Mobile phone operator MTN Cameroon has taken a significant step by transferring over 400 million FCFA to the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDEC). This operation, formalized on February 24, 2026, with the signing of an agreement, concerns the management of guarantee deposits paid by certain subscribers and partners of the company.
The transferred sums correspond to the deposits required by MTN when subscribing to certain contracts. These deposits serve to cover the risks of unpaid bills or non-return of equipment made available. They do not constitute a payment for the service itself, but rather a guarantee that must be returned at the end of the contract, subject to any residual debts or compliance with the contractual conditions.
This mechanism is part of a precise legal framework, in particular Law No. 2008/003 of April 14, 2008, governing deposits and consignments, as well as Decree No. 2023/08500/PM of December 1, 2023, which sets out the procedures for transferring funds to the CDEC. According to the CDEC, this reform aims to secure the conservation of sums intended to be returned to third parties and to harmonize their management.
Beyond securing the funds, this operation clarifies MTN's accounting situation. Guarantee deposits, which constitute temporary cash flow, are now clearly distinguished from operating income. The transfer to the CDEC reinforces traceability and limits accounting ambiguities, while securing a process that is often sensitive during refunds.
The agreement signed between MTN and the CDEC details the procedures for collecting, depositing, and returning the guarantees, with the aim of best managing this collaboration. For consumers, the challenge is to clearly understand the purpose of the deposit, the cases of withholding and the conditions of reimbursement. For MTN, it is about having a robust framework for dealing with unpaid bills while streamlining refunds.
This initial transfer, exceeding 400 million FCFA, provides an overview of the financial volume that these guarantees can represent in the telecommunications sector. It also illustrates the role of the CDEC as a trusted third party for financial flows from private companies. If this dynamic extends to other sectors, it could structure a more formalized circuit of consignments, with increased requirements for monitoring, transparency and financial discipline.
The CDEC, created in 2008 and operational since January 2023, has the mission of receiving, conserving, and managing public or private sums and assets, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force. Richard Evina Obam, Director General of the CDEC, had even threatened to take forced recovery measures against credit institutions that did not meet the deadlines for transferring the designated funds. MTN is thus setting an example, moving from words to action with significant amounts.
