Three fiscal years mapped out in a single session. Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute chaired a Cabinet Council on Friday, 26 June 2026, dedicated to the budgets for 2027, 2028, and 2029. With projected growth of 3.5% in 2026, public debt to be kept below 50% of GDP, and a new programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under preparation, the decisions taken that day commit Cameroon for the next four years.
Key orientations adopted by the council
The minister delegate in charge of Finance set the macroeconomic backdrop. The global economy remains fragile due to the fallout from the 2026 Middle East conflict, which is expected to slow world growth from 3.4% in 2025 to 3.1% in 2026, before a slight recovery to 3.2% in 2027. Cameroon, meanwhile, should sustain growth of 3.5% in 2026 and 3.7% in 2027. Inflation is continuing to decline.
The fiscal discipline on display clearly reflects IMF pressure: policy for 2027-2029 will hinge on concluding a new economic and financial programme with the Fund, with the explicit aim of keeping the public debt stock below 50% of GDP. Efforts will focus on mobilising domestic non-oil revenue and rationalising public spending.
The Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development presented projects included in the Priority Investment Programme for 2027-2029. Digital infrastructure, roads, railways, energy, water, agriculture, and industry are all targeted. Accelerating the roll-out of digital infrastructure features among the priorities, alongside improving electricity supply.
What this means for Cameroonians, concretely or not
On the social front, priority goes to extending the general health insurance system to the most disadvantaged layers of society. The special fund for women’s economic empowerment and youth employment will also be accelerated. These are announcements that recur often.
Nevertheless, the Council adopted an Economic and Budgetary Programming Document for 2027-2029, which will be submitted to Parliament as part of the Budget Orientation Debate. This is a formal step, but it provides a binding framework for ministries.
The Prime Minister instructed the Finance Minister to consolidate this document quickly, in close consultation with the Economy Minister. Performance contracts for public projects are to be generalised.
The Council concluded at 12:10 p.m.
