• Cameroon estimates $1.6 billion to rehabilitate the Douala-Bangui corridor.
• Authorities structured the project into three phases running from 2027 to 2031.
• The government seeks funding from multilateral partners including the World Bank and AFD.

Cameroon estimates the cost of rehabilitating the Douala-Bangui road corridor at CFA890 billion (about $1.6 billion). The corridor stretches nearly 800 kilometers across Cameroonian territory.

The axis serves as a strategic trade route between Cameroon and the Central African Republic. It also supports broader economic activity across Central Africa. However, infrastructure degradation has prompted authorities to act.

The Ministry of Public Works designed the program to reduce operating costs for transporters and shorten travel times along the corridor. The ministry stated that the project will also open up underserved areas, improve living conditions for local populations, and support local economic activity.

Authorities structured the program into three phases. The government scheduled the first phase to begin in 2027 with a budget of CFA425 billion.

This phase will prioritize the reconstruction of the Yaoundé-Douala axis, focusing on the most degraded and heavily used sections. The plan includes the construction of a second bridge over the Dibamba River and rehabilitation works along the Yaoundé-Ayos-Bonis-Bertoua-Garoua-Boulaï section.

The government will also allocate funds to road maintenance reforms, axle load control measures, and preparatory studies for the second phase. The phase includes support for access to services for refugees in the Central African Republic.

The government expects financial backing from the World Bank, the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union, and the European Investment Bank. The ministry stated that this phase will restore traffic on priority sections and improve road safety.

The second phase will focus on improving the corridor’s logistics organization. Authorities plan to finance trade facilitation measures, logistics improvements, transport cost reductions, and smoother border crossings.

The government expects to launch this phase in 2028. It also aims to strengthen the institutional framework and prepare for greater private sector participation.

The financing structure remains incomplete. However, the ministry indicated that the World Bank could mobilize $540 million (about CFA300 billion). The Islamic Development Bank also stands among the potential financing partners.

The government scheduled the third phase for 2031 with a budget of CFA164 billion. Authorities expect to mobilize funding primarily from the World Bank.

This phase will complete the rehabilitation of the corridor and position it as a driver of local economic development. The plan will support agricultural and logistics value chains, promote the emergence of logistics hubs, attract private investment in agribusiness and services, and expand access to basic services for refugees in Cameroon.

Ludovic Amara (Business in Cameroon)