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Spotlight | Cameroon
Macron reacts to military rapprochement with Moscow

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Africa

Africa in the Russia-Ukraine war

Despite taking place thousands of kilometres from Africa, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is having a substantial impact on the continent's economies and governments. Facing hurdles in the supply of grain, fertiliser and fuel, and starved of Russian investment, especially in mining projects, African countries are trying to adapt to the crisis while Moscow and Western countries are lobbying hard to bring them into line with their respective positions. [...]

Cameroon's President Paul Biya (left) with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Lyon in October 2019. © Maxime Jegat/Photo PQR/Le Progrès/MaxPPP

In late April, Cameroon signed a new military cooperation agreement with Moscow, prompting an immediate diplomatic reaction from France. Christophe Bigot, Africa director at the foreign ministry, travelled in person to Yaoundé, and at one point a visit by Emmanuel Macron was even envisaged. [...]

Published on 12/05/2022 at 05:00 GMT Reading time 4 minutes

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Defence, Diplomacy

Read this article in our running story

“Africa in the Russia-Ukraine war”

Africa

Africa in the Russia-Ukraine war

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Christophe Bigot public figure
Economic Community of Central African States organisation
Emmanuel Macron public figure
European Union organisation
Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh public figure
Francois Hollande public figure
Joseph Beti Assomo public figure
Paul Biya public figure
Brigade d'intervention rapide
Christophe Guilhou
Eran Moas
Islamic State in West Africa Province
Portsec SA

Cameroon
Voter registration numbers for 2025 presidential elections on the up

Cameroon's election management body, ELECAM, has recorded over 460,000 new voter registrations ahead of the 2025 presidential election, an unprecedented figure.

Subscribers only Politics 09.07.2024

Inner circles | Cameroon
General Meka contends with rival army command structures

The octogenarian head of the Cameroonian armed forces, Rene Claude Meka, has held sway for two decades over an army high command which has been nurturing careers far from the theatres of operation. Although he remains unmoveable, he has to contend with rival command structures, particularly the Israeli-controlled Rapid Intervention Battalion.

Subscribers only Defence 25.11.2022

Cameroonian Chief of Defence Staff Major General Meka Rene-Claude

Cameroon
Boko Haram attack puts armed forces on high alert

In the night of 21-22 October, jihadist militants managed to take control of the Cameroonian army's advanced post in Djibrilli, on the border with Nigeria. The attack has rekindled debate over cuts to military spending in the fight against Boko Haram.

Free access Defence 27.10.2022

Cameroon's army forces patrol on 16 Febuary 2015 near the village of Mabass, northern Cameroon.

Cameroon, France
4-star general to take over as French ambassador in Yaoundé

Even as Emmanuel Macron was undertaking an official visit to #Cameroon on 26 July, the Elysée was deciding on its next ambassador to the country.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 27.07.2022

Cameroon
Russia's low-profile but extensive military cooperation

For several decades now, Yaoundé has cooperated with a variety of foreign partners on defence. But when it comes to officer training, Russia has of late quietly drawn ahead of its rivals.

Subscribers only Defence 13.07.2022

Africa, France
Franck Paris stays on as Macron's Africa adviser

The French president's adviser will be carrying on in his post at the Elysée as Macron's second term begins, and he is already planning an Africa tour for his boss at the end of this month.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 13.07.2022

Franck Paris, Africa adviser to Emmanuel Macron.

Cameroon
An alliance between Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh and Franck Biya may be in the works

As all of Yaoundé is on tenterhooks over Paul Biya's health, the president's entourage is speculating about possible scenarios. One that is emerging is a joint ticket between the president's general secretary and his son, Franck Biya.

Subscribers only Politics 11.07.2022

Spotlight | Southern Africa
Putin's envoy reassures Harare and Maputo but avoids Pretoria

On a tour of southern Africa, Russian Federation Council leader Valentina Matvienko promised Zimbabwe and Mozambique that their imports of basic necessities would not be hit by the war in Ukraine. But the Kremlin envoy notably did not include South Africa in her trip.

Subscribers only Commodity traders, Diplomacy 16.06.2022

Valentina Matvienko, President of the Council of the Russian Federation.

Africa, France
No changes to Macron's diplomatic staff until mid-July

In the wake of France's presidential election, the future of the Elysée Palace's diplomatic cell has will not be decided until the beginning of July.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 20.05.2022

In Focus | Angola, South Africa
Bekker, Penny, Dos Santos... Russia's African partners kept at bay by war in Ukraine

Since Moscow began its military offensive in Ukraine, numerous southern African entrepreneurs have had to freeze their investment projects in Russia or leave their positions as directors of companies under sanctions. Being separated from these wealthy Africans has entrenched the dichotomy of Russia's presence on the continent: while Moscow's diplomats remain very influential, its corporations are losing their contacts one by one.

Subscribers only Business 25.04.2022

Naspers' boss Koos Bekker, former CEO of De Beers Gareth Penny and Isabel Dos Santos, daughter of Angola's former President.

Cameroon
Israeli securocrat Eran Moas behind Augentic-IN Group's push for ID cards

To win the next contract for Cameroon's biometric identity cards, fledgling German company Augentic, in partnership with French firm IN Groupe, is relying on the intense lobbying of Israeli securocrat Eran Moas, an adviser to President Paul Biya's praetorian guard.

Subscribers only Defence, Business 15.03.2022

Cameroon
While waiting for Biden, Paris steps up pressure over Anglophone crisis

After the Vatican made its voice heard, Paris has reminded the Cameroonian government of its concerns about the continuing crisis in the English-speaking provinces. European Union states hope that the new US administration, which purports to put human rights at the heart of its foreign policy, will come to their help.

Subscribers only Politics 05.03.2021

Spotlight | Cameroon
Biya deaf to calls for talks on Anglophone crisis

Despite pressure from the European Union, and more recently the Vatican, the Cameroonian government is still in favour of a military response to the crisis in the country's Anglophone regions and is only half listening to negotiation options.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.02.2021

Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin met with Cameroonian President Paul Biya in Yaoundé at the end of January.

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Christophe Bigot public figure
Economic Community of Central African States organisation
Emmanuel Macron public figure
European Union organisation
Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh public figure
Francois Hollande public figure
Joseph Beti Assomo public figure
Paul Biya public figure
Brigade d'intervention rapide
Christophe Guilhou
Eran Moas
Islamic State in West Africa Province
Portsec SA

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DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

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Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

Spotlight | Cameroon
Macron reacts to military rapprochement with Moscow

Africa in the Russia-Ukraine war

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Africa in the Russia-Ukraine war

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Cameroon
Voter registration numbers for 2025 presidential elections on the up

Inner circles | Cameroon
General Meka contends with rival army command structures

Cameroon
Boko Haram attack puts armed forces on high alert

Cameroon, France
4-star general to take over as French ambassador in Yaoundé

Cameroon
Russia's low-profile but extensive military cooperation

Africa, France
Franck Paris stays on as Macron's Africa adviser

Cameroon
An alliance between Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh and Franck Biya may be in the works

Spotlight | Southern Africa
Putin's envoy reassures Harare and Maputo but avoids Pretoria

Africa, France
No changes to Macron's diplomatic staff until mid-July

In Focus | Angola, South Africa
Bekker, Penny, Dos Santos... Russia's African partners kept at bay by war in Ukraine

Cameroon
Israeli securocrat Eran Moas behind Augentic-IN Group's push for ID cards

Cameroon
While waiting for Biden, Paris steps up pressure over Anglophone crisis

Spotlight | Cameroon
Biya deaf to calls for talks on Anglophone crisis

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Spotlight | Cameroon Macron reacts to military rapprochement with Moscow

Africa in the Russia-Ukraine war

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Africa in the Russia-Ukraine war

Set up keyword notifications

Cameroon Voter registration numbers for 2025 presidential elections on the up

Inner circles | Cameroon General Meka contends with rival army command structures

Cameroon Boko Haram attack puts armed forces on high alert

Cameroon, France 4-star general to take over as French ambassador in Yaoundé

Cameroon Russia's low-profile but extensive military cooperation

Africa, France Franck Paris stays on as Macron's Africa adviser

Cameroon An alliance between Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh and Franck Biya may be in the works

Spotlight | Southern Africa Putin's envoy reassures Harare and Maputo but avoids Pretoria

Africa, France No changes to Macron's diplomatic staff until mid-July

In Focus | Angola, South Africa Bekker, Penny, Dos Santos... Russia's African partners kept at bay by war in Ukraine

Cameroon Israeli securocrat Eran Moas behind Augentic-IN Group's push for ID cards

Cameroon While waiting for Biden, Paris steps up pressure over Anglophone crisis

Spotlight | Cameroon Biya deaf to calls for talks on Anglophone crisis

Set up keyword notifications

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Namibia
Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

Spotlight | Cameroon
Macron reacts to military rapprochement with Moscow

Cameroon
Voter registration numbers for 2025 presidential elections on the up

Inner circles | Cameroon
General Meka contends with rival army command structures

Cameroon
Boko Haram attack puts armed forces on high alert

Cameroon, France
4-star general to take over as French ambassador in Yaoundé

Cameroon
Russia's low-profile but extensive military cooperation

Africa, France
Franck Paris stays on as Macron's Africa adviser

Cameroon
An alliance between Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh and Franck Biya may be in the works

Spotlight | Southern Africa
Putin's envoy reassures Harare and Maputo but avoids Pretoria

Africa, France
No changes to Macron's diplomatic staff until mid-July

In Focus | Angola, South Africa
Bekker, Penny, Dos Santos... Russia's African partners kept at bay by war in Ukraine

Cameroon
Israeli securocrat Eran Moas behind Augentic-IN Group's push for ID cards

Cameroon
While waiting for Biden, Paris steps up pressure over Anglophone crisis

Spotlight | Cameroon
Biya deaf to calls for talks on Anglophone crisis