A significant adjustment, long anticipated by regional operators, has come into effect. The National Shippers Council of Cameroon (CNCC) has temporarily halted, until further notice, the mandatory electronic cargo tracking slip (BESC) requirement for goods moving along the vital Douala-N’Djamena and Douala-Bangui corridors. This decision, formalized in a communiqué signed on June 15, 2026, by Director General Auguste Mbappe Penda, impacts the entire logistics chain: shippers, accredited customs brokers, freight forwarders, and transporters involved in cargo flows destined for Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) via Cameroonian territory.
Initially introduced in 2006, the BESC system was designed to enhance merchandise traceability, provide objective data on transport costs, and contribute to commercial flow statistics. However, its application to cargo simply in transit had evolved into a persistent point of contention with Chadian and Central African operators, who frequently cited an undue accumulation of formalities and associated fees on their journey through the port of Douala.
A key concession from the N’Djamena tripartite forum
The suspension of this cargo tracking document directly stems from recommendations made during the 5th Chad-Cameroon-CAR tripartite forum, which convened in N’Djamena in May 2026. This crucial gathering, dedicated to streamlining transit operations along the Trans-Cameroonian axis, critically examined the technical and administrative bottlenecks hindering the smooth flow of goods from Douala towards N’Djamena and Bangui.
According to an official within the CNCC, as noted in their public statement, these operational inefficiencies were partly attributed to the still-deficient interconnection of information systems among the various shippers’ councils across the CEMAC zone. Paradoxically, a tool intended to simplify monitoring had instead complicated logistical processes. Consequently, the suspension addresses both a technical imperative and a political demand, pending the necessary harmonization of regional IT platforms.
Authorities in Chad and the Central African Republic, who had advocated for several years for reduced procedures at Douala, have welcomed this decision as a positive development. Nevertheless, it is important to note that this measure does not affect the traceability mechanisms managed by Cameroonian customs administration, which remain fully operational for all transit cargo.
Safeguarding 410 billion FCFA in annual revenue
For Yaoundé, the stakes are far from merely symbolic. Cameroonian customs estimates annual revenues exceeding 410 billion FCFA generated from the transit of Chadian and Central African goods. This substantial income is directly linked to the port of Douala, which serves as the primary maritime gateway for the Sahelian and Central African hinterlands. Any decline in the competitiveness of this corridor exposes Cameroon to the tangible risk of a gradual diversion of these crucial trade flows.
Indeed, this risk is palpable. N’Djamena has explored alternative logistical routes for several years, including options via Nigeria’s Lagos port or corridors through Sudan, while Bangui regularly assesses the Congolese corridor option through Pointe-Noire. In this competitive environment, every procedure perceived as superfluous fuels discussions about diversifying access to the sea. The lifting of the BESC on transit flows, in this context, represents both a defensive maneuver and an act of trade facilitation.
Suspension alone may not suffice
While transporters and shippers across the sub-region commend this initiative, they also emphasize that substantial work remains. Persistent issues such as multiple checkpoints along the Douala-N’Djamena axis, reported irregular practices at police and customs posts, and prolonged port processing times continue to significantly inflate logistical costs. Without addressing these deeply ingrained structural irritants, the overall impact of the BESC suspension will likely be limited.
The challenge for Cameroonian authorities now lies in effectively balancing documentary simplification with stringent administrative discipline. The modernization of information systems, enhanced inter-service coordination, and a reduction in redundant controls will be critical factors determining the Trans-Cameroonian corridor’s ability to maintain its position as the preferred option for Chadian and Central African freight. The suspension of the BESC marks merely the initial step in a comprehensive reform agenda long awaited by CEMAC operators. The measure is effective immediately and will remain valid until the CNCC issues further directives.
