Gold Tax Crackdown: Cameroon launches a drive from Aug 1 to recover over $500m in unpaid taxes and customs duties tied to undeclared gold exports, targeting 51 under-reporting companies and 33 newly identified sites, with officials saying at least 300bn CFA could be recovered quickly. Mining Sector Restructuring: The government also outlined a “new face” for Cameroon’s mining industry, citing commissioning of major iron ore, bauxite, marble and gold projects and a reform agenda for the gold segment. Protected Areas Under Pressure: In Bertoua, MINFOF and civil society groups met over allegations of looting in Ngoyla Wildlife Reserve and Djoko-Baka Community Forest, with forestry officials denying claims and pointing to a 2022 iron ore mining permit that partially declassified Ngoyla. Port & Trade Logistics: Cameroon and Swiss terminal operator TIL discussed options for developing and modernizing the Limbe Deep Seaport to boost industrial activity and trade in the South-West, while studies advance to rehabilitate the Ebolowa–Ambam corridor to strengthen cross-border commerce with Equatorial Guinea. Cocoa Value Chain Regional Push: Cameroon’s cocoa industry remains in the spotlight as regional partners push coordinated moves to end raw cocoa exports and expand processing, including the Abuja Declaration adopted by cocoa-producing countries. AI Governance Voice: Cameroon’s telecom minister called at WAIC for the Global South to shape AI standards and governance, arguing participation is essential for sustainable development.