(Business in Cameroon) – Douala’s Urban Community launched a preliminary market consultation on July 24, 2025, for its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. This initiative seeks to engage with companies and consulting firms specializing in works supervision and monitoring. The goal is to gather insights on project requirements, risks, and opportunities, and to identify potential private partners for a future call for tenders.
The consultation covers two main components. The first involves developing a pilot BRT corridor, which includes four main lines totaling 27 kilometers, 44 stations, and four terminals. This will be divided into three lots and should take 30 months to complete. The second component focuses on upgrading about 80 kilometers of urban feeder roads to the corridor. These works will be split into four lots and completed in two phases.
However, the project faces several technical, economic, security, environmental, and social challenges. Key risks to construction progress include the long distance to quarries supplying rock and laterite, and the complex customs procedures for imported materials.
To mitigate these issues, the Urban Community plans to find local and alternative supply sources to reduce logistical delays. Bidders must prepare procurement plans that include measures to lessen transport-related risks. Additionally, customs procedures will be streamlined through advance documentation and close collaboration with customs authorities to ensure timely delivery of materials and equipment.
Delays in site availability also pose a significant risk. To address this, a resettlement action plan for affected individuals is in place, and discussions are ongoing. Should a contractor fail, strict contractual measures will apply. Contracts will include penalty clauses for delays or poor performance. A monitoring and performance evaluation system, along with performance guarantees and payment retentions, will also be implemented.
The relocation of utility networks for Eneo, Camwater, and Camtel could also cause delays. Preliminary assessments have been conducted with these providers to prevent such issues. Douala Mayor Roger Mbassa Ndine stated the project is progressing and calls for tenders will be launched soon. The total project cost is estimated at 335.3 billion CFA francs. The World Bank is providing 261 billion CFA francs in loans, public private partnerships have raised 62.1 billion CFA francs, and the Cameroonian government, through the Urban Community, is financing 12.4 billion CFA francs. The project aims to improve traffic flow in the economic capital.
Despite the loan agreement with the World Bank in June 2022 and enabling decrees signed by the President in July 2024, the project has been slow to start. Initially set for 2023, then postponed to 2024, the actual start of construction remains uncertain. Cameroon now has only three years left to use the 261 billion CFA francs from the Bretton Woods institution, with a closing date of June 16, 2028.
Frédéric Nonos
