Jean-Louis Marolleau visited the Cameroon Antenna from late June to mid-August. He wrote us the following chronicle:

What strikes one when arriving in Yaounde is how dirty the city is following a conflict with the road operator which the state owes billions. In Yaoundé, I met several members of the Antenna Africa Europa Faith & Justice Cameroon whose coordinator is Armel Fopa Djouda. They are continuing an action begun two years ago that will engage in a large program against drugs in schools. Christophe Tiyong, one of the founders of the antenna continues the collaboration with the antenna as a volunteer. There remains, as another permanent member Sister Matos, a Comboni sister, who keeps the accounts. Ten years after setting up Cameroon, Sister Annie is leaving the country for health reasons. But it will continue, from France, its activities related to Laudato Si.

What to say about the general state of the country? Three facts dominate the news:

  1. The insurgency situation of western English-speaking Cameroon where the separatists confront the police and army, with dead forces on both sides as well as the destruction of buildings; the region lives under the state of emergency and many people have taken refuge in Douala, Yaoundé and Nigeria.
  2. While the conflict against Boko Haram is decreasing in intensity in the Far North of Cameroon, the movement is still a threat and the humanitarian situation remains precarious. Every week brings its share of dead, including in the police force.
  3. The 6 October presidential election is a virtual non-event because everything is done in advance: the single-ballot guarantees President Biya the renewal of his fifth term.

Jean-Louis Marolleau

AEFJN France Coordinator