Chad is exploring Cameroon’s mobile phone taxation system as a possible model for strengthening customs revenue collection. The issue emerged during talks between customs officials from both countries in Yaounde on June 2, where the Chadian delegation expressed interest in a mechanism that has helped Cameroon boost revenues from mobile device imports.
The meeting brought together Cameroon Customs Director General Edwin Fongod Nuvaga and his Chadian counterpart, General Ousman Brahim Djouma. While discussions focused broadly on customs modernisation and trade facilitation, Djouma said Chad was studying Cameroon’s recently introduced dynamic mobile phone taxation system with a view to adapting aspects of the model to its own context.
The interest comes as Chad seeks to modernise its customs administration and improve revenue collection. According to Djouma, the visit provided an opportunity to learn from Cameroon's experience while addressing broader challenges affecting bilateral trade.
“We came to exchange with our colleagues on the difficulties encountered and the facilitations that should be established on the Douala-N'Djamena corridor. Between 75% and 80% of our goods transit through the ports of Kribi and Douala. That is why we are working on the modernisation and interconnection of CAMCIS and SYDONIA World, while also facilitating trade between our populations,” he said.
Beyond the mobile phone taxation system, the talks focused on improving operations along the Douala-N'Djamena corridor, a strategic trade route through which between 75% and 80% of Chad’s imports transit via the ports of Douala and Kribi.
Both administrations reviewed measures aimed at improving the competitiveness, security and predictability of transit operations. Topics discussed included the interconnection of Cameroon’s CAMCIS system and Chad’s SYDONIA World platform, electronic cargo tracking, geolocation systems, customs clearance delays, management of long-stay cargo in Cameroonian ports, concerns related to warehouses in Ngaoundéré, and coordination between surveillance services operating in border areas.
Cameroon Customs Director General Edwin Fongod Nuvaga said closer cooperation between the two administrations would be critical to improving trade flows and customs efficiency.
“Our shared ambition must be clear: to reduce information asymmetries between our two administrations, improve the handling of transit operations, enhance the predictability of procedures for economic operators, and preserve the integrity of the supply chain between Cameroonian ports and Chadian territory,” he said.
The Yaounde meeting follows a similar technical session held in N'Djamena a month earlier, where both administrations agreed to continue work on customs systems interconnection, electronic cargo tracking, transit security and the fight against irregular practices along sensitive trade routes.
As part of the current mission, the Chadian delegation is also expected to visit facilities operated by the Port Authority of Douala, including transit cargo handling areas, GPS installation points and the Yassa checkpoint, to assess procedures used to secure consignments destined for Chad.
Mercy Fosoh