Each year, across various regions of Côte d’Ivoire—particularly among Akan communities such as the Baoulé, Agni, and Abron—the Yam Festival (Fête des Ignames) brings together tradition, spirituality, and celebration. Held at the end of the rainy season, the festival marks the start of a new agricultural cycle and serves as a time to honor ancestral spirits and protective deities. The yam, a revered staple crop rich in symbolism, takes center stage as an emblem of life, abundance, and fertility.

Before anyone can partake in the new harvest, sacred rituals are conducted. The village chief, accompanied by elders and traditional priests, receives the first yams. These are prepared in the simplest of ways—boiled or pounded—and eaten in solemn silence after prayers and libations. This ritual opening not only signals the start of the season but also reaffirms the spiritual bond between the living and the ancestral world.

Once the sacred rites are complete, the atmosphere transforms into one of collective joy and festivity. Communities—both rural and urban—come alive with music, food, and dance. Women prepare a variety of traditional yam dishes, children move to the beat of drums, and elders recount the origin stories and legends of their people. Ritual dances, parades in elaborate attire, and songs in local languages punctuate the celebrations, which can last for days.

Over time, the Yam Festival has grown beyond its spiritual roots to become a major cultural event. It now attracts visitors from across Côte d’Ivoire and abroad, eager to experience the country’s vibrant traditions. In some areas, the festival has been formalized and added to the national tourism calendar, receiving official support and recognition.

Beyond its ceremonial and touristic appeal, the festival also gives a boost to the local economy. It stimulates commerce through the sale of artisanal crafts, spices, yams, costume rentals, performances, and accommodations. Yet at its core, the Yam Festival remains a powerful vehicle of cultural transmission. It teaches respect for the land, celebrates communal values, and reaffirms a shared heritage. In honoring the yam, communities pay tribute to their ancestors and renew their cultural identity from one generation to the next.

On April 24, 2025, the SNEL, the DR Congo’s power utility, signed a contract with Chint, a Chinese firm, to rehabilitate the electricity distribution network in northern Kinshasa, covering five communes: Barumbu, Gombe, Kasa-Vubu, Kinshasa, and Lingwala.

Initially, the project aimed to build 60 new low- and medium-voltage cabins, modernize 35 existing cabins, and reinforce a substation and a high-voltage substation. However, the project scope has expanded: 204 cabins will now be renovated, 25,000 subscribers will switch to prepaid billing, and 1,175 street lamps will be installed to improve public lighting.

SNEL Managing Director Fabrice Lusinde said the project, a pilot, will be extended to other communes amid rapid urbanization and growing energy demand. The current network, largely inherited from colonial times, has not been rehabilitated for over 60 years, causing significant energy losses and outdated flat-rate billing.

Founded in 1984, Chint Electric is a subsidiary of the Chinese conglomerate CHINT Group, specializing in electrical equipment, renewable energy, and intelligent energy management solutions. Present in over 140 countries, the company has carried out several electrification projects in Africa, including Ethiopia, Ghana, and Nigeria.

This article was initially published in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Cameroon’s natural gas industry is expected to bounce back next year, after a difficult 2024. New projections from the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) show the country’s gas output could rise to 1.78 million tons in 2025, up 23% from the 1.44 million tons projected for this year.

This would mark a strong recovery after a 12.6% drop in 2024 compared to 2023, when production stood at 1.65 million tons. If BEAC’s estimates hold, 2025 would be Cameroon’s best year for gas production since 2023.

Across Central Africa, only Equatorial Guinea is expected to produce more natural gas, with an estimated 4.11 million tons next year. But even there, the trend is downward. The country has been scaling back since 2023, when it peaked at 4.9 million tons. It is expected to close 2024 at 4.82 million.

Together, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea are projected to supply nearly 85% of the sub-region’s natural gas output in 2025. BEAC sees total gas production across the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) reaching 6.94 million tons.

For Cameroon, this rebound could help ease the impact of a predicted drop in oil production. Despite the global slump in energy prices, oil and gas remain the country’s biggest export earners. In 2023, hydrocarbons made up 50.6% of total exports, according to Fitch Solutions.

Even with a steep 33.3% drop in value, natural gas alone accounted for 14.1% of export revenues last year, based on figures from the National Institute of Statistics. The government is now counting on this recovery in gas output to keep export revenues afloat.

Cameroon has launched the construction of a new domestic gas filling center in Kumba, Southwest Region. The project, valued at CFA6 billion, marks the fifth such facility developed by the Hydrocarbons Price Stabilization Fund (CSPH). The groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 29, led by Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, who also chairs CSPH’s board.

This new site follows similar projects in Maroua, Bertoua, Bamenda, and most recently Ebolowa, where construction began just one week earlier, on April 22.

The Kumba facility will have a filling and storage capacity of 200 cubic meters, with room for future expansion, CSPH said. Once operational, it will make it easier for households in the Southwest Region to access domestic gas—also known as LPG—which has seen rising demand across Cameroon. According to the Trade Minister, household use of domestic gas is growing by about 13% every year.

Until now, consumers in the Southwest have had to rely on supply from Douala, the country’s economic capital, often paying more due to transportation costs.

Beyond making gas more accessible, the expansion of filling centers—whether by CSPH or private players like Bocom and Green Oil—is also helping tackle environmental issues. These facilities offer an alternative to firewood and charcoal, which many households still use for cooking.

Charcoal is a booming industry in Cameroon, generating CFA17 billion annually, according to the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife. But this comes at a heavy cost to the environment. Nonprofits and environmental groups have warned about the link between charcoal production and rising rates of deforestation and desertification.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) will help finance a 62 MWp solar power plant in Sokodé, central Togo. The AfDB board approved the project on May 8, 2025. It will back the initiative with €26.5 million  (about CFA17.4 billion).

The project aligns with Togo’s goal to reach 200 MWp of renewable energy by 2030. EDF Group will design, build, and run the plant, with co-financing from Proparco, the private sector arm of the French Development Agency (AFD).

The AfDB funding splits into two loans: €18.5 million from the AfDB itself and a €8 million concessional loan from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the pan-African bank.

The project’s total cost is €61 million. It will include an 11 km transmission line, and the solar plant will generate 87 GWh yearly. This output will cut CO₂ emissions by 13,600 tonnes annually. It will also improve access to clean, reliable, and cheap energy in Togo.

Kevin Kariuki, AfDB Vice President for Energy, called the Sokodé solar project a "landmark achievement." The solar power plant will strengthen energy security in Togo.

Recently, Togo began building another solar power plant in Dapaong, which should be ready in 13 months. 

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

The Container Terminal Operator (RTC) of the Port of Douala distributed CFA2 billion in commercial rebates for the FY2024 during a ceremony held on April 25.

The rebates were allocated based on the volume of full containers (measured in twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs) handled at the port. Shipping companies received 20% of the total amount, while importers and exporters received 80%.

Charles Michaux Moukoko Njoh, Deputy General Manager of the Port Authority of Douala (PAD), said the rebate system was adjusted this year to reward shippers even more. "The shippers are the real engine behind our growth," he said, adding that their share was increased by nearly 15%.

Among the shipping lines, Denmark's Maersk Group claimed the highest rebate, receiving CFA168.8 million. It was followed by MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), with CFA164.7 million, and France’s CMA CGM, which received CFA86.2 million.

For national importers, where a minimum of 520 full TEUs was required to qualify, seafood distributor Congelcam led the pack with a rebate of CFA68 million. Brewer UCB followed with CFA42.3 million, and Orca Industry came third with CFA26.3 million.

On the exporters’ side, where the minimum was set at 350 full TEUs, the top beneficiary was Sodecoton, which received CFA102.6 million. Agricultural company Ofi Cameroun followed with CFA47.8 million, and cocoa trader Telcar Cocoa secured CFA39 million.

Shippers from landlocked neighboring countries such as the Central African Republic and Chad did not receive their checks during the event. RTC said it plans to organize separate official ceremonies in each country to hand over their rebates.

Frédéric Nonos

Cameroon’s government is preparing to take tougher action against vandalism and public misconduct affecting the country’s railway network. During a special session of the Interministerial Committee on Railway Infrastructure (Comifer) held yesterday in Yaoundé, Minister of Transport Jean Ernest Masséna Ngalle Bibehe said a crackdown was being considered to improve safety and protect rail operations.

Over the past few months, Camrail, the private operator of the national rail network and a subsidiary of Africa Global Logistics (AGL), has reported 77 cases of incivility and vandalism along its tracks. These incidents have included train–vehicle collisions at level crossings, rock throwing at passenger trains, theft, blocked tracks, sabotage, and pedestrian accidents. Some of these have caused serious damage to equipment and posed risks to passengers and workers.

Minister Ngalle Bibehe called the situation “deeply concerning” and stressed the need for both preventive and punitive action. He urged law enforcement agencies and Camrail officials to act quickly and decisively to limit vandalism and protect the safety of rail operations.

“It is our collective duty to take action,” said the minister. “We must promote a culture of safety and respect for railway rules. That includes awareness campaigns but also strict enforcement when necessary.”

The rising number of incidents has had broader consequences. Delays in freight delivery have disrupted supply chains in neighboring countries. Chad, for instance, recently experienced a cement shortage, which officials say was directly tied to rail traffic disruptions caused by vandalism in Cameroon.

In response, Camrail launched a two-month awareness campaign on April 4, 2025. The effort targets people living near the railways and includes messages in both French and English, as well as in local languages spoken in affected communities.

On May 8, 2025, the MSC Turkiye, one of the largest container ships in the world, will dock at Cameroon’s deep-sea port of Kribi in the South region. This landmark arrival will coincide with the launch of the port’s second container terminal, marking a major step in Cameroon’s ambitions to boost its shipping and logistics sector.

The news was confirmed by Africa Global Logistics (AGL), MSC’s Cameroon subsidiary. AGL was formed after the Italo-Swiss shipping giant MSC acquired the African logistics business previously owned by French group Bolloré. The ship’s arrival date was also listed by the maritime tracking platform www.vesselsfinder.com, although the actual docking may shift slightly depending on time zone differences between Asia and Cameroon.

The MSC Turkiye, built in 2023, is one of only four container vessels in the MSC fleet that can carry 24,346 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Unlike its sister ships, the MSC Irina, MSC Loreto, and MSC Michel Cappellini, the MSC Turkiye stands out with its massive dimensions: 400 meters long and 62 meters wide. This visit will be the first time such a colossal vessel enters Central African waters.

The second container terminal at Kribi, which the MSC Turkiye will inaugurate, offers 715 meters of quay space, more than double the 350 meters available at the first terminal. This new terminal is operated by Kribi Container Terminal (KCT), a subsidiary of AGL. It was built as part of the port’s second-phase expansion project and will officially open during a ceremony scheduled for May 9, 2025.

According to Patrice Melom, Director General of the Kribi Port Authority, the launch of this terminal opens up new horizons for Cameroon. He says it will allow Kribi to "stand shoulder to shoulder with major ports in the Gulf of Guinea."

That vision is clearly shared by MSC. The shipping company has added Kribi to its new Africa Express maritime route, a logistics solution designed to serve growing trade flows between Asia and West Africa.

The Africa Express connects major Asian ports in South Korea, China, Thailand, Singapore, and India to African ports in Lomé (Togo), Tema (Ghana), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), and Kribi (Cameroon). This strategic route addresses the sharp rise in cargo volumes between these regions.

As part of this shift, MSC has reassigned its largest vessels, including the MSC Turkiye, to serve the Africa Express route. Shortly after the Turkiye’s arrival, the MSC Melissa, a 304-meter-long and 40-meter-wide container ship, is also scheduled to dock at Kribi, according to www.vesselsfinder.com.

Johnny Razack has been appointed chairman of Cameroon’s National Investment Company (SNI), following a presidential decree signed on April 25. The 52-year-old senior civil servant takes over from Geoffroy Désiré Mbock, who held the position for five years.

The SNI acts as the government's main investment vehicle, holding stakes in companies and helping create new businesses. Razack's nomination comes at a turning point for the institution, which was restructured last year to take on a stronger role in shaping the country’s economic and industrial strategy.

Before his appointment, Razack served as Secretary General at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, a position he had held since December 22, 2015. Over his career, he also managed government correspondence at the Prime Minister’s Office and spent several years overseeing union matters. He began his career at the Ministry of Economy in 2005 as acting head of personnel services.

Razack brings with him a solid academic background. He is a graduate of ENA Paris, part of the 2002–2004 “Léopold Senghor” cohort, which also included French President Emmanuel Macron. He also graduated from Cameroon’s ENAM in Yaoundé, class of 1998–2000, the same year as Health Minister Malachie Manaouda. A committed member of the ruling RDPC party, he also serves as a mission officer at the party’s central committee. He hails from Bénoué in the North region.

A fellow RDPC member commented that Razack’s appointment “shows the President’s trust in loyal, capable profiles to manage key pillars of the national economy.”

His nomination follows the recent reshuffle of the SNI’s board of directors. Eleven members were appointed, including Gwendoline Abunaw, Managing Director of Ecobank Cameroon, and Célestin Tawamba, head of the country’s main business federation GECAM. They represent the banking and private sector, respectively.

This move is part of a broader overhaul of the SNI, initiated by President Paul Biya on July 10, 2024. The reform transformed the SNI into a public capital company with a sharper focus on investment planning. Under the new structure, SNI now plays a dual role: as a government investor and as a consulting and research body. It is fully owned by the state.

The company’s capital was raised to CFA200 billion, to be released gradually over four years. The goal is to turn the SNI into a true investment holding. Plans are already underway to open its subsidiaries to new public and private shareholders. The strategy aims to better manage the state’s holdings and help build strong national companies.

The SNI’s new responsibilities are extensive. It will now screen industrial projects from the private sector by issuing financial and economic viability clearances before the state can step in. It will also assess public companies by conducting audits, performance reviews, and diagnostics. In addition, it will help prepare and monitor performance contracts between the state and these firms.

On top of that, the SNI will now handle venture capital and private equity activities, as well as act as a stock market intermediary and asset manager.

Razack’s appointment comes with big expectations. While he is seen as a trusted and well-connected civil servant with political weight and administrative experience, some in the business community question whether he has the hands-on experience needed to run an institution now tasked with high-stakes investment operations. Others are confident that his background and network could serve him well in navigating this new chapter.

Bobo Makunda Sefekese is the new Deputy Managing Director of Sofibanque, a leading bank in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The lender announced Sefekese’s appointment on March 4. He holds the same position as Louis-Odilon Alaguillaume, appointed in April 2022. 

However, Sefekese will oversee the implementation of the bank’s business continuity plan, approved by its Board of Directors in October 2023, which ensures operational resilience during crises. The plan includes an IT backup strategy to maintain technical and service availability, a critical focus given the DRC’s volatile security and economic landscape.

Sefekese’s appointment aligns with his expertise in risk management and digital transformation. Holding master’s degrees in computer science from the University of Namur and financial risk management from Université Saint-Louis de Bruxelles, he brings over 20 years of experience in banking and insurance, including roles as Director of Information Systems at Equity BCDC and Director of Organization and IT at Banque Commerciale du Congo. His background positions him to address challenges like cybersecurity and fintech integration, areas increasingly vital as digital banking expands in the DRC.

Sefekese will collaborate with Managing Director Henry Yoan Wazne, who has led Sofibanque since 2012. According to the bank’s 2023 report, Deputing MDs help the MD supervise operations, streamline processes, and execute strategic projects. Sofibanque should leverage the expertise of its new Deputy MD to better contribute to the digitization of banking services and fintechs’ emergence in the DRC. 

In 2023, Sofibanque was the country’s top sixth bank, with $964 million in total assets. Expanding its management underscores the bank’s commitment to stability and innovation amid regional uncertainties. 

This article was initially in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho