On March 16, 2026, the National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS) abruptly suspended all social security contribution payments via the fintech company Dohone and its JonalePay platform, leaving many Cameroonians uncertain. This decision, communicated through a brief CNPS press release, was not accompanied by any public explanation or a specific timeframe, raising questions about the security of funds already paid by users.
Since 2018, Dohone had been a key partner of the CNPS, facilitating the payment of social security contributions through its JonalePay platform. A second partnership, signed in 2021, had strengthened this collaboration, enabling the dematerialization of procedures and payments via mobile and web. Dohone thus managed the retirement contributions of thousands of Cameroonian employers and insured individuals, a considerable responsibility that implied significant trust from the public institution.
Dohone's silence in the face of this suspension is particularly concerning. The fintech company had contractually committed to guaranteeing the security, traceability of transactions, and continuous availability of its services. The lack of communication from Dohone fuels speculation about the company's financial health and the possible use of collected funds.
Faced with this situation, the CNPS quickly directed users to around thirty banking alternatives for the payment of their contributions, including Afriland First Bank, CCA Bank, and Access Bank. This approach, which favors regulated and supervised financial institutions, sends a clear message to insured individuals: it is best not to entrust your retirement contributions to Dohone anymore.
The suspension of payments via Dohone raises crucial questions about the supervision of fintech companies and the protection of the personal data of insured individuals. The investigation will have to determine whether the funds paid via Dohone were correctly transferred to the CNPS and whether the data of insured individuals are protected. In the meantime, this case highlights the potential risks associated with the dematerialization of financial services and the need for increased vigilance on the part of public institutions.
