The "Yaounde Heart of the City" project, a major initiative to improve urban mobility in the Cameroonian capital, continues to progress with large-scale works underway. Piloted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MINHDU) and implemented by the Yaounde Urban Community (CUY), this ambitious project is materializing through on-the-ground actions, including the construction of the Mokolo tunnel.
Funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Cameroonian government, the works aim to modernize Yaounde's transport infrastructure. The project includes the development and reconfiguration of key intersections such as Mvan and Elig-Effa, the reconstruction of the Mvan and Mokolo bus stations, and the creation of hiking trails on Mount Messa. A budget of one billion FCFA is dedicated to compensating and resettling the populations affected by the works.
In January 2026, the execution rate of the firm phase of the project was 37%. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, accompanied by the French Ambassador to Cameroon, carried out an inspection visit of the construction sites to assess the progress of the works. The "Yaounde Heart of the City" project is considered a surgical intervention on the circulatory system of the capital.
In parallel with these urban developments, Cameroon is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV from April 15 to 18, 2026. This papal visit, the pontiff's first to Africa since taking office in February 2025, is generating great expectations among the Cameroonian population. The Pope will visit Yaounde, Douala and Bamenda, where he will deliver a message of peace and reconciliation.
The Pope's visit comes in a socio-political context marked by post-election tensions and calls for national reconciliation. Some political actors hope that this visit will be an opportunity to highlight the challenges facing the country, including the crisis in the English-speaking regions. The Archbishop of Bamenda, Monsignor Andrew Nkea, has expressed hope that the Pope's visit will bring peace to Cameroon.
In the economic field, the Kribi Port Industrial Zone (KPIZ) was officially inaugurated in Yaounde, representing an investment of 795 million euros. This project aims to position Cameroon as a major industrial hub in Central Africa, by bringing production units closer to port infrastructure. The KPIZ covers 4,000 hectares and is structured as a public-private partnership between the Kribi Port Authority (PAK) and a consortium of international and local operators.
The project is expected to generate between 5 and 8% of national GDP and create up to 150,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2040. The KPIZ is organized around three main clusters: wood processing and logistics, steel production, and the petrochemical cluster. These initiatives demonstrate Cameroon's commitment to modernizing its infrastructure and diversifying its economy.
As Yaounde transforms with the "Heart of the City" project and Kribi aims to become an industrial hub, Pope Leo XIV's visit offers a perspective of peace and reconciliation for the country. These events mark a pivotal period for Cameroon, between economic development and the quest for social stability.
