Cameroon has officially suspended the mandatory Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (BESC) for goods transiting through the critical Douala-N’Djamena and Douala-Bangui corridors. This significant regulatory adjustment, effective immediately and until further notice, signals a strategic move by the Cameroonian government to address long-standing operational challenges and bolster the competitiveness of its vital transit infrastructure. The directive, signed on June 15, 2026, by Auguste Mbappe Penda, Director General of the Cameroon National Shippers’ Council (CNCC), impacts a broad spectrum of stakeholders including shippers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and transport companies involved in facilitating trade with Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR).
The BESC system, initially implemented in 2006, was designed to enhance cargo traceability, provide oversight on transportation costs, and generate crucial data on freight flows. However, its application on these key regional transit routes has been a persistent source of contention for operators in Chad and CAR. Critics have consistently argued that the BESC imposes additional administrative burdens and inflates the overall cost of moving goods through Cameroon. The CNCC’s decision to suspend the requirement directly implements recommendations stemming from the fifth Chad-Cameroon-Central African Republic tripartite forum, which convened in N’Djamena in May 2026. This forum specifically addressed the imperative of streamlining freight movement along the Trans-Cameroon corridor.
This suspension arrives amidst ongoing concerns regarding recurrent delays and administrative bottlenecks that have plagued the Douala-N’Djamena and Douala-Bangui routes. Authorities in both Chad and CAR have repeatedly voiced their demands for expedited and more efficient cargo movement from the Port of Douala to their respective domestic markets. A CNCC official highlighted that a primary impediment has been the insufficient integration of information systems across regional shippers’ councils. This lack of interoperability has, paradoxically, transformed a tool intended for enhanced cargo monitoring into an additional administrative hurdle. The suspension is therefore anticipated to alleviate pressure on operators and simplify transit procedures.
From Cameroon’s perspective, this measure extends beyond mere administrative simplification. The country is keen to preserve the attractiveness of its transit corridors, particularly as Chad and CAR explore alternative international trade routes via other ports. The transit trade linked to these two landlocked neighbours generates substantial annual revenue for Cameroon, exceeding CFA410 billion according to Cameroon Customs, underscoring the economic imperative of maintaining these vital trade flows. The Port of Douala remains a principal gateway for imports destined for both Chad and CAR.
For Chad and the CAR, this suspension represents a tangible step towards more fluid transit operations. Nevertheless, transport operators maintain that further reforms are essential. They continue to cite persistent issues such as numerous checkpoints, customs and police-related obstacles, and protracted processing times that cumulatively increase logistics costs along these corridors. While this suspension may de-escalate some tensions, it does not comprehensively resolve all challenges impacting transit traffic. The long-term competitiveness of Cameroon’s transit corridors will ultimately hinge on a broader agenda of reducing redundant inspections, enhancing inter-agency coordination, modernising information systems, and ensuring freight movement that is faster, more predictable, and demonstrably less costly.
... Cameroon Halts Mandatory Cargo Tracking on Chad and CAR Transit Routes, Signalling Shift in Regional Trade Policy ... Naijaonpoint.