October12’25: Is Cameroon Becoming Too Good to be True?
By Nchendzengang Tatah
Cameroonians have been overwhelmed in recent weeks with unending good news from Yaounde. Ironically, they are amazed at what should have been the norm – the steady announcement of new or realised projects in their communities. Many, however, have explained that recent government actions are all geared towards the upcoming presidential elections, billed for October 12. Incumbent Paul Biya will be contending for an eighth term after 43 uninterrupted years.
Things have begun happening so fast to the amazement of many. Long-promised rehabilitation and reconstruction works of the country’s lone refining company, SONARA, are underway. Some 30 experts descended on the company’s remnants of the 2019 fire incident on September 15 to conduct preliminary work for the next six weeks. SONARA authorities have assured that when the ongoing project, PARRAS 24, is realized in twenty-four months beginning January 2026, it will be able to produce as before. This came after varied speculations for years as to the fate of SONARA, where the population expressed worry at what they thought was government inaction towards the company.
Just when the nation received that news with hope, the announcement came in of salary arrears payment for the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC). The debts spanning May 2018 to December 2022, totalling CFA 35.75 billion, were paid in full, with a final CFA 15.6 billion disbursement made in mid-September. The gesture is expected to contribute to sustaining the corporation, which continues to grapple with the insecurity in its South West base. Over 20,000 beneficiaries have since then started moving thanks to President Paul Biya, in different ranks.
By and large, the merry has gone round. The North West, which shares a similar historical heritage with the South West, is not left out. A fleet of projects was either inaugurated or launched on September 17 by Prime Minister and Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute. Key amongst which was the 6.2 km Bamenda urban bypass. The project is expected to improve connectivity across the town and will cost CFA 26.7 billion. Launched a month before the presidential elections, the project had been in gestation since 2016 when the population first heard about it.
The one-day official visit by PM Ngute also saw the inauguration of the Nkwen Mile IV bridge, while the foundation stone for the Nkwen Mile IV Market was laid. Two lots (1&2) of the Babadjou – Bamenda road were commissioned during the same visit. The road project, which became a sing-song for over a decade, only partly saw the light of day in the euphoria building up to October 12. The population hopes that it will be fully realised in the upcoming days.
Some analysts have explained that the phenomenon is usually the case during presidential election years in Cameroon. They outline that many of these projects will be stalled after the polls, and take a new tempo when the next elections draw near.
