Cameroon has pledged full support for a trade facilitation project under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aimed at strengthening two of its most strategic cross-border corridors, officials said Friday. The initiative, presented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is backed by funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and seeks to enhance regional trade, border governance, and economic resilience in sensitive areas.
Cameroon’s Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, confirmed the government’s endorsement during a 23 December meeting with Abdel Rahmane Diop, Head of Mission of the IOM in Cameroon. The project targets the Douala–Bangui and Douala–Kousseri corridors, which link the country’s major port in Douala to landlocked Central African and Sahelian nations. These routes are critical for regional trade but have long been constrained by weak border administration, security challenges, and high transaction costs.
Valued at 2,252,354 Units of Account, or roughly FCFA 1.8 billion (US$3.2 million), the programme is primarily financed through a 2,000,000-Unit of Account grant from the AfDB, with an additional contribution of 252,354 Units of Account from the IOM. The project is designed to improve data collection on trade and mobility, bolster local economic development and financial inclusion, strengthen border governance, and enhance project management and monitoring systems.
Special focus is being placed on small-scale cross-border traders, women, and youth, who constitute the backbone of informal trade along these corridors. “This initiative not only facilitates commerce but empowers vulnerable populations, ensuring they benefit from regional integration,” said an IOM spokesperson.
Officials emphasized that the project supports Cameroon’s broader national strategy for AfCFTA implementation. By enhancing the capacity of public administrations and technical services responsible for corridor management, the initiative seeks to translate continental trade objectives into tangible outcomes at the local level. It also aims to integrate migrant communities and the diaspora into local economic systems, recognizing the interconnected nature of migration, trade, and regional development.
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Mbarga Atangana highlighted that the project aligns with AfCFTA priorities as well as the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, reinforcing Cameroon’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for cross-border commerce. He noted that while the initiative is modest in scale, it addresses concrete operational bottlenecks that have historically hindered trade along these strategic axes.
The corridors themselves play a vital role in regional supply chains. The Douala–Bangui corridor connects Cameroon’s commercial hub to the Central African Republic, facilitating imports and exports of essential goods, while the Douala–Kousseri axis links the northern border to Chad and other Sahelian states. Efficient management of these routes is crucial for reducing trade costs, enhancing competitiveness, and promoting economic growth in border regions.
The project also builds on discussions dating back to 2022, when Cameroon first highlighted the need for improved trade corridor management amid growing regional mobility and economic integration. Over the past three years, authorities and development partners have sought practical mechanisms to support AfCFTA operationalization, with this initiative representing a concrete step forward.
Observers noted that Cameroon’s reliance on donor-funded programmes underscores the importance of external support in translating continental trade ambitions into actionable interventions. While challenges remain in terms of security, infrastructure, and regulatory harmonization, the AfCFTA corridor project demonstrates the potential of targeted investments to facilitate cross-border commerce, strengthen local economies, and advance inclusive regional integration.
As the project moves toward implementation, stakeholders anticipate measurable improvements in trade flows, reduced transaction costs, and greater opportunities for small-scale traders, women, and youth. By linking practical interventions to continental frameworks, Cameroon is seeking to ensure that AfCFTA benefits are felt at the grassroots level, creating a more inclusive and resilient regional trading environment.
