A highly anticipated measure for regional operators has finally come to fruition. Cameroon’s National Shippers’ Council (CNCC) has officially suspended, until further notice, the mandatory Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (BESC) for goods transiting via the crucial 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 the entire logistics chain: shippers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and transporters involved in the movement of goods destined for Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) through Cameroonian territory.

Initially introduced in 2006, the BESC was designed to meticulously document cargo traceability, objectively assess transport costs, and provide vital statistics on commercial flows. However, its application to simple transit shipments had evolved into a persistent point of contention with Chadian and Central African operators, who consistently lamented the accumulation of formalities and escalating fees encountered en route to the bustling port of Douala.

A key concession from the N’Djamena tripartite forum

The suspension of this cargo tracking note directly stems from the recommendations put forth during the 5th Chad-Cameroon-CAR tripartite forum, held in May 2026 in N’Djamena. This significant gathering, dedicated to enhancing transit facilitation along the Trans-Cameroonian axis, had critically highlighted the technical and administrative bottlenecks impeding the smooth flow of goods from Douala towards both N’Djamena and Bangui.

According to a CNCC executive quoted in official communications, these operational dysfunctions partly arise from the still-deficient interconnection of information systems among the various shippers’ councils across the CEMAC zone. Paradoxically, a tool intended to streamline monitoring ended up burdening operations. The suspension, therefore, addresses a dual imperative—both technical and political—while awaiting the comprehensive harmonization of regional IT platforms.

Chadian and Central African authorities, who have advocated for several years for a reduction in procedures at Douala, have welcomed this decision as a positive signal. It is important to note, however, that the measure does not affect the traceability mechanisms managed by Cameroonian customs administration, which remain fully operational for all transit cargo.

Safeguarding 410 billion FCFA in annual revenues

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, which serves as the primary maritime connection infrastructure for the landlocked Sahelian and Central African hinterland. Any decline in the corridor’s competitiveness risks a gradual diversion of these crucial trade flows away from Cameroon.

This risk is tangible and well-understood. N’Djamena has, for several years, been actively exploring alternative logistical routes, including via Nigeria’s port of Lagos or corridors traversing Sudan. Similarly, Bangui regularly assesses the option of utilizing the Congolese corridor through Pointe-Noire. In this highly competitive environment, every procedure perceived as superfluous fuels the discourse around diversifying access to the sea. The lifting of the BESC on transit flows, in this respect, represents both a defensive maneuver and a proactive act of trade facilitation.

Suspension alone insufficient for full impact

While transport operators and shippers across the sub-region commend this initiative, they also believe that significant work remains to be done. Persistent issues such as multiple controls along the Douala-N’Djamena axis, reported irregular practices at police and customs checkpoints, and ongoing port processing delays continue to exert heavy pressure on logistics costs. Without addressing these structural irritants, the full effect of this measure will likely remain limited.

For Cameroonian authorities, the immediate challenge is to artfully balance documentary simplification with rigorous administrative discipline. The modernization of information systems, enhanced inter-service coordination, and a reduction in redundant controls will be critical factors determining the Trans-Cameroonian corridor’s ability to maintain its position as the preferred option for Chadian and Central African freight. The suspension of the BESC marks merely the initial phase in a broader reform agenda long awaited by CEMAC operators. The measure takes effect immediately and will remain valid until further notice from the CNCC.