In the lead-up to Cameroon’s October 2025 presidential election, Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala has issued a stern rebuke of the country’s mismanagement of its vital oil resources, describing it as opaque and controlled by a narrow elite.
Since Cameroon began producing oil in 1977, the Archbishop notes, its administration has become “an affair of family or clan,” with revenues frequently diverted away from public benefit to enrich a small minority. He highlights the lack of transparency surrounding exploration contracts, appointments of officials, and financial flows within the petroleum sector.
The prelate emphasises that this exclusive control not only denies the wider population its fair share of the nation’s wealth but also hampers economic and social development.
“The oil revenues, amounting to hundreds of billions of CFA francs, could be invested in education, health, and infrastructure, yet remain concentrated in the hands of a few,” he lamented.
He calls for justice and transparency in the management of hydrocarbons, insisting that the country’s oil wealth should serve the common good rather than private interests.
The Archbishop’s message is part of a broader pastoral letter that critiques several systemic issues affecting Cameroon, urging urgent reforms as the nation prepares to elect its next president.
Amidst widespread socio-political tensions and economic challenges, Archbishop Kleda’s pastoral letter seeks to illuminate the root causes of inequality, including the mismanagement of Cameroon’s natural resources, which contributes significantly to national instability.
By Hilltopvoices Newsroom
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