(Business in Cameroon) – Between January and June 2024, Cameroon’s public treasury repaid debts totaling CFA741.6 billion, according to data from the national sinking fund (CAA). This figure excludes VAT credit refunds to businesses, floating debt, and outstanding invoices at the treasury.
The CAA noted that these repayments only represent 44.9% of the CFA1,651.3 billion debt service planned in the revised 2024 finance law. To meet its 2024 debt repayment forecasts, the treasury will need to disburse an additional CFA909.9 billion by year-end.
Of the repayments made so far, 82.5% went toward principal repayment, while 17.5% covered interest payments. Additionally, 60.8% of the total amount was allocated to external debt, with the remaining 39.2% used to settle domestic debt.
The latest CAA report indicates that Cameroon’s public sector debt stood at CFA13,070 billion at the end of June 2024, marking a 4.9% year-on-year increase. Of this total, 93.5% is direct central government debt (CFA12,219 billion, or 40.4% of GDP, compared to the Cemac threshold of 70%). Public enterprises and institutions account for 6.4%, and decentralized local authorities make up 0.1%.
