An unusual document has been circulating on social media since April 13, 2026, revealing a surprising proposal made to Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a Cameroonian political figure. Ben Modo, a diaspora activist known for his criticism of the current government, claims to have submitted a contract to Tchiroma Bakary, presenting him as the "elected president," with the aim of propelling him to the head of state in less than 90 days.
Modo made this document public, inviting Tchiroma Bakary to join his initiative. "Sign the contract, Mr. President-elect, and the Cameroonian people will be liberated in less than 90 days," he wrote. The document details a potential partnership between Ashton Bridge Capital Inc., a U.S.-based company of which Modo is the CEO, and Issa Tchiroma Bakary. Ashton Bridge Capital describes itself as an investment company specializing in commodity trading and real estate investment.
The flagship project of this proposal is a $125 billion investment to create a maritime corridor linking the Sanaga River to Lake Chad via a network of inland waterways. The plan includes the construction of twelve river ports between Edéa and Kousseri, designed to accommodate large-capacity vessels. The initial schedule calls for work to begin on January 1, 2027, with delivery at the end of 2031.
Economically, the contract promises the creation of at least five million jobs in Cameroon and 20,000 in the United States. In addition, it stipulates that approximately 35% of the investments would be injected into the local economy through contracts awarded to approximately 5,000 Cameroonian companies.
Issa Tchiroma Bakary, former Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, broke ties with President Paul Biya in June 2025 to join the opposition and run for president. His political career has had tumultuous moments, including a period of imprisonment in the 1980s following accusations of involvement in an attempted coup against Biya. Despite his past as a staunch defender of government policies, Tchiroma has positioned himself as an agent of change, even asking for forgiveness for supporting the handling of the Anglophone crisis. In October 2025, he even claimed victory in the presidential election, calling for a peaceful transition. Ben Modo's proposal comes in a Cameroonian political context that is already tense, where negotiations and alliances are constantly evolving.
