A loan agreement of FCFA 130.4 billion was signed on May 15, 2026, in Yaoundé between the Minister of Economy, Alamine Ousmane Mey, and Mustafa Sajjad Hussain, Executive Director of Standard Chartered Bank, for the construction of the Ebolowa-Akom II-Kribi road in the South region. This financing brings the total funds raised from the London bank for this infrastructure project to FCFA 138.2 billion.
The Ebolowa-Akom II-Kribi road, over 160 km long, has been awaited for fifteen years. President Paul Biya announced its construction in 2011 during the agro-pastoral show in Ebolowa. The project has been stalled due to financing difficulties.
The construction contract was awarded on March 23, 2022, to the Italian company ICM Construction, through a negotiated contract with the Ministry of Public Works. The planned execution time was 36 months.
The Ebolowa-Akom II-Kribi axis is an essential infrastructure for opening up the production areas of the South region and improving access to the deep-water port of Kribi, which plays an increasing role in trade between Cameroon and the sub-region.
Alamine Ousmane Mey emphasized the regional scope of the project during the signing. He stated that this road will strengthen connectivity between Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Chad, and the Central African Republic, while optimizing the transport of goods to and from the port of Kribi.
This project is part of the sub-regional corridor development strategy around Kribi. It remains to be seen whether this funding will allow the works to be launched on time, after 15 years of waiting. On March 4, 2026, the Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, met with stakeholders to smooth out the last administrative and technical obstacles. Works are expected to begin between March and April 2026. Discussions focused on compensation for affected populations, alignment of project documents, and securing rights of way.
