Cameroon’s Unsung Heroes: Teachers On The Frontline

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

On World Teachers’ Day, thousands of educators across Cameroon continue to stand as pillars of hope and national resilience, carrying out their duties despite facing physical danger, armed conflicts, and severe economic hardship.

**A teacher educating students in a classroom (Photo: AI)**

Teaching throughout the country has become an act of profound courage. In the Northwest and Southwest regions, educators face persistent threats from separatist fighters who target schools to enforce boycotts. Dozens of teachers have been killed simply for holding a piece of chalk. In the Far North region, Boko Haram insurgents have destroyed classrooms and forced educators to work under constant peril.

Physical danger, however, is only part of the struggle. Across urban centers and remote villages alike, many teachers grapple with financial instability. Scores of young educators wait months, and sometimes years, to receive their full salaries and civil service integration. Many are posted to remote areas far from their families, surviving on meager stipends while waiting for administrative processes to clear.

That educators continue to enter under-resourced classrooms and inspire children despite these agonising delays demonstrates a dedication that transcends standard employment.

While government efforts to streamline integration and reform the sector deserve recognition, the reality on the ground demands faster, more decisive action. World Teachers’ Day celebrations cannot be limited to annual speeches and commemorative events. The state must guarantee teacher safety in conflict zones and eliminate bureaucratic red tape that delays pay. Securing the welfare of educators is an essential investment in national stability and development.

Special attention must also focus on nursery and primary school teachers, who lay the foundation of learning. Early-childhood educators teach children how to read, write, count, and navigate society. Because a weak foundation threatens the entire educational structure, these teachers require improved working conditions and targeted financial incentives that reflect their immense responsibility.

As the nation marks Oct. 5, educators across Cameroon are reminded of the importance of their calling. In times of socio-economic strain, teachers remain role models who instill resilience, integrity, and knowledge in the next generation. Whether in a quiet village, a busy city secondary school, or a makeshift learning center in a displaced community, their sacrifices remain the backbone of the country’s future.

CAMTEL, SPIN Gabon Discuss Ways To Strengthen Connectivity In Central Africa

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

Cameroon Telecommunication (CAMTEL) and Société de Patrimoine des Infrastructures Numériques (SPIN) in Gabon, have held discussions aimed at strengthening connectivity across Central Africa.

***CAMTEL General Manager Judith Yah Sunday welcomes SPIN’s Bertrand Mahoukou Bitchinda to CAMTEL headquarters in Yaoundé*** *(Photo: CAMTEL)*

This is the substance of the working session that took place in Yaoundé, Cameroon on October 2. It was led by CAMTEL General, Manager Judith Yah Sunday épouse Achidi and Bertrand Mahoukou Bitchinda of SPIN Gabon, as both parties furthered talks on key connectivity priorities.

According to available information, discussions focused in particular on the “CAB-CORRIDOR” initiative, designed to improve terrestrial interconnection between Cameroon, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo by leveraging the Central Africa Backbone (CAB) infrastructure.

The initiative also seeks to better use existing cross-border connection points, enhance digital exchange among CEMAC countries, and strengthen the resilience of the sub-region’s connectivity infrastructure—while complementing existing submarine cable links.

**Judith Yah Sunday épouse Achidi and Bertrand Mahoukou Bitchinda pose for a group photo following working discussions in Yaoundé** *(Photo: CAMTEL)*

The meeting builds on groundwork already carried out by the partner operators, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and a confidentiality agreement.

Next steps will involve defining implementation modalities, expected in October 2026, in preparation for the planned operationalization of the CAB-CORRIDOR project.

**Judith Yah Sunday presents a gift to Bertrand Mahoukou Bitchinda following discussions on connectivity in Yaounde** (Photo: CAMTEL)

Through this initiative, CAMTEL reaffirms its commitment to working with its partners to promote a more connected Central Africa and reinforce digital integration.

2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Cameroon Aim To Extend Winning Run While Congo Seek Comeback

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

With momentum squarely on their side, Cameroon head into their 2027 AFCON qualifying fixture against Congo aiming to extend an impressive winning run. But they face a resilient Congo team eager to bounce back—setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter where three crucial points could shape both sides’ tournament ambitions.

**Indomitable Lions of Cameroon celebrate a goal**

The match is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, at 8:00 PM local time at the Stade Alphonse Massamba-Débat. It carries extra weight for the hosts, who are desperate to recover after a frustrating start to their home-and-away campaign.

Cameroon arrive in Brazzaville riding confidence after a commanding 3–1 victory over Comoros in Garoua. That opening win lifted the Indomitable Lions to the top of Group G on goal difference, level on three points with Namibia. Congo, meanwhile, find themselves under immediate pressure following a 1–0 defeat to Namibia in Gaborone, where an early second-half strike from Bethuel Muzeu proved decisive.

For Congo, Tuesday’s clash is a crucial opportunity to turn early disappointment into momentum before a slow start becomes a prolonged struggle. Although they created several promising moments against Namibia, wasteful finishing ultimately cost them—and that is a flaw they can’t afford against a lethal Cameroon side.

Cameroon showed both clinical attacking quality and territorial control in their opener. Debutant David Roy Nyengue opened the scoring with a header, Brian Mbeumo added a quick second-half strike, and Danny Namaso capped an outstanding individual display with a goal and an assist.

To upset Cameroon’s rhythm, Congo will need a defensive masterclass paired with ruthless efficiency in the final third. A draw would give the hosts a vital foothold in the group, while victory would dramatically reshape Group G—potentially drawing Congo level with both Cameroon and Namibia on three points.

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For Cameroon, the trip to Brazzaville is a chance to prove their opening display wasn’t simply a home anomaly. An away win would secure a perfect six-point start and increase pressure on Namibia, who face Comoros earlier on Tuesday. A draw would keep the Indomitable Lions unbeaten, but anything less than victory leaves the door open for Namibia to seize sole control of the top spot.

With the top two teams in Group G automatically booking their tickets to the 2027 AFCON finals in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, the stakes are already remarkably high. Tuesday’s match promises an early indication of whether Group G will be dominated by the heavyweights—or thrown wide open by a determined Congo side.

It is also worth noting the history between the two nations: the Republic of the Congo and Cameroon have met 12 times. Across their five AFCON main tournament and qualifying meetings, Congo have won twice, Cameroon once, and two ended in draws.

In seven international friendlies, Cameroon won three, Congo two, and two were drawn. While their record across AFCON matches and friendlies is level at four wins each, Cameroon hold the overall head-to-head edge when non-friendly official fixtures—such as CHAN and World Cup qualifiers—are included.

AWS Instructor Banjika Ngo Announces Second Book In Foundation First Series

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

For many people entering the cloud computing industry, networking can feel like one of the most difficult parts of the journey. Cloud platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud offer increasingly simplified interfaces, but beneath those dashboards remain the same networking principles that have powered enterprise computing for decades.

That experience is at the center of “Networking Fundamentals for Cloud Learners,” an upcoming book by Banjika Ngo (Mfòómé Bá’tí Europe), an AWS instructor and founder of WirfonCloud Academy, an African cloud and IT education platform serving learners across Africa and the diaspora.

Mfòómé says the book grew out of more than 15 years of professional experience in enterprise systems, infrastructure and cloud computing. His career began with traditional networking certifications, including the Cisco Certified Network Associate and Cisco Certified Network Professional qualifications, years before cloud computing became a mainstream career path.

“Years before I ever touched AWS, I sat for the CCNA. Then the CCNP,” Mfòómé said. “This was before ‘cloud’ was a career path anyone talked about. Networking was just the job — the thing that had to work before anything else could.” That background, he said, shaped his approach to teaching networking to people who are learning cloud technology today.

Mfòómé worked as a Linux administrator at Verizon GmbH in Germany before moving into enterprise cloud and infrastructure roles at IBM and Kyndryl. He said the examples in his new book are drawn from those professional experiences rather than being based solely on theoretical material.

At the heart of the book is a straightforward argument: Cloud computing depends on networking. “Every single cloud service you will ever build or manage — on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, anywhere — sits on top of a network,” Mfòómé said. “Not ‘some services.’ All of them.”

Despite that dependence, Mfòómé believes networking is often given limited attention in cloud training. Students may learn how to create a virtual private cloud, configure a security group or deploy a server, but may not fully understand what is happening beneath the graphical interface.

He said that can create a particularly difficult problem for learners who have progressed beyond the beginner stage but still have unanswered questions about networking.

“Students memorise which console button provisions a VPC, pass a quiz, and still cannot explain why their own Security Group blocked their own traffic,” he said. “Not because networking is hard — because nobody explained what is actually happening underneath the dashboard.”

Mfòómé describes this knowledge gap as one of the reasons he decided to write the book. The project follows “Fundamentals of Linux for Cloud Learners,” the first book in his Foundation First series. He considers Linux an essential foundation for cloud computing because cloud servers rely heavily on operating-system concepts and administration skills.

“Networking is the floor underneath that floor — the thing that makes ‘cloud’ mean anything at all,” Mfòómé said. The new book is designed to connect familiar everyday experiences with technical concepts before moving learners into practical exercises. For example, an IP address is introduced through an analogy to a personal mobile phone number.

A router is compared with a post office that reads an envelope to determine where it should go without opening the letter. Network address translation, or NAT, is explained through the example of a hotel managing guests coming in and going out.

The concepts are then connected to Linux commands and, eventually, AWS services. Mfòómé said this approach is intended to help learners understand that cloud networking is not a completely separate discipline. “A subnet in a cloud VPC is not a ‘cloud version’ of a subnet,” he said. “It is the same idea, in a different building.”

The book contains 12 chapters and 11 hands-on labs. A central question runs through the material: What actually happens when a user types “google.com” into a browser?

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By the final chapter, Mfòómé said, learners should be able to follow that process from the initial request through networking concepts and security mechanisms to the TLS certificate used to establish a secure connection.

The book is also designed for readers without previous networking or IT experience. Mfòómé points to the experience of Boris Mougoue, who began learning without a prior IT background and later became an application manager, as an example of the type of learner the material is intended to support. His story, along with those of six other learners, is featured on the WirfonCloud YouTube channel.

“Networking Fundamentals for Cloud Learners” is the second book in the Foundation First series. It is planned to be followed by “Python for Cloud Automation,” continuing the learning sequence Mfòómé describes as Linux, networking and Python.

The cover for the networking book has been completed, but the book had not yet been released at the time of writing. Mfòómé said it will eventually be paired with the Networking Fundamentals course offered through WirfonCloud Academy, following the model used for the Linux course and its accompanying book.

The project reflects Mfòómé’s broader effort to build cloud and IT education resources aimed at learners who may not have access to traditional technology training pathways.

To Mfòómé, the objective is not simply to help students pass certification exams. It is to give them enough understanding to diagnose problems and explain what is happening when cloud infrastructure does not behave as expected.

“If that sounds like where you’re starting from, you’re exactly who this book is for,” he said.

While the networking book is still forthcoming, “Fundamentals of Linux for Cloud Learners” is already available on Amazon, with PDF copies also available directly from Mfòómé. Learners interested in following the release of the new book can do so through WirfonCloud Academy and its educational channels.

The upcoming publication represents another step in Ngo’s Foundation First approach: building cloud skills from the underlying technologies upward, rather than beginning with the cloud dashboard and leaving the infrastructure beneath it unexplained.

New Equipment To Expand CAMTEL’s Nationwide Mobile Coverage

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

State-owned telecommunications provider Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL) has received a major consignment of hardware aimed at expanding mobile coverage across the nation.

**Equipment convoy passing through Yaoundé town en route to the Yaoundé-Zemangoé center**

The shipment arrived Sept. 17 at the deep water port of Kribi as part of the company’s Mobile Network Expansion project. The new equipment will be deployed across 245 new locations throughout the country.

Judith Yah Sunday, General Manager of CAMTEL, personally received the cargo transported in 35 containers at the Yaoundé-Zemangoé facility. She commended the project teams for their efficiency and instructed technical crews to begin installation immediately.

While urban and semi-urban zones will see service improvements, rural communities are slated to receive the most significant gains in coverage as the operator works to strengthen its network footprint.

In a social media statement following the reception, CAMTEL outlined the operational goals of the expansion initiative. The company stated that General Manager visited the facility “to ensure that everything is in place to quickly move from receiving equipment to their effective deployment.”

According to the operator, “logistics organization, storage conditions, team coordination, installation schedule, necessary resources, anticipation of potential bottlenecks: all elements are being closely monitored to maintain the project on track.”

However, CAMTEL highlighted the project’s scope, noting that “behind the received equipment lies a concrete ambition: to decongest 122 additional sites and deploy 245 new sites on the 473 existing sites: “

The operator added that “each equipment must now go through a new stage: to be installed, put into service and contribute to better connectivity for Cameroonians.”

Addressing the strategic focus on underserved regions, the company emphasized its target of expanding infrastructure beyond major metropolitan areas. “With particular attention to the densification of rural areas, the ambition…of the General Manager of CAMTEL, is to advance connectivity beyond major urban centers,” CAMTEL stated.

**Judith Yah Sunday, General Manager of CAMTEL (Third from Left), pictured at the Yaoundé-Zemangoé center following the arrival of the equipment**

“From Divisional capitals to Subdivisional headquarters, from semi-urban areas to villages, the Blue Network must be as close as possible to Cameroonians… better connecting Cameroon also means bringing populations closer to services, knowledge, and digital opportunities”.

Beyond expanding physical reach through the 245 new installations, the project includes capacity upgrades at 122 congested locations to relieve network congestion in high-traffic zones. Metropolitan transmission capacity will also be upgraded to support increased data flow across the network.

To address service interruptions caused by regional power instability, CAMTEL plans electrical infrastructure upgrades across its facilities. The modernization drive also features billing system updates to streamline customer account management and tracking, alongside plans to introduce cloud computing and other digital services.

Funding for the first phase of the expansion was secured through a FCFA 44.8 billion syndicated loan with Commercial Bank Cameroon. The financing forms part of a broader infrastructure campaign, with the operator securing over FCFA 145 billion in capital investments between 2021 and late 2025.

The physical rollout follows recent strategic agreements, including a three-year partnership signed with Ethiopian operator Ethio Telecom in December 2025 to develop 4G, 5G, and emerging technologies.

CAMTEL also continues to utilize a national roaming agreement established with MTN Cameroon in 2022, which grants its subscribers access to MTN’s network across more than 200 sites where native CAMTEL coverage is not yet active.

Congo Basin In Focus: COMIFAC, Landscape Alliance & Journalists Discuss State Of Forests

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

The Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC), the Landscape Alliance, and journalists held discussions on the state of the Congo Basin Forest following the presentation of the publication, “The State of the Congo Basin Forest in 2025: The Implementation of International Conventions on the Environment and Forest.”

**Participants posed for a family picture** (Photo: COMIFAC)

The discussions took place on Monday, September 21, in Yaoundé. The publication was presented to the media ahead of its official launch and the conference of parliamentarians on science, environmental governance, and climate financing in Central Africa.

The Landscape Alliance serves as the shared operating name for the joint partnership between the Centre for International Forestry Research and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, collectively known as CIFOR-ICRAF.

During the media briefing, various presentations underscored the immense value of the Congo Basin, which spans approximately 200 million hectares of tropical rainforest. This vast expanse according to scientists stands as one of the planet’s last great green lungs. It harbors exceptional biodiversity, plays a vital role in regulating the global climate, and serves as an essential source of livelihoods for tens of millions of people.

“Its preservation is therefore not merely a regional responsibility but a matter of global interest,” expert said adding that incorporating scientific findings into forest management is fundamental to improving governance. The discussions also emphasized that while it is crucial for Central African countries to mobilize internal resources to finance climate change-related issues, it is equally important to carry out adaptation measures that are more favorable to the local population.

Dr. Richard Eba’A Atyi, the lead author of the publication, described it as a document containing all the indicators that allow for tracking forest trends, including surface area, biodiversity, economics, and the benefits derived by states and communities.

He explained that the publication should be mastered by all journalists because while it deals with science, journalists must take the message forward to give more visibility to the community and help people understand exactly what is contained in that publication.

Dr. Abdon Awono indicated that, “We are presenting the findings of this publication to journalists, focusing particularly on recommendations to improve the implementation of these conventions. We urge countries in the sub-region to mobilize resources to fund climate change adaptation for the benefit of local populations. We are organizing a regional conference with the Network of Parliamentarians for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa. We need to see how scientific findings can contribute to shaping public policy; decisions must be well-informed.”

He added, “We need to improve governance and come together to work collaboratively. The states of Central Africa are doing a lot of efforts, but a lot is still to be done to make sure that we manage our resources, value them, and respect the engagement taken at international conventions.”

The publication itself was produced by a consortium comprising CIRAD, FRM Ingénierie, UCLouvain, CIFOR-ICRAF, and the Observatory for the Forests of Central Africa, known as OFAC, with funding from the European Union.

It analyzes the implementation of international conventions regarding the environment and forests. The work received contributions from over 60 researchers, coordinators, and consultants. Commissioned by the 11 member countries, the publication aims to drive actions that will position the Congo Basin effectively within the context of global affairs.

**Participants in session** (Photo: Mainimo Etienne)

Launch Of Competition For Journalists

Beyond presenting the report, the press briefing served as an important opportunity to support journalism and public engagement. The organizers launched a competition for journalists focused on producing reports and other media content based on the data, issues, and themes addressed in the State of the Congo Basin Forests 2025 report.

Participation procedures, categories, and selection criteria were presented, with journalists given one month to submit articles. The competition seeks to turn scientific findings into accessible stories that inform the public and raise awareness of the report’s challenges and solutions. The grand prize winner will attend a conference on the Congo Basin Forest.

Organizers noted that entries can take different formats, and journalists may work individually or in groups. This recognizes the complexity of forest governance and climate issues and supports a shared newsroom culture of research-led reporting.

Four awards will be presented: Print/Digital Press, Radio/Podcast, Television, and the State of the Forests 2025 Grand Prize (open to all categories). The jury will give particular consideration to the meaningful use of the report’s data, journalistic rigor, storytelling and presentation quality, original approach, and ability to make forestry issues accessible to the general public.

‘Being Different Is Not Less’: How A Cameroonian Scholar, Faith Becky Amose Is Rethinking Special Education

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

In a city where conversations about autism and developmental disabilities are often whispered rather than spoken aloud, Faith Beckie Amose has chosen to speak loudly. A social work scholar who has spent 14 years living and researching in Sweden, her life changed when her own child was diagnosed on the autism spectrum 13 years ago.

**Faith Beckie Amose, Founder of Emmanuel Special Needs Bilingual and Rehabilitation Center located Carrifou Kameni in Yaoundé (Photo: Mainimo Etienne)**

Having experienced the stark contrast between raising a child with additional needs in Cameroon and in the Nordic welfare state, she determined to bridge the gap.

Three years ago, she founded the of Emmanuel Special Needs Bilingual and Rehabilitation Center located Biyem Assi (Kameni en bas) in Yaoundé. The center operates on a philosophy that fuses rigorous academic frameworks with local realities—a approach Amose calls the Afrocentric Culturally-Responsive Framework.

“What prompted me to open this school was because I also have a child on the autism spectrum,” Ambose explained. “I knew what it was like raising a child who was different in Cameroon before we migrated to Sweden.”

Holding a Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Social Work, Amose brings over a decade of professional experience to her native country. Her goal is not simply to replicate Western models, but to adapt them using local concepts so that children in Cameroon can build essential life skills.

The school’s empirical approach has already yielded tangible results. Using standardized tools like Goal Attainment Scaling, educators track developmental milestones ranging from emotional regulation and motor skills to toilet training and speech

“Our school is different from others because I am not only passionate about working with persons with disability, but I am also a scholar,” Amose said. “My joy is when I call my educators, and we look at the interventions we’ve put in place… and we see that we have attained so many positive outcomes and so many big wins.”

Looking ahead, Amose, who has recently registered for her PhD envisions transforming the center into a broader research hub. She aims to train future Cameroonian social workers, special educators, and psychologists to address the growing prevalence of neurodevelopmental conditions across the continent.

However, she emphasizes that institutional success requires systemic policy changes at the national level. Raising a child with extra support carries significant financial burdens, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, and ongoing medical appointments. Amose believes the State must step in to subsidize costs, establish early screening centers within healthcare systems, and close knowledge gaps among primary caregivers.

“No parent needs to shoulder that burden alone,” she noted. “The government needs to come in to see how they can help these parents navigate the system.”

Addressing the stigma and emotional hurdles surrounding special needs, Amose urged parents to move past denial—a state that often deprives children of crucial early intervention windows. She acknowledged the deep psychological impact on families, describing it as an experience of “ambiguous loss” where parents must first grieve before reaching acceptance.

Crucially, she cautioned against quick fixes, spiritual promises, or expectations of immediate miraculous outcomes, pointing out that neurodevelopmental support requires sustained evaluation and adaptive care throughout a child’s growth.

“There is no magic in it,” she stressed. “We don’t ask, ‘What is wrong with the child?’ We ask, ‘What can the child do? What is the child able to do?’ Then, how can we come in to help the child build up those skills where they are lacking?”

Grounded in international frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the center’s philosophy remains centered on dignity and inclusion.

“Inclusion is respecting persons with disability, letting them feel welcomed, respected, and given a sense of belonging,” Amose said. “Being different is not less—that is the motto of Emmanuel Special Needs Center. Being different doesn’t make you less of a human.”

Maëllys Ngo Mboui Emerges As Miss Cameroon 2026 Amid Focus On Cybercrime

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

Maëllys Ngo Mboui has brought a new dimension to the Miss Cameroon crown, becoming the first contestant representing the Cameroonian diaspora in France to win the national title in a pageant increasingly seeking to connect beauty, civic engagement and contemporary social issues.

The 20-year-old Franco-Cameroonian from Bamenda was crowned Miss Cameroon 2026 on September 19 in Yaoundé, emerging from a field of 27 contestants at the 19th edition of the competition. The ceremony was presided over by First Lady Chantal Biya and attended by several dignitaries.

**Chantal Biya decorating Maëllys Ngo Mboui after claiming 2026 title** (Photo: Unity Palace)

Ngo Mboui competed as Miss Diaspora France while also representing Cameroon’s Northwest Region, giving her victory significance beyond the traditional pageant circuit. Organizers and supporters have described the result as recognition of the contribution of Cameroonians living abroad and a new chapter for the competition’s engagement with the diaspora.

Her background also sets her apart. Before taking the national crown, Ngo Mboui was crowned Miss Cameroon Diaspora France in March. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Management and Mathematics and Computer Science and has been involved in initiatives aimed at encouraging young women to pursue science and technology.

Among her projects is “Cameroonian Girls in STEM,” while in January she participated in a hackathon organized with Amazon Web Services in Bamenda. Her academic and technology-related activities now add another dimension to her responsibilities as Miss Cameroon.

The 2026 edition was held under the theme “Fighting Cybercrime,” placing a major social issue at the heart of the pageant. The choice gives Ngo Mboui’s technology background particular relevance as she begins a year in which she is expected to represent Cameroon at national and international events and support social and charitable initiatives.

**Chantal Biya and winner alongside runners up posed for a family picture** (Picture: Unity Palace)

At 1.88 metres tall and bilingual in French and English, Ngo Mboui is also expected to use her public profile to engage with young people and promote causes linked to her areas of interest. Her mandate comes at a time when cybercrime has become an increasingly prominent concern in Cameroon, making the pageant’s theme more closely tied to public awareness than in previous editions.

She succeeds Audrey Moutongo Black, who assumed the title after Josiane Harangada Golonga was dethroned by the Cameroon International Marketing and Communication Agency (COMICA) on February 25, 2026. COMICA cited repeated breaches of contractual obligations, including unexcused absences, disrespectful remarks and the unilateral cessation of activities associated with the title.

Ngo Mboui’s coronation therefore begins a new chapter for the competition, placing a young woman with a diaspora identity and a strong academic and technology profile at the centre of Cameroon’s national beauty platform.

Cooking Gas Shortage Hits Yaoundé, Douala Amid Escalating Economic Hardship

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

An acute shortage of liquefied petroleum gas has plunged households across Yaounde and Douala into deep frustration, forcing city dwellers to spend hours roaming city streets in search of domestic cooking cylinders as everyday living costs continue to climb.

**Empty domestic cooking gas cylinders in Yaounde**

For days, citizens in Cameroon’s major urban centers have faced a severe supply breakdown that shows little sign of easing. According to city dwellers, finding gas has become an exhausting ordeal, with low inventories feeding a surging black market where vendors sell remaining cylinders at high prices.

“Buying gas now is like searching for a needle in a haystack,” said a local trader, who carried an empty cylinder balanced on her head as she searched from block to block. “Since morning, I have been running back and forth to buy gas, but I haven’t found any. It’s really disturbing, especially at a time when we are already experiencing a high cost of living.”

The distribution breakdown has forced city dwellers to travel far beyond their usual neighborhoods in hopes of finding fuel, often returning empty-handed.

“I have been searching for cooking gas since last week with no luck,” another resident told reporters while riding a motorcycle between retail points. “The specific brand I use seems to be completely out of stock. I have checked everywhere to no avail.”

Even consumers who manage to locate supply must compromise on brand preferences and pay inflated rates. Standard 12.5-kilogram cylinders, typically regulated at FCFA 6,500, are commanding far higher prices on the street.

“I couldn’t find my usual brand after searching for days, so I decided to exchange my bottle for a different one and paid FCFA 8,000 CFA francs,” said Mildred smiling after securing a bottle. “I only managed to get it because I knew the seller, and it was their last bottle.”

With cooking gas out of reach, a growing number of families have turned to charcoal as a primary alternative. However, the sudden spike in demand, however, is rapidly driving up charcoal prices across local markets, compounding financial stress for low-income households.

“For some time now, I have been cooking with charcoal because I haven’t been able to buy gas,” said Magdalen, a shopper on her way to market. “The price of charcoal is gradually going up because so many people are turning to it while waiting for the gas supply to stabilize.”

“Ever since this morning, many people have been coming here to buy charcoal, and I must say business has been really strong,” the charcoal seller said. “I’ve been experiencing good sales not just today, but for the past few days as well, because demand has been high.”

In Douala, long queues of city dwellers holding empty cylinders have lined storefronts along major thoroughfares, prompting community leaders and citizens to call on government authorities to step in, restore supply chains, and enforce price controls before the crisis deepens.

AFRODAD, SADCOPAC Partner To Enhance Parliamentary Oversight & Advance Debt Justice

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

The African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) and the Southern Africa Development Community Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (SADCOPAC) have formalized a partnership to strengthen parliamentary oversight, promote responsible debt management, and advance effective public financial governance across the region.

The recently signed agreement aims to equip regional legislatures with the knowledge, capacity, and tools needed to scrutinize public borrowing, enforce accountability, and drive sustainable development outcomes.

As AFRODAD marks 30 years of advocating for debt justice, officials say the collaboration signals a shift from advocacy to stronger institutional action in support of the Common African Position on Debt.

“This partnership with SADCOPAC marks an important milestone in AFRODAD’s 30-year journey of advancing debt justice and accountability across Africa,” said Janet Zhou, executive director of AFRODAD. “By strengthening parliamentary oversight, we are moving from principles on paper to stronger oversight in practice, while advancing the Common African Position on Debt and strengthening Africa’s capacity to shape a fairer global debt architecture.”

Under the accord, both entities will focus on joint advocacy, capacity building, and knowledge sharing. Key initiatives include urging member states to adopt the SADC Model Law on Public Financial Management and the Model Public Audit Act, alongside implementing the African Borrowing Charter to enhance oversight of public loans, guarantees, and overall expenditure.

Additionally, the organizations plan to train public accounts committees to better evaluate debt management decisions while unifying regional efforts behind debt accountability.

Supporters of the initiative emphasize that robust parliamentary oversight remains crucial for ensuring transparency in government borrowing and guaranteeing that public resources are used responsibly.

By leveraging their combined expertise and networks, AFRODAD and SADCOPAC intend to bolster legislative institutions across Southern Africa, contributing to a broader continental push for Africa to actively shape global debt governance rules rather than merely adhering to them.

About AFRODAD

The African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) is an African civil society organisation advancing debt justice, responsible borrowing, sustainable development, and accountable public financial governance across the continent.

About SADCOPAC

The Southern Africa Development Community Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (SADCOPAC) is a regional platform bringing together public accounts committees to strengthen parliamentary oversight, accountability, and public financial management.

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