(Business in Cameroon) – The Cameroonian government will spend up to CFA431 billion on public debt interest payments in 2025, according to a revised budget proposal. This marks a CFA52.8 billion increase from the original CFA378.2 billion planned in the initial budget.
The presidential ordinance, which seeks parliamentary approval, outlines this adjustment in the 2025 amended state budget. The Ministry of Finance detailed the reasons in its 2026–2028 Medium-Term Economic and Budget Programming Document.
Officials attributed the increase to commissions and discounts related to raising funds on domestic and international markets, which totaled CFA100 billion. The ministry noted that the cost was partially offset by deferrals on certain domestic debt payments.
As of March 31, 2025, Cameroon’s total public debt reached CFA14,442 billion, up 5.7% year-on-year, according to the Autonomous Amortization Fund (CAA), the agency in charge of public debt management.
Despite the rise, the debt remains within safe limits. It currently represents 44.7% of GDP, well below the 70% threshold imposed by CEMAC’s convergence criteria—a rule shared by member states Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
BRM
