There are private investigators in Cameroon. Truly, they are not numerous but, the fact remains that they are present in the country. In March 2009, the national syndicate of private investigators SNDPC held a congress at Hôtel de Ville in Douala.

The syndicate wants to highlight the craft and elaborate a law proposal to regulate it. Even though the elaboration of this law is continually postponed, private investigators are still operating underground.

Some of them have been trained in Europe as there is no such training school in Cameroon. There is even an online register for Cameroon’s private investigators: https://cbicameroun.com/annuaire/detective-prive/cameroun/annuaire-detective-prive-cameroun

So, those who claim that they can only be found in the West should ask around. According to a private investigator operating in Yaoundé, most of their clients are women who contract them to monitor their husbands. They also work with lawyers and bailiffs. So, smile, somebody may be taking your picture.

Monique Ngo Mayag