REVENUE COLLECTION : 29,000 phones already declared through the new Cameroon Customs system

In the cargo zone of Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport, services of the Cameroon Customs Administration have observed a significant shift since the rollout of the new mobile phone clearance system. In less than three weeks, 29,000 devices were officially declared, a volume considered substantial by authorities, who see it as a strong signal of a return to formal operations in a sector long affected by smuggling and uncontrolled imports.

This momentum is part of a structural reform aimed at modernizing control procedures and gradually digitizing the collection of customs duties and taxes on digital terminals. According to customs officials, the new system relies on improved traceability of goods and stronger oversight of import flows, particularly at strategic entry points such as Nsimalen Airport.

On the ground, economic operators are progressively adjusting to this renewed framework. Several long-established importers, some with decades of experience in mobile phone distribution, confirm having engaged significant volumes in the regularization process. While most acknowledge improved sector organization, some stakeholders point to potential cost adjustments that could affect retail prices for end consumers.

In response to these concerns, the customs administration stresses that no new tax has been introduced. The mechanism is based solely on optimizing the collection of existing duties and updating valuation benchmarks, in line with the provisions of the 2023 Finance Law. The stated objective is to reduce losses linked to fraud while improving transparency in import operations.

Beyond its fiscal dimension, the reform also introduces a regulatory aspect for the telecommunications market. From now on, only duly cleared devices will be allowed to connect to networks operated by licensed telecom providers. This measure aims to curb the circulation of fraudulent devices and secure the national digital ecosystem, in a context where the mobile device market in Africa is growing by an estimated 5% annually, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

On the revenue side, official projections estimate potential annual earnings of around 25 billion FCFA from this segment alone, compared to approximately 1.3 billion FCFA previously. This increase reflects the expected impact of digitized customs procedures on public revenue mobilization and economic formalization.

In the medium term, this reform is part of a broader strategy to modernize Cameroon’s customs administration. By strengthening digital flow control and improving the reliability of import data, the State aims not only to optimize revenue collection but also to sustainably structure a sector that has become strategic for national economic transformation.

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Tressy CHOUENTE

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