The Port Authority of Douala (PAD) has signed a partnership agreement with K9 SARLU to establish a canine brigade at the Douala-Bonaberi port. According to PAD, the public-private partnership (PPP) will be funded entirely by the private partner, with no financial guarantees from PAD or the State of Cameroon. The deal was inked by PAD’s Director General, Cyrus Ngo’o, and the Director General of K9 SARLU, Serge Tsitsol, in a ceremony at the PAD headquarters in Bonanjo.
The agreement covers the design, financing, installation, management and operation of a canine search brigade at the port, with the intention that the activity will be transferred back to PAD after establishment. The initiative is part of a broader renovation, development and transformation programme that has been underway at the Douala-Bonaberi port since 2016.
Under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangement, K9 SARLU will be responsible for implementing the canine search unit, which is intended to bolster port security functions, including detecting prohibited items, combating illicit trafficking, preventing unauthorised intrusions, and identifying stowaways.
The new brigade complements existing security systems at the port. It aligns with recommendations from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), including advice from its Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and Facilitation Committee (FAL). The stated aim is to enhance the port’s attractiveness to shipowners, economic operators and international partners by ensuring a modern and credible security environment.
PAD is central to Cameroon’s trade infrastructure. It handles the majority of the country’s external freight and remains a linchpin for commerce with landlocked neighbours such as Chad and the Central African Republic. However, recent official statistics show a mixed performance for the port’s economic output.
According to the Ministry of Finance’s economic bulletin, PAD’s revenue increased by 25.9% in the first quarter of 2025, while overall traffic, a key measure of economic throughput, declined by 6.9%. The drop was driven by an 8.1% contraction in import tonnage and a 1.8% fall in exports, while the number of vessel calls fell by 11% from 293 in late 2024 to 260 in early 2025.
Financial reports for 2024 further illustrate this economic context. PAD posted a net profit of 12.5 billion FCFA in 2024, down from 14.4 billion FCFA in 2023, representing a decrease of more than 15%. Total revenue also edged lower, from 119.6 billion FCFA to 114.1 billion FCFA over the same period, while the total balance sheet surpassed 500 billion FCFA as assets grew.
Stakeholders note that security enhancements such as the canine brigade could feed into broader efforts to improve operational efficiency and international confidence. Port security is a factor in global shipping decisions, and strengthened security is expected to support trade facilitation. The PPP model chosen for the canine unit also reflects a shift towards private financing for targeted infrastructure improvements, relieving direct fiscal pressure on public accounts.
Overall, the move to expand security at Douala-Bonaberi comes at a time when the port grapples with operational challenges and evolving economic indicators, underscoring the importance of maintaining efficiency and safety to preserve its role as Cameroon’s principal maritime gateway.
Mercy Fosoh
