Douala, Cameroon Cargo scanning operations by Swiss firm SGS at Cameroon’s main port have been disrupted since Jan. 1, 2026, following legal and contractual disputes between the Port Authority of Douala (PAD) and the Ministry of Finance, authorities and industry sources said.
The disagreement stems from conflicting interpretations over the duration and authority of SGS’s contract, which governs critical scanning activities used to verify imports, exports, and transit cargo. The PAD has approved a new operator, Transatlantic D S.A., to take over part of the scanning framework, gradually reducing SGS’s operational presence in the port.
The Port of Douala is a key hub for Cameroon’s export-driven economy and for landlocked neighbouring countries that rely on its facilities. Operators say that the uncertainty has created procedural changes and longer processing times, affecting importers, exporters, and transit flows.
The dispute centres on two interpretations of SGS’s mandate. PAD cites a 2019 decree granting it responsibility for managing the port domain, including cargo scanning, and says SGS’s 10-year contract with the state expired on Dec. 31, 2025.
By contrast, the Ministry of Finance considers cargo scanning part of state sovereign functions linked to customs revenue collection. It points to a 2015 contract with SGS, arguing that the effective completion of scanning equipment in 2022 extended the mandate through 2032. The ministry also notes that an annex to the contract, which set delivery deadlines for equipment, was never initialled by PAD, adding to the legal ambiguity.
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The operational disruption has prompted procedural adjustments, including the phased introduction of systematic scanning, forcing port users to adapt to revised workflows. The situation was further complicated by a note circulated on social media on Jan. 28, 2026, reportedly signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, indicating that SGS should withdraw from the port to allow full deployment of the new system. Officials say the note is intended to provide legal clarity, though it has not been formally authenticated.
Despite the disruption at Douala, SGS continues to operate in Cameroon through other activities, including the Import Verification Programme, conformity assessments, and vehicle inspections.
Analysts say the challenge for Cameroonian authorities will be to create a regulatory framework that ensures predictable, secure, and efficient port operations, which are vital for the country’s broader industrial, trade, and regional integration objectives.
