Regional logistics stakeholders had widely anticipated this development. The National Shippers’ Council of Cameroon (CNCC) has provisionally suspended the mandatory Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (BESC/ECTN) for goods traversing the crucial Douala-N’Djamena and Douala-Bangui corridors. This pivotal decision, formally announced via a communiqué signed by Director General Auguste Mbappe Penda on June 15, 2026, impacts the entire supply chain: shippers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and transporters involved in cargo flows destined for Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) through Cameroonian territory.
Initially implemented in 2006, the ECTN aimed to enhance merchandise traceability, objectify transport costs, and provide vital data for commercial flow statistics. However, applying this system to simple transit cargo had evolved into a recurring point of contention for Chadian and Central African operators. They frequently voiced concerns over the accumulation of formalities and associated fees encountered along the route to the port of Douala.
Concession reached at N’Djamena tripartite forum
The suspension of this cargo tracking requirement directly stems from recommendations made during the 5th Chad-Cameroon-CAR tripartite forum, held in N’Djamena in May 2026. This significant gathering, which focused on streamlining transit along the trans-Cameroonian axis, critically highlighted the persistent technical and administrative bottlenecks hindering the smooth flow of goods from Douala towards N’Djamena and Bangui.
According to a CNCC official quoted in the official communication, the identified inefficiencies are partly attributed to the still-deficient interconnection of information systems among the various shippers’ councils within the CEMAC zone. Paradoxically, a tool designed to simplify monitoring ended up complicating operations. Consequently, the suspension addresses a dual imperative—both technical and political—while awaiting the harmonization of regional IT platforms.
Authorities in Chad and the Central African Republic, who have advocated for several years for reduced procedures at Douala, have welcomed this decision as a positive indication of progress. Nevertheless, it is important to note that this measure does not affect the traceability mechanisms managed by Cameroonian customs administration, which remain fully operational for transit cargo.
Safeguarding 410 billion FCFA in annual revenue
For Yaoundé, the stakes are far from symbolic. Cameroonian customs estimate annual revenues generated by Chadian and Central African transit goods to exceed 410 billion FCFA. This substantial income is directly tied to the port of Douala, which serves as the primary maritime gateway for the landlocked Sahelian and Central African hinterlands. Any decline in the corridor’s competitiveness risks progressively diverting these crucial trade flows away from Cameroon.
This risk is indeed tangible. N’Djamena has been exploring alternative logistics routes for several years, notably considering Nigeria’s port of Lagos or axes through Sudan. Similarly, Bangui regularly assesses the option of utilizing the Congolese corridor via Pointe-Noire. In this highly competitive environment, every procedure perceived as superfluous fuels discussions about diversifying access to the sea. The lifting of the ECTN for transit flows, in this respect, represents both a defensive maneuver and an act of facilitation.
Suspension alone insufficient for long-term impact
While transporters and shippers in the sub-region commend the initiative, they simultaneously 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 prolonged port processing times continue to exert heavy pressure on logistics costs. Without addressing these structural irritants, the full impact of the current measure will likely remain limited.
For Cameroonian authorities, the immediate challenge lies in effectively balancing documentary simplification with administrative discipline. The modernization of information systems, enhanced inter-service coordination, and the reduction of redundant controls will be critical factors determining the trans-Cameroonian corridor’s capacity to remain the preferred option for Chadian and Central African freight. The suspension of the ECTN marks merely the initial phase in a comprehensive reform agenda long-awaited by CEMAC operators. This measure takes immediate effect and will remain valid until further notice from the CNCC.