Cameroon: After strike, Sosucam estimates losses at over 5 billion CFA francs

The strike by cane cutters at Société sucrière du Cameroun (Sosucam) between January 26th and  February 8th 2025 left deep scars, as  strike went beyond the trade union framework and turned into violent riots, leading to the death of a worker and the burning of almost 970 hectares of plantations.

According to Jean-François Ntsama-Etoundi, deputy managing director of the company, a subsidiary of the French Somdiaa group, this massive destruction represents a loss of around 50,000 tonnes of cane, or between 5,000 and 6,000 tonnes of premium. A key product for the brewing industry, at a press briefing in Yaoundé on February 19th .

He pointed out that initial estimates put the financial loss at more than 5 billion CFA francs, ‘a figure that is likely to be revised upwards by the end of the sugar campaign, scheduled for mid-May 2025’.

Despite this shortfall, Sosucam is reassuring that it will be able to supply the local market. ‘The company still has a stock of 30,000 tonnes of sugar, enough to cover short-term needs, particularly in the run-up to Ramadan. To date, there is no risk of a shortage’, Jean-François Ntsama-Etoundi assures us. However, since the strike, at least 250 workers have deserted their posts. To compensate for these labour losses and ensure continuity of production, the company has just launched a major recruitment drive for 600 farm workers.

Source: Ecomatin