Paul Atanga Nji: MTN and Orange Money Under Fire for Alleged Funding of Cameroon's Ambazonian Rebels

In a meeting held on Monday, April 8, 2024, Minister Nji convened top officials from telecommunications companies and regulatory bodies to address the issue of terrorism financing through mobile money services.

During the meeting, Minister Nji expressed grave concerns about the security situation in regions affected by separatist and jihadist terrorism. He highlighted the role of mobile financial services, such as Orange Money and MTN Mobile Money, in facilitating ransom payments to terrorists. Minister Nji revealed that over the past twelve months, more than 300 million FCFA has been channeled through these platforms, primarily to fund terrorist activities and ransom payments.

The minister emphasized the urgent need for action to curb this illicit flow of funds and mitigate the security threats posed by unregistered SIM cards. He warned that terrorists exploit anonymity to operate on various digital platforms, enabling them to coordinate attacks and communicate with accomplices both locally and internationally.

In response to these alarming revelations, Minister Nji instructed telecommunications authorities to swiftly identify SIM cards in the affected regions within a 60-day timeframe. This directive aims to enhance security measures and disrupt the financing networks of terrorist organizations operating in Cameroon.

The funds traced through mobile money services underscore the magnitude of the challenge facing Cameroon's security apparatus. With separatist militants in the Northwest and Southwest regions and jihadist groups in the Far North leveraging mobile financial services to finance their operations, the government recognizes the imperative of robust countermeasures to safeguard citizens and combat terrorism.

As Cameroon intensifies efforts to combat terrorism financing, the collaboration between government agencies, telecommunications companies, and regulatory bodies becomes paramount. By bolstering identification protocols and enhancing surveillance mechanisms, Cameroon aims to mitigate the security risks associated with illicit financial flows and disrupt the operational capabilities of terrorist organizations operating within its borders.