A long-awaited measure has finally been enacted, bringing relief to regional operators. The National Shippers’ Council of Cameroon (CNCC) has provisionally suspended the mandatory Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (BESC) for goods transiting through the Douala-N’Djamena and Douala-Bangui corridors. This pivotal decision, formalized by a communiqué signed on June 15, 2026, by Director General Auguste Mbappe Penda, impacts all logistical stakeholders: shippers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and transporters involved in the flow of goods destined for Chad and the Central African Republic via Cameroonian territory.
Introduced in 2006, the BESC was initially designed to enhance cargo traceability, provide objective transport cost data, and contribute to commercial flow statistics. However, its application to simple transit shipments had become a recurring point of contention with Chadian and Central African operators, who frequently criticized the accumulation of formalities and fees on the route to Douala port.
Douala transit facilitation: a key outcome of the N’Djamena forum
The suspension of this tracking note directly stems from the recommendations of the 5th Chad-Cameroon-CAR tripartite forum, held in May 2026 in N’Djamena. This significant gathering, focused on streamlining transit along the trans-Cameroonian axis, critically highlighted the technical and administrative bottlenecks impeding the smooth flow of goods from Douala towards N’Djamena and Bangui.
According to a CNCC official, as stated in the official communication, some of the operational difficulties arose from the still-deficient interconnection of information systems among the various shippers’ councils within the CEMAC zone. Paradoxically, a tool intended to simplify tracking had instead complicated operations. Therefore, the suspension addresses both technical and political imperatives, pending the harmonization of regional IT platforms. While Chadian and Central African authorities, who had advocated for simplified procedures in Douala for years, view this decision as a positive step, it is important to note that traceability mechanisms managed by Cameroonian customs remain fully operational for transit cargo.
Securing 410 billion FCFA in annual revenue for Cameroon
For Yaoundé, the stakes are far from symbolic. Cameroonian customs estimate that annual revenues generated by the transit of Chadian and Central African goods exceed 410 billion FCFA. This substantial income is directly linked to the Port of Douala, the primary maritime connection for the landlocked Sahelian and Central African hinterlands. Any decline in the corridor’s competitiveness risks a gradual diversion of these crucial trade flows away from Cameroon.
This risk is tangible. For several years, N’Djamena has been exploring alternative logistical routes, including Nigeria’s Port of Lagos or corridors through Sudan, while Bangui regularly considers the Congolese corridor via Pointe-Noire. In this competitive landscape, every procedure perceived as superfluous fuels discussions about diversifying access to the sea. The removal of the BESC for transit flows is, in this context, both a defensive maneuver and an act of trade facilitation.
Beyond suspension: ongoing challenges for the Douala corridor
While transporters and shippers across the sub-region welcome this initiative, they also emphasize that significant work remains. Persistent issues such as multiple controls along the Douala-N’Djamena axis, reported irregular practices at police and customs checkpoints, and port processing delays continue to heavily impact logistical costs. Without addressing these structural irritants, the full impact of the BESC suspension will remain limited.
The challenge for Cameroonian authorities now lies in effectively balancing documentary simplification with administrative discipline. The modernization of information systems, enhanced inter-service coordination, and a reduction in redundant controls will be crucial for the trans-Cameroonian corridor to maintain its position as the preferred option for Chadian and Central African freight. The BESC suspension represents merely an initial phase in a broader reform agenda long awaited by CEMAC operators. The measure is effective immediately and will remain valid until further notice from the CNCC.
