(Business in Cameroon) – The mayor of Yaoundé has assured residents that the CFA48.5 billion “Yaoundé Cœur de ville” project will continue even after the October 12, 2025 presidential election. He stressed that the funds are fully secured and that compensation payments for affected residents are available.
“Even after the presidential election, this project will go on until completion. The funds are available and secured, and compensation payments for residents are ready. I call on those who have not yet submitted their ID documents to do so at the city hall so the Autonomous Amortization Fund, where the money is held, can process their compensation,” the mayor said on September 17 during a site visit to Elig-Effa and Mokolo.
Beyond political concerns, the visit focused on ensuring that residents vacated affected areas, that the provisional relocation site for traders was prepared, and that Razel Bec Cameroun was fully mobilized on the project. At the end of the tour, the mayor expressed satisfaction with progress and praised Razel Bec Cameroun for being ahead of schedule.
The project, valued at CFA48.5 billion, is co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) with CFA43 billion and the Cameroonian state with CFA5.5 billion. It includes upgrading and redesigning two heavily congested intersections (Mvan and Elig-Effa), demolishing and rebuilding the bus stations at Mvan and Messa (Mokolo), reconfiguring the Awae escalier and Sous-manguiers intersections, rebuilding two minibus and taxi terminals (Avenue Mvog-Fouda in Elig-Essono and Rue Marcel Jezouin), and creating hiking trails on Mount Messa.
Works, officially launched on June 11, 2025, were awarded to Razel Bec Cameroun for a 30-month period. The project also includes a compensation and resettlement component. Nearly CFA1 billion is earmarked for compensation, trader relocation, and livelihood restoration through financing of small businesses. “Since April 10, 2025, I have already handed out 542 compensation checks. This money should help some restart activities at new sites and others at the relocation site,” the mayor reminded residents.
According to the Yaoundé Urban Community (CUY), the “Yaoundé Cœur de ville” project is the main component of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. Based on an in-depth mobility assessment, the plan is being implemented from 2019 to 2028 to modernize and optimize transport in Cameroon’s capital.
