LIBREVILLE, Cameroun — A peaceful demonstration unfolded on July 16, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroun, as several dozen individuals protested the new financial conditions imposed on students seeking visas to study in France. These conditions, announced by Campus France Cameroun on July 9, now require students to prove the full payment of their tuition or demonstrate the availability of the equivalent funds before visa issuance. Among the protesters was Yvan Odjo, a Master 2 candidate in public law at a private French university.
He recounted the challenge of meeting the new requirements, stating that the total sum, including procedure fees, was 25,000 euros, an amount he and his family could not afford.
The Collectif pour l’Accès aux Projets d’Études (CAP Études), which organized the silent march, called for an inclusive dialogue on the decision, emphasizing the need for equity in educational opportunities for all students, regardless of nationality.
The demonstration highlighted the growing concerns over the financial barriers to studying in France, which could disproportionately affect lower — income families and narrow the pool of Cameroonian students able to study abroad. CAP Études argued that these new requirements pose a barrier to the educational aspirations of many young Cameroonian students and urged the French government to reconsider the policy. Critics suspect that these measures are part of a strategy to manage the number of international students, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the global community navigates the economic impacts of the pandemic, educational institutions, including those in France, are reassessing their international recruitment policies.
The protest in Yaoundé has ignited a broader conversation about the role of financial barriers in shaping global educational opportunities, with potential implications for students worldwide.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Agpgabon
Source: Redaction
