Yaoundé plunged into darkness as power outage disrupts Afcon match

Yaoundé was plunged into darkness as a power outage disrupted the much-anticipated Lions Indomptables match. The blackout affected numerous neighborhoods in the city on Monday, January 15, 2024, coinciding with Cameroon's opening match against Guinea in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).{loadmoduleid 377}

The power outage is not the first one to hit Yaoundé in recent months. In March 2021, a serious incident on the transmission network caused a 48-hour blackout in the city, affecting economic activities and water supply¹. In November 2023, another 48-hour power cut was announced by electric utility Eneo, due to works planned on the transmission network by Sonatrel, the state-owned electricity transmission company². In August 2019, a fire destroyed the city’s main power station and much of the equipment, leaving the city without electricity for several days³.

The cause of the power outage remains unknown, impacting over a million residents in the Cameroonian capital. With electricity elusive, many individuals and businesses resorted to generators, candles, or radios to navigate the situation.

The power cut also interrupted the live broadcast of the Lions Indomptables match on national television and radio. Fans gathered in bars, restaurants, and public places to watch the game were left disappointed and frustrated. Some had to resort to following the match through word of mouth, phone calls, or social media.

The recurrent power cuts have raised questions about the reliability and sustainability of the electricity sector in Cameroon, which is facing a growing demand for energy. According to the World Bank, only 62% of the population had access to electricity in 2019, and the electrification rate in rural areas was only 25%. The country has an installed capacity of about 1,500 MW, but only 1,200 MW are available, due to technical and financial constraints.

The government has announced several projects to increase the electricity supply, such as the construction of hydroelectric dams, solar plants and thermal power stations. However, these projects have faced delays, cost overruns and environmental challenges. The country also relies on imports from neighboring countries, such as Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, to meet its energy needs.

The power outage in Yaoundé has cast a shadow over the Afcon, which is being held in Ivory Coast for the first time since 1984. The tournament, which was initially scheduled for 2023, was postponed by Caf because of the rainy season in the host country. The Afcon is the biggest sporting event in Africa, and attracts millions of viewers and fans across the continent and beyond.

The power outage in Yaoundé has cast a shadow over the Afcon, which is supposed to showcase the best of African football and culture. How will the authorities and the organizers ensure that such incidents do not happen again and affect the smooth running of the tournament?” or “The power outage in Yaoundé has exposed the challenges and gaps in the electricity sector in Cameroon, which is facing a growing demand for energy. What are the solutions and strategies that the government and the stakeholders are implementing to improve the reliability and sustainability of the electricity supply in the country?{loadmoduleid 378}