As of April 1, 2026, access to the mobile network in Cameroon will be conditional on customs clearance of phones via the CAMCIS (Cameroon Customs Information System) system. This measure, announced by the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze, aims to better control the mobile phone market and combat informal channels.
The Minister of Finance published a press release on March 25, 2026, specifying that all phones must be declared via the CAMCIS electronic platform. This obligation rests with importers, who must take the necessary steps to regularize the devices.
An easing measure is planned for users already connected to the network before April 1, 2026. Their phones will be considered regularized, without further formality. Distributors have two months to declare their unregistered stocks and allow buyers to check the customs status of devices before any transaction. Penalties are planned in the event of non-compliance with these obligations.
Certain specific situations are taken into account. Foreign visitors using roaming are not affected by these restrictions. A simplified procedure is also planned for people carrying fewer than ten undeclared phones.
The CAMCIS system is the new information system of Cameroonian customs. It aims to modernize and dematerialize customs procedures in order to facilitate trade and secure state revenue. CAMCIS notably allows the online declaration and payment of customs duties and taxes.
This administrative reform does not introduce a new tax and has no impact on the tax burden of taxpayers. It aims to facilitate procedures and improve the quality of service. The Cameroonian government intends to better regulate the telephone market and fight against informal channels, while imposing new obligations on stakeholders in the sector.
By strengthening the control of equipment in circulation, the Cameroonian authorities hope to clean up the mobile telephone sector and increase customs revenue. The effective implementation of these regulations remains to be seen in the coming months.
