(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon’s President has ratified two major loan agreements totalling more than FCFA 254 billion, adding to a public debt stock that stood at FCFA 14,591 billion at the end of September 2025, representing 43.9% of GDP, according to figures made public by the Ministry of Finance, citing the Autonomous Sinking Fund (CAA) as the source.
The first agreement, ratified under Decree No.2025/525 of 18 November 2025, concerns Loan Agreement No.224/CAM-25/01-INFRA worth FCFA 99.85 billion. The financing is earmarked for the road project component of the Integrated Development and Planning Programme for the Dja Mining Belt and Surrounding Border Areas (PADI-Dja).
The second agreement, authorised under Decree No. 2025/524 of 18 November 2025, allows the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development to enter into a combination loan agreement with MUFG Bank of London for the construction of the urban section of the Yaounde-Nsimalen highway, Lot 1. The package includes EUR 207.9 million (FCFA 136.392 billion) as Buyer’s Credit and EUR 27.6 million (FCFA 18.105 billion) as Commercial Credit.
These new loans come amid Cameroon’s debt levels under tight scrutiny and monitoring. The Ministry of Finance reported that by September 2025, the country’s public debt had increased by 0.8% month-on-month and 2.6% year-on-year, remaining relatively stable every quarter. The debt stock includes both external and domestic obligations, with outstanding arrears at the Treasury recorded at FCFA 171.3 billion, covering unpaid bills for goods, services, subsidies, personnel expenses, and transfers.
Although Cameroon’s public debt is nearing 44%, the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) sets a convergence threshold of 70% of GDP, a benchmark designed to safeguard regional macroeconomic stability. Cameroon’s Minister of Finance has underlined that the country’s debt ratio remains well below this ceiling, signalling compliance with regional standards.
Mercy Fosoh
