The offices of Freedom FM, a Douala-based private radio station, were surrounded by police officers on 23 May 2003 after Communications Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo ordered the station's closure, accusing it of operating illegally. Prior to the police action, the station had been expected to launch on 24 May.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed great concern over the deteriorating press freedom climate in Cameroon following the detention of three journalists from Cameroon's only independent daily, "Mutations", and the closure of the private radio station Magic FM.

A new stock exchange, designed to open up Cameroon to the modern world, is finally open after long delays. The only problem for Central Africa's first stock exchange is that no companies are yet quoted, so no-one can actually trade any shares. For several years Transparency International - an organisation that monitors corruption - rated Cameroon as one of the world's worst offenders. Many commentators here recognise that as a potential stumbling block for the new mechanism.

Reporters sans frontières (RSF) has warned that press freedom in Cameroon has sharply deteriorated with the arrest of Haman Mana, editor of the country's only privately-owned daily newspaper, "Mutations", and the seizure of the paper's 14 April issue.

Gorilla, chimpanzee, and elephant will now be off the menu in Cameroon. Authorities in the central African country announced Monday that any restaurant caught serving meat from endangered animals could face up to three years in prison and a fine of more than $16,000.