Is Cameroon’s customs overhaul on imported phones a smart move or a costly gamble?
In Cameroon, the General Directorate of Customs has raked in 1.8 billion West African CFA francs (about 2.7 million euros) in duties and taxes from imported mobile phones, tablets, and digital devices between April and early September 2026. This impressive haul contrasts sharply with the previous system, which generated barely 100 million CFA francs per month. While the customs authority cites fiscal, security, and economic objectives, the reform has sparked heated debate among stakeholders.
Why are importers crying foul over the new customs system?
Seydou, an import merchant based in Yaoundé’s bustling Kennedy Avenue, shares his frustration: “We import second-hand phones that sell for 20,000 to 25,000 CFA francs here. They’re cleared at the airport, but customs officers don’t record their serial numbers. Customers later complain they receive constant warnings that their devices could be blocked.”
Gérard Fontem, another vendor, warns that the new system has pushed phone prices beyond affordability: “Customers refuse to buy undocumented phones, yet they can’t afford the inflated prices of cleared devices. This is devastating for our business.” Fontem now sells phones at almost double the previous prices, with some devices jumping from 45,000 to 85,000 CFA francs.
A digital revolution or a barrier to commerce?
Paul Olivier Libii, Principal Customs Inspector and focal point for the reform at the General Directorate of Customs in Yaoundé, dismisses claims that the new system is punitive. He argues that importers who previously dodged taxes are now paying their fair share: “Those complaining about price hikes are the ones who weren’t paying taxes in the first place.”
Libii explains that the reform replaces the old transactional value system (66%) with a digitized, tiered approach: “The transaction value has been slashed to one-quarter or even one-seventh. We now have eight collection tiers ranging from 5,000 to 400,000 CFA francs, with the overall rate dropping from 67% to 33.33%. This simplifies compliance and reduces opportunities for fraud.”
What’s the real impact on Cameroon’s digital economy?
The customs authority promises that the new system will eventually capture five million previously untracked phones in circulation. While the reform aims to modernize tax collection and curb smuggling, critics argue it risks stifling a thriving second-hand market that has long made mobile devices accessible to low-income Cameroonians. Meanwhile, the government celebrates the surge in revenue as a victory for fiscal reform.
“The system is designed to level the playing field,” Libii insists. “It’s not about creating barriers—it’s about ensuring everyone pays what they owe. The long-term benefits for Cameroon’s economy and security will outweigh the short-term disruptions.”