Fifty senior officers and agents from Cameroon’s intelligence community have sharpened their strategic edge through an intensive five-day training in competitive intelligence. Led by Dr Guy Gweth, President of the African Centre for Competitive Intelligence (ACCI, known in French as CAVIE), the training was hosted by the Directorate General for External Research (DGRE), Cameroon’s foreign intelligence agency, from June 30 to July 4.
The five-day session brought together 50 senior officers and agents from Cameroon’s intelligence services. Beyond awareness, Dr Gweth used the training to offer concrete tools for structuring a national intelligence system, developing a coherent doctrine, and producing decision-ready analytical outputs.
Dr Gweth expertise during the training has been widely appreciated. He is globally recognised for his work on geoeconomics, due diligence, counter-influence and strategic sovereignty. His leadership lent the training both credibility and ambition.
The collaboration also signals a shift in philosophy. Rather than relying exclusively on external partners, Cameroon is betting on high-level African expertise — one that understands the continent’s specific challenges and strengths.
Rethinking Intelligence in a New Global Order
The importance of the training cannot be overemphasized. For decades, the DGRE operated in the traditional shadows of political and security surveillance. However, it was revealed that times have changed. The nature of conflict, we gathered, has evolved, with economic influence becoming one of the most insidious weapons in international relations.
Also, disinformation campaigns, predatory acquisitions, market manipulation, and the control of critical resources, it was said, are now deployed with increasing precision. Cameroon, like many African nations, has long been a target – sometimes even an unwitting relay – of these strategic manoeuvres. But today, the narrative is shifting.
Through this training programme, the DGRE said it is building the tools to anticipate and neutralise invisible threats before they materialise.
Building on a Decade of Pan-African Experience
According to organizers, the training fits within a broader framework led by ACCI, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this August. Over the past decade, the Centre has built a reputation as the go-to institution for competitive intelligence in Africa.
Its portfolio spans presidential offices (Côte d’Ivoire, Togo), national parliaments (Cameroon, Congo), and private sector giants (such as the Autonomous Port of Douala and SABC Group). By partnering with ACCI and leveraging its proven track record, the DGRE aims to establish a fully functional National Centre for Strategic and Competitive Intelligence (CNIES)—a hub dedicated to safeguarding Cameroon’s economic interests in a rapidly changing world.
The Man Behind the Mission
Much of this strategic pivot can be traced back to Dr Guy Gweth. A member of the PSL House of Public Affairs and founder of Knowdys Consulting Group, he also teaches geoeconomics and strategic affairs at leading institutions including CentraleSupélec and EMLyon.
For more than 15 years, he has advised governments and multinationals on complex economic and strategic matters. At both the opening and closing of the training, the Director General of the DGRE hailed Dr Gweth as “a national asset” – a recognition of the critical role his expertise and that of ACCI will play in shaping the future of Cameroonian intelligence.
Sovereignty, Strategy, and the Will to Act
In the 21st century, intelligence is not just about guarding borders — it’s about defending markets, data, innovation and reputation. As Cameroon sharpens its tools and expands its strategic awareness, it sends a strong message: it will no longer be a passive observer in the global arena.
The country is building a future where competitive intelligence becomes a pillar of national sovereignty — and where African solutions are used to solve African challenges. With this transformation underway, Cameroon positions itself not just as a resilient state, but as a strategic actor capable of protecting, projecting, and prospering on its own terms.