Cameroon’s CNCC suspends BESC on Douala transit corridors

The Cameroonian National Shippers’ Council (CNCC) has officially suspended the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (BESC) requirement for cargo moving along the vital Douala-N’Djamena and Douala-Bangui transit corridors. This much-anticipated decision, effective until further notice, was formalized on June 15, 2026, by Director General Auguste Mbappe Penda. It impacts all stakeholders in the logistics chain, including shippers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and transporters handling goods destined for Chad and the Central African Republic via Cameroonian territory.

Introduced in 2006, the BESC system was designed to enhance merchandise traceability, provide objective transport cost data, and contribute to trade flow statistics. However, its application to simple transit cargo had become a persistent point of contention with Chadian and Central African operators, who frequently criticized the accumulation of formalities and associated fees on their route through the port of Douala.

A concession stemming from the N’Djamena tripartite forum

The suspension of this tracking note directly follows recommendations made during the 5th Chad-Cameroon-CAR tripartite forum, which convened in N’Djamena in May 2026. This significant meeting, focused on streamlining transit operations along the trans-Cameroonian axis, highlighted various technical and administrative obstacles impeding the smooth flow of goods from Douala towards N’Djamena and Bangui.

Insiders at the CNCC indicate that some of these operational issues are partly due to the still-deficient interconnection of information systems among the CEMAC zone’s shippers’ councils. Paradoxically, a tool intended to simplify monitoring ended up complicating logistics. Thus, the suspension addresses both technical and political imperatives, pending the harmonization of regional IT platforms.

Chadian and Central African authorities, who had advocated for several years for reduced procedures at Douala, view this decision as a positive development. It is important to note, however, that the measure does not affect traceability mechanisms managed by Cameroonian customs administration, which remain fully operational for transit cargo.

Safeguarding 410 billion FCFA in annual revenue

For Yaoundé, the stakes are substantial, not merely symbolic. Cameroonian customs estimates annual revenues from Chadian and Central African transit goods at over 410 billion FCFA. This significant income is directly tied to the port of Douala, which serves as the primary maritime connection for the landlocked Sahelian and Central African hinterlands. Any decline in the corridor’s competitiveness risks a gradual diversion of these crucial traffic flows from Cameroon.

This risk is very real. N’Djamena has explored alternative logistics routes for several years, including the Nigerian port of Lagos or corridors through Sudan, while Bangui regularly considers the Congolese corridor via Pointe-Noire. In this competitive environment, every perceived superfluous procedure fuels discussions about diversifying access to the sea. The removal of the BESC for transit flows, therefore, represents both a defensive maneuver and an act of facilitation.

Suspension alone may not suffice

While transporters and shippers across the sub-region welcome this initiative, they also emphasize that significant 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 inflate logistics costs. Without addressing these structural irritants, the impact of the current measure will likely be limited.

The challenge for Cameroonian authorities now involves balancing documentary simplification with administrative discipline. Modernizing information systems, fostering inter-agency coordination, and reducing redundant controls will be crucial for the trans-Cameroonian corridor to maintain its position as the preferred option for Chadian and Central African freight. The BESC suspension is merely an initial step in a long-awaited reform agenda for CEMAC operators. The measure takes immediate effect and will remain valid until the CNCC issues further notice.