Cameroon Launches Tender to Rebuild 167 Km of Key Trade Route Between Douala and Yaoundé

email facebook instagram linkedin twitter Follow @investcameroun youtube Whatsapp –> Cameroon has launched an international tender to rebuild 167 kilometers of the main road between Yaoundé and Edéa, part of a major transport corridor that connects the country’s economic capital, Douala, to the Central African Republic. The project aims to improve travel conditions and facilitate freight transport on one of Cameroon’s busiest economic routes, even though a separate highway is already under construction between the country’s two largest cities. Only about 45 kilometers of the existing road will be widened to four lanes, and construction is expected to take 30 months once work begins.

The Ministry of Public Works (Mintp) issued the tender on October 8, 2026, to select contractors for the reconstruction of the Yaoundé–Edéa section of National Road No. 3. Interested companies have until 11 a.m. on November 24, 2026, to submit their technical and financial proposals.

The project is divided into three contracts, with work on all three sections expected to proceed simultaneously. Each contract has an estimated construction period of 30 months.

The first contract covers the 52.05-kilometer section between Yaoundé and Madoumba. It includes reconstruction of the existing roadway, improvements to certain curves, the conversion of 22.575 kilometers into a four-lane road with two lanes in each direction, and the construction of a digital weigh station.

The second contract covers another 52.05 kilometers, between Madoumba and the Ndoupé Bridge. Work will include roadway reconstruction, the conversion of 10.75 kilometers into a four-lane road, and rehabilitation of bridges, other engineering structures, and drainage facilities.

The third contract concerns the 62.90-kilometer section between the Ndoupé Bridge and the Edéa junction. It includes 12 additional kilometers of four-lane roadway, reconstruction of the existing road, and rehabilitation of drainage and other hydraulic structures.

Altogether, 45.325 kilometers will be converted into a four-lane road, equivalent to 27.1% of the total 167-kilometer section. The remainder will undergo reconstruction and improvements to the road’s alignment rather than a full expansion to four lanes.

A Road Reconstruction Project Alongside an Existing Highway Development

National Road No. 3 connects Douala and Yaoundé, Cameroon’s two largest cities, and serves as a major route for passengers and freight. Trucks use the road to transport goods from the Port of Douala to destinations across Cameroon and into the Central African Republic. Deterioration along several sections has made travel more difficult for both motorists and freight operators.

The reconstruction project comes at a time when Cameroon has spent several years developing a separate highway between Douala and Yaoundé. Both investments target the same economic connection, but they serve different infrastructure needs.

According to the Ministry of Public Works, construction of the first 60-kilometer phase of the Yaoundé–Douala highway has been completed. The second phase, which extends over 141.1 kilometers, was awarded to Chinese contractor China First Highway Engineering Company.

In May 2026, the ministry reported preliminary construction activities and forest clearance along certain sections of the second phase. However, it also acknowledged difficulties related to securing access to the land required for construction.

On June 12, 2026, Public Works Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi told the National Assembly that compensation issues involving communities along the planned route had also created obstacles to the project.

Although the highway and National Road No. 3 serve the same economic corridor, they are distinct projects. Reconstruction of National Road No. 3 will improve an existing route already used by freight operators and travelers, while the highway project aims to provide a new, higher-capacity connection between the two cities.

World Bank Allocates $425 Million to Cameroon

The reconstruction of the Yaoundé–Edéa section forms part of the Douala–Bangui Economic Corridor Development Program (PACEDB), which receives support from the World Bank. The broader initiative aims to improve transport infrastructure and trade conditions along a route of major importance to Cameroon and the Central African Republic.

On June 12, 2026, the World Bank’s Board of Directors approved a $1.12 billion regional program to be implemented in several phases. The first phase, valued at $525 million, includes investments in road infrastructure, road safety, and network maintenance.

Cameroon has been allocated $425 million from this initial financing package. The amount comprises a $407 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and an $18 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA).

The Central African Republic will receive $90 million, while the Commission of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) has been allocated $10 million. These amounts form part of the first phase of the regional program.

In Cameroon, the president signed a decree on October 2, 2026, authorizing the conclusion of a €347.5 million credit agreement with the IBRD, equivalent to approximately CFA228 billion. Converted into dollars, the amount corresponds roughly to the $407 million in IBRD financing allocated to Cameroon under the program’s first phase.

However, this financing is not reserved exclusively for the reconstruction of the Yaoundé–Edéa road. It also covers other components of Cameroon’s participation in the program, including logistics infrastructure, road inspection and control equipment, and road maintenance activities.

The estimated construction cost for each of the three Yaoundé–Edéa contracts could not be determined from the documents reviewed. The $425 million allocation therefore should not be interpreted as the specific budget for rebuilding the 167-kilometer road section.

More Than 80% of Central African Republic’s Foreign Trade Uses the Douala–Bangui Corridor

National Road No. 3 forms part of the Douala–Bangui corridor, which connects Cameroon’s main port city to the Central African Republic. The route is essential to the movement of imported and exported goods for the landlocked Central African economy.

According to the World Bank, the corridor stretches more than 1,400 kilometers and carries over 80% of the Central African Republic’s foreign trade. The institution reports transportation costs of up to $270 per ton, while journeys typically take between nine and twelve days under normal conditions. The condition of the roads is not the only obstacle to efficient freight transport along the corridor. The World Bank has identified 38 checkpoints on the Cameroonian section, including 17 associated with informal payments.

These figures illustrate the range of constraints that affect trade along the route. Improvements to road surfaces alone will not address all the costs and delays encountered by transport operators. Alongside road reconstruction, the regional program therefore includes measures to improve trade procedures, strengthen controls on axle loads, and reform road maintenance arrangements. These interventions are intended to address both the physical condition of the corridor and some of the operational problems that affect freight movements.

Financing Still Pending for the Edéa–Douala Section

The planned reconstruction of the 167 kilometers between Yaoundé and Edéa will not cover the entire road connection to Douala. The remaining section, extending approximately 51 kilometers from Edéa to the bridge over the Dibamba River, is being prepared under a separate arrangement. The development of this section, together with the construction of a second bridge over the Dibamba River, is expected to involve other financial partners. These include the French Development Agency, the European Investment Bank, and the European Union. Financing for this portion of the route has yet to be finalized.

For the Yaoundé–Edéa section, the next step will be the evaluation of bids following the November 24, 2026, submission deadline. This will be followed by approval procedures, contract awards, and mobilization of the selected construction companies.

No official construction start date has been announced. If work begins in the second half of 2027, the planned 30-month construction period would place completion in 2030. That timetable remains conditional on the actual start of construction and the completion of the required procurement and approval procedures.

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