Camtel, Cameroon's public telecommunications operator, is reeling from a embezzlement scandal involving billions of FCFA. The company's technical directorate has been suspended, and an internal investigation has been launched to shed light on this fraud network.
According to reports, Camtel employees allegedly set up a fraudulent billing system. They billed corporate clients for 2 gigabytes (GB) of bandwidth, while the clients actually received 40 GB. The difference, representing a considerable amount, was then diverted to the benefit of the employees involved and their accomplices. This scheme, which had been thriving since 2017, generated billions of FCFA in undeclared revenue.
Camtel's technical director, Ahmadou Saïd, along with several other employees, have been suspended from their duties for two months, while the internal investigation determines the extent of their involvement. This case sheds a harsh light on the shortcomings of Camtel's internal controls, which allowed this system to persist for years.
This scandal has disastrous consequences for Camtel's image and the trust placed in it by its customers and partners. Beyond the company itself, the credibility of the entire Cameroonian telecommunications sector is threatened. The investigation will have to determine whether this corruption network was isolated or whether it is a symptom of a deeper problem within Camtel. In May 2025, Camtel's General Manager, Judith Yah Sunday Epse Achidi, had already declared war on sabotage and corruption within the company. She stated that disciplinary measures would be taken against employees found guilty. Despite these efforts, corruption seems to persist within Camtel.
In parallel with this affair, Camtel plans to enter the mobile money market in 2026 with its "Blue Money" service. The company hopes to diversify its activities and conquer new market shares. However, this scandal could jeopardize its ambitions and tarnish the reputation of this new service even before its launch.
