• Cameroon signed a $75 million concessional loan with the Saudi Fund for Development for a 77-km road project.

• The Sorawel-Dourbey road aims to boost trade links with Nigeria and Chad.

• The project targets improved connectivity, reduced isolation, and lower logistics constraints.

Cameroon is advancing plans to modernize the Sorawel-Dourbey road as part of a broader strategy to unlock regional connectivity and boost cross-border trade with Nigeria and Chad.

The Cameroonian government, represented by Economy Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey, signed a $75 million loan agreement with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to finance the rehabilitation of the Sorawel-Dourbey road in the northern region. The parties concluded the agreement on March 23, 2026, in Yaoundé with SFD Chief Executive Officer Sultan Al-Marshad.

The loan carries concessional terms, including a low interest rate and an extended repayment period. The government intends to use the financing to support a project it describes as critical for regional integration.

The Sorawel-Dourbey road serves as a key corridor for trade flows between Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad. Through this project, authorities aim to improve the movement of people and goods across the three countries, where infrastructure quality remains a key determinant of cross-border commerce.

The Saudi Fund for Development said, “the project aims to reduce isolation and strengthen domestic and cross-border connectivity by modernizing road infrastructure and facilitating trade between Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria.”

The project includes the construction of a dual carriageway spanning 77 kilometers. Authorities expect the infrastructure to improve road safety and transport efficiency. The Saudi lender said the project should ease mobility and reduce logistical constraints along the corridor.

The investment forms part of a wider strategy to reduce territorial isolation and support regional trade flows, as Cameroon continues to face significant infrastructure financing needs.

This article was initially published in French by Ludovic Amara (Business in Cameroun)

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum