Culled from ews 247
Fotso Victor, who died in 2020 at the age of 93, left behind an impressive conglomerate. Although some companies have been sold or taken over by the state, such as Commercial Bank Cameroun, the Fotso group still retains about ten companies, including Proleg, a major player in vegetable exports to Europe. According to exclusive revelations from our source, the battle for control of the inheritance of Victor Fotso, the Cameroonian businessman who passed away in 2020, continues to deeply divide his family.
At the forefront of this conflict are Laure Toukam Fotso and her elder brother Yves Michel Fotso. Both children of Fotso Victor each claim legitimacy to lead the family empire, which reportedly has 146 heirs, including 122 children.
Laure Toukam, 38, has positioned herself as the new head of the Fotso clan. Vice-president of the group since 2011, she is attempting to take the reins of the family empire, thus challenging the tradition that generally favors male heirs.JeuneAfriquehighlights her discreet management style, “contrasting with her past as a top model and her taste for social events.”
On the other hand, Yves Michel Fotso, 64, strongly contests his sister’s position. A former designated heir and vice-president of the group until the 2000s, he has never accepted being sidelined in favor of his younger sister. Despite health issues and exile in Morocco, he has launched a legal battle against Laure Toukam.
According to information gathered byLebledparle.com from the pan-African magazine, Victor Fotso’s will, dated 2014, is at the heart of the discord. This document designates Laure Toukam as the administrator of the estate, with the assistance of three of her younger brothers. Yves Michel Fotso contests the authenticity of this will, pointing to irregularities in its form and signature.
JeuneAfrique reports that the Cameroonian judiciary decided in 2021 to place the inheritance under sequestration, a decision confirmed on appeal. However, Laure Toukam has managed to retain operational control of the Fotso group. The magazine also highlights the importance of political support, notably through the victory of Nicky Love Fotso, Laure’s sister, in the mayoral election of Pète-Bandjoun, the family’s historical stronghold.
According to estimates reported by our source, the annual turnover of the Fotso group reached around 760 million euros in the mid-2010s, with dozens of companies and more than 5,000 employees.
These deep divisions within the Fotso family extend beyond the family sphere to impact the economic and political realms of Cameroon. With 146 heirs, including 122 children, resolving this conflict promises to be complex and lengthy.
