• Cameroon to tax digital creators as part of broader revenue reform

• Tax targets income from ads, partnerships, and platform earnings

• Details unclear; proposal to use follower count sparks debate

The Cameroonian government plans to expand its tax base to include the digital economy.

Speaking at a presentation on the government’s budget priorities on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Ngaoundere, Finance Minister Louis-Paul Motaze said digital content creators and influencers would be taxed.

Local media reports suggest the measure would apply to income from online advertising, brand partnerships and revenue earned on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

Motaze said the government needed to better track these income streams, which have grown with the rise of the creator economy, particularly among young people.

Details of how the tax would work remain unclear. Authorities have not said what income thresholds would apply or how reporting and enforcement would be handled.

Some comments also sparked debate, including the suggestion that follower numbers could be used as a criterion. Follower counts do not necessarily reflect a creator’s actual earnings.

The move is part of a broader strategy to modernize tax collection, boost public revenue and formalize the digital economy. Several countries across Africa and beyond have launched similar reforms as they adapt their tax systems to digital transformation.

Adoni Conrad Quenum