(Business in Cameroon) – Starting January 1, 2026, all customs revenue in Cameroon will be processed through Tresor Pay, an electronic payment platform launched in 2023 by the Ministry of Finance.
The reform, formalized by a May 28, 2025, decree from Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, is the latest step in modernizing the country’s public financial management. The goal is to centralize cash flow, secure transactions, and reduce revenue leakage.
Until now, Tresor Pay was used only for collecting non-tax revenue. Its expansion to customs duties, taxes, fees, and charges aims to end the use of disparate payment channels, which were often managed by commercial banks and fell outside the direct control of the Treasury. Moving forward, all customs revenue will be deposited in real time into the Treasury’s Single Account at the Bank of Central African States (BEAC).
The prime minister’s decree originally gave government departments three months to migrate to Tresor Pay, but a source at the Directorate General of Customs (DGD) confirmed a new deadline has been set for January 2026. In the meantime, teams from the DGD and the Treasury are conducting simulations and training to ensure a smooth transition, particularly for IT integration.
The reform addresses a long-standing issue caused by multiple payment platforms that made traceability difficult and created transparency issues. With Tresor Pay, every transaction will be recorded instantly, significantly reducing cash handling and financial leakage. The platform’s connection to the Single Treasury Account is also expected to improve public cash flow forecasting and budget discipline.
Beyond the technical aspects, the new system aims to strengthen the relationship between the government, taxpayers, and businesses. By streamlining payments and securing revenue, Tresor Pay could enhance the credibility of Cameroonian customs in its mission to mobilize resources. In 2024 alone, the platform collected more than 300 billion CFA francs in non-tax revenue.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to consolidate the budget. For 2025, the government is targeting total revenue of 5.548 trillion CFA francs, including 1.144 trillion from customs. The full adoption of Tresor Pay is therefore a crucial step toward achieving these goals and bolstering Yaoundé’s policy of financial transparency.
Frédéric Nonos
