Cameroon secures $425 million for Douala-Bangui economic corridor upgrade

The first phase of financing for the 800 km road between Douala and Bangui has been announced, amounting to $425 million. This project, commonly referred to as the Douala-Bangui economic corridor, is set to begin construction next year. Currently, 80% of goods heading to the Central African Republic and 70% to Chad transit through this deteriorating route.

This economic corridor project aims to modernize and streamline freight operations between the two countries. Donnat Takueté, Director General of Studies at Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Works, explains: «There will be a pre-selection system on the road where only vehicles suspected of being overloaded will be weighed at the station, and fines, if any, will be automatically recorded with receipts printed on the spot.»

The current journey between Douala and Bangui, covering 1,400 km, takes between 9 to 12 days, primarily due to the poor road conditions. Administrative hurdles also contribute significantly, with 17 informal checkpoints along the route, according to the World Bank. The institution will focus its initial funding on Cameroon. «For the first phase of financing, Cameroon will receive $425 million, while the Central African Republic will receive $90 million, and the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (Cemac) will benefit from regional support to prepare for subsequent phases of this project,» details Anne-Cécile Souhaid, Director of the World Bank’s West and Central Africa Division.

Multi-year project with significant economic impact

In Cameroon, the plan involves reconstructing and rehabilitating roads to improve traffic flow between Douala and the Central African Republic. Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, Minister of Public Works, outlines the key sections: «Reconstruction of the 215 km Yaoundé-Douala road, rehabilitation of the 332 km Yaoundé-Bonis-Ayos section, and rehabilitation of the Bonis-Bertoua section, totaling 800 km of roads upgraded to meet economic expectations.»

The Douala-Bangui economic corridor project will span several years and is expected to create between 2,000 to 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.