The African Export-Import Bank is deepening its presence in Cameroon after mobilising more than CFA600 billion (US$968m) in cumulative financing since 2024, positioning itself as one of the country’s most significant financial partners at a time of tightening global liquidity.
The disclosure was made in Douala on February 19 by Cameroon’s Finance Minister Louis Paul Motazé during a presentation to investors outlining the government’s 2026 financing programme. Addressing market participants, Motazé praised Afreximbank as a strategic partner, noting that the institution had provided substantial facilities benefiting both the Cameroonian state and segments of the private sector.
According to the minister, the bank’s sustained engagement signals confidence in Cameroon’s economic potential and credit profile despite what he described as a demanding international environment marked by high borrowing costs and cautious capital flows toward emerging markets.
Afreximbank, headquartered in Cairo, was established to promote and finance intra African trade. In recent years it has expanded its role beyond trade finance to include sovereign support, project financing and counter cyclical interventions aimed at cushioning African economies against external shocks.
In Cameroon’s case, much of the funding to date has been directed toward state financing needs. Among the notable operations is a euro to CFA franc swap arrangement that enabled the government to mobilise CFA200 billion through a public securities issuance with the Bank of Central African States. The transaction helped bolster public finances while managing currency exposure within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community framework.
Officials indicate that Afreximbank’s facilities have also supported infrastructure and industrial ambitions, including plans tied to a future bitumen production plant intended to reduce import dependence and strengthen local value addition. Cameroon has long sought to expand domestic processing capacity in sectors linked to construction and road development, areas considered critical for accelerating economic diversification.
The CFA600 billion injection comes as Cameroon implements its National Development Strategy 2020 to 2030, which prioritises structural transformation, industrialisation and improved trade competitiveness. Access to external financing remains central to achieving these goals, particularly in a context where global financial conditions have become more restrictive due to higher interest rates and risk aversion.
Analysts note that partnerships with multilateral African institutions such as Afreximbank provide governments with alternatives to traditional capital markets, where borrowing costs can be volatile. By combining trade finance expertise with sovereign and project funding, the bank has positioned itself as a counterweight to external financing pressures facing many African states.
For Cameroon, the strengthened relationship may also reinforce its role within the Central African sub region. As one of the largest economies in the CEMAC bloc, the country plays a pivotal role in regional trade corridors and industrial supply chains. Improved access to financing could support investments in energy, transport and agro industry, sectors that underpin export competitiveness.
However, sustained borrowing, even on concessional or structured terms, raises questions about debt sustainability. Cameroon, like many African economies, has had to balance development financing needs with prudent fiscal management. Investors will closely monitor how new facilities translate into productive investment and revenue generating capacity.
Afreximbank’s growing footprint reflects a broader trend of African led financial institutions taking on more prominent roles in funding the continent’s development agenda. As global financial markets remain uncertain, partnerships grounded in regional priorities may become increasingly important.
The coming months will likely clarify how additional tranches of financing are allocated between sovereign support and private sector initiatives. What is already clear is that Afreximbank’s CFA600 billion (US$968m) commitment marks a significant expansion of its engagement in Cameroon, reinforcing its status as a central player in the country’s financing landscape.
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