(Business in Cameroon) – On July 12, 2025, Cameroonian company Bun’s resumed work on the Bonepoupa-Yabassi section of a critical road. This 51.3-kilometer stretch is one of two segments connecting Douala, the country’s economic capital, to Yabassi, the administrative center of the Nkam department in the Littoral region.
The affected section, located at kilometer point 2+375, collapsed in 2024 due to heavy rainfall. After initial treatment of sinkholes, Bun’s teams began laying the first layer of reinforcing geosynthetic materials. They are using the Fortrac Nature reinforced embankment method, according to the Ministry of Public Works. The goal is to stabilize the roadway before the next heavy rains.
Reconstruction of this collapsed section aims to reopen the route to trucks, whose passage has been halted since the incident. This road serves as a strategic corridor for supplying Douala with agricultural and fishery products from Nkam, a vital production area.
The Bonepoupa-Yabassi segment is part of Lot 2 of the Douala-Yabassi road paving project. This project launched in 2017 alongside Lot 1, the 33-kilometer Douala–Bonepoupa section, with an initial completion date set for 2019.
The contract for Lot 2 was awarded in 2016 to the Chadian company Encobat for 26.5 billion CFA francs. However, the Ministry of Public Works terminated the contract in November 2023 due to “site management issues” and a “lack of equipment.” The Cameroonian firm Cabte has since taken over the project, though progress remains slow. Authorities now hope for full completion by the end of 2025.
Once completed, the Douala-Bonepoupa-Yabassi road is expected to permanently open up the Nkam department. It will also boost its local economy and improve living conditions for nearby communities.
Frédéric Nonos
