The Mora to Tchakamari road project, which began on March 1, 2024, was scheduled to last 19 months, including a four-month extension and a 12-month warranty period. But, the road is currently only 60.47% despite 94.11% of the contractual timeline having expired. The billing rate, at 62.51%, also reflects the delay.
The 22-kilometer stretch of road is being built by Sotcocog S.A. under the supervision of the Alpha Consult and ACE consortium. The project has a budget of 14.62 billion CFA francs, jointly financed by the International Development Association (IDA) and the Cameroonian government. This is the first phase of a more ambitious 178-kilometer program, divided into four lots, which will connect Tchakamari to Kousseri. The World Bank has already approved the corresponding contracts, which are expected to become effective in October.
Strategic Project Faces Delays
To make up for lost time, the main contractors—Somaf/Metag Insaat, AA Hatlad/JFA Construction, Zhonglin International Construction, and Sotcocog/Staport/Snce—have been asked to submit their mobilization schedules immediately. The goal is to prioritize critical points on each lot to regain momentum on the project.
Beyond the delays, the road is strategically important for the government's long-term plan to open up the Far North region and support its socioeconomic development. Once completed, the corridor will facilitate trade, strengthen regional integration, and improve the living conditions of local populations. Every month of delay hinders this critical development for a region that has been waiting for decades.
Thierry Christophe Yamb