The Cameroonian government has moved to clarify the new system for the electronic collection of duties and taxes applicable to mobile phones, tablets, and other imported digital devices. This initiative follows an information session organized in Douala on March 19, 2026, by the Director General of Customs, Fongod Edwin Nuvaga, under the leadership of the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze. The main objective is to inform stakeholders in the customs chain about the modalities of this reform.
The reform, enshrined in the 2023 Finance Law, aims to stem the erosion of customs revenues related to the import of mobile phones. Indeed, these revenues have fallen from nearly 2 billion FCFA per month to around 100 million FCFA in 2025. This decline is attributed to fraud, smuggling, tax evasion, and porous borders.
The new mechanism, operational since March 16, 2026, is based on collaboration between Customs and other technical administrations, with the support of a specialized consortium. It aims to improve the traceability of devices, secure consumers against cybercrime, empower importers, and strengthen state control capabilities. The authorities hope for a significant increase in revenue and modernization of the system.
Officials emphasized that this is neither a new tax nor an increase in existing duties. Clearance procedures remain the responsibility of importers via the Customs IT system, with the possibility of electronic payments. The system provides a tax amnesty for devices already in circulation and an exemption for roaming travelers' phones. Only regularly declared terminals will be able to access local networks. Distributors are called upon to facilitate the verification of the customs status of devices by customers.
An initial attempt to implement the reform in 2020 met with resistance. Devices connected to the networks of MTN, CAMTEL, or Orange before March 16, 2026, benefit from a tax amnesty. Importers must regularize devices in stock not connected before this date with customs, by submitting the IMEI files and customs clearance documents. Payment of duties and taxes will be made via Mobile Money, Orange Money, and other secure digital platforms. Mobile phone operators will no longer collect customs duties but will block and unblock devices in the new system. Modernization and transparency are now at the heart of digital flow management, according to Customs.
