A much-anticipated decision for regional operators has arrived: Cameroon’s National Shippers’ Council (CNCC) has temporarily suspended the mandatory Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (BESC) for cargo moving along the crucial Douala-N’Djamena and Douala-Bangui corridors. This directive, formalized through a communiqué signed on June 15, 2026, by Director General Auguste Mbappe Penda, impacts the entire logistics chain. It directly affects shippers, authorized customs brokers, freight forwarders, and transporters involved in the flow of goods destined for Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) via Cameroonian territory.
Initially introduced in 2006, the BESC was designed to enhance merchandise traceability, provide objective transport cost data, and contribute to commercial flow statistics. However, its application to simple transit cargo had evolved into a persistent point of contention with Chadian and Central African operators. They frequently criticized the accumulation of formalities and additional fees imposed on their goods en route through the port of Douala.
acknowledging a concession from the N’Djamena tripartite forum
The suspension of this 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 was dedicated to improving transit facilitation along the trans-Cameroonian axis. The discussions prominently highlighted the technical and administrative impediments that were hindering the smooth movement of goods from Douala towards N’Djamena and Bangui.
According to a CNCC official quoted in the official communication, the identified dysfunctions were partly due to the still-deficient interconnection of information systems among the various shippers’ councils within the CEMAC zone. This created a paradoxical situation where a tool intended to simplify tracking inadvertently complicated operations. Consequently, the suspension addresses both technical and political imperatives, pending the necessary harmonization of regional IT platforms. While Chadian and Central African authorities, who had long advocated for streamlined procedures at Douala, have welcomed this decision as a positive step, it is important to note that the 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 merely symbolic. Cameroonian customs authorities estimate that annual revenues generated by the transit of Chadian and Central African goods exceed 410 billion FCFA. This substantial income is directly tied to the port of Douala, which serves as the primary maritime connection for the landlocked Sahelian and Central African hinterlands. Any decline in the competitiveness of this vital corridor exposes Cameroon to the significant risk of a gradual diversion of these crucial trade flows.
This risk is indeed tangible. For several years, N’Djamena has been actively exploring alternative logistics routes, including options through Nigeria’s Lagos port or corridors traversing Sudan. Similarly, Bangui regularly assesses the viability of the Congolese corridor via 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 for transit flows therefore represents both a defensive maneuver and a facilitative action.
suspension alone is insufficient for lasting impact
While transporters and shippers across the sub-region commend this initiative, they also emphasize that substantial work remains. Persistent challenges, such as multiple checkpoints along the Douala-N’Djamena axis, reported irregular practices at police and customs posts, and prolonged port processing times, continue to heavily burden logistics costs. Without addressing these structural irritants, the positive impact of the BESC suspension 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 a reduction in redundant controls are all critical factors that will determine 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 is merely the initial phase in a comprehensive reform agenda long awaited by CEMAC operators. The measure takes immediate effect and will remain valid until further notice from the CNCC.
