Three budget exercises scheduled in one single session. Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute chaired a Cabinet Council on Friday, June 26, 2026, dedicated to the 2027, 2028 and 2029 budgets. With projected growth of 3.5% in 2026, public debt to be kept below 50% of GDP, and a new programme with the IMF in preparation, the decisions taken that day commit Cameroon for the next four years.
What the council adopted as guidelines
The minister delegate at the Ministry of Finance set the macroeconomic backdrop. The global economy remains weakened by the repercussions of the 2026 Middle East conflict, which should slow world growth from 3.4% in 2025 to 3.1% in 2026, before a slight rebound to 3.2% in 2027. Cameroon, meanwhile, is expected to maintain growth of 3.5% in 2026 and 3.7% in 2027. Inflation continues to decline.
It is hard not to see IMF pressure behind the displayed fiscal discipline: the policy for 2027-2029 must rely on concluding a new Economic and Financial Programme with the Fund, with the explicit objective of keeping the public debt stock below 50% of GDP. Efforts will focus on mobilising domestic non-oil revenues and rationalising public expenditure.
The Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development presented the projects included in the Priority Investment Programme for 2027-2029. Digital infrastructure, roads, railways, energy, water management, agriculture, industry: several sectors are targeted. Accelerating the rollout of digital infrastructure is among the priorities, as is improving the electricity supply.
What this means for Cameroonians, concretely or not
On the social front, the priority is to extend the general health insurance system to the most disadvantaged groups. The Special Fund for Women’s Economic Empowerment and Youth Employment will also be accelerated. These are announcements that come up regularly.
Nevertheless, the Council adopted an Economic and Budgetary Programming Document for 2027-2029, which will be submitted to Parliament as part of the Budget Orientation Debate. It is a formal step, but it provides a binding framework for ministries.
The Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Finance to consolidate this document quickly, in close consultation with the Minister of Economy. Performance contracts for public projects must be generalised.
The Council ended at 12:10 PM.
