We Are Bringing AI To Every Phone, Offline And In 100 African Languages—Starting With ‘Choronko’ – Zuo Bruno, Cybersecurity Engineer

Cameroonian-born cybersecurity engineer and founder of Zuoix, Zuo Bruno, is redefining the global tech landscape with a breakthrough offline AI platform designed to operate entirely without internet connectivity. In an exclusive interview with The Post, Zuo Bruno said the offline AI platform aims to bring AI to every phone, offline and in 100 languages, starting with the “Choronko” phone. Speaking further, he stated that his inspiration stemmed from 2017, when the internet was off in the Anglophone Regions for 93 days, changing the course of livelihood as students faced difficulties, health care was disrupted, and farmers saw their activities come to a stop. He stated that the platform, SkyDew, is already live for MTN Cameroon, handling a meaningful spread of Cameroonian languages—including Pidgin English among others. He added that technology should no longer be a privilege of the urban elite, but a practical tool accessible to anyone with a mobile device, regardless of their data plan or dialect. Read the excerpt.

Excerpt:

News-lens: Mr. Bruno, let’s go back to 2017. For 93 days, the internet was off in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon. What was the first thought that came to your mind when you realised even simple things like sending money or homework had stopped working?

Zuo Bruno: Honestly, my first thought was disbelief — and then a kind of quiet anger. I have family there, and the shutdown hit me personally in ways people who have never lived it cannot easily imagine. I depended entirely on a cyber café for my work and my livelihood, and when that café was forced to close for three months, I could not eat properly, I could not pay my rent. My income simply stopped. I kept thinking about my cousins who could not submit assignments, the traders in Bamenda who lost contracts overnight, the parents who could not send school fees, the doctors who could not receive lab results. We talk about the internet as if it is a luxury, but in those 93 days it became painfully clear: in 2017, cutting the internet was no different from cutting the water supply. People could not work, learn, heal, or even mourn properly.

But the thought that stayed with me longest was this — if a government can flip a switch and silence an entire region, then the technology we are building on top of that switch is fragile. We were building castles on someone else’s foundation. That is the moment, as an engineer, that something shifted in me permanently.

You created SkyDew so that anyone with any phone — even a very old one — can use AI. What did you see with your own eyes that made you say: “I must build this for people without internet?”

Two scenes, really. The first was during a trip to Bamenda. I watched a woman in a small village try to ask a health question. She had a basic Nokia, no data plan, no smartphone. Her grandson, who had a smartphone, had travelled. So she sat there with a question that ChatGPT could have answered in three seconds — and she had no way in. The whole AI revolution was happening above her head, in a cloud she could not reach.

The second was simply noticing the global AI boom. Billions of dollars were flowing into models that could write Shakespeare and pass medical exams — but none of them worked on a feature phone in Ikiliwindi or Kwakwa. Garoua and Buea already have internet coverage; the real gap is in the rural villages where life actually happens. I realised the AI industry had quietly decided that over 700 million Africans without reliable internet were simply not the customer. That was the moment I said: someone has to build the bridge. And if no one else is going to, I will.

Can you explain to a farmer or a student how they would actually use SkyDew? If I have a simple phone with no data, what numbers do I press, and what happens next?

It is deliberately as simple as sending an SMS — because it is an SMS. There are two doors into SkyDew. The first door is SMS, and it is already live for MTN Cameroon. If you are on MTN today, you simply take any phone — even a Choronko, the basic feature phone many of us grew up with — and send a normal text message to (+237) 651-293-668. For example, you might type “What is causing yellow leaves on my maize?” and send it. A few seconds later, an SMS comes back with the answer, in the language you wrote in. No app to install. No data bundle. Nothing to learn. If you can send “Good morning” to your sister, you can use SkyDew. We are actively expanding to the other Cameroonian telcos — Orange, and CAMTEL — so that within a short time, no matter which network you are on, SkyDew will reach you.

The second door is USSD — those menus you already use to check your Mobile Money balance, like *126# or *150#. We are still working with the telcos to secure a dedicated SkyDew USSD number, and once that is in place, you will dial a short code, a menu will pop up: 1 for farming, 2 for health, 3 for school help, 4 for translation, and so on. You pick a number, type your question, and the answer comes back on the same screen. No internet involved at any point. The intelligence lives on our network; the phone only needs to send and receive SMS. That is all SkyDew needs. That is it.

Your system works in over 100 African languages, including local dialects. How many Cameroonian local dialects are integrated into SkyDew, and why was that so important to you? How did you ensure the AI’s responses remained culturally and linguistically accurate?

At the moment, SkyDew handles a meaningful spread of Cameroonian languages — including Pidgin English, which for many of us is the real lingua franca, alongside Ewondo, Duala, Fulfulde, Bamileke variants, Bassa, and others, and we are continuing to expand. Cameroon alone has over 250 languages, and I refuse to treat that as a problem. It is our wealth.

Why does it matter? Because AI that only speaks English or French is not neutral — it is a filter. It tells a grandmother in Kumbo that her wisdom is not welcome unless she translates herself first. I wanted to flip that. SkyDew should meet you in the language your mother sang to you in.

On accuracy, we did not just rely on translation engines. We worked with native speakers, teachers, and community linguists from each region to validate responses, especially around health, farming, and legal topics where a wrong word can do real damage. We also tuned the system to recognise cultural context — for example, when someone asks about a traditional remedy, SkyDew does not dismiss it the way a Silicon Valley model might; it engages respectfully and then adds modern information alongside. That balance is non-negotiable for me.

You could have built a fancy app for smartphones. Instead, you chose SMS and USSD — very basic tools. Some people might ask, “Why go backwards?” What would you tell them?

I would tell them: I did not go backwards. I went where the people are.

Smartphones in Africa are growing, yes, but the truth on the ground is that hundreds of millions of people still use feature phones, and even those with smartphones often switch them off or use them sparingly because data is expensive. If I build a beautiful React Native app with a clean dark mode, I have built it for the 15% who already had options. SMS and USSD reach the 100%. They work on every phone ever made. They work when the network is weak. They work when there is no Wi-Fi for 200 kilometres. They even work during a shutdown of mobile data, because the SMS channel often stays up.

There is also something philosophical here. The most powerful technology is not the flashiest — it is the one that disappears into people’s lives. SMS already disappeared into African life twenty years ago. I am simply pouring AI into a pipe that anyone with even a feature phone already trusts.

You won the Presidential Prize in 2018, then you seemed to disappear for nearly five years. Now we know you were building SkyDew. During that time in the shadows, what was the one moment or breakthrough that made you say, ‘Okay, this is ready for all of Africa’?

Those five years were not glamorous. There were nights I questioned everything. I was running Zuoix, doing cybersecurity work to fund the dream, writing code at 2 a.m., flying for business across the continent. The Presidential Prize was a beautiful affirmation, but prizes do not write code. Only work writes code.

The breakthrough moment came when we got our Mobile Network Operator detection working across 1,607 prefixes — meaning SkyDew could intelligently route a message from any phone, on any African network, to the right node in our system, and back. That sounds technical, but here is what it meant in human terms: a herder in northern Kenya, a market woman in Lagos, and a student in Yaoundé could all send the exact same kind of question and each receive an answer in their own language, on their own network, in seconds — without any of them knowing or caring how it worked underneath.

When I saw that working end-to-end, on real SIM cards, with real responses coming back, I sat in my office and just breathed. I thought, “Okay. This is no longer a project. This is infrastructure.” That was the day I knew it was ready.

I heard a story of a farmer in Mali who diagnosed a sick tomato crop using SkyDew. What did that farmer say to you afterward? And what did that moment feel like for you as an engineer?

He said something I will carry with me forever. Roughly translated, he said: “My father used to ask the elders. Now the elders are gone, and I asked the small phone. It answered me like my father would have.” Then he laughed and said he saved his crop and was going to use the money to buy his daughter a school uniform.

As an engineer, you spend years staring at logs, fixing bugs at 3 a.m., arguing with yourself about architecture decisions nobody else will ever see. And then one day a man you have never met, in a village you have never visited, tells you that the thing you built in silence kept food on his table. I cannot describe that feeling cleanly. It is not pride. It is closer to gratitude — gratitude that the work was allowed to mean something. Every line of code I have written since then carries that farmer’s voice in it.

The government once shut down the internet for 93 days in the Anglophone Regions in Cameroon. Now you’ve built a tool that doesn’t need the internet to work. Is SkyDew your quiet answer to that shutdown? And how does that feel?

I want to be careful here, because I am not building SkyDew as a protest against any one government. I am building it as a protection for every African — regardless of who is in power, regardless of which region they live in, regardless of what crisis comes next.

But yes — if I am honest, the 93 days are in the DNA of this product. They taught me that connectivity in Africa cannot depend on a single switch that anyone, anywhere, can flip. Shutdowns will happen again. Cables will be cut. Towers will fail. Storms will come. The question is: when that happens, does the continent go dark, or do we have a layer underneath that keeps working?

How does it feel? It feels like closure, in a small way. It feels like the engineer in me finally got to answer the citizen in me. Back in 2017, I had no power — I could only watch. Today, if a similar shutdown happened, a student could still get help with her homework, a mother could still get health information, a trader could still check market prices. Not because we defied anyone, but because we built something resilient enough to stand quietly beside whatever else is happening.

What is your simple, one-sentence message to a grandmother in Bamenda or a student in Enugu who has never used AI before but is curious to try SkyDew today?

My message is this: you do not need to be young, rich, educated, or connected to talk to AI. If you can send a text message, you can talk to the future. That is the whole promise of SkyDew.

To the grandmother in Bamenda: imagine your grandson is sick in the middle of the night and you do not know what to give him. Pick up your phone, type in Pidgin or in your mother tongue, send it to a SkyDew number, and in seconds you will get clear, careful advice — whether it is something you can manage at home or whether you need to rush to the clinic. To the student in Enugu: imagine it is exam season, your data bundle has finished, but you do not understand a chapter on photosynthesis. Send the question by SMS. SkyDew will explain it to you like a patient older brother, in the language you are comfortable in, and it will not cost you a data plan.

SkyDew numbers are being advertised across Africa. Text the one closest to you and get an AI response in seconds. For MTN Cameroon users, you can start today: send your question to (+237) 651-293-668. We are rolling out to Orange, Nexttel, CAMTEL, and more networks across the continent very soon. No app. No data. No barriers. Just send a message — and Africa will answer you back.

Interviewed by Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo (It was first published in The Post on Monday May 18, 2026 Edition No: 02562)

AFCON 2027: Indomitable Lions To Face Namibia, Comoros, And Congo In Group G

By Brian Mboh

The 2027 TotalEnergies African Nations Cups (AFCON) draws have been conducted, with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon getting Namibia, Comoros and Congo Brazzaville in Group G. Conducted on Tuesday, May 19, in Cairo, Egypt, with 48 nations drawn into 12 groups of four teams each.

The top two teams from each group, will qualify automatically for the continental showpiece, while groups containing one of the co-host nations will see an additional team progress to the finals. The 2027 AFCON tournament will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in June 2027.

Cameroon was drawn in Group G alongside Namibia, Comoros and Congo Brazzaville, setting up what promises to be a competitive qualifying campaign for Bryan Mbeumo and mates.

Reacting to the draw, as gathered on www. Namibian.com, Brave Warriors head coach Collin Benjamin expressed optimism about Namibia’s chances, while acknowledging the quality and experience of their opponents.

“It’s a good draw and we are drawn against good teams. Cameroon is a powerhouse in African football, but our statistics against them look good on paper. Comoros recently participated in the 2025 Afcon held in Morocco and they have been doing well, with most of their players playing in Europe. Congo Brazzaville has athletic players and we are looking forward to playing them in September,” said Benjamin.

For football observers,the Indomitable Lions hold a better chance ,of emerging ontop spot , depending on the team’s organization spirit and squad in-depth.

Sports Analyst Lawrence Nkede said. “I think the Indomitable Lions stand as favourites in this group. Nevertheless, we cannot undermine our opponents, some of whom we know very well, “he said.

“The Comoros has become an regular of the final phase of the AFCON and should not be dealt with lightly. They play fast football and have the fighting spirit to resist pressure. They proved it at the last AFCON. Namibia is another defensive side which proceeds by counter offensives,” he explained.

Lawrence furthers , that the last time Cameroon met Namibia, was during the AFCON qualifiers in 2024, where the Indomitable Lions edged them by 1-0 at home and “managed” a draw in the return-leg.

“Congo will seem to be the underdogs and will be double motivated in what, will be a regional derby.All the same, Cameroon can have a perfect path through these qualifiers, as we did in the last AFCON qualifiers without losing a game”.

” This will depend on team organization and a serene atmosphere around the team. Coach David Pagou has what it takes, in terms of squad depth and quality to sail through the qualifiers in calm waters,” he ended.

According to Congolese Journalist, Jean Rufin Leomba, it is an easy group for Coach David Pagou and Congo Brazzaville to sail through has leaders, without neglecting Comoros and Namibia.

“A group is never easy, after the draw of a competition has been conducted.It’s always a matter of organisation from every nation based on its objectives.”

“The Congo Brazzaville versus Cameroon encounter, is considered be to a Central African derby. The game will be very interesting to watching,” Leomba said. “I think for Congo ,facing Cameroon or Namibia , won’t be a challenge ,for the mere reason that, we will have to prepare adequately for these confrontations,” he added.

Leomba said despite the absence of their head trainer,he believes it will be a good competition for the Congolese senior men’s national football team .

“We could have Cameroon and Congo as qualifiers. Not forgetting, Comoros coming up strongly and not to be estimated”

“My fear for the Congolese side, is their absence from FIFA friendly games.There are alot of happenings surrounding the team that needs to be looked,” he ended.

Cameroon has faced Comoros twice, with the Indomitable Lions winning all their games. Cameroon has recorded three encounter against the Brave Warriors. With Vincent Aboubakar and mates recording one win,one lost and one draw.While Namibia earned,one win,one defeat and one draw.

Against Congo Brazzaville,both sides have shared five confrontations, with team Cameroon getting two wins,two draw and one defeat.Contrary to the Congolese side , with a one win,two draw and two lost.

Cameroon, Standard Chartered Bank Ink FCFA 130.4 Billion Deal For Ebolowa-Akom II-Kribi Road Construction

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

The government of Cameroon and Standard Chartered Bank of London have formalized a financing agreement worth FCFA 130.4 billion to fund the construction of the Ebolowa-Akom II-Kribi road. The signing ceremony, that took place on May 15 in Yaoundé, marked a significant milestone for the nation’s infrastructure and its connection to the Gulf of Guinea.

**Officials exchange MoUs after signing the financial agreement** (Photo: Mainimo Etienne)

Cameroon Minister of the Economy, Planning, and Regional Development Alamine Ousmane Mey signed the agreement alongside British High Commissioner to Cameroon, Matthew Woods and Mustafa Hussain, the Executive Director of Structured and Export finance at Standard Chartered Bank. The ceremony drew a high-profile delegation of diplomatic and financial leaders, including the Ministers of Finance, Public Works, and Posts and Telecommunications among others.

Speaking during the ceremony, Minister Ousmane Mey described the project as a “flagship integration project,” stating that upon completion, “the transport of goods to and from the deep-water port of Kribi will certainly be optimized and improved.”

The Minister stressed that the Ebolowa-Akom II-Kribi axis is “a crucial link in ensuring the functionality and profitability of the Kribi port industrial complex,” an infrastructure whose success relies heavily on high-quality land connections to the hinterland.

He added that the project aligns with the National Development Strategy 30 (SND-30). Minister Ousmane Mey attributed the successful credit agreement to “a vision, of a determination that characterises the leadership of the President of the Republic in promoting the harmonious development of our country.”

**Officials during the signing ceremony** (Photo: Mainimo Etienne)

The Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo, an elite of the South region, noted that the road dates back to the German era. He described it as “an old road, an emblematic road and a historic road, which coagulates all the ambitions and all the hopes of the South region.”

He added that the local population is optimistic because “it is a road not only of hope, but also hope for a better Cameroon… a road of the future and the future is built with President Paul Biya for young people and for women.”

Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi expressed relief that the funding is secured, stating, “We are satisfied that the financing of this important infrastructure is now available. In fact, it will be realised with the National Route 17, Multi-corridor.”

Mustafa Hussain on his part said Standard Chartered is proud to support a project of such national importance. “This transaction is a source of pride for us… it connects the mainland to the deep-water port of Kribi, and beyond,” Hussain said. “This project will bring about profound transformations and demonstrates Standard Chartered’s commitment to projects of national significance.”

Several dignitaries stated that the road is expected to catalyze economic activity toward the Kribi industrial zone while enhancing sub-regional connectivity. Officials noted the corridor will facilitate trade between Cameroon and its neighbors, including Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Chad.

The technical scope of the project includes a main section of 161.6 kilometers, divided between the Ebolowa-Akom II and Akom II-Kribi segments. Additional components include a 1.4-kilometer urban bypass in Ebolowa, a 12.3-kilometer bypass in Kribi, and a 4-kilometer spur in Akom II, bringing the total length to 179.3 kilometers. Construction is slated for completion within three years.

The total project cost is estimated at FCFA 169 billion. External financing accounts for FCFA 138.2 billion excluding taxes, with the Cameroonian government covering the remainder through taxes and customs duties.

The arrangement involves two separate loans from Standard Chartered Bank. The first, worth FCFA 113.4 billion, is guaranteed by UK Export Finance. A second agreement for FCFA 7.8 billion was concluded in early 2024 to fund environmental assessments and implementation studies.

The May 15 signing represents the eighth major transaction between the Republic of Cameroon and Standard Chartered Bank over the past nine years.

Authur Bernice Enang Launches New Book, Finding You

By Brian Mboh

A new book highlighting the dilemmas men face, advocates personal dialogue and inner work to help men not only grow but thrive, has been launched. The book, titled Finding You: Negotiating Life’s Transition, Upscaling the Whole, was launched on Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Yaoundé.

**Bernice Enang signing books during launch**

The compelling publication is authored by certified soft skill trainer, trailblazing whole person empowerment coach and counsellor Authur Bernice Enang. The book was reviewed by renowned journalist, and civil society actor Comfort Mussa. The book, Finding You, is divided into three sections: the diagnosis, negotiation and growth.

Speaking at the book launch, Enang said it was the fruit of a three-year journey and described it as a “dream come true.” She described the process of conceiving, writing, and publishing the book “as a calling that dropped from above”.

According to Enang, there exists a wide range of books on self-development. However, she bemoaned the fact that only very few of them talk about the realities of the African man.

She revealed that in the first half of 2026, there have been at least 26 feminicide cases orchestrated by men. These men, she argued, found themselves in “extra trauma and inability to manage their emotions properly.”

According to the author, if men “cry about it” the world, she stated, will label it as weakness. She stressed further that in this situation; men should not be accused but educated to speak up when they find themselves in a tight corner. They are human beings, she added, and are not immune to trouble.

“Living in the African context and being in close proximity with men for the last 20 years, I think that someone should be addressing their problem because day by day, we see many more men dying,” Enang told Camertoday.

“When we have the little girls and women get empowered, they will go back to live with these men. So, is it not better to empower the men so that the women can have a comfortable partner to live with?” she questioned.

“Through one man, we can change a whole nation (…) A man who cannot control his emotions becomes enslaved by them. I am out on a campaign to help people name their emotions,”Enang added.

Not a book for men only

According to the author, Finding You is not a book “only for men”. She pointed out that contrary to that, the book is a “love story for men.”

“It is a book for men, women and children. This is because if I am a woman and I get to read about men, it will help me to live better with the men in my life. If I am a son, and I read about men, I will carry myself better. And if I am a man and I get to read about men, I will be able to fix myself to become the best version of myself,” Enang.

“I am advocating for wholeness. Every human being should live in their whole element so that ourselves and our communities can thrive,” Enang added.

Several people purchased the book and it was said that the money raised during the launch would fund the activities of the First Housebound Foundation (FiHoF).

FiHoF’s mission is to build resilient harmonious families and thriving communities by empowering men on family life and responsibility so as to equip them for life with already empowered women. FiHoF permits men to be seen, heard and appreciated for the value they carry in manhood .

A book about men finally here- Comfort Musa

In her indepth review of the book, Comfort Mussa saluted the author’s courage to write about a “topic unexplored” about the emotions and identity of men.

Musa said she found a lot of strength in the book. According to her, unlike other books, Finding You is authentic with the stories rooted in real Cameroonian and African experiences.

“There are many books around the emotions of men but for me, this is the first one written by a Cameroonian author addressing the emotions of Cameroonian men,” Mussa said.

“The book is very practical. The language and style are accessible. I like the way she blends prose with affirmations of practical steps

“The book is detailed enough to make sense for men but it is also brief enough to hold the attention of people in a society where we are struggling with attention span,” Mussa added.

Musa also appreciated the topics raised in the book like: masculinity, emotional intelligence, resilience, identity, growth and legacy.

She mentioned that: “Finding you is a very courageous, necessary book. It challenges everyone to confront our hidden struggles, to dismantle false identity and to upgrade our authentic selves.”

Men are allowed to be vulnerable…

One of the major highlights of the book launch was the panel discussion on the theme: Identity, Masculinity, and mental health awareness for family harmony and thriving communities.

One of the panelists, Elangwe Elenga revealed that society has placed a lot of expectations on the men with, for some, little or no resources to meet their daily targets.

He said some men engage in crimes due to the “lack of purpose and direction.” He revealed that according to the World Criminal Record, 97% of people of the over 34,000 in prison are young men.

“When purpose is not known for too long, the result is collapse,” Elenga said.

Another panelist, Elysee Fossi, a psychotherapist, revealed that men are humans and should be free to be overwhelmed.

“Showing emotional weakness, vulnerability is not something you should be ashamed of. He said men should be encouraged to seek help,” Fossi concluded.

Meet Zuo Bruno, Bringing AI to ‘Choronko’ Phones In 100+ African Languages, No Internet Needed

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

In the digital age, the “cloud” is often portrayed as a universal library, yet for millions of Africans, it remains an inaccessible vault. This reality hit Zuo Bruno, a Cameroonian cybersecurity engineer and founder of Zuoix, with devastating clarity during the 2017 internet shutdown that silenced the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon for 93 days.

**Zuo Bruno, a Cameroonian cybersecurity engineer and founder of Zuoix in working mode**

While the world viewed the blackout through the lens of political friction, Zuo Bruno felt it through his empty stomach and the quiet desperation of his community. Working out of a cyber café that was forced to shutter, he found himself unable to pay rent or eat properly. He watched as doctors lost access to lab results and students were cut off from their assignments.

“We talk about the internet as if it is a luxury, but in those 93 days it became painfully clear: in 2017, cutting the internet was no different from cutting the water supply,” Zuo said.

The experience shifted something permanently in the engineer. He realized that building technology solely on the foundation of a “flip-switch” internet was a fragile endeavor—building castles on someone else’s foundation.

According to Zuo, this realization became the catalyst for SkyDew, an offline artificial intelligence platform designed to put the power of the AI revolution into the hands of every African, regardless of connectivity.

He added that SkyDew bypasses the need for high-end smartphones and expensive data bundles by utilizing the most basic communication channels: SMS and USSD. This approach allows the technology to work on “Choronko” phones—the basic feature phones that still dominate much of the African landscape. For users on the MTN Cameroon network, the “future” is already as simple as sending a text message to a dedicated local number.

**Zuo Bruno, a Cameroonian cybersecurity engineer and founder of Zuoix**

“If you can send ‘Good morning’ to your sister, you can use SkyDew,” Zuo explained, noting that the system is built to handle queries ranging from agricultural advice to medical information in a few seconds.

He stated that the platform’s true innovation lies in its linguistic and cultural depth. Recognizing that AI restricted to English or French acts as a filter that excludes the wisdom of the elderly and the rural population, Zuo integrated over 100 African languages, including Cameroonian dialects like Pidgin English, Ewondo, and Fulfulde among others. To ensure accuracy in sensitive fields like law and medicine, Zuoix collaborated with native speakers and community linguists to validate the AI’s responses.

“SkyDew should meet you in the language your mother sang to you in,” Zuo said. He recalled a farmer in Mali who used the tool to save a sick tomato crop and remarked that the phone answered him with the wisdom his father once provided. “My father used to ask the elders. Now the elders are gone, and I asked the small phone. It answered me like my father would have,” the Malian farmer said.

According to Zuo, “That is not pride. That is gratitude. Every line of code I have written since then carries that farmer’s voice.”

The development of SkyDew took five years of “building in silence,” funded by Zuo’s cybersecurity work. Despite winning the Presidential Prize in 2018, he spent years in the shadows, writing code at 2 a.m. and refining a system that could intelligently route messages across more than 1,600 mobile network prefixes.

**Zuo Bruno, a Cameroonian cybersecurity engineer and founder of Zuoix and With Her Excellency, Former President of Mauritius**

While the 93-day shutdown is part of the product’s DNA, Zuo insists SkyDew is not a protest but a form of infrastructure resilience. He envisions a continent where a grandmother in Bamenda can receive medical advice for a sick grandchild in the middle of the night, or a student in Enugu can study photosynthesis after their data bundle has expired, without any technical barriers.

As the platform expands to other Cameroonian providers like Orange, Nexttel, and CAMTEL, Zuo’s mission remains focused on the 700 million Africans whom the global AI industry has largely ignored. He believes that the most powerful technology is not the flashiest, but the one that disappears into people’s lives.

“You do not need to be young, rich, educated, or connected to talk to AI,” Zuo said. “If you can send a text message, you can talk to the future”.

PM Dion Ngute Urges FA Officials To Turn New Building Into A Hub For Dialogue, Top Performance

By Brian Mboh

Prime Minister Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute has urged the President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) to make the new headquarters a space for constructive dialogue and victory for the promotion of football in Cameroon.

**An overview of the FECAFOOT newly inaugurated headquarters**

The personal representative of the Head of State, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute, made the declaration on Wednesday, May 13, in Yaoundé while inaugurating the newly constructed headquarters of the Cameroon Football Federation in Warda.

Speaking during the ceremony, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute, said the building is a vision for Cameroonian football, which is called to be more structured and tend towards excellence.

The occupant of the star building, PM Dion Ngute, recalled that the government, under the initiative of President Paul Biya, has set up infrastructures for football to thrive. He cited stadiums constructed across the country, as well as the Confederation of African Football Centre of Excellence in Mbankomo.

The Prime Minister said President Paul Biya intends to continue investing in sports infrastructure during his current mandate to give sportsmen and women the opportunity to excel and ensure that every sports federation has opportunities.

While recognising the contributions sports makes to nation-building and national unity, he congratulated the President of Fecafoot, Samuel Eto’o Fils, and expressed hope that the new building will help inculcate rigor and professionalism in the management of football in Cameroon.

**Biya’s Envoyé, PM Joseph Dion Ngute cutting ribbon**

Situated in the heart of the Warda neighborhood, the new Fecafoot headquarters is a five-floor building with sixty offices and a conference room with a seating capacity of one hundred and fifty. It has a surface area of more than five thousand square metres; the building occupies three thousand and five hundred square metres, with three main access points.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, speaking via a video message, saluted the courage of the Fecafoot President, Samuel Eto’o Fils, and expressed hope that the structure will boost football in Cameroon.

The flamboyant event brought together CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe; former CAF President Ahmad Ahmad; former African footballers such as Jay-Jay Okocha, El-Hadj Diouf, Rigobert Song, Achille Emana, Jean II Makoun, Alexandre Song, Stéphane Mbia, and Raymond Kalla; members of the diplomatic corps; NGOs; as well as partners and other stakeholders.

**Officials posed for a family picture**

CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, said the building provides another opportunity for football in Cameroon to grow. Also present were a cross-section of government bench members and officials of the Civil Cabinet.

The President of Fecafoot, Samuel Eto’o Fils, paid homage to former FA President Iya Mohamed, who is behind bars and initiated the project, and thanked members of government, as well as the entire football family, for contributing to its completion.

WPFD 2026: English-Speaking Journalists Empowered To Navigate Digital & AI Frontiers

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

Journalists from the Cameroon Association of English-speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) Yaoundé Chapter have undergone training to enhance their reporting skills in the evolving digital media landscape. Organized in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2026, the one-day workshop took place on May 9 in Yaoundé. The empowerment session was hosted in partnership with UNESCO, Civic Watch, and the Camer Today News Project.

**Francis Ajumane, President of CAMASEJ Yaounde Chapter speaking during the seminar** (*Photo: Mainimo Etienne)*

The workshop focused on a variety of themes including digital journalism, content creation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Facilitators and participants shared personal experiences while recommending best practices to promote ethical and solutions-oriented journalism across the country.

Providing an overview of the current media ecosystem, Francis Ajumane noted that citizen journalism is heavily influenced by surrounding socio-political events. He explained that in Cameroon, the practice gained significant ground following the Anglophone Crisis in the North West and South West Regions, as well as the Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North Region.

“We are not here to fight citizen journalism. We are feeding off from them and they are feeding off from us. Organization works with bloggers and citizen journalists. Newsrooms must integrate,” Ajumane said. He added that professionals must find ways to limit the potential demerits of the trend as much as possible.

**Dr. Herve Tiwa, Med.IA Lab speaking during the seminar** (*Photo: Mainimo Etienne)*

Addressing the future of the industry, Ajumane recommended that newsrooms should embrace digital platforms and diversify their revenue streams. He also stresssed that AI must become a staple in modern newsrooms. “If you embrace it, you will see the gains,” Ajumane said. “We are bound to embrace the digital media or else the narrative will be controlled by untrained journalists.”

Axel Rod Elobo, who spoke on content creation, suggested that journalism no longer holds the same traditional value because global realities have shifted. He noted that traditional media consumption is declining and urged journalists to fill the digital gap quickly or risk being left behind. While he encouraged journalists to embrace digital tools regardless of their beat, he warned that there is a distinct difference between a content creator and an influencer.

Elobo also reminded journalists that every social media platform operates with a unique algorithm and communication style. “Journalists must know how to use it and respect the ethics governing them,” he stressed.

**Axel Rod Elobo, Trainer in Digital Marketing and Content Creation** (*Photo: Mainimo Etienne)*

Dr. Herve Tiwa, discussing the relationship between AI and journalism, said that while technology cannot be stopped, the way journalists utilize it remains critical. He insisted that AI cannot replace journalists, but argued that a professional must know how to use the technology to remain effective.

“AI assist journalists and not here to replace journalists. If you allow yourself to be replaced you are not a journalist. Do not abandon your profession to AI,” Tiwa said. He explained that using the tools effectively requires specific skills. “If you do not know how to use AI, you will get the wrong response from AI. You have to give AI a role, a context, the format, structure, the tone, the style of writing, and the length.”

Tiwa recommended that journalists view AI-generated content with skepticism rather than as the “gospel truth,” noting that fact-checking remains a human responsibility. “Always verify with at least two sources. Take out time to verify information. Never share confidential information with AI. Do not publish without reading. It is obligatory,” Tiwa warned.

**Giyo Ndzi, Communication Officer Paradigm Initiative speaking during the seminar** (*Photo: Mainimo Etienne)*

Expert Giyo Ndzi exploring the intersection of technology and journalism, explained that the digital shift in Cameroon is permanent. “As a good journalist, you do not need to be on all of these platforms, but you have to know how it works,” he said.

Ndzi also touched on digital safety, noting that journalists today face frequent harassment, hacking, and disinformation campaigns. “You have to know about these and protect yourself. You have to understand how to keep safe as a journalist,” Ndzi said, urging reporters to create personal security systems for their digital presence.

**Hugues Ndih from UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa** (*Photo: Mainimo Etienne)*

Additionally, Laure Nganley from Civic Watch trained participants on distinguishing fact from fiction through an introduction to fact-checking techniques.

Hugues Ndih, from the UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa, said the organization supported the workshop because its focus on digital content production aligns with the global theme of World Press Freedom Day: “Forging a Future at Peace.”

“AI today is one of those tools used in producing content, although they are not all ethically produced, but it’s a tool that is good for journalism and ethical issues have to be studied to bring in some responsibility to journalism. So our interest is simply assisting the Cameroonian journalists in promoting not only the independent press, but as well producing responsible, ethical and professional contents. And that’s why we’re here,” Ndih said.

**Jude Viban, member of CAMASEJ Yaounde Chapter and National President of CAMASEJ speaking after the seminar** (*Photo: Mainimo Etienne)*

CAMASEJ National President Viban Jude noted that the training fulfills the association’s core mandate of capacity building and skill modernization.

“We’re not talking about AI and we have to see, we cannot hold the pace of technology, but we can align and see how we can make technology to be profitable, to ease our job as journalists, while remaining grounded on the key values of journalism without shifting ground, but seeing how we can use technology, leverage on what technology is offering,” Viban said.

Francis Ajumane, President of the CAMASEJ Yaounde Chapter, emphasized that the digital era leaves journalists with no choice but to evolve.

**Laure Nganley from Civic Watch speaking during the seminar** (*Photo: Mainimo Etienne)*

“We have to accept that we are in the digital era, and we cannot practise journalism the way we used to do 10, 15, 20, 30 years ago. With digitalisation, we have to improve on our trade. We have to improve on our skills,” Ajumane said.

The workshop was organized as part of activities marking World Press Freedom Day, which was observed on May 3. This year’s global theme was “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security.”

**Participants posed for a family picture after the seminar** (Photo: Mainimo Etienne)

From ENEO To SOCADEL: A New Dawn Or A New Name For Cameroon’s Power Crisis?

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

In the dimly lit neighborhood of Damas in Yaoundé, the hum of a generator is a more familiar sound than the whir of a ceiling fan. This mechanical drone echoes from house to house, a constant reminder of the daily blackouts that define the local struggle for power.

However, following a presidential decree signed on May 4, the narrative is shifting. For millions of Cameroonians who have spent years navigating the unpredictability of ENEO’s grid, the transition to the Cameroon Electricity Corporation (SOCADEL) represents more than a corporate handover; it signifies a desperate hope for consistency.

However, as ENEO logo is stripped from utility trucks and replaced by the SOCADEL insignia, citizens are questioning whether they are witnessing a genuine revolution or merely a fresh coat of paint on a crumbling wall.

For decades, terms like “blackouts” and “rationing” have been the vernacular of daily life. Now, as the state retakes the reins, the nation watches with a mix of cautious optimism and deep-seated fatigue. The new corporation steps into a spotlight that reveals a heavy inheritance of debt, aging infrastructure, and a public weary of waiting in the dark.

Expectations are immense as the public awaits the first moves of this state-led entity. Among the common citizens on the streets of Yaoundé, hope is a fragile commodity tempered by past disappointments.

“When I heard that ENEO had been transformed to SOCADEL, nothing much struck me because it is still managed by the same people,” said Ethel, a trader in Mendong Market. “For years we have been crying for electricity to be constant but that is not the case, so I am expecting no change.”

Others hold a more expectant view, fueled by recent national investments in energy production. Estalla, a street hawker in the capital, expressed a desire for tangible results. “The transition to SOCADEL is something that I am expecting to see much change from,” she said. “Given that so many dams have been constructed, I expect to see constant electricity supply.”

For many, the success of the new board hinges on its ability to earn the trust of a disillusioned population. The leadership must confront a history of high bills, financial scandals, and allegations of employees participating in fraudulent activities.

“The new board at the helm of SOCADEL has to be more proactive because there are a lot of malpractices in the institution,” said James Dudu. “Putting the interest of the nation should be their main agenda that will propel them to make sure that Cameroonians have constant electricity.”

To Marie Claire, the new board must prove the skeptics wrong by solving the blackout crisis. “They have not been appointed to enjoy our taxpayer money but to work for the growth of the corporation and Cameroonians as a whole,” she added.

This transition is the latest chapter in a long history for the sector, which began with the birth of the Société Nationale d’Électricité (SONEL) in 1974. Initially a state-owned monopoly, SONEL served as a symbol of national development during the 1970s and 80s, overseeing major projects like the Songloulou hydroelectric dam.

By the late 1980s, however, the company fell into crisis due to poor management and a severe economic downturn. Financial collapse led to the introduction of scheduled power outages, setting the stage for controversial reforms.

Under pressure from the World Bank and IMF, the government privatized the sector in 2001. The U.S.-based AES Corporation acquired a 56 percent stake to form AES-SONEL, a move intended to bring in private capital and efficiency.

Instead, the era was largely defined by a lack of transparency and persistent service issues. By 2014, the British investment fund Actis purchased the shares for approximately $202 million and rebranded the utility as Energy of Cameroon (ENEO).

While ENEO oversaw some infrastructure improvements, its tenure was ultimately stifled by massive debt, chronic collection issues, and mounting consumer complaints. These systemic failures prompted the state to buy back the 51percent stake from Actis for FCFA 78 billion in November 2025.

This move culminated on May 4, 2026, when President Paul Biya officially launched SOCADEL as a 100 percent state-owned company, beginning a new era in Cameroon’s quest for reliable energy.

According to many Cameroonians, the success of this new chapter will not be measured by the ink on a presidential decree or the rebranding of office facades, but by whether a child in the remote areas of Cameroon can finally study under a steady bulb without the roar of a generator in the background or flickering glow of a candle.

Observers hold that since the government has reclaimed the sector; now it must prove that it can also reclaim the light. They state that for a nation that has spent decades in the dark, the transition to SOCADEL is more than a policy shift but a final demand for the dignity of a constant current.

Under the watchful eyes of the nation, Cameroonians say the era of excuses has been privatized, leaving the responsibility for Cameroon’s future squarely in the hands of the state.

Cameroonians Mourn Former House Speaker Hon. Cavayé Yéguié Djibril, Dead At 86

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

Just months after being replaced as Cameroon’s National Assembly Speaker, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril has died at 86, leaving a nation to mourn the man who presided over parliament for three decades—even as it adjusts to a new chapter without him.

**Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, Former House Speaker** (Photo: Mainimo Etienne)

His death was first announced on social media on May 6. He was last seen in public during the opening session of the March 2026 Parliamentary Session for the new Legislative Year.

During the session, Hon. Cavayé was replaced as Speaker of Cameroon’s National Assembly on March 17, ending a 34-year tenure. Hon. Théodore Datouo, from the West Region, was elected in his place. Hon. Cavayé’s death comes shortly after that of the First President of the Senate, Senator Marcel Niat Njifenji, who died on April 11—just weeks after he was also replaced.

Speaking to Cameroonians along the streets of Yaoundé, many people expressed their deep condolences to the family of Hon. Cavayé. They described him as a “boaba” who served Cameroon faithfully until his last breath.

“It is sad to hear that Hon. Cavayé is gone, but we must give honour to whom it is deserved. He served Cameroon with his whole heart, and we truly appreciate this,” Marcel said.

To Edwin, a taxi driver, “Death has again taken a man of honour and respect. Hon. Cavayé was a great man, and we are proud that he did his best for Cameroon. I grew up knowing about him, and it was good to see him.”

A teacher who declined to state his name said, “It is a great loss to our nation Cameroon because Hon. Cavayé—whom many of us didn’t know how to pronounce when we were small—was a great statesman. After diligently serving his nation, I believe he deserved a peaceful rest. Adieu.”

Other Yaoundé residents also expressed profound grief, noting that within a space of two months, two great men—Senator Niat Njifenji and now Hon. Cavayé—have all gone beyond the land of no return. They said that although these men have left, they served the country with dignity, and what remains to be done is to pray for their families.

Hon. Cavayé Biography

Cavaye was born on February 1, 1940, in Mada, located within the Mayo-Sava department of the Far North Region. He was a member of the Mada ethnic group.

His initial career focused on education and public administration. Between 1960 and 1963, he attended the regional center for physical and sports education, subsequently working as a physical education teacher in Maroua. By 1965, he had transitioned into administration as the divisional inspector for the Far North.

Cavaye’s formal political journey began in April 1970 upon joining the Legislative Assembly of East Cameroon. In 1971, he assumed the role of traditional chief of the Mada, a position that allowed him to act as a vital link between the state and local communities throughout his career.

Following Cameroon’s unification in 1972, Cavaye was elected to the National Assembly in 1973. He moved swiftly through the ranks, serving as a questor in the assembly’s bureau. In 1975, he joined the central committee of the Cameroon National Union (CNU), which later evolved into the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).

In 1983, he was elected as the second vice-president of the National Assembly. After a brief hiatus starting in 1988 to serve as an assistant divisional officer in Diamaré, he returned to the legislature during the March 1992 multiparty elections. It was then that he was first elected president of the National Assembly.

Cavaye occupied the speaker’s chair for over three decades, from March 31, 1992, until March 17, 2026. He was eventually succeeded in the role by Théodore Datouo.

Throughout his leadership, Cavaye was recognized for maintaining rigorous discipline within the chamber. He was a staunch defender of national unity; notably, during the 2001 sessions, he denounced secessionist movements as significant threats to the country’s stability.

In addition to his legislative duties, Cavaye was the honorary president of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Cameroon. He frequently advocated for a collaborative relationship between traditional authorities and the state, arguing that they should support rather than compete with government administration.

A powerful figure from the northern regions, Cavaye exerted influence that resonated on both a local and national scale. As his health began to decline in early 2026, observers reflected on a tenure marked by the passage of significant legislation, though critics often pointed to the assembly’s limited oversight of the executive branch.

Cavaye remains a landmark figure in Cameroon’s institutional evolution. He was a bridge-builder who harmonized his status as a traditional leader with his role as a modern statesman, connecting the Far North with the central government for more than fifty years.

Judith Yaah Sunday Praised CAMTEL Workers, Urges Crackdown On Fraud & Asset Misuse

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

Judith Yah Sunday, general manager of Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL), has praised the company’s workers for their commitment to the institution. He also pledged to fight fraud in all its forms, warning that company assets are not personal property.

**CAMTEL staff participate in the march-past in Yaoundé to commemorate the 140th International Labour Day** *(Photo: Mainimo Etienne)*

The general manager made the remarks on May 1 during celebrations marking the 140th commemoration of International Labour Day. The 2026 edition was observed under the theme “Social Dialogue and Decent Work: Factors of Peace, National Cohesion and Business Economic Development.”

Speaking during the reception ceremony in Yaoundé, Yah Sunday said, “My first words are to say thank you. Thank you for your daily commitment. Thank you for your resilience, often silent.”

He cited the recent World Trade Organization (WTO) conference and the Pope’s visit to Cameroon as moments that reflected CAMTEL’s exceptional performance, adding that it was made possible by the collective energy of staff.

“We thus proved that we are the pillar of technology of the nation during major diplomatic meetings. We also demonstrated our ability to bring global change with a professionalism that honours our nation,” she said.

While stating that Labour Day is not only a celebration, she indicated that it is “also a mirror that reflects the image of who we are, a working community united by a mission, driven by a shared goal.”

***Judith Yah Sunday,General Manager of CAMTEL addressing staff following the International Labour Day march-past in Yaoundé*** *(Photo: Mainimo Etienne)*

Revisiting the past year, the General Manager said it was not merely a year of management, but a year of transformation, carried out in a constantly changing technological environment in which performance requirements evolve as rapidly as ultra-fast broadband.

“CAMTEL is moving forward. CAMTEL is modernising itself. CAMTEL is making its marks,” he said.

Referring to the Presidential Decree signed in relation to the loan from the China Eximbank for Phase 4 of the national backbone, Judith Yah Sunday described it as a strong signal, a signal of trust and responsibility, saying the project will strengthen the resilience of CAMTEL’s network, improve the quality of service, and bring Cameroonians even closer together, whether in urban centres or in the most remote areas of the country.

“The broader the bandwidth of our ambitions, the more the obligation to produce becomes non-negotiable. I cannot stress this enough. It is not a company like any other. We do not merely serve services. We ensure continuity. We guarantee sovereignty. We are the invisible infrastructure that underpins the visible economy. We are the network that connects, secures and prospers. Being the secular arm of the state in the field of telecommunication is not just a slogan,” she said.

On fraud, Judith Yah Sunday described it as cancer that must be rooted out at all cost. She said every act of fraud is an act of betrayal against the company, against Cameroonians and against the state.

“I cannot tolerate the abuse and irresponsible use of our assets,” she said, adding that such practices may include poor maintenance practices, waste, lack of monitoring and reporting, reckless driving and unacceptable exposure to theft.

Concerning CAMTEL’s assets, , Judith Yah Sunday said, “I wish to reiterate that corporate vehicles, office equipment and material resources are not personal property. They are work tools funded by taxpayers and must be managed with the diligence of a prudent person.”

He also drew officials’ attention to the protection of infrastructure, saying it is a critical and vital factor for the institution’s performance. She noted that the network, optical fibre cables, equipment and technical sites are strategic national assets.

“Every cable cut, every site sabotage or vandalism, every piece of infrastructure damage is not just a material loss. It translates into a service disruption, depriving a Cameroonian of connection and leaving a business vulnerable. Protecting this asset is not solely the responsibility of technical or security teams,” she said.

Regarding indiscipline, absenteeism and unethical behaviour, the general manager said such issues will be addressed as strictly as necessary, with no passive tolerance or occasional leniency.

“Our workplace cannot be a space for distraction. CAMTEL must remain a space for focus, performance and professionalism in order to provide quality services to customers. In our presence, any CAMTEL employee caught during work hours selling items related to their status will simply be thanked and asked to return home,” she said.

**CAMTEL General Manager, Judith Yah Sunday, salutes staff upon arriving at the reception ceremony following the march-past at the Boulevard du 20 Mai in Yaoundé** *(Photo: CAMTEL)*

On service quality, Judith Sunday said it is not only about network speed or availability, but also about the quality of the welcome, the quality of listening and the quality of the relationship. She said workers’ rights are legitimate, but they carry “rather absolute responsibilities,” adding that he would not tolerate any compromise.

She urged CAMTEL staff to view no assignment or redeployment as punishment, saying it should instead be seen as a service requirement and an opportunity for professional development.

Despite the challenges, she said CAMTEL’s commitment remains strong. She added that, because the future is being shaped today, the company has integrated more than 700 young talents into its team.

She called on elders, directors and other leaders to mentor these young employees, saying they should not be seen as competition but as an extension of a shared responsibility to guide and develop the next generation.

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