American Renaissance Minerals is turning to Washington as it seeks to revive the Nkamouna nickel-cobalt-manganese project in eastern Cameroon, putting one of the country’s most closely watched undeveloped mining assets at the center of a broader push to deepen US-Cameroon economic ties.
Mining investors Paul Mann and Drew Horn are seeking support from the US State Department and using contacts within Cameroon’s presidency to secure operating rights for the project, according to Africa Intelligence. Their efforts are facing resistance from Serge Hervé Boyogueno, chief executive of Cameroon’s state-owned mining company Sonamines.
The immediate obstacle is Cameroon’s licensing process. On Aug. 18, Sonamines declared unsuccessful an international call for expressions of interest launched in January to select technical and financial partners for the development and operation of Nkamouna. No application met the eligibility criteria, the company said. Sonamines has since opened the door to negotiations with investors that can demonstrate the required technical and financial capacity, subject to Cameroon’s Mining Code.
The timing gives the dispute a broader geopolitical dimension. Cameroon and the United States held their first bilateral Economic and Commercial Dialogue in Yaoundé on Aug. 27, with critical minerals and mining among the sectors identified as areas of potential cooperation. The Cameroonian government framed the new dialogue as a step toward investment partnerships and concrete projects.
Nkamouna has been under discussion for years but has never reached commercial production. The project’s previous mining permit was revoked in 2025 and the asset was transferred to Sonamines, leaving the government with control over the next stage of development. ARM is now seeking a new permit while positioning Nkamouna as a potential US-linked critical minerals project.
For Washington, the attraction is straightforward. Nickel and cobalt are important inputs for batteries and other industrial applications, while the United States has been seeking to diversify critical-mineral supply chains and strengthen commercial relationships with African producers. For Yaoundé, however, the priority is not simply to attract an American investor but to secure a technically and financially credible partner on terms that preserve Cameroon’s interests.
The project also carries significant execution risk. Nkamouna remains undeveloped and requires further technical work, financing, permitting and infrastructure before it can become a producing mine. ARM itself cautions that historical resource estimates associated with the project should not be treated as current mineral resources.
Sonamines’ failed selection process may ultimately create an opening for direct negotiations, but it does not guarantee ARM access to the deposit. The company must still compete for the right to develop the asset and satisfy Cameroon’s regulatory and commercial requirements.
For now, Nkamouna remains a project seeking a developer, financing and a new mining permit. ARM’s appeal to Washington adds a US dimension to that competition, but the outcome will ultimately depend on negotiations with Cameroon and the terms under which the government is prepared to reopen the asset to private investment.
