(Business in Cameroon) – The Yaoundé’s Urban Community relies heavily on a small number of taxes to fund its operations. In fact, more than 72% of its revenue comes from just five main sources.
The largest contribution comes from the Additional Municipal Taxes (CAC), a local tax that accounts for 54.8% of the city’s income. Other significant sources include business taxes (6.2%), property transfer taxes (5%), market stall fees (3%), and building permit fees (3.1%).
These figures were revealed at a financial performance review workshop held on March 27, 2025, in Yaoundé. The workshop was part of the DA-15 project, an initiative launched by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Uneca) to help African cities improve their financial management after the COVID-19 pandemic. Yaoundé is the only French-speaking city participating in this project, alongside cities like Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Lusaka (Zambia), and Nairobi (Kenya).
Luc Messi Atangana, the Mayor of Yaoundé, explained that the goal of the DA-15 project is to help local governments develop strategies for recovery after the pandemic. The project also aims to support the creation of resilient fiscal systems that allow cities to achieve their national goals.
The financial performance report, which was presented at the workshop, includes a number of recommendations for increasing the city’s income. Among these suggestions are the diversification of revenue sources by focusing on profitable investments, digitizing the financial collection system for better efficiency, integrating tax collection systems, and investing in productive assets that generate more income. The report also stresses the need to strengthen internal control systems, conduct regular audits, and ensure that financial reports are accurate.
