Cameroon is expected to see its oil production fall to 2.9 million tons in 2025, according to projections from the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), outlined in its Monetary Policy Committee report published in March 2025. This represents a decline of 300,000 tons compared to the previous year.

The country’s projected oil output in 2025 will be the lowest since at least 2023. The central bank’s estimated Cameroon’s oil production in 2024 at 3.2 million tons, down from 3.3 million tons in 2023. This marks a steady decrease over the last two years.

Cameroon, alongside Equatorial Guinea (which is expected to produce 3.6 million tons in 2025, down from 3.9 million tons in 2024), is among the few countries in the CEMAC region facing such a sharp decline in oil production. In contrast, Congo’s oil production is forecast to increase by 200,000 tons, from 13.1 million tons in 2024 to 13.3 million tons in 2025. Gabon, on the other hand, is expected to see a smaller decline of 200,000 tons, with production dropping from 11.6 million tons in 2024 to 11.4 million tons in 2025. Chad’s oil production is projected to remain unchanged at 7.6 million tons between 2024 and 2025.

It is important to note that hydrocarbons (oil and natural gas) are the main export products for the five oil-producing countries in CEMAC, excluding the Central African Republic. These revenues typically account for a significant portion of the countries’ income, ranging from 20% to over 80%.

Source: Business in Cameroon

A high-stakes disagreement is deepening across Central Africa as efforts to set new rules for supervising public deposit institutions have hit a wall. The working group, formed by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), ended its third and final meeting with just one consensus out of two expected.

The main sticking point: who should oversee the Caisses de dépôts et consignations (CDCs), the public institutions in charge of managing dormant funds and other state-linked assets.

Cameroon and Gabon, home to the only two active CDCs in the CEMAC zone made up of Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, and the Central African Republic have firmly rejected proposals for full oversight by the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC). They argue that COBAC should only monitor the banking aspects of their work. BEAC and COBAC, on the other hand, are pushing for complete regulatory control.

“We reached common ground on the draft text concerning the management of inactive accounts and unclaimed assets. But Cameroon and Gabon opposed the idea of full supervision by COBAC. They prefer it limited strictly to banking activities,” BEAC Governor Yvon Sana Bangui said in a statement after the April 15 meeting.

Cameroon’s CDC published its own statement on April 17, confirming that disagreements remain unresolved. The agency, led by Richard Evina Obam, says key concerns have been ignored by BEAC and COBAC throughout the talks.

These concerns include a lack of legal basis for COBAC’s involvement, infringement on state sovereignty, and the fact that public treasury accountants are not under COBAC’s control. Cameroon also questions COBAC’s authority over both public and private funds and claims it is being unfairly targeted.

The contrast between Cameroon and Gabon has added fuel to the fire. Gabon’s CDC, launched in 2012, operated for over a decade without any interference from either COBAC or BEAC. Its past performance was strong, with a balance sheet of CFA298 billion, assets worth CFA105 billion, and average annual profits of CFA3.2 billion as of 2018. No issues were ever raised about its regulatory structure.

Adding a twist to the story, Patricia Danielle Manon, who led Gabon’s CDC from 2019 until early 2024, now serves as Deputy Secretary General at COBAC.

The mood shifted after Cameroon launched its CDC in January 2023. Almost immediately, tensions emerged between the new institution and banks, regulators, and BEAC itself. The disputes mostly centered on the transfer of dormant assets to the CDC, which banks were reluctant to carry out.

After months of stalling, Cameroon’s government stepped in, declaring a firm deadline: by June 1, 2024, all banks and financial institutions had to comply.

Some did. Commercial banks, insurers, and even BEAC’s Cameroon office transferred funds—CFA3.9 billion in BEAC’s case—by late May 2024. But others resisted, citing the need for clear rules on how the CDC would manage and audit the funds once transferred.

In July 2024, those banks received support from none other than COBAC. In a letter dated July 11, addressed to the CDC’s director and copied to industry associations, COBAC Secretary General Marcel Ondélé advised all institutions to pause transfers of unclaimed assets to the CDC.

COBAC argued that there was no legal framework in place to support such transfers across the region, aside from accounting guidelines.

At the center of this rift is COBAC’s push for a regional regulatory framework that would place the CDCs fully under its authority. The April 15 meeting did not yield a compromise on that front. BEAC’s Governor noted that final versions of the regulatory drafts would now be sent to CEMAC’s decision-making bodies.

But Cameroon and Gabon see this as regulators trying to push through a decision by force.

Both CDCs have criticized BEAC and COBAC for presenting their proposals directly to the CEMAC ministerial committee the only body with the authority to settle the matter without resolving the disagreements first.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Cameroon’s Treasury turned to the regional debt market again this week, raising CFA50 billion through two new issuances on April 7. The country sold three-year Treasury bonds and one-year Treasury bills on the market operated by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), with the goal of collecting CFA25 billion from each instrument.

The move comes as the government faces a tight cash flow situation, with a major repayment deadline just around the corner. According to the BEAC’s weekly issuance schedule, the funds were intended to help settle a larger CFA80.3 billion debt bill, including CFA76 billion in principal and CFA4.3 billion in interest. The payment was due on April 10, just one day after the fundraising.

This kind of financial juggling has become a routine strategy for Cameroon’s Treasury. To avoid adding stress to already strained finances, the government often issues fresh debt shortly before major repayments are due. It’s a way of rolling over obligations while maintaining investor confidence.

But this time, raising CFA50 billion wasn’t enough to cover the full amount due. That means Cameroon still needs to come up with over CFA30 billion from other sources to meet its commitment.

Despite the challenge, Cameroon has built a reputation for reliability on the regional debt market since it started participating in 2011. The government has consistently met its payment deadlines, and this track record has helped it keep investor trust—even in difficult times.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Between July and September 2024, bank fees and charges added an average of 25.7% to the interest rates on loans in Cameroon. This figure is highlighted in the report by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) on the lending rates across the CEMAC region during the reviewed period.

The report notes that individuals, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), public administrations, and local governments faced higher-than-average charges, with rates of 33%, 26%, and 25.7%, respectively. On the other hand, large businesses and other corporate clients benefited from lower charges, at 21.4% and 22.4%, respectively.

These figures reveal significant disparities in access to credit across the country, with large businesses receiving more favorable terms. In fact, by the third quarter of 2024, large companies accounted for nearly 68% of the total bank loans disbursed in Cameroon, according to the central bank’s data.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Ecobank Cameroon’s shareholders approved a capital increase of CFA1 billion for Pan-African Savings and Loans during their general meeting on March 28, 2025. This microfinance institution, categorized as a second-tier financial entity, is 89.1% owned by Ecobank’s Cameroonian subsidiary.

The capital boost will raise the total equity of Pan-African Savings and Loans to CFA1.781 billion, far exceeding the minimum regulatory requirement set by the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC), which mandates a minimum capital of CFA300 million for second-tier microfinance institutions.

Ecobank Cameroon believes this recapitalization will strengthen Pan-African Savings and Loans, allowing it to better support its clients with additional financing options.

Since its launch in 2010, Pan-African Savings and Loans has already provided financial support to over 54,600 small businesses operating in sectors like agriculture, trade, and craftsmanship. In addition, more than 67,520 medium and large enterprises have benefited from financing, further boosting the economy.

Source: Business in Cameroon

A Cameroon appeals court has ordered the release of South African mobile operator MTN’s bank accounts in the country, which were seized in 2022 over a loan dispute with a Cameroonian businessman, MTN said.

A court order froze MTN Group’s (MTNJ.J), opens new tab Cameroon accounts containing 14 billion CFA francs ($23.20 million) in September 2022.

The seizure threatened the operations of the Cameroon subsidiary of Africa’s largest mobile carrier, which has one of the biggest networks in the Central African country with around 15 million users.

The dispute over a real estate loan involves Cameroonian business mogul Ahmadou Baba Danpullo, the owner of Bestinver Group companies, and South Africa’s First National Bank (FNB) (FSRJ.J), opens new tab.

After FNB liquidated a number of properties belonging to Danpullo in South Africa, the businessman retaliated by having a Cameroonian court freeze the accounts of South African companies including MTN.

In 2023 MTN Cameroon said its funds were to be transferred into an escrow account managed by the court registrar as part of a third party debt, or “garnishee”, order related to the dispute.

MTN appealed and a court ruled on February 24 that the Bestinver Group companies were not entitled to impose these seizures, the operator said in a statement dated March 31.

“MTN Cameroon welcomes this decision, affirming the legitimacy of its defence and restoring its rights,” the company said in the statement, seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

One of Danpullo’s lawyers, Mbanzehe Aggee, said he would make a new attempt to seize the assets.

“We are following legal procedures to obtain an enforcement order,” he said.

MTN Cameroon has faced legal and regulatory challenges in recent years, reflecting broader tensions between multinational firms and local political and business interests.

Source: Reuters

Ecobank Cameroon has announced a record net profit of CFA21.05 billion for 2024, marking a 47.5% increase from the previous year. This represents an additional CFA7 billion in earnings. The results, disclosed during the bank’s annual general meeting on March 28, 2025, in Douala, are still subject to approval by the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC), which regulates the banking sector in the CEMAC region.

According to Ecobank, this strong performance was driven by a strategic focus on product adoption and digital banking solutions. The bank emphasized that these initiatives helped generate sustainable returns on equity, improve revenue growth, optimize costs, and enhance overall efficiency.

The 2024 profit figure is the highest since Ecobank began operations in Cameroon in 2001. With this performance, the bank achieved a return on equity of 39.43%, demonstrating exceptional profitability. Despite an uncertain global economic environment and increasing competition, Ecobank managed to strengthen its key financial indicators.

At the end of 2024, Ecobank Cameroon reported total assets of CFA588.1 billion and customer deposits of CFA434.6 billion, reflecting a 13% increase. However, outstanding loans declined by 15% to CFA155.1 billion. Net banking income rose by 10% to CFA50.1 billion, up CFA4.5 billion from the previous year. Meanwhile, pre-tax profit jumped 32%, reaching CFA22.8 billion from CFA17.2 billion.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Interest rates charged by banks in the CEMAC region dropped over the past year, even as the regional central bank tried to tighten credit.

Data from the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) shows that the average interest rate on loans between July and September 2024 was 9.45%, down from 9.78% during the same period in 2023. That’s a drop of 33 basis points, despite BEAC’s ongoing efforts to cool down inflation by making borrowing more expensive.

Since the end of 2021, BEAC has been trying to rein in inflation with a stricter monetary policy. It stopped injecting liquidity into banks, increased its key interest rates, and took steps to drain cash from the banking system. In theory, this should have led to higher lending rates, making it harder for businesses and consumers to borrow. But that’s not what’s happening.

Instead, rates went down—and at the same time, banks actually gave out more loans. According to BEAC, the amount of new credit issued in the region rose 1.52% between the third quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2024.

The situation highlights a disconnect between BEAC’s policy and how banks are behaving on the ground—raising questions about how effective the central bank’s tools really are in the region.

Source: Business in Cameroon