Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
The death of Pope Francis is the headline of Cameroon Tribune, which focuses on The President’s Tribute. The Sovereign Pontiff passed away yesterday morning at the Vatican at the age of 88, after a period of illness. In a message, the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, praised his leadership and unwavering commitment to the underprivileged. A look back at the immense work of the late Pope, to whom Cameroon and the world are paying a vibrant tribute. Find the President’s tribute on pages 2 to 7.
Mutation remembers him as the one who prayed for peace in the North West and South West. The ongoing crisis in these regions was often among the prayer topics of the late Pope, to the point where he dispatched his Secretary of State to Cameroon in 2021. Find the portrait and reactions following the Sovereign Pontiff’s death, as well as speculation on who might emerge from the white smoke, on page 7.
EcoNews, regarding the Pope’s death, focuses on his succession, with the headline; The Vatican looks toward Africa. If we go by the explosive growth of the Catholic Church, the next pope might come from Africa. The continent is now the engine of Catholicism’s global expansion. According to the latest Vatican figures, nearly 20% of the world’s Catholics now live in Africa, with a growth rate of 0.32% in one year the highest among all regions. In this context, two African figures stand out prominently: Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, from the DRC, and Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76, from Ghana. More information on pages 4 and 5.
Le Drapeau headlines the announced teachers’ strike starting today and questions whether the strike can be avoided. While the threat of a strike loomed over the start of the third term, the Minister of Labor launched the first tripartite negotiation session on April 21 to finalize a national collective agreement for private education. A three month discussion calendar has been set, involving unions, employers, and the government. The government is calling on teachers to suspend their strike in favor of dialogue.
Info Matin’s headline today is Atanga Nji says stop to the use of strongmen in legal matters. In a letter dated April 21 to regional governors, the Minister of Territorial Administration ordered an end to the use of militias often hired by individuals for forced debt collection, evictions, or property removals, instead of legally authorized law enforcement. Details on pages 2 to 3.
Eco-tidien, in its Tuesday edition, focuses on financing, stating that Cameroon’s disbursement levels worry the World Bank. Despite the World Bank’s steady increase in commitments to Cameroon, project implementation performance remains concerning. This was noted by Cheick Fantamady Kante, the Bank’s Country Director, at the opening of the institution’s Joint Portfolio Review held on April 14, 2025, in Yaoundé.
We continue with Écho Santé, which reports that 4,144 precarious health workers will soon be under contract. This measure, following President Paul Biya’s promises, should improve the working and living conditions of the affected personnel and strengthen Cameroon’s health system. The decision, formalized by a communiqué signed on April 4, 2025, by the Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Prof. Magloire Séraphin Fouda, has been warmly welcomed by professional organizations and health personnel. However, they eagerly await the actual implementation of this promise. More on page 6.
We end with My Hospital, whose headline focuses on oral disease prevention: 271 people were examined at the Bertoua Regional Hospital (CHR). Gingivitis, periodontitis, cavities oral diseases remain a major concern in Bertoua. From April 7 to 18, the CHR conducted a campaign of awareness and treatment that reached 271 patients, both children and adults. The initiative offered free consultations to children under five and low-cost dental care to older patients.
