Cameroon customs reform boosts state revenue but fuels market tensions
The Cameroonian customs authority has collected 1.8 billion FCFA (approximately $2.7 million) in duties and taxes from imported phones, tablets, and digital devices between April and early September 2026. This follows the implementation of a new digital collection mechanism, which has dramatically increased state revenue from this sector.
Before the reform, customs revenue from phone imports barely reached 100 million FCFA per month. The new system, designed to combat fraud and enhance transparency, has transformed this into a significant revenue stream for the state.
Market reactions: import prices surge and consumer concerns rise
Local traders in Yaoundé’s Kennedy Avenue market, a hub for imported phones, report significant price increases. Seydou, a second-hand phone importer, explains the challenges: “We import second-hand phones sold here between 20,000 and 25,000 FCFA. Customs officials no longer record their serial numbers at the airport. Customers later receive notifications that their phones may be blocked, creating major trust issues.“
Gérard Fontem, another trader, notes that prices have nearly doubled for some models, jumping from 45,000 to 85,000 FCFA. “Customers refuse to buy undocumented phones, but they cannot afford the new prices either. This is crippling our business.“
Who truly benefits from the new mechanism?
Paul Olivier Libii, Head of Customs Reform at the General Directorate of Customs in Yaoundé, dismisses criticism, stating: “Those complaining about price increases are the ones who previously evaded taxes. For traders who complied with the old system, prices have actually decreased.“
He emphasizes that the reform is not a new tax but a digitalized collection system aimed at equity: “Transaction values have been divided by four, sometimes by seven. We’ve introduced eight new collection categories, ranging from 5,000 to 400,000 FCFA. The overall rate dropped from 67% to 33.33%, making compliance easier.“
Digital transformation delivers results
The new system leverages digitalization to track imported devices, ensuring compliance and reducing fraud. Libii adds: “About five million phones previously slipped through the system. We’re now identifying and integrating them, closing loopholes that cost the state billions.“
While the reform strengthens state revenue and combats smuggling, it also sparks debates over affordability and market disruption. The government maintains that the long-term benefits of transparency and equity justify the short-term disruption.
