The Cameroon Press and Publishing Company

The Cameroon Press and Publishing Company, known by its French acronym SOPECAM (Société de presse et d'éditions du Cameroun), is a Cameroonian state-owned media, publishing and printing enterprise. It was created on 18 July 1977 through the merger of three existing public bodies: the Société camerounaise de publication (SCP), the Agence camerounaise de presse (ACAP) and the Ateliers Graphiques du Cameroun (AGRACAM). Since 2016 it has held the legal status of a société à capital public, with the State of Cameroon as its sole shareholder. It operates under the technical supervision of the Ministry of Communication and the financial supervision of the Ministry of Finance. SOPECAM's core activities span three strategic métiers: press, publishing and printing. As a press house it produces and distributes institutional and public information, most notably through the bilingual national daily Cameroon Tribune. Its publishing arm issues books, catalogues, editorial content and specialised materials, while its industrial printing centre handles graphic production, large-volume printing and support for institutions. The company describes itself as a national reference institution pursuing a renewed ambition to strengthen the quality of its content, modernise its platforms and support the digital transition. Its portfolio of publications includes the national bilingual daily Cameroon Tribune as well as titles such as Weekend Sports et Loisirs, Nyanga and Cameroon Business Today. Beyond periodicals, SOPECAM carries out book publishing and all kinds of printing work. Its headquarters are located on Rue de l'aéroport in Yaoundé, and it presents itself as a media group serving the public, with a premium institutional interface for its publications, services, professions and digital ecosystem. Leadership of SOPECAM has changed over the decades. Documented directors general include Florent Etoga Eily (1974–1977), Joseph Zambou Zoleko (1977–1987), Henri Bandolo (1987–1988), Joseph Charles Doumba (1988–1993), Paul Célestin Ndembiyembe Bakoume (1993–1999), Jérôme Mvondo (1992–2002) and, from 2002, Marie-Claire Nnana, who is presented on the company's website as Directeur Général. The company remains a wholly state-owned instrument of public information, publishing and industrial printing in Cameroon.

SOPECAM was founded on 18 July 1977 as the result of a merger between three public entities: the Société camerounaise de publication (SCP), the Agence camerounaise de presse (ACAP) and the Ateliers Graphiques du Cameroun (AGRACAM). This consolidation created a single state-owned company responsible for press, publishing and printing in Cameroon. The company's leadership in its early years included Florent Etoga Eily (1974–1977), who led one of the predecessor structures, and Joseph Zambou Zoleko, who served as director general from 1977 to 1987. Through the 1980s and 1990s, SOPECAM continued to operate as a public press and printing house under the technical supervision of the Ministry of Communication and the financial supervision of the Ministry of Finance. Henri Bandolo led the company from 1987 to 1988, followed by Joseph Charles Doumba (1988–1993). Paul Célestin Ndembiyembe Bakoume served from 1993 to 1999, and Jérôme Mvondo from 1992 to 2002. In 2002, Marie-Claire Nnana became director general, a position she still holds according to the company's website. A significant legal change occurred in 2016, when SOPECAM acquired the status of a société à capital public, with the State of Cameroon as its sole shareholder. This status formalised its position as a wholly state-owned enterprise. In the 2020s, SOPECAM presents itself as a modern media group with three strategic métiers — press, publishing and printing — and a digital ecosystem. Its website highlights a modern printing centre with robust equipment for high-volume, high-quality printing, and a mission to serve institutions, businesses, publishers and the public with reliability and professionalism. The company also emphasises its role in the digital transition, aiming to modernise its platforms and strengthen the quality of its content.

• 2016

  SOPECAM acquires the status of société à capital public with the State as sole shareholder.

• 2002

  Marie-Claire Nnana becomes director general.

• 1993

  Paul Célestin Ndembiyembe Bakoume becomes director general.

• 1992

  Jérôme Mvondo begins term as director general.

• 1988

  Joseph Charles Doumba becomes director general.

• 1987

  Joseph Zambou Zoleko ends term as director general; Henri Bandolo takes over.

• 1977

  SOPECAM founded on 18 July through the merger of SCP, ACAP and AGRACAM.

National reference institution for public information, publishing and industrial printing in Cameroon.

• Cameroon Tribune

  Bilingual national daily newspaper published by SOPECAM.

• Weekend Sports et Loisirs

  Sports and leisure publication.

• Nyanga

  Publication issued by SOPECAM.

• Cameroon Business Today

  Business publication.

1. 1SOPECAM official websitesopecam.cm
2. 2Wikidata entry for The Cameroon Press and Publishing Companywikidata.org
3. 3Société de presse et d'éditions du Cameroun - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org