sent home from school or denied report cards because tuition fees had not been paid. Others described the emotional and psychological toll of struggling to provide food and other necessities for their families despite remaining committed to the corporation.

Employees also criticised what they described as poor communication between management and the workforce. According to them, the absence of regular updates on the corporation’s financial situation has created uncertainty and frustration among staff. “As a father, I am crying. If we are lying in what we have spoken, investigate our families. Our pots are empty,” one emotional worker told the General Manager, reflecting the depth of despair among many employees.

Beyond salary concerns, workers highlighted deteriorating working conditions across several CDC facilities. They complained of broken toilets, dry water taps, neglected surroundings and inadequate infrastructure that they said had made the working environment increasingly difficult.

Medical personnel also expressed concern over shortages of essential supplies in CDC health centres. One health worker, identified as Rosemary, lamented that the lack of medical equipment and consumables was undermining the quality of healthcare services provided to workers and surrounding communities.

Despite their grievances, several employees reaffirmed their attachment to the corporation, urging the General Manager to take decisive steps to restore the institution’s former prestige. They encouraged him to conduct regular field visits to better understand the realities facing workers on the ground. “Touch all services with your hands. You are a father; you know where all the issues are coming from,” one employee appealed.

Workers also called for the rehabilitation and maintenance of rubber plantations, arguing that overgrown bushes posed security risks and negatively affected productivity. They pledged their continued support for efforts aimed at reviving the corporation but stressed that visible improvements were urgently needed.

Responding to the concerns, Franklin Ngoni Njie acknowledged that the Cameroon Development Corporation was facing a difficult period. He admitted that the corporation was in crisis but assured workers that efforts were underway, with the support of government, to improve the situation.

The General Manager recognised the payment of salaries as a key responsibility of management and assured employees that work was ongoing to address the arrears. He further pledged to strengthen communication between management and staff to ensure that workers are kept informed about developments affecting the corporation.

In a move aimed at promoting greater collaboration, Njie announced that workers’ representatives would be invited to participate in technical meetings so that employees’ concerns could be directly incorporated into management discussions and decision-making processes.

He also expressed appreciation for the dedication shown by employees despite the numerous challenges confronting the corporation, assuring them that this year would bring better prospects than the previous one.

However, his assurances did little to immediately soften the workers’ position. As the General Manager concluded his visit and departed the venue, employees repeatedly chanted, “No money, no work,” signalling their determination to continue withholding their services until concrete action is taken on outstanding salary payments.

The encounter highlighted the enormous challenges facing one of Cameroon’s largest agro-industrial corporations. While management has pledged reforms, improved communication and renewed engagement with staff, workers insist that the corporation’s recovery must begin with the settlement of salary arrears and meaningful improvements in working conditions. The coming weeks are expected to determine whether the renewed dialogue can pave the way for lasting industrial peace and the revival of the CDC.

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Cameroon has reaffirmed its readiness to play host to the 51st General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF) next July 7 to 12, 2026 in Yaounde.

The country’s readiness was disclosed during a press briefing held last June 25, 2026 at the Paul Biya Glass House by the President of the Cameroon Branch of the APF, Hon Hilarion Etong, who doubles as Senior Deputy Speaker of Cameroon National Assembly.

In his preliminary statement, Hon Hilarion Etong indicated that all necessary arrangements have been finalized to ensure the successful hosting of this major parliamentary event.

He said the session, which will be held alternately at the National Assembly and the Senate, is organized under the distinguished patronage of the President of the Republic, H.E. Paul Biya, and coordinated by the Speaker of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate.

Providing insight into the level of preparedness, the MP emphasized that a comprehensive organizational mechanism has been put in place, with 17 sub-committees fully operational and working in synergy to oversee all aspects of the event. Key components including transportation, accommodation, catering, health services, security, communication, and protocol arrangements have all been carefully addressed to ensure a smooth and successful session.

The session is expected to bring together over 300 delegates from across the Francophone world, underscoring its importance as a major platform for parliamentary diplomacy.

Particular emphasis has been placed on inclusivity, especially the participation of women and young people within the Francophone parliamentary space. In this regard, the Youth Parliament and the Network of Female Parliamentarians of the APF will hold their respective meetings on the sidelines of the session.

Hon. Hilarion Etong also reassured the international community on health safety, noting that Cameroon has recorded no cases of Ebola, thereby offering a secure environment for all participants.

This press conference marks the final phase of preparations for the session, which is poised to enhance Cameroon’s visibility and reaffirm its commitment to the values of dialogue, cooperation, and solidarity within the Francophone parliamentary community.

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Cameroon’s new mining policy is being shaped by six suggested truths from key speakers at the African Forum on Natural Resources Law.

In interviews granted to The SUN, the experts argued that sovereignty will not come from geology alone, but from finance, structure and enforcement. The SUN presents their presentations as policy options the state must now spend.

Germain Salla, who convened the forum through IMP, told The SUN the reform must start with mining titles. He coined the demand “Titles Must Be Bankable”. “We cannot talk about local investors if titles are only admin papers,” Salla said. His presentation called for a clear legal definition of “mining (land) title” and for mining codes to allow four operations: transfer, mortgage or pledge, partial cession, and use as joint venture equity. Without that, banks will not accept titles as collateral and nationals will keep selling projects cheap to foreign investors. Salla then urged for legal amendment plus a fast, transparent digital cadastre. “If titles become assets, the finance ladder will work: national banks first, then CEMAC capital, and the international funds,” he told The Sun.

Professor Atangana averred that the framework linking all reforms. He said that “sovereignty can only be realised through inputs of our currency as capital and land titles or cadastral guarantees”. In his presentation, he argued that Cameroon cannot control minerals through percentage clauses alone. Real control requires three assets: banks with CFA and foreign exchange capacity to lend, capital to match foreign investors, and a digital registry with bankable titles that lenders trust. “Laws fix percentages. Capital fixes power,” he said. He warned that without the three, Cameroon will keep mining but keep exporting jobs and importing finished steel, aluminum and cement. He urged the state to treat bank capacity and Sonamine (the state mining apparatus with CFA 10 billion capital) funding as sovereign (our) projects.

The Assistant Director in charge of Technical Development at the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development  Nkouakep Nzengang Clotaire presented the ministry’s industrial plan to The SUN. He coined a structure of 4 corridors and the elimination of less valuable revenues. He tied projects to four key highways being Ocean for steel from low-grade iron, Djum-Balam for high-grade iron with rail to Douala or Kribi, Yaoundé-Ngaoundéré for bauxite to alumina to aluminum, and Figuil-Mintom for limestone to clinker and ceramics. “We export ore and import products. That is why we do not build roads, we do not transform,” he said. He told The Sun that future mining permits will be tied to processing commitments and that raw ore exports will be restricted where local transformation is viable. “Corridors are infrastructure projects first, then mining projects second,” he stated.

Prof. Oumarou Sanda addressed artisanal mining reform. He coined the new order that artisanal mines should at least produce 5kg of mined resources every month with a Cameroonian shareholding of at least 51 percent, an environmental certificate, and a rehabilitation bond tracked through a standardised global production system. “The aim is to end disorder, smuggling and land damage before we scale industrial mining,” he told The Sun. He acknowledged the 5kg threshold could exclude small miners who lack capital. His recommendation is to pair enforcement with support which is equipment leasing, training, and fair buying centres. “Order without support equals exclusion,” he warned.

Mukeng Mwinzengleng, a mining lawyer from the Democratic Republic of Congo who consulted at the forum, told The Sun that many Cameroonian promoters fail at the bank. He coined the advice “Speak Banking, Get Money”. In his presentation he said bankers do not fund geology. They fund risk versus return. Local entrepreneurs pitch deposits while banks want credit files of equity contribution, off-take agreements, collateral, cash flow models and ESG or other compliances. “If promoters learn banker’s language, discussion opens and projects progress,” he said. He urged chambers of mines and commercial banks to train entrepreneurs on bankable files so Cameroon’s pipeline stops being empty and also recommended miners cooperatives.

Mr. Mpondo, in charge of macro-economics and geopolitical complexities, gave The Sun two linkages. First, “The CFA Currency Trap”. He explained that national banks do not create CFA and many are subsidiaries of foreign parents built to serve home-country investors. “If the bank has no foreign exchange, loans to miners fail no matter how good the deposit is,” he said next, he argued that public debate on 35 percent or 65 percent state share misses the point. The investment decree ties state share to capital contributed. “Sonamine’s 10 billion FCFA cannot buy a real stake in billion-FCFA mines,” he told The Sun. His twin fixes are to build banks with full capacities and increase Sonamine’s capital so the state can pay its share and earn real equity.

Taken together, the six presentations point to one conclusion. Cameroon’s bottleneck is not ore. It is finance, structure and enforcement. Salla wants titles to be bankable. Atangana wants CFA, capital and cadastre. MinMidt wants corridors that process before export. Prof. Sanda wants artisanal order with support. Mukeng wants promoters to speak banker’s language. Mpondo wants capital, not only percentages.

To conclude, if the new policy turns those six options into law, bank practice and field enforcement, Cameroon can shift from exporting embryonic values to keeping added value and jobs.

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