The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a financing package of CFAF 203.3 billion (approximately €309.93 million) for Cameroon, earmarked for the construction of a strategic road infrastructure in the East Region. This financial boost aims to improve connectivity and facilitate trade with neighboring Congo, while also stimulating the circulation of local agricultural and forestry products.
The announcement was made via an AfDB press release dated March 9, 2026, specifying that the group's board of directors had approved the loan on February 18. This funding falls under the first phase of the Program for Opening Up and Connecting Cross-Border Economic Basins in the East Region (PDCBET).
Specifically, the allocated funds will be used for the development and paving of the Ngoura II-Yokadouma section, a 156-kilometer stretch. This section is part of the Bertoua-Batouri-Ngoura II-Yokadouma-Moloundou axis, which extends to the Congolese border.
Léandre Bassolé, Director General of the Bank Group for Central Africa, emphasized the AfDB's commitment to supporting Cameroon's economic transformation. According to him, improving connectivity in the East Region will promote regional integration in Central Africa and unlock local productive potential.
The East Region, despite its area of 109,000 km² (approximately 23% of the national territory), suffers from a deficit of road infrastructure. With only 6.25% of paved roads and a road density of 0.70 kilometers per 1,000 inhabitants, improving this road axis is crucial for local economic development.
The lack of adequate roads hinders the development of agricultural and forestry resources, as well as the development of the private sector. The new road should therefore facilitate the transport of goods, reduce costs and improve access to markets.
The AfDB also anticipates the creation of 2,500 direct and indirect jobs through this program, specifically targeting young people, women and vulnerable groups. Improving the Bertoua-Batouri-Ngoura II Yokadouma-Moloundou axis will strengthen cross-border trade with the Republic of Congo, thereby boosting trade between the two countries.
The AfDB's current portfolio in the Cameroonian road sector includes nine active projects, representing a total financial commitment of approximately €1.19 billion (CFAF 780.59 billion). This substantial investment reflects the importance the institution attaches to infrastructure development in Cameroon.
