Cameroun launches major road corridor project to boost central africa trade

The first phase of financing for the 800 km road between Douala in Cameroon and Bangui in the Central African Republic has been secured. The World Bank has committed $425 million to this essential economic corridor project, with construction expected to begin next year.

This vital transport link currently handles 80% of goods entering the Central African Republic and 70% of Chad-bound traffic, yet it remains in poor condition, causing significant delays and operational inefficiencies.

Modernizing Trade Routes with Automated Systems

The Douala-Bangui economic corridor project aims to modernize and automate weighing operations while significantly reducing cargo transit times between Cameroon and the Central African Republic. Donnat Takueté, Director General of Studies at Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Works, explains the new system: «A pre-selection system will be installed on the route, where only vehicles suspected of overloading will undergo automatic weighing. Fines, if any, will be recorded and receipts printed immediately.»

Currently, the 1,400 km journey between Douala and Bangui takes between 9 to 12 days, largely due to poor road conditions and administrative bottlenecks. The 17 informal checkpoints along the route further exacerbate these delays.

World Bank Funding Breakdown

The World Bank will focus its initial funding on Cameroon as part of this multi-year project. Anne-Cécile Souhaid, Director of the World Bank’s West and Central Africa Division, details the financial allocation: «For the first phase, Cameroon will receive $425 million, while the Central African Republic will benefit from $90 million. The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) will also receive support to prepare for subsequent phases of the project.»

Key Infrastructure Improvements

In Cameroon, the project involves reconstructing and rehabilitating several critical road sections to improve traffic flow between Douala and the Central African Republic. Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, Cameroon’s Minister of Public Works, outlines the scope: «We will reconstruct the 215 km Yaoundé-Douala road, rehabilitate the 332 km Yaoundé-Bonis-Ayos section, and upgrade the 253 km Bonis-Bertoua stretch. This comprehensive 800 km road upgrade program is designed to meet economic expectations.»

Economic and Employment Impact

The Douala-Bangui economic corridor project is expected to span several years and create between 2,000 to 4,000 direct and indirect jobs, providing a significant boost to local economies.