Thirty-three cyclists from 8 national cycling teams have begun competing for the yellow jersey at the 20th International Cycling Tour of Cameroon which kicked off on 31st May in Maroua All 9 participating teams were presented in a ceremony at the Maroua ceremonial ground on 30th May presided over by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education He called on the cyclists to uphold good sportsmanship as they engage in the race “which has become a festive event that promotes the image of Cameroon and its touristic attractions” The fight for the yellow jersey begins during the first lap of the race; the Maroua-Mora-Maroua stretch which covers a distance of 131km A total of of 33 cyclists constituting 9 teams from 8 countries; 2 from Europe and 6 from Africa are taking part in the 20th edition of the International Cycling Tour of Cameroon Holland’s Global Cycling Team is competing with 6 cyclists; Tigelaar Jan Waltherus Six cyclists from Algeria’s national cycling team are also taking part in the competition The National Cycling team of Cote D’Ivoire has five cyclists; Cisse Isiaka Senegal’s national cycling team is seeking the yellow jersey with the help of six cyclists ; Sow Nar Five cyclists from Morocco’s national cycling team made it to Cameroon for the race Burkina Faso’s national cycling team counts six Burkinabé cycling warriors ; Daumont Paul Cameroon is competing for the yellow jersey with two teams; the National cycling team and the SNH Velo Club The SNH velo club is comprised of Kamzong Clovis Abossolo Atchetkuenyinyi Aurelien and Fotsing Claude Harold Meanwhile the Cameroon national cycling team is made up of Tientcheu Michel Boris Cameroonian cyclists and captain of SNH Velo Club and the Cameroon Cycling team hopes his team will bypass the odds to grab the yellow jersey at the end of this lap “My team and I are hopeful that the anthem of Cameroon will be sung in Maroua at the end of the first lap We have been in Maroua for sometime now to acquaint ourselves with the climate and we think everything will go on as planned.” The cyclists have been racing through the town of Maroua for about four hours now and the winner of the first lap of the 20th International Cycling Tour of Cameroon will soon be known Les champs obligatoires sont indiqués avec * mon e-mail et mon site dans le navigateur pour mon prochain commentaire Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" (Business in Cameroon) - Cameroon’s power utility Eneo has inked a deal with Release to expand the photovoltaic solar plants in Maroua According to documents seen by Business in Cameroon the agreement aims to increase the production capacities of these facilities by 19.8 and 8.8 Megawatts peak (MWp) taking them from 17.9 MWp to 57.5 MWp and 26.7 MWp respectively This effectively doubles their current capacities of 35.8 MWp The expansions are set to come online gradually starting from July 2025 made possible by the success of the initial installations commissioned on September 22 "The government will provide all necessary guarantees and facilities for the realization of these new solar projects much to the delight of the populations in the northern regions," promised the Minister of Water and Energy the Maroua and Guider plants will provide energy to about 200,000 households in Cameroon generating around 141.5 GWh of electricity annually as stated by the Norwegian company in its release this expansion aims to ensure stable electricity supply in the Northern Interconnected Network (RIN) "even during peak periods," while reducing CO2 emissions the Maroua and Guider solar plants are Cameroon's first large-scale solar projects They have played a crucial role in the national energy mix traditionally dominated by hydroelectricity and have met the growing electricity needs of populations and businesses in the three northern regions of Cameroon and Extreme North regions have not experienced the usual power cuts due to production deficits since the introduction of the initial solar megawatts into the RIN by late 2022 The new installations are expected to further strengthen these gains and ensure a more reliable and stable electricity supply "This expansion is a testament to the success of the initial projects," affirmed Hans Olav Kvalvaag these pioneering lease agreements with Eneo will serve as a model for access to clean and affordable energy in other countries and for major energy consumers in the region "We have secured the necessary financing to support significant growth and plan to conclude and commence implementation of several other projects from our pipeline in the coming months," he stated The company has secured funding of just over CFA60 billion ($100 million) from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) a subsidiary of the World Bank dedicated to financing private sector projects in Cameroon and Chad "This new step towards more reliable and carbon-free energy is part of Eneo's strategy which lies at the heart of its ongoing efforts under the auspices of the Cameroonian government to sustainably improve electricity supply in Cameroon," said Eneo's Managing Director Cameroon aims to increase its solar energy production capacity to 250 MW by 2030 Kribi Bitumen Plant Set to Start Construction in 2025 with Government Backing CEMAC Bond Market Hits CFA 8.45 Trillion in March 2025, Interest Rates Drop Cameroon’s Timber Output Projected to Rise in 2025 Despite Higher Export Taxes Central Africa Stock Exchange Sees 98% Drop in Trading Value in Q1 2025 Every week the economy and investment news from Cameroon Mboa Paris Trains 30 Young Cameroonians to Boost Tech and Entrepreneurship Cameroon Audit Targets Former Officials for Mismanagement in Agricultural Project Camwater Seeks Global Bids to Launch Bottled Water Lines in Five Cities Bafoussam Workshop Highlights Benefits of Cameroon-EU Trade Agreement Cameroon Could Reach 350,100 Tons of Cotton in 2025 (Beac) Paul Biya Appoints Johnny Razack as Chair of Cameroon’s National Investment Company Cameroon Refuses Work Visa Renewal for Casino and Super U Boss Over Toxic Workplace Claims Cameroon Joins Global Charter to Fight Illegal Fishing "I appreciate the intellectual stimulation found in the program but also the openness to the world with the possibility of studying with lawyers from around the world..." Year of graduation: 2020Name of programme: Energy and Natural Resources Law LLMCountry: Algeria I am a French-Algerian Energy and Natural Resources Law LLM student; I graduated with a Masters Degree in International Business Law from Lyon III University a program based at the university’s Vietnam campus Lawyers today are constantly asked to adapt to the evolving market environment This is the reason why I chose to leave my comfort zone and move to Ho Chi Minh City one of the most dynamic cities in South East Asia I completed a full-time 8-month internship at YKVN I was very lucky in that I had a great mentor at YKVN Managing Partner of the Project Finance practice He gave me the opportunity to focus mostly on energy projects which is a subject I was always curious and eager to acquire more experience in I also had the opportunity to work at the legal department of KPMG Vietnam where we advised a broad array of international clients on market entry and gave regulatory analysis on business structuring which is booming due to power demands in Vietnam I quickly realized how challenging it was to bring these project to financial closure in a “shaky jurisdiction” Regulation in Vietnam is still in development and so there are extreme differences between the intentions of the lawmakers and how the law is applied in practice The LLM also offers practical and concrete that will help me to develop and gain the knowledge and skills required to play a key role in the coming years in the energy sector I am currently taking modules such as International Energy Transactions International Arbitration and Energy and also Renewable Energy Law The courses and the professors are incredible I appreciate the intellectual stimulation found in the program but also the openness to the world with the possibility of studying with lawyers from around the world The way classes are organised through seminars with open discussions and debates on all subjects I was also extremely happy with the guest lecturers we had the chance to receive in our classes and during the Friday lecture series Being able to exchange and learn from lecturers and lawyers with extensive experience and expertise is a great opportunity for me to strengthen my personal and professional competencies I am able now to speak out more confidently but I have also learned how to master another legal system I would like to continue to grow both as an energy lawyer and also as an individual in the years to come I want to push myself out of my comfort zone by getting exposure to different practice areas in the energy sector which will hopefully provide me with a better sense of where I truly wish to concentrate down the road I also want to stay involved as a Queen Mary Alumna and share my experience with upcoming LLM students CAMEROON - The government of Cameroon this week began rolling out an unlikely weapon in the fight against Boko Haram militants Authorities are distributing thousands of goats and sheep to young Cameroonians in villages along with border with Nigeria The program aims to providing livestock for a basic income in order to stop the Islamist militant group’s recruiting tactics The hope is that the livestock will empower thousands of vulnerable families and stop them from joining the extremists 17-year-old Oumar Nafisatu received four sheep Nafisatu says she is looking forward to having baby sheep so she can sell them to pay for her school fees She is the only one to take care of herself Boko Haram fighters killed Nafisatu’s parents Nafisatu’s only sister was killed in a suicide bomb attack in a mosque at Kolofata Boko Haram had recruited her with promises of a job as a house cleaner Cameroon's government plans to distribute 60,000 goats and sheep by the end of the year said the animals will go to those who have suffered in the fight against Boko Haram He said the initiative is to help families who are vulnerable by providing animals that are fruitful and enable them to have money and help to avoid temptations that can jeopardize peace and bring chaos with eight member nations in the region including Cameroon says some areas attacked by Boko Haram have unemployment rates as high as 90 percent governor of Cameroon’s Far North region notes there have been no major Boko Haram attacks in the past year but says the militants are still recruiting He said people should be vigilant because Boko Haram is recruiting jobless youths with promises to improve their living conditions should be reactivated to work in collaboration with the military He said they can share information on any suspected activities that may upset the peace that has been returning to villages and towns Get all the latest news and stories with Frontline See the latest vacancies and find out about working for MSF UK MSF staff will happily speak about their work at a fundraising or educational event Find a job working overseas with Médecins Sans Frontières raise funds and help our expert teams save lives around the world Médecins sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams have been responding to the fallout of the Lake Chad crisis at Maroua Hospital in the Far North region of Cameroon From emergency trauma surgery for those caught up in conflict to long-term rehabilitative care and mental health services MSF has performed more than 14,000 operations and provided more than 8,000 mental health consultations in Maroua since 2016 after rebuilding the intensive care unit and training new teams we will be transferring the hospital to the ministry of health and launching new projects elsewhere in the region – bringing to an end five years of life-saving work The "Lake Chad crisis" began in Nigeria in 2009, before spreading throughout the Lake Chad Basin, including the Far North region of Cameroon, western Chad and south-east Niger The crisis is a complex humanitarian emergency driven by climate change, extreme poverty and cross-border conflict These events have only intensified the needs in a region with limited infrastructure left at risk from extreme violence and limited access to healthcare Lake Chad was once the largest lake in the Chad Basin but has been shrinking for decades protracted conflicts between armed groups and government forces have grown This crisis continues to have serious repercussions for the 17 million people living in the region while the effects of this crisis are profound and ongoing I'm constantly on edge – when someone shuts a door I think it's a weapon 298,225 Nigerian refugees have fled to Chad An estimated 2,832,939 people have been forced from their homes across the Lake Chad region as a result of the crisis The Maroua regional hospital is the main specialist health centre in the region MSF has provided support with complex surgical care and mental health support to people affected by the conflict as well as the local community more generally MSF teams treat patients suffering from complicated fractures serious soft tissue and abdominal infections and those in need of emergency surgical care These services are provided 24 hours a day Hawa is not the only patient to have spent so much time in the hospital Some patients spend more than two years undergoing continuous treatment options for complex medical care in the Far North are scarce – which makes the treatment provided at Maroua even more valuable "Attacks were happening every day," says Ibrahim Abdulahi He lost several brothers and his mother in an attack and was referred to MSF after showing signs of post-traumatic stress “I'm constantly on edge; when someone shuts a door I think it's a weapon When I arrived I said I didn't know why I was still living on earth But with the treatment that I have had since Although the subject of mental health is little discussed in Cameroon the psychological impact of the crisis cannot be underestimated our medical teams provided 2,400 mental health consultations to patients in Maroua and Mora Psychosocial support is offered to all patients and carers to help them during their treatment Ibrahim is a cotton farmer from Madaka in Bogo arrondissement in Cameroon’s Far North Region When his son Bouba was badly burned in a fire where he underwent treatment for more than two years Ibrahim stayed with his son in the hospital Bouba is nine and can walk again and go to school We had harvested two cases of cotton and Bouba went to collect it when the cotton burst into flames but Bouba’s clothes caught fire too and he ran People chased him to put out the fire but nobody could catch up with him We had to peel the clothes off him and his skin was coming off with them We took him to the neighbourhood hospital but they said they couldn’t treat him and they advised us to go to the regional hospital in Maroua where the MSF doctors would meet us Because I left the house alone to be with Bouba The rainy season had arrived and the floods had totally wrecked the house Bouba spent two years in hospital being treated That was not the only difficulty we faced in those two years: my crops burned too so the next year I couldn't cultivate new crops It was three years after Bouba’s accident that I was able to return to work There were people who told me that MSF could do nothing for us and told me to go and look elsewhere I was ready to stay for five years if necessary I waited patiently and there were people who also asked me if I paid for the treatment and how many millions I had spent.. Often when I was sad I thought that Bouba would never heal When I heard the stories of the patients who had been here and recovered it reassured me he can pedal his bike and he has gone back to school he can do all the shopping without difficulties he kept coming to visit us to see if we needed more support until Bouba was discharged from the hospital we still come back for him to receive massages and physiotherapy." MSF teams have also responded to various epidemics of diseases in the Far North region the Lake Chad region was hit by several cholera epidemics Our teams treated more than 30,000 patients and vaccinated more than 550,000 people more than 3,000 measles patients were also treated Enormous needs are still present in Cameroon’s Far North MSF is launching new activities in Kolofata and Mora as well as complex childbirth care and trauma surgery for gunshot wounds MSF treated more than 50,000 patients in Mora including more than 17,000 for malaria.  These new services reflect the need not only for continuous care but for more specialist services in an area that sees frequent violence Created in 1961 by the unification of a British and a French colony Cameroon is often referred to as “Africa in miniature” because of its geographical and cultural diversity the central African country has struggled to find peace and unity In 2019, armed conflict intensified between the government and separatist non-state armed groups from the English-speaking communities in the Northwest and Southwest regions while insecurity and violence in neighbouring Nigeria continued to push thousands of Nigerian refugees across the border Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)'s work in Cameroon has focused on responding to endemic and epidemic diseases, and caring for displaced people and those affected by violence you'll get the best stories and urgent updates from our expert staff worldwide (Business in Cameroon) - On the afternoon of April 9 a devastating fire broke out at the Sodecoton factory in Maroua The incident led to the loss of 1,500 tons of cotton The cause of the fire has yet to be determined This incident occurs as the agro-industrial unit which supports approximately 200,000 cotton producers across the three northern regions of Cameroon is gearing up to commence construction on a new ginning unit in Godola the company compensated relocated populations from the site planned for the new factory The forthcoming Godola cotton ginning plant is part of Sodecoton's 2017-2023 recovery plan This facility is intended to boost the company's processing capabilities in anticipation of a projected increase in cotton production to 400,000 tons by the year 2025 With African migration to Europe seemingly at an all-time high a bishop has appealed to European governments to help slow migration by creating jobs in Africa told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that if young Africans are not given hope they will continue to flee poverty The prelate stressed that “if people were to have access to jobs and economic opportunities in their countries of origin “There is a clear connection between the reality of displaced people Bishop Ateba called on politicians in European countries – where many migrants are heading – to be more proactive in seeking solutions He said: “If Europe cooperated with job creation in our countries we would not have the problem we are currently facing at a global level.” He added: “Young people represent tremendous potential for our continent but only if we can give them the tools and opportunities required to prosper.” The bishop told ACN: “After 50 years of independence [in Cameroon] Many feel obliged to leave due to lack of opportunities we have to find a sustainable solution to stop the exodus of our young people.” Bishop Ateba said these conditions are driving young Africans to risk everything to seek a better future elsewhere and they are also under a lot of social pressure so even though they have to cross the Sahara Desert first The prelate told ACN that Cameroon had been a migratory passage for young people crossing Chad to reach better economic conditions in Libya but the changes in the region’s political landscape meant that they now headed to Europe instead the ‘African El Dorado’ ceased to be a reality which has led to a massive flow of migrants towards that continent.” In some places on the African continent instability caused by jihadist groups is also fuelling displacement and migration Bishop Ateba’s diocese is providing support for refugees He praised “an ACN-funded activity centre for young people at the refugee camp of Minawao which has 80,000 refugees from neighbouring Nigeria who fled Boko Haram” The centre is teaching skills including as boot making and fixing computers to help refugees support themselves  Bishop Ateba concluded: “The Church and organisations such as ACN continue to play a crucial role in supporting and helping those who are directly affected by the security and migratory crisis – but the cooperation of governments and the international community is essential to face these challenges and find long-term solutions.” By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information Accept The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this ANY DONATIONS AND MASS OFFERINGS YOU KINDLY GIVE THROUGH THIS WEBSITE WILL BE COLLECTED BY ACN TRADING LTD ON BEHALF OF AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED (UK) Copyright © 2025 Aid to the Church in Need. All Rights Reserved.Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifical Foundation of the Catholic Church and a registered charity in England and Wales (1097984) and in Scotland (SC040748) | Charity web design by Fat Beehive You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Release by Scatec celebrates the inauguration of the solar plants in Cameroon Release entered into a lease agreement with ENEO in 2021 to deliver two solar hybrid and battery storage plants that have a combined capacity of 36MW solar and 20MW/19MWh of storage The plants are located in Maroua and Guider “We are pleased that this day is finally here and we get to celebrate this major milestone at Release where we pride ourselves in making renewable energy easily accessible and affordable across growth markets,” says Hans Olav Kvalvaag The Release by Scatec pre-assembled solar power and battery storage system is a unique solution and the first of its kind to be deployed in Cameroon The Maroua and Guider solar power plants are an innovative solution and they are equipped with over 44,800 bifacial solar panels mounted on trackers which will help maximise energy production throughout the day The installations will generate 80 GWh of electricity each year We are proud to say that our fight against climate change will be evident as the plants will make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions with an estimated saving of almost 60,000 tonnes per year The solar power plants have been completed in phases generating electricity throughout 2022 and are now fully completed There have been reports of significant improvements of electricity supply in the northern parts of Cameroon Regions that fall under the Northern Interconnected Network were prone to experiencing power outages Today we are proud to say that they have more stable power in the country courtesy to our rapidly deployable leasing solution Residents and industries are benefiting from the two solar power projects in the northern parts of Cameroon “Having looked at the success of the two projects and how it has helped improve the electricity supply in Cameroon Release is well positioned to further strengthen power supply in Cameroon with more capacity,” explains Arnaud Gouet as well as the sub-contractors and local staff showed great commitment to the success of these projects Arnaud Gouet expressed his gratitude saying “These solar power plants are the result of a fruitful collaboration between the public and private sectors They embody innovation through ground-breaking contracts symbolising the collective determination to meet the energy needs of the Far North region cleanly and efficiently This initiative was made possible by the expertise and vision of all parties involved.” “We would like to thank the Release team that has been working tirelessly on this project and this day would not be possible without your hard work and dedication We would also like to thank the ENEO team for believing in us and the fruitful partnership that we have developed over the years And a big thank you to the Cameroonian Government for trusting us with these projects,” says Hans Olav Kvalvaag Design and development by Stem Agency Spectators at the 20th International Cycling Tour of Cameroon at the  Maroua ceremonial ground went into a frenzy as Clovis Kamzong Abossolo captain of SNH Velo Club had bypassed over 30 other cyclists to complete the race three minutes ten seconds ahead of them all He grabbed the yellow jersey after racing through the Maroua-Mora-Maroua stretch in three hours 13 seconds on 31st May 2024 at the Maroua ceremonial ground Clovis and team mates were intentional about to having a Cameroonian cyclist get the yellow jersey at the end of the first lap acquainting ourselves with the climate which is usually harsh at this time of the year My team mates and I have been working hard to make sure the anthem of Cameroon resounds in Maroua at the end of the first lap,” Ahossolo told CRTV Web few hours before the start of the race The captain of SHN velo club  and his team mates stood their grounds in the first lap of the race and made sure their plans came to fruition Three minutes 26 seconds after Clovis’ arrival also from SNH velo club cycled past the finish line to occupy the second position Then came Algeria’s Mimouni Oussama Abdellah He was the third cyclist to cross the finish line He made it through the Maroua-Mora-Maroua stretch in 3hours While handing over the winning prize for the lap to Abossolo Midjiyawa Bakari said he was elated that a Cameroonian had won the first lap of the race He expressed the wish to see the yellow jersey remain within the ranks of Cameroonian cyclists “We are very happy to see a Cameroonian win the first lap of this race the jersey will remain with a Cameroonian,” the Governor said The kickoff of the race from the Maroua ceremonial ground saw the cyclists bike through the Brasseries junction to the Laking junction St John édjarengol junction and back to the Maroua ceremonial ground After successfully covering the 127km stretch Martinien TEGA said the cyclists were ready to put in a better performance in the second lap scheduled for 1st June from Figuil to Garoua on a distance of 102.7km (Business in Cameroon) - In the coming months Cameroonian firm Sotreas -Société de transformation des produits d’élevage et d’agriculture du Sahel- could launch the construction of a tomato processing factory at Djagalaï Minister Delegate to the Minister of Environment announced that the public audiences in the framework of the detailed environmental and social impact study of this project would be held from February 7 to 12.  The primary objective of those audiences is to collect residents’ views on the environmental and social impact of the project If the project meets social and environmental standards the initiator can start building its factory.   According to the ACDIC  (the Citizen Association for the Defense of Collective Interests) the project area is suitable for tomato farming the factory can easily get its tomato supplies given that Maroua is just some thirty kilometers from Meskine the most suitable regions for tomato farming.  The construction timeframe and the volume of investment required have not been disclosed yet but the factory is expected to add value to the local production of tomatoes there is almost no means of conservation when farmers do not sell their tomatoes so they are sometimes obliged to throw away rotten ones.  the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies released CHF 191,112 from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Cameroon Red Cross Society (CRC) respond to the needs of the affected population The DREF operation was intended to support 10,044 people in eight districts (Bourha Mokolo and Roua) with emergency health care sanitation and hygiene promotion activities over a period of three months an additional allocation of CHF 25,806 was released and an extension of the timeframe made (to five months) in order to respond to the emerging needs in the Maroua (split into Maroua I Maroua II and Maroua III) and Mindif districts enable the implementation of activities planned in the Goulfey and Kousseri district which were disrupted following incursions by suspected Boko Haram militants (refer to “Security” for information on the implications this had on the DREF operation) the DREF operation was intended to directly support 123,874 people 10% of the affected population (1,238,740 people) the CRC indirectly reached out to 1,238,740 people in 12 districts through mass communication (radio and TV broadcasts etc.) and door-to door awareness activities of which an estimated 591,328 people were directly assisted through implemented activities the direct target was met above expectation (approximately 47.7%) while the indirect target was met at a 100% Progress against the intended outcomes was made in the following areas: 330 CRC volunteers were trained in the use of the Epidemic Control for Volunteers (ECV) manual then mobilized to carry out sensitization on the prevention and control of cholera as well as surveillance and referral activities 591,328 people were sensitized on the prevention and control of cholera; and 3,853 suspected cases of cholera were identified by CRC volunteers and referred to the nearest health centres mass and focus group discussion awareness techniques were used to reach and even surpass the planned target 6,416 water supply infrastructures were treated (chlorinated) 40,792 latrines were disinfected; and 9,142 sites were cleaned in collaboration with the affected population 420 hand washing kits were distributed to restaurants located across the 12 districts This is being issued as a preliminary final report as the Financial report is currently not available cases of cholera were reported in the Far North region of Cameroon and 77 deaths across 12 districts (with the addition of Maroua II Please refer to the “Needs analysis and scenario planning” section which were disrupted following incursions by suspected Boko Haram militants (Please refer to “Security” for information on the implications this had on the DREF operation) the CRC has indirectly reached 1,004,398 people in 12 districts of which an estimated 10 per cent (104,439 people) were assisted directly through the activities that were carried out there was a stabilization of the epidemic in almost all the areas involved in the DREF operation with the exception of Doualaré (Maroua I) which continued to report new cases of cholera Please note that this is a Preliminary Report which is issued in advance of the Final Report that will be expected to be issued in May 2015 with a Financial Report DG ECHO have contributed to the replenishment of the allocation made for this DREF operation The major donors and partners of DREF include the Australian the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) on behalf of Cameroon Red Cross Society would like to extend thanks to all partners for their continued support (Business in Cameroon) - Cameroon’s Ministry of SMEs and the University of Maroua signed The agreement signed by the Minister of SMEs aims to boost the activities of the incubator housed by the University at its National Higher Polytechnic School the financial assistance will notably allow for the upgrading of this incubator The objective is to enable students from the Polytechnic and other schools at the University of Maroua to transform their ideas and projects into businesses represents for us a laboratory that reflects the government's policy of professionalizing education and the reality of the student-entrepreneur status," explains the Minister of SMEs (Business in Cameroon) - Eight years after the project was first discussed Turkey recently relaunched discussions with Cameroon for Turkish Airlines project to make Maroua (the regional capital of Far-North Cameroon) its sub-regional hub.   The project was discussed during a meeting on February 17th in Yaounde by Minister of Transport Jean Ernest Masséna Ngalle Bibehe to the outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Cameroon "In addition to serving Yaounde and Douala Turkish Airlines plans to make Maroua its sub-regional hub a request was formulated by the said company in that regard when several Turkish businessmen were making investment pledges during their prospecting mission in Maroua in 2013,"  the Ministry of Transport informed the Cameroonian Minister of Transport reassured the ambassador of his Ministry’s availability to collaborate with the incoming ambassador to further develop several technical cooperation programs between the two countries in the transport sector Although the official provided no details about the program his statement signifies the Turkish Airlines’ project is still under consideration The Turkish party’s choice of Maroua as a sub-regional hub was not the result of a random selection Maroua is a strategic crossroad for airlines serving (via Cameroon) Sahelian countries such as Chad Turkish Airlines’ project is being discussed again in a context marked by the coronavirus pandemic which forced several airlines to reduce their movement while waiting for the end of the pandemic About 150 youngsters aged between two and 15 years are chatting in small groups in the Dougoy neighborhood at the heart of Maroua the regional capital of Cameroon’s Far North Region Some learn Arabic on wooden slates while others recite verses from the Quran Teachers pass from group to group to supervise These youngsters are attending Quranic schools like other 600 similar facilities in the region according to a census conducted in 2015 by local authorities Every day they receive two hours of Quran education a teacher at Dougoy Quranic school tells Anadolu Agency about the changes which have been designed to keep children away from extremist interpretations of Islam: all Quranic school teachers have to encourage children to also attend normal schools This is why the courses last two hours: so that the children should also have time to attend another school in order to increase their knowledge.” These changes first occurred in December 2014 after a Boko Haram training center disguised as a Quranic school was dismantled by the region’s security and administrative officials The Boko Haram rebel group is at the heart of a violent insurgency which has ravaged parts of Africa since 2009 Beginning as an Islamic group which rejected government corruption and Western values the organization went on to conduct a large-scale campaign of violence the group controlled a territory the size of Belgium and kidnapped thousands of people in raids on local communities The Cameroonian school closed by the state hosted over 84 youngsters aged between eight and 15 The children were being brainwashed and trained as militants by Boko Haram recruiters who regional authorities have made various changes concerning the functioning of Quranic schools to fight against the indoctrination of children by Boko Haram Cameroon’s Far North Region has the lowest literacy rate in the country at only 40 percent from a national average of just over 71 percent an imam who acts as a coordinator for Quranic schools in the region says low levels of education is one of the causes of youth unemployment which exposes them to Boko Haram indoctrination and financial inducements to join its ranks The imam further explains that each child in the school is well-known to the teachers: “We know where they come from and who their parents are the children go home and the school is empty.” This decision was made for the children to be educated by their parents and to minimize indoctrination so that the pupils would not fall into the hands of fake Quranic teachers "It was found that in some Quranic schools teachers traveled from town to town with children of unknown origin These children were sent to the streets to become beggars," Sheikh Ali adds “These are the type of kids that Boko Haram uses as suicide bombers or as information agents.” the region closed about 70 Islamic schools Ali adds that they also barred radical Quranic teachers At the same time it was also decided that no Quran instructor would be paid for teaching the religious text It is sewing that feeds me,” Sheikh Ibrahim says While it is still too early to assess the practical results of these measures various Quranic teachers met in Maroua by Anadolu Agency said that the children are now better controlled and in better hands "All the suspected child suicide bombers that we have intercepted since a year come from elsewhere This means that it becomes increasingly difficult to indoctrinate our children,” Sheikh Ali said Quranic school attendance has also increased "Parents are reassured because they know their children are in good hands The fact that the class schedules have been rearranged is a plus The children do not have to choose between the Quranic and normal school They can attend both of them,” concluded Sheikh Ibrahim Cameroon president Paul Biya says he has successfully pushed the militant group Boko Haram beyond Cameroon's borders and urgently needs to be re-elected in the October 7 presidential poll so he can rebuild what was destroyed Biya was in the northern town of Maroua in one of his rare outings from his presidential palace to launch his campaigns for the presidential election Women dressed in President Paul Biya's Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) party attire sing Saturday to welcome Paul Biya to Maroua They are assuring Biya that they will vote for him to lead Cameroon in a new seven year mandate beginning October 7 You have selected an article from the AllAfrica archive, which requires a subscription. 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To address comments or complaints, please Contact us Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you There was a problem processing your submission (Business in Cameroon) - The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has just equipped women's associations in the city of Maroua with an ecological charcoal production unit which will be used by women previously trained by the UN agency "Also known as green charcoal or bio-charcoal ecological charcoal is a solid fuel produced from biodegradable agricultural and household residues rich in carbon It is one of the innovative local solutions currently being developed in several Southern countries Depending on the geographical area and economic activities it can be produced from various organic waste (sawmill residues It comes in the form of briquettes or balls similar in size to traditional charcoal pieces," explains the UNDP wood and charcoal account for 82.3% and 30.6% the use of firewood for cooking energy reaches up to 95% (Business in Cameroon) - Authorities in Maroua have recently launched Construction and rehabilitation work on 13.2 km of roads in the locality This project is one of the infrastructure projects financed under the C2D-Regional Capitals program by the French Development Agency (AFP) This is good news for the Maroua population since the road network there is in a bad state The first works will focus on the main roads in the city The project will be carried out by the French company Razel has also benefited from the C2D-Regional Capitals program with 18 km of road rehabilitated there The C2D-Regional Capitals program aims to help the beneficiary regional capitals to make up for their deficit in terms of priority infrastructure and urban facilities Boko Haram militant group is using young children on suicide bombing missions "Weakened by the Multinational Joint Task Force and after the destruction of its explosives factory the group seems to have opted to use young children as suicide bombers,” Bakari told reporters He said the new method was experimented in Cameroon’s Far North region last week which cost the lives of two children who were sent by the Nigerian terror group to carry out attacks Cameroon’s Far North has been severely affected by attacks raids and kidnappings perpetrated by Boko Haram The country is part of a joint task force created by Lake Chad Basin countries -- Nigeria Cameroon and Benin – that aims to eradicate the militant group that has so far killed more than 2,000 people in Cameroon Approximately 26 million people in the Lake Chad region have been affected by the Boko Haram violence and more than 2.6 million displaced (Business in Cameroon) - The Maroua (15 MW) and Guider (10 MW) solar plants construction project will benefit from the tax and customs exemptions provided by the 2013 private investments incentives law (revised in 2017) The related agreement was signed on January 20  by the Investment Promotion Agency (API) and the Maroua Guider Solar Company (MGSC) MGSC (which is a joint venture formed by Norwegian company Scatec Israeli-American group Izuba Energy and Sphinx Energy run by a Cameroonian economic operator based in the USA) was chosen by electric utility ENEO to develop and carry out the said project The two plants (which will cost XAF17 billion) will be built by Scatec a Norwegian company that has the largest solar energy capacity in Africa (400 MW in Egypt in eight to nine months, these infrastructures will produce solar energy that will be sold to ENEO according to the contract binding the involved parties in addition to increasing the installed production capacity in the northern part of Cameroon the Guider and Maroua solar plants will help save XAF7 to 8 billion in fuel costs every year since the thermal plants operating in that region will be shut down once they become operational MGSC shareholders inform that works will start once negotiations for the obtention of solar energy production and sales license are concluded with the State of Cameroon  "This is the first contract of this type in Cameroon necessary that all involved parties understand what is at stake This is all the more important because the state is not a shareholder in this consortium as it is in KPDC and DPDC which respectively operate the Dibamba and Kribi gas plants we will make quick progress in the implementation of the project," a source close to the project explains "As the first solar energy projects of this scale in Central Africa the Guider and Maroua solar power plants will also produce energy at the most competitive out of plant costs "The kilowatt will come out at less than XAF40 these two plants are more competitive than hydroelectricity," an authorized source says this power plant model is a real godsent for the diversification of the energy mix in Cameroon largely dominated by hydroelectricity (61.77%) and thermal (38.2%) energy (Business in Cameroon) - The Cotton Development Corporation (Sodecoton) a giant in the agro-industrial sector across the three northern regions of Cameroon has commenced compensation for communities affected by the establishment of its 11th cotton ginning factory in Godola received a total of CFA48 million in compensation This step is expected to smoothen the path for Sodecoton to proceed with its project without resistance or complaints from the populations displaced by the project site in many infrastructure and industrial projects in Cameroon the commencement or continuation of construction work has often been disrupted by communities demanding compensation The start date for the construction work has not yet been disclosed Sodecoton was already negotiating with funders to secure financing for the project The Godola cotton ginning factory is part of Sodecoton's 2017-2023 recovery plan This factory aims to boost the company's processing capacities in anticipation of the projected increase in cotton production to 400,000 tons by 2025 (Business in Cameroon) - At the end of a crisis meeting held on August 24 the governor of the Far North region decided to ban all grain exports from the northern region of Cameroon this decision is aimed at preventing "the food crisis largely looming on the horizon." the prices of cereals (staples in the northern regions of Cameroon) have been rising at a dizzying pace in the Far North the price of a 120 kg sack (commonly called L8 according to local sources) of maize has risen from XAF18,000 to XAF24,000 the same quantity of maize is now sold at XAF27,000 the price of the same quantity of millet has risen from XAF12,000 the price of the cereal has increased by XAF11,000 According to the Ministry of Trade’s representative in the Far North these prices are rising because of many factors the raining season has made it practically impossible to access production areas there is the hunger period and the massive purchase of cereals by NGOs operating in conflict zones in Cameroon North and Adamawa Regions issued the statements in Maroua on Sunday 2020 following a meeting with Paul Atanga Nji North and Adamawa Regions have committed to turn a deaf ear to all attempts to disrupt public order divide Cameroonians and induce them into tribal squabbles politicians and youth from the three Northern Regions made their stance clear in two separate statements read in the Maroua City Hall on Sunday the Minister of Territorial Administration (Business in Cameroon) - The International Labor Organization (ILO) recently published a call for tenders for SMEs that can supply a paving stone production plant in Maroua in the North. Funded by the Cameroonian government the project will be carried out over 2 years it is the result of a XAF1.3 billion investment that may lead to the installation of large infrastructure thanks to which Cameroon can promote local contents and reduce public construction expenditures.  the project will be implemented in Bamenda Cameroon (through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development) requested its assistance for the implementation of that project called  Urban Infrastructure Development and Creation of Decent Jobs for Youth in Socio-Economic Resilience in the cities of Maroua and Bamenda In those two cities, security crises have made the economic situation difficult for the population in general and the youth in particular.   SMEs interested in the project are expected to submit their bids by March 31 Companies interested in the project will be required to submit prices for paving stone production equipment production unit implementation equipment and small construction site equipment and personal protective equipment (Business in Cameroon) - The mini dairy plant in Maroua (capital of the Far North which is one of the main cattle rearing regions in Cameroon) is operational again this agro-industrial unit was shut down three months later due to various difficulties The plant resumed operations thanks to the financial assistance of XAF100 million provided by the European Union "Cameroon imports 60,000 tons of dairy products worth XAF240 billion its northern region has all it takes to produce milk and dairy products in quality and quantity to meet the needs of local consumers," the European Union’s representative at the plant’s launching ceremony explained to regional tri-weekly L'oeil du Sahel With a daily processing capacity of 2000 liters of milk the mini dairy plant is the result of an extensive government program similar plants were provided in Garoua (in the North) (Business in Cameroon) - A group of mechanical engineering students from the Maroua National Polytechnic (Ecole Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique de Maroua) in the Far North region of Cameroon recently presented to the Minister of Youth the first environmentally friendly vehicle "made in Cameroon" designed and constructed by them Made from recycled materials and an imported engine is powered by a battery device which provides a 90 Km  distance of operation of which one place was occupied by the Minister of Youth during a largely conclusive trial run while the actual construction itself only took five months for the project initiators who now hope to obtain financial support from the State as well as banks for economic operators in order to improve their invention and thus contribute to the fight against pollution 15-04-2016 - Arthur Zang, le père du Cardiopad, lancera une unité de montage d’équipements médicaux 17-08-2015 - Le chercheur camerounais Théodore Lejuste Abobda a créé un cœur artificiel