By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, PAV – Human rights advocate Nkongho Felix Agbor “Balla”, has raised concerns about the future of Cameroon’s National Oil Refinery, SONARA, warning that delays in its reconstruction risk deepening feelings of marginalisation among Anglophone populations, particularly in the South West Region.
In a strongly worded statement shared with Pan African Visions, Agbor Balla questioned the apparent lack of urgency surrounding the rehabilitation of the refinery following the devastating fire that severely damaged the facility in 2019.
For many Cameroonians, the Société Nationale de Raffinage (SONARA) is simply a refinery located in Limbe,” he said. “But for the people of the South West Region — and for many Anglophones — SONARA has always symbolised far more than oil production. It represented economic relevance, industrial pride, regional inclusion, and hope.”
Located in Limbe, SONARA has for decades played a central role in the economy of the South West Region, supporting thousands of direct and indirect jobs while stimulating business activity in sectors such as transport, hospitality, and trade.
According to Agbor Balla, the uncertainty surrounding the refinery’s future has created growing anxiety among residents and economic actors who depend on the company’s activities. “Today, however, many citizens ask themselves a difficult and painful question: Who wants SONARA dead?” he questioned
The founder of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, argued that the slow pace of reconstruction has contributed to declining economic confidence in Limbe, once considered one of Cameroon’s most vibrant industrial cities.
For decades, SONARA has supported Limbe’s economy. Businesses were booming. The hotels were expanding. Carriers were finding opportunities. Thousands of families have built their lives around the economic ecosystem created by SONARA,” he said. “Today, a large part of this economic confidence is frightening.”
Agbor Balla also pointed to an increasing shift of state investment and strategic attention toward the coastal city of Kribi in the South Region. He cited major infrastructure developments in Kribi, including the deep seaport, gas projects, industrial infrastructure, and discussions surrounding the construction of a new refinery, while projects linked to Limbe appear to be progressing slowly.
“Kribi today benefits from massive investments: deepwater port, gas projects, industrial infrastructure and discussions around a new refinery. Meanwhile, promises regarding the effective reconstruction of SONARA and the Limbe deepwater port project seem to be moving very slowly,” Agbor Balla added.
According to him, this situation is reinforcing perceptions of economic and political exclusion within Anglophone regions already affected by years of socio-political crisis. “For many Anglophones, the question now goes beyond economics. It touches on feelings of national belonging, fairness in the distribution of public investment, and recognition of their place in the construction of Cameroon,” Agbor Balla said.
The activist stressed that balanced national development is essential for preserving social cohesion and national unity. “Cameroon needs national balance in its development. No region should feel left behind while others move forward,” he argued.
He further maintained that rebuilding SONARA would carry not only economic significance but also important political symbolism. “Fully reviving SONARA would not just be an economic decision. It would also be a powerful political signal demonstrating that the South West matters, that Limbe matters, and that the Anglophone population are fully part of the national vision of Cameroon,” he added.
SONARA suffered extensive damage in a fire outbreak on May 31, 2019, which destroyed several production units and forced the refinery to suspend major operations. Since then, discussions around its reconstruction and modernisation have continued, though many residents in the South West say progress has been slower than expected.
“SONARA must not die,” he declared. “And the government must understand that, for many citizens, saving SONARA today also means restoring trust, a sense of inclusion and national unity.”
