onetrack
There will be a detailed investigation, I am sure, due to the Australian contingent and high profile of the deceased.
Without speculation, as the investigation will hopefully reveal the facts...
Given the lack of fuel availability at the remote airstrips, the distant alternates and the need for round-trip fuel - the aircraft would most likely have had a lot of fuel ( fuel-payload ) on board.
Add 11 souls on board - the aircraft would have probably been at close to RTOW ex Yaounde, and likewise ex Yangadou. ( short unprepared airstrip, acceleate/stop, accelerate/go, no anti-skid, gravel strip )
On the flight path / route..... what if an engine failed en-route, would they have been able to driftdown and maintain ? Perhaps they were doing an in-flight diversion ?
The CASA 212 is FAR 25 certified, non-performance class A ( stand to be corrected ).
In reality, this mission should have been split into two trips, with a Part 121 / Perfrmance Class A aircraft - more expensive, but safer. Partly to split the executive board, and partly to have better aircraft performance with the reduced weight.
I am surprised that this solution was decided upon, given the availability of alternative options.
However, let the investigation reveal the facts and let us all learn from this. This was a tragic loss of life, perhaps unnecessarily so.