Starting May 25, 2026, the Cameroonian government will progressively block mobile phones that do not comply with the new customs regulations. This measure follows the 2023 finance law, which came into effect on April 1, 2026, and aims to strengthen the control of imported digital equipment and improve the fiscal monitoring of devices connected to the national network.
Users had until April 1, 2026, to declare their devices and regularize their status with customs services. According to official figures, nearly 700,000 unidentified phones were still active on the Cameroonian network in April 2026. These devices now risk being gradually deactivated from telecommunication networks.
This initiative is part of an effort to increase state revenue by combating smuggling. The government estimates that the new electronic system for collecting customs duties could generate at least 25 billion FCFA per year, compared to the current 1.3 billion.
The implemented system verifies each device connecting to the Cameroonian network using a customs clearance database. Only phones that are compliant, those in roaming mode, or benefiting from a tax amnesty will remain connected. Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze emphasized that this reform marks a transition towards automated compliance, thereby reducing public revenue losses and strengthening the fight against digital crime.
While the system is technically advanced, challenges remain, including the management of used phones imported by individuals and the fight against "IMEI repair" shops that modify the digital identity of phones.
