Fotografen in Douala

Cameroon: In Kumba, emotion in the aftermath of the assassination of seven schoolchildren

Berichtsstil, Informativ: The article reports on a specific event with some quotes from affected individuals.

A funeral march was held in Kumba, Cameroon, under tight security to honor schoolchildren killed in an attack by unidentified terrorists. The death toll rose from six to seven, causing deep emotion and indignation among the residents. The incident has united the country in grief, with religious dignitaries condemning the violence in the Anglophone region, which has been facing insecurity since 2017.

Franklin Ndifor: Followers attempt to resurrect pastor who died of Covid

Pastor Franklin Ndifor, founder of Kingship Ministry in Bonaberi, Douala, died of COVID-19. Following his death, his family and followers attempted to resurrect him through prayers and songs, contesting the medical examiner's verdict. Authorities, after failed negotiations and the family's refusal to release the body, deployed riot police and forcibly entered the home. The body was eventually retrieved using tear gas to disperse the crowd and was buried under high security at the Bonaberi cemetery.

Women’s Land Rights and What Men Have to Do With It

Berichtsstil, Informativ: Primarily reports on a research initiative and community experiences, with some optimistic framing about its potential impact.

A participatory research initiative is engaging men alongside women to advance women's land rights in rural communities across Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Senegal. Local leaders and community members are encouraged to advocate together, drawing on grassroots ideas and the Kilimanjaro women's movement to expand effective approaches. Examples include a Kenyan chief who became a champion after working with local activist Trevenia Mwamburi and a Malawian traditional leader who supports women's right to own and inherit land. The article notes progress but emphasizes that women’s rights remain insufficiently protected and sustained advocacy is needed.

Data to Defend Land Rights in Cameroon

Berichtsstil, Informativ: Primarily reported and evidence-based, with some advocacy-oriented framing in support of community land rights.

Politischer Kontext, Mitte-links: Focuses on protecting vulnerable communities and addressing corruption and land dispossession, without endorsing a political party.

Cameroon's cumbersome and expensive land-title system leaves communal land legally unregistered and vulnerable to grabbing, while bribery and limited documentation compound the problem. In the Northwest, COMAID coordinator Christian Jitar Taku uses satellite imagery, GPS and community mapping to help villages record land use, establish local registrars and consultative boards, and reserve land for village needs. The approach is being extended to communities affected by the Anglophone crisis, where displacement increases the risk of dispossession.