Paul Biya

Cameroon
Vietnam's Viettel tries to protect its investments in telecoms operator Nexttel

In a letter dated 25 August and addressed to President Paul Biya, CEO Tao Duc Thang is requesting his investments and stake in Viettel Cameroun (70%), which operates under the Nexttel brand name, be protected.

Cameroon, Congo, Gabon
From Brazzaville to Yaoundé, IMF wants to speed up signing of new programmes

In September, the Bretton Woods institution sent missions to the Congo, Gabon and Cameroon, out of concern over their levels of debt and the risk this poses to regional monetary stability.

Cameroon
Yaoundé looks to postpone yet again its legislative elections

The government is considering delaying the vote as it has become a perilous challenge for Paul Biya's Cameroon People's Democratic Movement. To justify the decision, they are expected to cite a religious constraint.

Palace Intrigues
Jay-Z, Pascaline Bongo, Lionel Talon, Franck Biya, Muhammadu Sanusi II

Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

AfricaA host of VIPs at Jay-Z's Parisian concert

CameroonFranck Biya on low-key trip to France

NigeriaThe Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, visits Paris

Chad, Libya
Tripoli leverages Community of Sahel-Saharan States to seal rapprochement with Déby

Chad and Libya's Government of National Unity are using CEN-SAD to shape a new relationship, despite the risk of upsetting Benghazi and the Haftar clan, which prefers a more militarised approach to the Sahel.

Cameroon
American Renaissance Minerals turns to Washington to obtain Nkamouna nickel and cobalt licence

Mining investors Paul Mann and Drew Horn are leaning on the US State Department and their contacts within Cameroon's presidency to secure the operating rights to the project. Serge Boyogueno, chief executive of Sonamines, is resisting their push.

Cameroon
Government stalls on dispute with motorway toll operator Tollcam

Despite a €54m agreement concluded with Egis and Fayat joint venture Tollcam, the Cameroonian presidency is still delaying payment by referring the matter back to the state roads maintenance agency, the Road Fund. This decision may land the dispute in international arbitration.

Palace Intrigues
Teodorin Nguema Obiang, Ronald Chagoury, Emmanuel Macron

Intrigues big and small: Every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

Equatorial GuineaTeodorin to visit New Work to watch World Cup final

NigeriaBillionaire Ronald Chagoury honoured by Emmanuel Macron

Cameroon
State firm SNH and Presidency back rival refinery and storage projects as overcapacity looms

Two refinery and oil depot construction projects, each valued at several million dollars, are facing off. One is backed by the de facto head of the Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures, Nathalie Moudiki, while the other is championed by the secretary-general to the president, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh.

Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea
Oil services company Multiservicios Sofa escalates legal battle with Bange Bank

Multiservicios is seeking CFA1.7bn (€2.5m) from Equatorial Guinea's national lender after nearly a decade-long dispute. It filed suit against the bank's Cameroonian subsidiary before the Yaoundé court of first instance on 18 June, accusing it of making false declarations during an attachment of assets carried out in March.

Cameroon
Yaoundé moves to tighten ship registry rules in EU bid to curb Russian shadow fleet

The government is drafting a decree to toughen regulations on the registration of vessels flying the national flag.

Cameroon
From counter-terrorism to minerals, Pentagon strengthens ties with Yaounde

A recent meeting between Paul Biya and the deputy commander of Africom provided the opportunity to foster greater security cooperation. Cameroon's reservations about Starlink were also discussed, as were strategic minerals, an area where Washington wants to stay in the race.

Cameroon
News channel Africa 24 on the verge of bankruptcy

A Media France is about to go into receivership. Deprived of cash flow and weighed down by months of unpaid wages as well as tensions with its Cameroonian shareholder, the group is turning to the Paris Commercial Court, despite the continued development of the brand on the continent.

Cameroon
Presidency orders checks in MTN–Danpullo dispute

A complaint forwarded by the National Anti-Corruption Commission to the presidency's secretary-general, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, has accused Littoral Court of Appeal presiding judge, Emmanuel Arroye Betou, of alleged corruption linked to the lifting of seizures on telecoms group MTN Cameroon's accounts.

Cameroon
Ahead of local elections, Paul Biya's party plans primaries to choose candidates

The presidential party's plans for the selection of candidates in the upcoming elections are gathering pace in the face of growing opposition. Amid mistrust from the grassroots and post-election tensions, this process is seen as key to party restructuring.