Gov’t assures diplomatic community of readiness for WTO confab.

This was during a meeting with the diplomatic community. The Minister of Trade, Mbarga Atangana, the Interim Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Gabriel Mbairobe, the Minister of Transport, Ngalle Bibehe; as well as the Secretary General at the Ministry of Communication, Prof Felix Zogo, attended the meeting. 

Minister Mbella Mbella disclosed that Cameroon is finalising preparation for the major international event, to hold in Yaounde from March 26 to 29, 2026. 

According to the minister, necessary measures have been put in place to ensure the country’s hosting meets WTO standard practice, even with barely two weeks to go.

He told members of the diplomatic corps that government has set up a National Organising Committee, under the supervision of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Dr Chief Joseph Dion Ngute. 

He said the committee has been working hard to ensure the success of the meeting by holding regular online or in-person meetings with the WTO secretariat.

The minister recalled that as part of the preparations, the WTO Director General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, met with Cameroonian authorities during a visit to Cameroon in May 2025, which ended with the signing of the Framework Agreement on the obligations of both parties.

He also affirmed that after being endorsed as host country for the conference, Cameroon has received several WTO inspection missions, with the latest one arriving in Yaounde a week ago to work with the national organising committee in finalising details of meeting.

“15 days to the start of the conference, I would like to reassure our partners that Cameroon is working hard to make this conference a real success,” he said.

With regard to accommodation, Minister Mbella Mbella disclosed that after a list of approved hotels was sent to WTO member countries, an online platform was set up for hotel reservations with the Mont Febe Hotel being selected to host the WTO secretariat staff and to serve as its headquarters.

He also mentioned that with regard to visas and consular services, visa applications from official delegations are centralised and processed by his ministry in liaison with the permanent mission of Cameroon to Geneva. 

Mbella Mbella said measures are also in place for the media, civil society organisations and all other participants to secure regular visas with the visa application procedure available on the website www.evisacam.cm or www.evisacam.com. 

With regard to accreditation, the minister said the issue is being handled by the ministries of External Relations and of Communication. He said special measures have been taken to accelerate procedures at the various airports.

In terms of security, Mbella Mbella assured that necessary measures, in consultation with WTO experts, have been taken to guarantee a safe and peaceful environment for all participants during their stay in Cameroon.

Major challenges…

According to the MINREX boss, in the context of geo-economic fragmentation, it would be desirable for deliberations of Ministerial Conference to lead to stronger trade multilateralism, through the approval of a balanced roadmap. 

He affirmed that it will lead to the concrete and effective reform of WTO, revitalise the work plan on e-commerce with particular emphasis on development, and consensus on a roadmap for the adoption of the second phase of the agreement on fisheries subsidies.

Key activities

It was also revealed during the meeting that the proceedings of the four-day WTO ministerial confab will include the official opening and closing ceremonies, plenary sessions, ministerial group consultations on the topics under negotiation and bilateral meetings, in accordance with the practice of WTO. 

Several side events are also planned, including business forum, parliamentary conference on WTO, dialogue with civil society, high-level sessions on women and trade, and the cotton partnership amongst others.

The article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3730 of Friday March 13, 2026