Key trade corridor meeting: Cameroon and Chad unite to streamline goods movement

Cameroon’s Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Masséna Ngallè Bibéhè, held high-level talks in N’Djamena with Chad’s Prime Minister Allamaye Halina to address critical trade corridor challenges.

The meeting, part of the tripartite Chad-Cameroon-Central African Republic forum, brought together key officials including Chad’s Transport Minister Fatima Goukouni Weddeye, representatives from the Port of Douala, and freight councils from both Chad and the Central African Republic.

Addressing transit bottlenecks and security concerns

Discussions focused on enhancing trade corridor efficiency between Cameroon and Chad, particularly along the Douala-N’Djamena route. Officials reviewed recommendations from the 2024 Kribi forum and assessed progress on the CamTchad project, a joint initiative to improve cross-border trade infrastructure.

Cameroon’s delegation emphasized its commitment to removing transit barriers for goods destined for Chad. Meanwhile, Chad’s Prime Minister acknowledged ongoing challenges faced by Cameroonian drivers and motorcycle couriers detained in Chad, pledging to resolve these cases swiftly.

Allamaye Halina also highlighted persistent roadblocks along the Douala-N’Djamena corridor that continue to disrupt supply chains. The Prime Minister tasked the Cameroonian minister with relaying these concerns to domestic authorities for immediate action.

Next steps for regional trade integration

Both nations agreed to implement immediate measures to reduce transit delays and improve border crossing procedures. Enhanced coordination between customs and transport authorities was identified as a priority to ensure smoother goods movement across the corridor.

The outcomes of this meeting mark another step toward deeper economic integration in Central Africa, reinforcing the importance of stable trade corridors for regional prosperity.