(Business in Cameroon) - On 26 September 2018, the Court of First Instance of Eséka ordered the Cameroonian railway company Camrail to pay CFA50 million as compensation to the beneficiaries of five victims of the Eséka train accident. The region was the scene of a deadly train accident which killed 79 people on 21 October 2016.

In total, six claimants had brought an action before the court to obtain compensation, following an unsuccessful amicable settlement with Camrail's insurers. But the court has finally ruled on only five cases, we officially learnt.

“The civil party's lawyers estimate that the amounts of about CFA50 million validated by the court are derisory, whereas they have only presented six compensation cases to the court. The other cases have in fact already been the subject of agreements with the families. The court finally granted five requests,” explained a source close to the matter.

According to the information provided by Camrail as at 31 August 2018, “out of 79 deceased persons, 82% of the compensation cases has been approved and settled, while the approval, settlement and finalization processes continue for the remaining cases; out of 745 injured, 92% of the compensation for bodily injury has been definitively settled, while all medical and pharmaceutical expenses incurred by the victims have been reimbursed”.

BRM