The Ministry of Finance in Cameroon has finally responded to widespread criticism over how the 2023 national budget was managed. In an April 23 statement, the ministry pushed back against any claims of fraud or financial cover-up, saying the concerns raised by the Supreme Court’s Audit Bench reflect technical limitations, not wrongdoing.

This official response comes two days after a public letter from financial expert Paul Gérard Babissakana, who urged the President to overhaul how public financial institutions operate. Until then, the ministry had remained silent on a December 2024 audit report that questioned the credibility of the country’s financial records.

In that report, the Audit Bench concluded that Cameroon’s 2023 budget statements were not accurate or reliable and did not reflect the government’s true financial position. But the ministry insists that the findings were misinterpreted. “The qualified opinion does not imply fraud or concealment,” the statement reads.

To support its position, the ministry pointed to reforms launched in 2022 to modernize how the government tracks its finances. At the center of these changes is a shift to what it calls “asset-based accounting”—a system that aims to record all state-owned assets, debts, and financial commitments in a more detailed and transparent way.

“This reform is designed to include everything the state owns—buildings, land, vehicles, loans, software, inventory—as well as what it owes, such as domestic and external debt, and even possible future liabilities from legal cases or unfunded pension obligations,” said Yves Assala, a senior official at the ministry.

As part of this effort, the government has begun surveying public buildings in Wouri, Mfoundi, and across the South and East regions. Similar work will expand to other cities and diplomatic missions abroad.

Still, the ministry admits that until this major overhaul is completed—which could take several more years—the Audit Bench may continue to find flaws in the financial statements. It describes the issue as a “technical observation,” not proof of corruption. “This is not fraud or concealment,” the ministry repeated.

Even so, the controversy remains far from settled. The Finance Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to the reforms, arguing that a clearer picture of the state’s assets and liabilities will eventually help Cameroon improve access to funding from development partners.

For now, the statement sounds more like a defense than a resolution, and it does little to ease the public concerns raised by figures like Babissakana or the questions left hanging by the auditors.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Hundreds of Cameroonians have been expelled from Equatorial Guinea since April 22, 2025, according to social media videos showing Cameroonian nationals gathered under the supervision of Equatoguinean security forces. The videos depict lines of people awaiting transfer to the border town of Kye-Ossi in Cameroon’s South Region.

Reports indicate entire families are among those expelled, with numerous accounts alleging swift expulsions without due legal process. Those expelled claim they were compelled to leave behind family members and personal possessions, and an operation to recover items such as mobile phones is reportedly underway.

The affected individuals are appealing to the Cameroonian government for urgent intervention, stating that further expulsions are anticipated in the coming days. The action by Equatoguinean authorities reportedly follows a violent altercation between Cameroonian and local traders in a market in Bata, the economic capital of Equatorial Guinea.

The precise circumstances of the incident remain unclear, but reports suggest the dispute escalated rapidly, resulting in clashes and a strong reaction from the local population and authorities. Expulsions of Cameroonians are a recurring issue in Equatorial Guinea, where they are often accused of illegal residency, a situation that frequently strains diplomatic relations between Yaoundé and Malabo.

In 2022, following a series of control operations and expulsions of foreigners, the Cameroonian government allocated 125 million CFA francs for the repatriation of 630 nationals with irregular status in the neighboring country.

Source: Sbbc

Cameroon was recognized for its proactive commitment to reducing road accidents through the implementation of several innovative reforms at the third edition of the Koffi Annan Road Safety Awards, held April 14-15, 2025. The Cameroonian delegation, led by Minister of Transport Jean Ernest Masséna Ngallè Bibéhè, accepted the honor.

Among the praised initiatives were the overhaul of the driver’s license issuance process, the modernization of vehicle inspection procedures, the digitization of transport documents, and the launch of the intelligent Ym@ne Driver system, developed in partnership with the MTN-Camtrack consortium. Cameroon has also established an efficient system for collecting and analyzing road accident data.

These efforts underscore the authorities’ determination to save lives, modernize road governance tools, and cultivate a genuine culture of road safety. International bodies overseeing the Awards acknowledged their impact, ranking Cameroon among the most dynamic and innovative countries in road safety both in Africa and globally.

However, despite this progress, significant challenges persist in ensuring safe, sustainable, and inclusive mobility. According to consultancy firm Securoute, the primary causes of accidents in Cameroon are speeding (35%), vehicle condition (17%), driver intoxication (10.5%), loss of control (10.5%), road conditions (10%), and dangerous overtaking (7%). Mechanical failures and tire issues also contribute to accidents.

These accidents impose a substantial economic burden, with Securoute estimating annual losses of 200 billion CFA francs for the state. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) also ranks Cameroon, alongside Uganda, among the countries with the highest road fatality rates on the continent. The country records an average of 16,583 accidents and 1,500 deaths annually, with a road mortality rate of 26.7 per 100,000 inhabitants – a figure higher than in many West African nations.

Established in 2022, the Koffi Annan Award annually celebrates exemplary initiatives in road safety, honoring the legacy of the former UN Secretary-General, a dedicated advocate for this cause. The ceremony is jointly organized by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, UNECA, the Koffi Annan Foundation, and the host kingdom.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Cameroon’s Minister Delegate for Finance, Yaouba Abdoulaye, revealed that customs authorities at Douala International Airport had intercepted two drug shipments, totaling 70 kilograms. The drugs, a mixture of methamphetamines, ephedrine, and cocaine, were concealed in air compressors shipped from South Africa. They were carried by a RwandAir flight and were hidden in 13 air pumps that had been carefully modified to evade detection. The estimated market value of the drugs is over $3 million, or nearly CFA2 billion.

The seized drugs are currently sealed in the customs warehouse while awaiting transfer to the appropriate judicial authorities. “The legal procedures are being followed in accordance with the applicable laws,” Abdoulaye stated. This seizure is the first major drug bust of 2025 at Douala airport and is considered one of the largest in recent years.

As a reminder, on May 30, 2024, customs intercepted 24 kg of cocaine from São Paulo, Brazil, valued at around $2 million (CFA1 billion). Earlier in February 2024, 15 kg of cocaine was seized in a shipment from Turkish Airlines, worth an estimated CFA600 million.

Since 2016, there has been a growing trend of drug and illicit product seizures at Cameroon’s international airports, particularly in Douala and Yaoundé-Nsimalen. This increase is partly due to the gradual establishment of anti-trafficking units at several of the country’s airport platforms, aimed at strengthening efforts to combat transnational trafficking.

Source: Business in Cameroon

The Francophone dominated Yaoundé Military Tribunal has sentenced renowned Muslim scholar and activist Abdul Karim Ali to life in prison in a case considered by many international observers as politically motivated.

Abdul Karim has already spent more than two years in prison without being convicted.

He was found guilty of lame and ridiculous charges related to the Southern Cameroons uprising that started in 2016.

Karim denied the charges and in May 2024, he announced that he did not recognize the jurisdiction of the Yaoundé military court.  

Abdul Karim Ali was sentenced on Wednesday 16 April by the Yaoundé military tribunal in absentia.

The Abdul Karim-Cameroon government affair all started with a video he recorded on 9 July 2022, in which he accused a military official of torturing civilians.

Two of his friends are also being held because of their links with him. All three were officially remanded in custody on 2 February 2023 on charges of ‘hostility towards the homeland’, ‘failure to report’, “secession” and ‘rebellion’.

Karim Ali and two of his co-defendants had already appeared several times before the Yaoundé military court. At the third hearing, they were officially remanded in custody by the examining magistrate.

Karim Ali’s conviction has already provoked numerous reactions from the Southern Cameroons public including the diaspora.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

One of Anglophone Cameroon’s most celebrated road construction engineers and former Minister of Public Works Obi Eta Jerome died suddenly in Yaoundé after becoming ill.

Minister Victor Mengot who confirmed the sad news to the entire Manyu community at home and in the diaspora said “My dear brothers and sisters, once again Manyu has lost one of its remaining elephants. It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing into glory of H. E. OBI ETA Jerome. May his soul find solace at the bosom of the Almighty God. Victor MENGOT, Patron MECDA.”

The leader of the Manyu Solidarity Group UK Prince Julian Ebai has offered his sincere condolences following Minister Eta Jerome’s death.

In a statement, the Prince said: “My thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace.”

Alfred Bate Bawak who headed the North Sub-section of the ruling CPDM party in Great Britain before the Southern Cameroons crisis says Minister Eta Jerome was a “tour de force in Manyu and South West politics, who took Manyu close to first world development standard”.

Eta Jerome Obi joined the ruling CPDM party at a time of relative success in the 90s. He modernized the Tiko Sub Section after he was elected Sub Section President, ensuring its machinery was overhauled and its message was polished.

He retired from the public service, joined the private sector and served as technical director at the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) under the stewardship of Peter Mafany Musonge.

His decision to join the CDC marked his return to frontline politics and the completion of a Manyu road business that he started in the early 80s.

It is not every Manyu political veteran that receives a tribute from Manyu female associations upon news of their death.

That Eta Jerome’s devotion to Manyu development has been praised by Dr Mrs. Patience Abangma feels significant.

The President-General of the Manyu Women’s International Association (Nyene Mawn) Dr Mrs. Patience Abangma said in a statement: “Our thoughts are with his family, and those across Cameroon mourning the loss of former Public Works minister Eta Jeroma Obi. The South West region road dream he cherished so closely, and came so close to delivering, will never die.”

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Cameroon plans to hire 2,860 new civil servants in 2025, marking a sharp drop of 39% compared to last year. The reduction amounts to 1,832 fewer positions than in 2024, when the country recruited close to 4,700 people.

Details of the plan were shared in an internal government memo sent by the Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Séraphin Magloire Fouda, to the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reform, Joseph Le.

Out of the 2,860 positions, 1,555 will be filled through standard recruitment procedures. These include 910 roles to be filled through direct competitive exams, 180 through training programs outside the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM), 230 through ENAM itself, and 235 through direct selection tests.

In addition, 750 jobs have been set aside for special recruitment. These include 150 positions in the newly created universities of Garoua, Bertoua, and Ebolowa; 500 for the prison administration; 80 for the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation; 20 for graduates of the Institute of Economics and Finance. Another 555 spots will be opened for public servants through professional exams.

Separate from these civil service recruitments, the government will also hire and formalize contracts for 4,144 health workers as part of a presidential initiative to improve access to medical services.

This recruitment drive is taking place while the government continues to weed out fraudulent public servants. Since launching a massive personnel audit in 2018, known as COPPE, thousands of fake or non-compliant workers have been struck from the state payroll.

The latest round of dismissals, announced on March 5, 2025, affects 232 employees. That brings the total number of public workers removed since 2018 to 4,556.

The COPPE audit, conducted between April and June 2018 by the Ministry of Finance, uncovered nearly 10,000 ghost workers and helped the country save about CFA30 billion per year starting in 2019.

Source: Business in Cameroon

The Trump administration has terminated temporary deportation protections for thousands of Afghans and Cameroonians in the US, a US Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said on Friday, building on Trump’s far-reaching immigration crackdown.

An estimated 14 600 Afghans eligible for Temporary Protected Status will now lose it in May. Some 7 900 Cameroonians had access to the status but will lose it in June under the termination.

US President Donald Trump, a Republican, took office in January pledging to deport record numbers of migrants in the US illegally. At the same time, he has swiftly moved to strip migrants of temporary legal protections, expanding the pool of possible deportees.

Trump has criticized high levels of illegal immigration under Democratic former President Joe Biden and said Biden programs offering legal status overstepped the bounds of the law.

The TPS program is available to people whose home countries experience a natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event. The status lasts 6-18 months, can be renewed by the Homeland Security secretary, and offers deportation protection and access to work permits.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem found that the conditions in Afghanistan and Cameroon no longer merited the protected status, spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

Trump tried to end most TPS enrollment during his 2017-2021 presidency but was thwarted by federal courts. A US district judge in late March blocked his attempt at ending the status for Venezuelans, saying that officials’ characterization of the migrants as criminals “smacks of racism.”

Source: Reuters

At least nine Ambazonia fighters have been killed in clashes in the Northwest, according to local security sources.

On Saturday, separatist fighters attempted to attack a military outpost in the region, but soldiers repelled the assault, killing four of them and injuring many others, an army official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity late Saturday.

On Friday, security forces ambushed and attacked a group of separatist fighters in the region, killing five of them, according to the official.

Separatist leaders said on social media that a commander was among those killed by the military and vowed to retaliate.

The Cameroonian army has been intensifying its offensive against separatists in the region since January, raiding and dismantling most separatist hideouts, according to reports by local police.

Since 2017, government forces have been clashing with armed separatist forces who are fighting to separate the two English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest from the majority French-speaking nation to form a new country they call “Ambazonia.”

Source: Xinhuanet

Communication Minister René Emmanuel Sadi outlined a series of initiatives to the National Assembly aimed at revitalizing government communications, including the launch of a Virtual Information Agency and the resumption of government press conferences.

The Virtual Information Agency, Sadi explained, “will significantly increase the supply of information on national affairs.” He detailed the agency’s operational structure, stating, “It involves mobilizing a network of 58 departmental correspondents and 10 regional coordinators to collect, process, and transmit a daily stream of field information to a central system. This information will be published online in the form of dispatches accessible to everyone through digital devices, including mobile phones.” The digital platform will be supplemented by a regularly published government news magazine in print format.

Regarding government press conferences, Sadi said technical work is underway to reinstate them. “The renovation of the auditorium in my ministry, which serves as the venue for these exchanges with the media, is currently being finalized,” he noted. He emphasized the necessity of a modernized and comfortable space to conduct the conferences under optimal professional conditions.

Sadi also stressed the shift from a traditional media-driven model to a strategic government communication approach. “A new government communication body is about to be established,” he announced.

In addition to these projects, the minister detailed measures to address coverage gaps and silence within CRTV, the state-owned broadcaster, where he serves as board chairman. He also announced the “strengthening of security and certification for government websites and the social media accounts of various public administrations.”

The government’s digital presence will be reinforced through the upgrading and interconnection of public administration digital communication platforms. Dedicated units will be integrated into ministry communication departments to manage digital communications. Sadi further highlighted the need for mechanisms to ensure the Ministry of Communication receives regular updates from ministerial departments on key sector developments, as well as media and public opinion perceptions.

Source: Business in Cameroon