The Cameroonian Electricity Company (SOCADEL) officially installed its leadership team on May 5, 2026, in Yaoundé. Antoine Ntsimi, Oumarou Hamandjoda, and Jean Basile Ekobena were invested in their roles during a ceremony. This step marks the operational entry of the new public entity in the electricity sector.
The installation ceremony, presided over by the Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, took place in the presence of the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Grégoire Owona, and several administrative officials. The event, although sober, is of paramount importance in the reorganization of the Cameroonian electricity sector.
Antoine Ntsimi will head the board of directors as chairman. He will be responsible for defining SOCADEL's strategic directions and ensuring the coherence of its governance. Oumarou Hamandjoda, appointed General Manager, will be responsible for managing the company's daily operations. With his experience at ENEO, he will have to coordinate the teams and ensure the implementation of the decisions of the board of directors, with the priority of improving electricity supply. Jean Basile Ekobena was installed as Deputy General Manager. His mission will be to support the general management in monitoring operations and executing projects, in order to strengthen the company's internal management capacity.
SOCADEL replaces ENEO after the Cameroonian government bought the shares held by the British fund Actis. This acquisition, finalized for an amount of 78 billion FCFA, marks a major turning point, now placing the company entirely under public control. President Paul Biya formalized the creation of SOCADEL by decree, formalizing the transformation of ENEO into a public company with 43.9 billion FCFA.
This implementation comes in a context marked by persistent challenges, including service continuity, grid stability, and access to electricity. With a complete organizational chart, SOCADEL opens a decisive phase, where operational performance and meeting user expectations will be particularly scrutinized. The new company will have to improve production efficiency, strengthen state oversight, and modernize electricity distribution throughout the country.
