2021 started seemingly like 2020 in which there were a lot of personalities losing their lives. From January to April 2021, there are at least 8 deaths, most of whom died from very brief illnesses.

1- Djibrilla Kaou: This elected official died on February 12, 2021 following a long illness in a hospital in Douala. He was a member of the ruling Mayo-Tsanaga party (CPDM) in the far north and chairman of the National Assembly’s National Defense and Security Commission.

2. Pascal Monkam: The President and CEO of La Falaise hotels reportedly died of coronavirus in South Africa on February 18, 2021.

Indeed, Pascal Monkam leaves an important real estate legacy. He owned luxury hotels in Cameroon and South Africa. In Cameroon, we can notably mention the La Falaise hotels in the at Bonandjo, Akwa and Bonapriso in Douala, Bafang and Yaoundé. And in South Africa, the Monkam Pascal Twin Towers, the Pretoria Hotel, the Tamboti Lodge and the Park Lodge Hotel. The businessman was also the main distributor of the products of the “Société anonyme des brasseries du Cameroun”.

3- Adoum Gargoum: The ministerial delegate in charge of cooperation with the Islamic world at Minrex died of an illness on March 8, 2021 at the age of 66 in Yaoundé. His function has made the patron of relations with Arab countries since 1997, that is to say for more than 23 years.

4- Paul Eric Kingué: The mayor of the commune of Njombe-Penja died on the night of March 21 to 22, 2021 in Douala following a short illness.

5- Prince Mikody: The elected CPDM from Boumba and Ngoko (Eastern Region) died of an illness at Yaoundé General Hospital on March 24, 2021 at the age of 33. With this death, the National Assembly loses its sixth deputy in a year. In December 2020, it was CPDM deputy Yacouba Yaya from Mayo Sava (far north) who finally said goodbye. Before him, in July 2020, MP Harouna Bougue from Mayo Louti (North) tragically disappeared in a traffic accident.

6- Lazare Souop: The former and only deputy in the history of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) died of an illness in Douala on the night of March 30 to 31.

7- Cardinal Christian Tumi, Archbishop Emeritus of Douala, died on Saturday April 3, 2021 at Idimed Hospital in Douala. The 91-year-old prelate was one of Cameroon’s greatest voices and moral authorities. After 43 years as a prelate, Christian Tumi retired from the parish altar in 2009.

8- Alim Hayatou: The Secretary of State for Public Health in charge of Epidemics and Pandemics died of illness on April 5, 2021. Halim Garga Hayatou has held this position for over 20 years. He was also the lamido of Garoua in the north and president of the Council of Traditional Chiefs of Cameroon. He was sworn in on June 23, 2020 and made his commitments at a hearing held by the president of the Garoua Court of First Instance (TPI).

ref: camerounweb