(Business in Cameroon) – The Autonomous Road and Construction Authority (2RC) of the Douala Urban Community (CUD) presented its first five construction vehicles to the city’s mayor on October 18, 2025. The initial delivery includes two crawler excavators, a compactor, a wheel loader, and a backhoe loader.
According to the CUD, the equipment is meant to improve road maintenance and the management of public infrastructure in Douala. “This first batch will help us upgrade both paved and unpaved roads across the city,” said Mayor Roger Mbassa Ndinè.
The purchase is part of a broader plan to build a 50-vehicle fleet. This first batch will be followed by specialized vehicles, including hydro-cleaner trucks, box trucks, public lighting equipment, and staff transport vehicles. All machinery is being supplied by Tractafric.
The investment is financed by a 7 billion XAF loan granted in August 2022 by UBA Cameroon, a subsidiary of the pan-African bank chaired by Tony Elumelu. The loan has a 54-month term, an interest rate of 6.25%, and a six-month grace period.
Established in May 2021, the 2RC had been inactive due to delays in public procurement. The arrival of the equipment comes as the city’s road network is in poor condition, according to municipal reports. Of Douala’s 700 kilometers of paved roads, about 225 kilometers, over 30%, are heavily damaged. Full rehabilitation is estimated to cost 180 billion XAF.
Between 2020 and 2024, the municipality invested more than 60 billion XAF through a mix of direct management and outsourced contracts to repair nearly 100 kilometers of roads. The CUD expects significant savings by handling part of road and utility network renovations in-house. The expansion of the 2RC is expected to create 580 jobs, 348 permanent (60%) and 232 temporary (40%).
Frédéric Nonos
