The first phase of financing for the 800 km road upgrade between Douala in Cameroon and Bangui in the Central African Republic has been unveiled. The World Bank has committed $425 million for this long-awaited project, with construction slated to begin next year. This corridor currently handles 80% of goods heading to the Central African Republic and 70% to Chad, though its deteriorating condition has severely hampered trade flows.
Modernizing trade infrastructure
The Douala-Bangui economic corridor project aims to revolutionize trade operations between Cameroon and the Central African Republic. A key innovation will be an automated weighing system that targets overloaded vehicles, reducing delays and administrative hurdles that currently plague the route. «Vehicles suspected of overload will be automatically directed to weighing stations, with fines processed and receipts printed on the spot», explains Donnat Takueté, Director General of Studies at Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Works.
Today, the 1,400 km journey between Douala and Bangui takes between 9 to 12 days—a delay largely attributed to the poor road conditions and 17 informal checkpoints along the route, according to the World Bank. The first phase of funding will prioritize Cameroon, with $425 million allocated, while the Central African Republic will receive $90 million. An additional regional support package will prepare future phases of the project, notes Anne-Cécile Souhaid, Director of the World Bank’s West and Central Africa region.
Phase one roadworks and long-term vision
Cameroon’s infrastructure overhaul will focus on reconstructing and rehabilitating critical sections: the 215 km Yaoundé-Douala route, the 332 km Yaoundé-Bonis-Ayos segment, and the Bonis-Bertoua section, totaling 800 km of upgraded roads. «This massive upgrade is designed to align with economic expectations and facilitate smoother trade flows», states Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, Cameroon’s Minister of Public Works.
The full project spans several years and is expected to generate 2,000 to 4,000 direct and indirect jobs, boosting local economies along the corridor. With trade bottlenecks easing, the initiative promises to enhance regional connectivity and economic integration between Central African nations.