Cameroon is facing renewed political uncertainty weeks after its presidential election, amid reports of mass arrests, deaths linked to protests and mounting concerns over the use of military courts.

Rights groups and local observers say more than a thousand people have been detained following post-election demonstrations across the country. Several fatalities have been reported, while dozens of those arrested have been brought before military tribunals, a move that has drawn criticism from civil society and legal experts.

The unrest comes as attention turns once again to the long-running Anglophone crisis. Ambazonian separatist leader Sisiku Julius Ayuk Tabe and nine other activists, who have been serving life sentences since 2019, are expected to appear before the Supreme Court on 18 December. Their case has reignited debate over due process, human rights and the handling of political dissent in Cameroon.

The men were convicted on charges including terrorism and secession after being arrested abroad and extradited to Cameroon, a process that has itself been widely contested. Their supporters argue that the sentences reflect a broader pattern of repression rather than a genuine effort to resolve the conflict in the country’s English-speaking regions.

Yaoundé-based political analyst Paul Anchang said the timing of the Supreme Court hearing, set against the backdrop of post-election unrest, highlights the depth of Cameroon’s political challenges.

“This is not simply a question of election-related violence,” Anchang said. “It points to a deeper crisis of governance, where political disagreements are increasingly addressed through arrests and military justice instead of dialogue.”

He warned that continued reliance on security measures risks further destabilising the country.

“Without a serious commitment to political engagement, both on electoral issues and the Anglophone question, tensions are likely to persist,” he added. “Cameroon needs inclusive solutions if it is to move away from this cycle of crisis.”

Source: ChannelAfrica

Eight people were killed and several others injured after a fuel tanker exploded early Friday in Cameroon’s Southwest Region, authorities said.

The tanker, which had departed the seaside resort town of Limbe and was en route to the commercial hub of Douala, overturned and burst into flames before exploding on a highway in the town of Tiko.

“We heard a loud noise and saw huge flames. It was so frightening. We don’t even know how many people have been consumed by the fire,” said James Njie, a witness said.

Viang Mekala, senior divisional officer for Fako, where Tiko subdivision is located, said the death toll, initially reported as four, hit eight after more bodies were recovered from the debris during rescue operations.

“About 10 houses and some vehicles that were driving behind the truck were torched. Three people were injured and have been transported to the hospital,” Mekala told reporters after visiting the scene.

He said traffic had resumed along the highway after firefighters, working with local residents, cleared the debris.

Source: Xinhuanet

Mamfe, a locality in the Manyu department in Cameroon’s Southwest region, will soon host a multi-purpose training center for girls and women. Officials laid the foundation stone last weekend under the supervision of Victor Mengot Arrey, Minister Charged with Mission at the Presidency and an elite of the department.

The project carries an estimated cost of CFA500 million and will rise on a 2,000-square-meter site. Authorities expect construction to last 18 months. Local elites, including the Manyu Women Association, are financing the project and have already mobilized CFA250 million for implementation.

Victor Mengot Arrey told CRTV, the state broadcaster, “This is a multifunctional center that will train women and girls in order to offer them opportunities to escape poverty.”

The future center will offer training in aquaculture, agriculture, tailoring, catering and livestock, among other sectors. The facility aims to equip women with professional skills that enable them to gain economic autonomy through income-generating activities.

The initiative comes as the Manyu department continues to face the impact of the eight-year anglophone crisis, which has triggered extensive security, humanitarian and social challenges. Mamfe, like the broader Southwest region, has experienced significant displacement as residents fled violence.

Conditions have recently begun to stabilize. The construction of this multi-purpose training center aligns with ongoing efforts to revive economic activity and support local reconstruction. The project seeks to create new social and economic opportunities for residents, particularly women and young girls.

Source: Business in Cameroon