Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
We begin today’s national press review with The Guardian Post, which headlines the Bafoussam Bishop’s warning to citizens in a statement titled “No make erreur”. During his sermon, he urged Cameroonians to vote with their consciences or face the consequences. He called for resistance against demonic intimidation, encouraged massive registration and voting, and insisted that bishops will not remain silent in the face of uncertainty.
While the bishop sounds the alarm ahead of the October presidential elections, Le Point Bihebdo focuses on the ruling CPDM’s pre-electoral campaign. According to the paper, as Cameroon finds itself immersed in an unofficial pre-campaign atmosphere, the communication from major actors, especially within the ruling party is doing little to reinforce unity around its natural candidate. Amid disinformation, fake news, and questionable authenticity of information, militants are left confused and wondering: who within the CPDM is attempting to derail Paul Biya’s re-election? The heart of this internal conflict is laid bare on page 11.
Cameroon Tribune in today’s edition focuses on the worsening refugee situation in the Far North. Due to overcrowding in the Minawao camp in Mayo-Tsanaga and the scarcity of financial resources, Cameroon can no longer cope alone. The government is now seeking additional support to accelerate voluntary repatriation efforts and empower people displaced by Boko Haram’s violence. Read the full report on pages 6 and 7.
Info Matin headlines: “Road infrastructure – 4 days to review 98 projects.” At the opening session on April 14 in Yaoundé, Public Works Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi urged various teams to adopt an open-minded spirit and a sense of anticipation to identify constraints that need to be addressed. More information is available on pages 2 and 3.
Bougna analyzes road accidents and headlines with “Warning level among bus drivers.” Nearly ten accidents involving intercity passenger buses have been recorded in the past three months a grim continuation of 2024, which saw the suspension of 22 transport companies and the withdrawal of 1,025 driving licenses, especially among bus drivers.
Le Drapeau leads with “Cameroon – Diaspora: Money transfers in crisis.” For several weeks, sending money abroad from Cameroon has become a real struggle. Users face frequent refusals and long queues, decrying a silent tightening of conditions. In the absence of official explanations, speculation is rife, while thousands of families find themselves unable to support their loved ones. See page 5 for more details.
La Nouvelle Expression brings us the story of the pioneer of in vitro fertilization in Central Africa. Having helped over 1,400 children be born through assisted reproduction, Cameroonian gynecologist-obstetrician Dr. Ernestine Gwet Bell has just released her first autobiography titled “The Inspiring Journey of a Pioneer of In Vitro Fertilization in Central Africa.” The 170-page book chronicles not only an exceptional medical career but also a personal battle against infertility one of the major public health challenges in Africa. Full article on page 2.
We end with Échos Santé, which reflects on the progress of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Cameroon. Two years after its launch on April 12, 2023, in Mandjou (East Region), the pilot phase has enrolled nearly 4 million beneficiaries. Over 400,000 children under 5 have been treated for malaria for free, around 481,000 people are receiving free antiretroviral treatment, and 25,705 tuberculosis patients are also receiving free care. Despite these advances, the system is still hindered by delayed reimbursement of services and a pressing need for funding. See details on page 6.
