In 2024, Cameroon marked the 20th anniversary of Operation Sparrowhawk (Épervier), an ambitious judicial initiative launched to eradicate corruption and punish those who embezzled public funds. The operation aimed to signal that "no one is above the law" and to end impunity. However, two decades later, the results are mixed, raising questions about the true effectiveness of this campaign.
Operation Sparrowhawk, launched in the mid-2000s, initially created a shockwave by targeting high-ranking officials, ministers, and director generals. Figures once considered untouchable were imprisoned, and the judicial system seemed to be functioning decisively. Despite these initial actions, financial scandals have persisted, including those related to COVID-19 funds and the budgets for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Even more troubling, some incriminated managers have even received official decorations, discrediting the impact of the crackdown.
A notable paradox is the release and rehabilitation of convicted individuals, some of whom even run for elections and display renewed loyalty to the regime. Meanwhile, the embezzled funds have not been returned, leaving hospitals lacking equipment and promised infrastructure unfulfilled. The lack of asset recovery raises a crucial question: can a fight against corruption be truly effective without recovering the stolen funds? Punishing individuals without recovering ill-gotten gains is tantamount to letting the crime pay, while Cameroonian taxpayers have financed the incarceration of criminals without ever seeing the embezzled billions again.
Operation Sparrowhawk acted as a one-time warning, hitting hard but briefly. The lack of structural reforms allowed corrupt practices to reappear, and selective justice undermined the credibility of the entire process. The current system oscillates between publicized arrests and surprising promotions, giving the impression of a staging where actors simply change roles.
The issue goes beyond a simple judicial review and touches on the credibility of the state. A country that does not guarantee budgetary transparency and equality before the law undermines its own social contract, eroding citizens' trust. In the long term, Cameroon pays the price, as international investors and development partners condition their aid on tangible progress. Systemic corruption acts as an invisible tax, hindering growth and discouraging talent.
A genuine anti-corruption policy requires independent control mechanisms, automatic restitution procedures, and a political will to address all cases, regardless of the individuals involved. In 2024, the Cameroonian government recovered 5.6 billion FCFA from embezzlement and financial fraud. However, governance experts point out that the lack of an agency dedicated to the recovery of illicit assets and a comprehensive legal framework for their repatriation increases the vulnerability of the anti-corruption system in Cameroon. The question that remains is whether the Cameroonian state really intends to eliminate corruption or simply change the actors involved.
Despite the increase in anti-corruption institutions, Cameroon remains among the lowest-ranked countries in the world. According to Transparency International, the country has a score of 26/100 in the 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
