Backlash and next steps: Cameroon’s customs reform on imported phones stirs debate
Cameroon’s new customs collection mechanism for imported phones, tablets, and digital devices has generated significant revenue for the state, but it has also sparked a backlash among importers and raised questions about its impact on consumers. Between April and early September 2026, the Directorate General of Customs collected 1.8 billion CFA francs (approximately 2.7 million euros) in duties and taxes on these goods, a sharp increase from the mere 100 million francs per month collected before the reform. While customs officials defend the system as a necessary fiscal and security measure, importers argue that it has driven up prices and created uncertainty in the market. The debate now centers on how to address these concerns while maintaining the momentum of the reform.
Revenue surge and market disruption
The reform, which took effect on April 1, 2026, introduced a digitalized collection system based on transactional value and categorized fees. According to customs officials, the new mechanism is not a new tax but a more efficient way to collect existing duties. The transactional value was divided by four to seven times, and the overall rate dropped from 67% to 33.33%, with eight collection categories ranging from 5,000 to 400,000 CFA francs. This approach, officials say, levels the playing field for importers who previously evaded taxes.
However, the practical effects have been mixed. At Avenue Kennedy in Yaoundé, the main hub for imported phone sales, traders report difficulties with the declaration and clearance process. Seydou, a second-hand phone importer, explains that customs officers do not always record serial numbers, leading to blocked devices for customers. “We import used phones sold between 20,000 and 25,000 CFA francs. They are cleared at the airport, but the serial numbers are not registered. When we sell them, customers come back saying they keep receiving messages that their phones will be blocked,” he says.
Another vendor, Gérard Fontem, notes that prices have risen sharply since April. “Customers are not interested in buying undeclared phones, but they also cannot afford the price of cleared ones. This causes us a lot of harm,” he says. Some phones now sell for up to 85,000 CFA francs, nearly double their previous price of 45,000 CFA francs.
Customs response: ‘Those who paid are not affected’
Paul Olivier Libii, a principal customs inspector and focal point for the reform, dismisses claims that the reform has made phones unaffordable. “Those who think the price of phones has increased are those who were not paying their taxes. For those who paid based on transactional value at 66%, the price of phones will actually decrease. But those who were not paying used customs duties as an adjustment variable to undermine those who paid. The new mechanism will bring everyone to the same level,” he argues.
Libii emphasizes that the reform is a collection system, not a new tax, and that it relies on digitalization to improve efficiency. “The transactional value was divided by four, even seven. We have eight collection categories from 5,000 to 400,000 CFA francs. Then the overall rate went from 67% to 33.33%, so these are facilitation methods,” he says. He adds that about five million phones still escape the system, but customs services promise to bring them into the fold.
What lies ahead: enforcement and adaptation
As the reform enters its next phase, customs authorities are focusing on broadening compliance and addressing technical glitches. The goal is to integrate the remaining five million undeclared phones into the system, which could further boost revenue. However, importers are calling for adjustments to the serial number registration process to prevent customer complaints and returns.
Consumer advocacy groups have also weighed in, urging the government to consider the impact on low-income households. The debate reflects a broader tension between fiscal priorities and economic realities in Cameroon. While the state celebrates increased revenue, the challenge will be to balance enforcement with market stability and public acceptance.
For now, the customs directorate remains firm on its objectives: fiscal, security, and economic. The coming months will reveal whether the new mechanism can achieve its goals without alienating the very traders it relies on to collect revenue.