The Mount Cameroon Race of Hope returned to the slopes of Mount Cameroon for its 31st edition, bringing together more than 600 runners, spectators and mountain communities in Cameroon’s Southwest Region. The 42-kilometre race challenges athletes to climb and descend the highest peak in West and Central Africa and is widely known as
La Course de l’Espoir, celebrating perseverance, unity and community spirit.
This year, the race went beyond sport, with a focus on mountain conservation and sustainable livelihoods. The International Centre for Environment, Nature Conservation and Development (ICENECDEV) used the occasion to engage major national stakeholders, including the Cameroon Athletic Federation, the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife Cameroon and the Mount Cameroon National Park, to organize complementary mountain events and ecotourism activities.
The initiative highlighted how mountain cultures, ecosystems and livelihoods are deeply connected. ICENECDEV also encouraged key partners to engage with global mountain initiatives, including International Mountain Day on 11 December, strengthening Cameroon’s voice in international efforts to protect mountain environments.
As the 2026 race drew to a close, one message stood out: the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope is not just a race to the summit—it is a shared commitment to protecting mountain ecosystems and supporting the communities who call them home, now and for generations to come.
Organized each year by the Government of Cameroon, this year’s Mount Cameroon Race of Hope took place on 21 February 2026. The initiative reached thousands of residents and visitors, raising awareness about the value of mountain biodiversity and the role of local communities as its stewards. The event also received national media coverage, with the race broadcast on television, extending its reach beyond the mountain communities to audiences across Cameroon.
