Cameroun: first financing for the douala-bangui economic corridor project

The Cameroun–Central African Republic economic corridor project has just secured its first round of funding. A total of 425 million USD will be allocated by the World Bank to modernize the 800 km route linking Douala to Bangui. Construction work is scheduled to begin next year, marking a significant step forward for regional trade.

Streamlining trade between Cameroon and Central Africa

This infrastructure project aims to transform the Douala-Bangui corridor into a model of efficiency for regional trade. Currently, 80% of goods entering the Central African Republic and 70% heading to Chad pass through this route, which suffers from poor road conditions and excessive administrative delays. The World Bank has identified 17 informal checkpoints along the way, contributing to significant delays in transit times.

Donnat Takueté, director general of studies at the Cameroun Ministry of Public Works, explains the planned improvements: «Vehicles suspected of overloading will be automatically weighed at designated stations. Fines, if applicable, will be recorded and receipts printed on the spot». This automated system is expected to cut transport times between Douala and Bangui from the current 9-12 days to a more efficient duration.

A multi-phase investment

The World Bank’s funding will be distributed across several phases. For the initial stage, Cameroun will receive 425 million USD, while the Central African Republic will benefit from 90 million USD. An additional regional support package will prepare the groundwork for subsequent phases of the project.

Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, Cameroun’s Minister of Public Works, outlined the key infrastructure improvements: «Reconstruction of the 215 km Yaoundé-Douala road, rehabilitation of the 332 km Yaoundé-Bonis-Ayos section, and upgrading of the 253 km Bonis-Bertoua route. Together, these efforts will upgrade 800 km of roads to meet economic demands».

The project is expected to generate between 2,000 and 4,000 direct and indirect jobs over its multi-year implementation period. These developments are designed to enhance trade flows, reduce operational costs for businesses, and improve regional connectivity.