This was the hot topic of the consultation that brought together the government, universities, and unions on September 11, 2026, at the Ministry of Higher Education (Minesup). But the National Union of Higher Education Teachers declares that it did not participate and demands full payment of the debt.
Of the 15,498,462,253 CFA francs of academic debt accumulated between 2000 and 2021 in eight state universities, 41% has been paid since October 3, 2025. Calculated: about 6.35 billion already paid, 9.14 billion remains. The subsequent question is who has benefited from the payment so far. The State Minister of Minesup states that the universities of Bamenda and Buea located in the Anglophone zone and the University of Maroua have been favored. A political choice made to appease the areas most affected by tensions.
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Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo specifies that payments continue “at the diligence of the Minister of Finance and depending on cash availability.” Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance has just opened a new front. By circular letter dated August 19, 2026, Minister Louis Paul Motaze prescribes a general census of the state’s floating debt 2020-2025. The goal is to include this time the 11 state universities (and no longer 8) and integrate all unaccounted debts, including unpaid academic services. This means that the real debt is higher than the announced 15.4 billion. The inventory is ongoing.
During the dialogue bringing together Minesup, Minfi, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, university leaders, and unions, other points were discussed concerning other demands. The unions (SESUP, FOREC, and Synes, according to Minesup) also came to discuss the research modernization bonus and academic services.
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Regarding the research modernization bonus, it appears that for the 2025 fiscal year, the 16 billion CFA francs for the four quarters were fully paid. As for the 2026 fiscal year: in the first quarter, out of an envelope of 5,961,540,000 CFA francs, 4,888,462,800 CFA francs were paid, or 82%. The balance of 1,073,057,200 CFA francs is in the process of being paid. For the second quarter of 2026, the mandate has been issued and payments are underway. Finally, the allocations for the third and fourth quarters of 2026 were fully covered following a joint Minfi-Minesup mission prescribed by the Prime Minister, head of government, Joseph Dion Ngute for the 11 state universities, explains State Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo while reviewing the consultations. The payment of academic services within state universities will be made as part of the new cycle of the state’s floating debt census.
The dialogue ended on a note of appeasement between the government and the unions. But the issue of the teachers’ strike ongoing since September 3 remains. At the end of the consultation, Synes, by way of a statement, reiterates having refused to take part in the consultation due to a late invitation sent via social networks. The national office of the said union specifies that some teachers present at the dialogue participated personally and not on behalf of the union. Consequently, it maintains the strike order and demands that the government pay the entire academic debt.