Sonara’s 700 billion CFA bluff: a strategy to mislead President Paul Biya?

Seven years after the devastating fire at Sonara, its managing director stepped up to the microphone on Monday, 29 June 2026, and solemnly announced to the world’s media that the company is rising from the ashes. One would have expected at least a memorandum of understanding with a financial partner. Instead, this declaration followed a meeting convened by four ministers to assess the reconstruction cost and its financing model — before even approaching the market for partners.

The chosen financing model is Design-Build-Finance-Maintain (DBFM), which covers design, construction, financing and maintenance of the relevant infrastructure.

If seven years after the fire we are only at this stage, how much longer will it take to find a partner who, using typical Cameroonian methods, will sign an agreement and then go to banks for funding? This is already happening with mining partners, unlike elsewhere.

The shadow of SNH and Nathalie Moudiki

Timing is notable: this announcement comes days after Cameroonian employers’ association Gecam, through its president Célestin Tawamba, praised SNH for the new Kribi refinery under construction — a project brilliantly led by Nathalie Moudiki. Tawamba spoke to an international media outlet.

Nomination stakes are at the forefront

In reality, yesterday’s communication appears to be a simple attempt to bluff the President of the Republic, precisely while he is in Switzerland reassessing the performance of those he appointed to support him and serve the people.

In its statement, Sonara used a phrase to appeal to Cameroonians: mentioning a hydrocracking unit that would refine Cameroonian crude. Yet this project was already underway before the fire and is already included in the Kribi refinery plan.

The sabotage of the Kribi refinery

When you see shadowy whistleblowers attacking individuals involved in projects, think twice. Since yesterday, Boris Bertolt has been posting incendiary content against the SNH refinery project, with baseless claims aimed at tarnishing Nathalie Moudiki’s image. Why sabotage the Kribi refinery project on the very day Sonara makes its comeback? Yet at SNH, they commend the work of this historic company Sonara.

Regarding Sonara’s rehabilitation, in 2020 a high-level delegation from Russian giant Lukoil was received in Yaoundé to present a reconstruction and modernization plan. The government did not follow up favorably.

Regime loyalists, who favor imports through traders, cite sovereignty reasons to justify rejecting potential partners. Yet Africa’s largest oil refinery, located in the second-largest African oil producer, is privately owned. The Dangote refinery does not belong to the Nigerian state but refines over 60% of the country’s crude oil.

Why is the SNH model (gas) not applied to Sonara (oil)?

The Lobito refinery in Angola is being built by China, the Copperbelt refinery in Zambia by China. Uganda’s first oil refinery is being built by Russians, and another is planned in Congo.

Cameroonians, let us pray.