Saturday, November 7
Cameroun: Paul Biya’s return fuels political speculation ahead of 2025 vote
Authoritarian Regimes & Africa

Cameroun: Paul Biya’s return fuels political speculation ahead of 2025 vote

Yaoundé is bracing for the imminent return of President Paul Biya, a development that has set off fresh waves of speculation about his health and the stability of Cameroon’s leadership. At 91, the veteran head of state has spent prolonged periods abroad in recent months, each absence sparking fresh questions among citizens, diplomats, and political observers about his capacity to govern from a distance. The presidential communication team has moved quickly to dispel rumors circulating on social media and in diplomatic circles, where debates about a potential power vacuum continue to resurface. The Élysée Palace in Yaoundé insists that the president remains fully in control, despite the prolonged silence and geographical distance that often accompany his private travels. Leadership in que...
Drc protocol outlines surrender terms for fdlr rebels
Politics

Drc protocol outlines surrender terms for fdlr rebels

DRC: what does the FDLR surrender protocol entail? Kinshasa has finalized a surrender protocol with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a longstanding armed group with roots in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. The agreement outlines key steps: weapons surrender, combatant cantonment, repatriation to Rwanda, or relocation to a third country, alongside judicial processing of those facing charges. Yet critical questions remain unanswered—where will these camps be located? Who will secure them? And how will this initiative differ from the 2025 disarmament campaign that ultimately fell short of expectations? Key provisions of the surrender protocol The protocol establishes a structured framework for the FDLR’s disarmament an...
Cameroon president’s absence fuels scrutiny over governance
Politics

Cameroon president’s absence fuels scrutiny over governance

The prolonged absence of Cameroon’s Head of State, President Paul Biya, has intensified public debate about the country’s political stability and institutional continuity. At 93 years old, the veteran leader has not been seen in public since late May 2026, prompting urgent calls for clarity from both domestic observers and international media. Government denies power vacuum despite prolonged absence In an official statement carried by national broadcasters, government spokesperson René Emmanuel Sadi firmly rejected rumors surrounding the President’s health. "The President is alive and fully in command. There is no power vacuum," Sadi stated, without providing further details on Biya’s whereabouts or return timeline. His remarks were intended to quell rising speculation fueled by the Head ...
Cameroon waits as Paul Biya’s prolonged absence fuels uncertainty
News

Cameroon waits as Paul Biya’s prolonged absence fuels uncertainty

After 56 days of silence: the government finally speaks For 56 days, Cameroon held its breath. Rumors swirled as the nation waited for any sign of Paul Biya, the country's 93-year-old president. Then, on August 2, 2026, the government broke its silence—Biya was alive, and his return was imminent. René Emmanuel Sadi, Cameroon's Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, delivered the long-awaited statement during a national broadcast. "The president is alive," he declared. "There is no power vacuum." The weight of history behind Biya's absence Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982—a record 43 years in power. His latest trip, which began on June 7, 2026, was initially described as a short private stay in Europe. Yet, as days turned into weeks, the silence deepened. Official c...
Ol sparta prague live coverage: how to watch third qualifying round first leg
Top Stories

Ol sparta prague live coverage: how to watch third qualifying round first leg

Olympique Lyonnais takes to the road Tuesday evening to face Sparta Prague in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League's third qualifying round. The clash marks the official kickoff of France's top-flight clubs in the 2026-2027 European campaign. Here’s everything you need to know about tuning in to the action. The Czech side, runners-up in their domestic league last season and just four points adrift of Slavia Prague, reached the group stage in 2024 before advancing all the way to the UEFA Europa Conference League round of 16 this year. Should either team fall short, they’ll drop into next season’s UEFA Europa League. Sparta Prague, fresh off a win and a loss to start their league slate, has struggled historically at this stage, with four eliminations in their last five attempts. Meanw...
Cameroon’s prolonged presidential absence fuels national uncertainty
Authoritarian Regimes & Africa

Cameroon’s prolonged presidential absence fuels national uncertainty

The prolonged absence of Cameroon's long-serving President Paul Biya continues to dominate political discussions in Yaoundé. The uncharacteristic silence from the Éttoudi Palace regarding the president’s whereabouts and activities has fueled widespread speculation, extending far beyond opposition circles. Across social media platforms, newsrooms, and diplomatic missions, the same pressing question lingers: where is the president, and how is he currently discharging his duties? The challenges of a nonagenarian leader shrouded in secrecy Now 91 years old, President Biya has led Cameroon for over four decades, a tenure his supporters often cite as a pillar of stability. Yet this longevity, once a source of confidence, now collides with the inevitable realities of age—realities his inner circ...
Malians now applying for us visas from Dakar after diplomatic shift
News

Malians now applying for us visas from Dakar after diplomatic shift

Securing an American visa from Bamako has become a logistically complex endeavor. United States consular authorities have shifted the visa application process for Malians to Dakar, making Senegal’s capital the mandatory gateway for those seeking entry into the U.S. This strategic move follows months of escalating diplomatic friction between Washington and Mali’s ruling junta, reshaping regional consular dynamics in West Africa. Regional consequences of a consular relocation The adjustment forces Malian applicants to travel to Dakar for interviews and biometric data collection. The U.S. consular section in Dakar now shoulders an increased workload, absorbing applications from across the Sahel. This decision reflects a broader recalibration of American diplomatic presence in West Africa, wh...
Cameroon’s political uncertainty clouds upcoming international debt sale
International

Cameroon’s political uncertainty clouds upcoming international debt sale

The Republic of Cameroon is gearing up for one of its most significant external financing initiatives since the January 2026 sovereign bond issuance. According to the latest monthly public debt outlook from the Caisse autonome d'amortissement (CAA), the government plans to raise $690 million—equivalent to nearly 400 billion FCFA—through a green sovereign bond targeted at international investors. Yet, this financial move unfolds against a backdrop of political ambiguity, intensified by the prolonged absence of President Paul Biya, a factor that routinely shapes investors’ sovereign risk assessments. Since 7 June 2026, when authorities announced the President’s departure for a “brief private stay” in Switzerland, he has not been seen in public. This absence marks the longest since his ascen...
Senegal unveils its AI Factory at Tokyo forum to boost digital sovereignty
Tech

Senegal unveils its AI Factory at Tokyo forum to boost digital sovereignty

The Senegal AI Factory took center stage at the HAIP Friends Group assembly in Tokyo, marking a bold step in the country’s New Technological Deal. The Senegalese delegation presented this cutting-edge initiative as a cornerstone of its vision for digital sovereignty and Africa’s active role in shaping global artificial intelligence governance. The choice of Japan—a leader in AI ethics discussions within the G7 Hiroshima process—was deliberate, positioning Dakar at the heart of international conversations on responsible AI development. Designed as a national hub for high-performance computing and applied research, the Senegal AI Factory aims to merge robust computational power, locally sourced datasets, and African talent to address challenges specific to the continent. From public health ...
Aussie prodigy lucas herrington set to rewrite transfer records with hull city move
News

Aussie prodigy lucas herrington set to rewrite transfer records with hull city move

At just 18 years old, Lucas Herrington is poised to carve his name into Australian football history with a potential transfer that could shatter existing records. The young Socceroos defender, who emerged as a standout performer during the 2026 World Cup, is close to finalizing a deal with Hull City—a newly promoted Premier League side—that would make him the most expensive Australian footballer ever transferred. The Colorado Rapids, Herrington’s current club in Major League Soccer, are in advanced talks with Hull City over a transfer fee estimated between AUD 35 and 38 million. If completed, this deal would dwarf the current Australian transfer benchmark set by Harry Souttar in 2023, when he moved from Stoke City to Leicester City for approximately AUD 23 million. Insiders reveal Hull Ci...
Cameroun government denies power vacuum amid president biya’s absence
News

Cameroun government denies power vacuum amid president biya’s absence

In Cameroon, the government has addressed ongoing speculation regarding President Paul Biya’s prolonged absence from the country, now spanning 56 days. René Emmanuel Sadi, Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, provided a clear statement during an exclusive interview, dismissing rumors that suggest the president is either ill or facing a power vacuum. He reassured the public that Paul Biya remains alive and in good health, with his imminent return to Cameroon expected. Government responds to health and power speculations Contrary to circulating reports claiming Paul Biya is hospitalized in a Geneva clinic, the government has firmly denied these claims. The minister emphasized that the president is in full control of the state and that there is no vacancy in power. These as...
Cameroon road corridor Douala Bangui gets funding boost
Top Stories

Cameroon road corridor Douala Bangui gets funding boost

Le corridor économique reliant Douala à Bangui vient de franchir une étape décisive avec l'annonce d'un premier financement de 425 millions de dollars américains. Cette initiative, portée par la Banque mondiale, vise à rénover et moderniser les 800 kilomètres de route qui relient le Cameroun à la République centrafricaine. Les travaux devraient débuter dès l'année prochaine, marquant une avancée majeure pour l'infrastructure régionale. Modernisation et automatisation au cœur du projet Ce projet phare, destiné à transformer le corridor Douala-Bangui, introduira des innovations technologiques pour rationaliser les opérations de transport. Donnat Takueté, directeur général des études au ministère des Travaux publics camerounais, explique : « Un système de prés...