Cameroon repaid a total of CFA121.8 billion in debt to Eximbank China during the first quarter of 2026, according to new figures released by the country’s public debt manager (CAA).
Out of that amount, CFA16.5 billion represented interest payments alone, the agency said. The figures underline China’s dominant position in Cameroon’s public financing structure. According to the CAA, repayments made to Eximbank China accounted for more than 93% of the CFA132.2 billion that Cameroon paid on its bilateral debt between January and March 2026.
China Remains Cameroon’s Main Bilateral Creditor
As of March 31, 2026, Cameroon’s bilateral debt stood at CFA2.409 trillion, reflecting what the CAA described as significant exposure to a limited number of state partners.
China remained by far the country’s largest bilateral creditor. According to the debt agency, the Asian country accounted for 64.9% of Cameroon’s bilateral debt portfolio, representing 16.9% of the country’s total external debt. France ranked second with 25.8% of bilateral debt exposure, equivalent to 6.7% of Cameroon’s total external debt.
Eximbank China Dominates Cameroon’s Chinese Debt Exposure
Cameroon’s exposure to China is driven overwhelmingly by Eximbank China itself. During the period under review, Cameroon’s debt owed to the Chinese state-owned bank reached CFA1.56 trillion, equivalent to about 65% of the country’s total bilateral debt stock. The figures once again highlight the central role Chinese financing continues to play in Cameroon’s infrastructure and public investment strategy, even as debt servicing costs continue to rise.
BRM
