Enhanced cooperation to unblock the Douala-N’Djamena trade corridor

The Cameroonian Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Masséna Ngallè Bibéhè, held a crucial meeting with the Chadian Prime Minister, Allamaye Halina, in N’Djamena on May 13, 2026. The discussions focused on addressing bottlenecks in the transit of goods between the two countries.

Key stakeholders gather to assess transport challenges

The high-level meeting brought together top officials including Chad’s Minister of Transport, Fatima Goukouni Weddeye, alongside representatives from the Port of Douala, the Chadian Shippers’ Council, and the Central African Republic’s Shippers’ Council. Together, they reviewed the outcomes of the recent N’Djamena tripartite forum and evaluated progress on recommendations from the 2024 Kribi edition.

The talks centered on critical issues such as the CamTchad initiative’s status, the condition of the trans-Cameroonian corridor, and persistent hurdles faced by transporters along the Douala-N’Djamena route. Minister Bibéhè reaffirmed Cameroon’s commitment to improving cargo transit efficiency to Chad, while Prime Minister Halina underscored Chad’s determination to resolve the detention of Cameroonian drivers and motorbike operators.

Halina also highlighted ongoing roadblocks that continue to disrupt freight movement on the corridor, calling on Cameroon’s minister to relay these concerns to national authorities for urgent action.

Next steps to streamline cross-border trade

Following the productive exchange, both sides agreed on a roadmap to tackle lingering obstacles. Priority actions include expediting the release of detained drivers, addressing administrative delays at border crossings, and accelerating infrastructure upgrades along the corridor. The governments also pledged to strengthen inter-ministerial coordination to ensure seamless implementation of the agreed measures.

With trade volumes between Cameroon and Chad projected to rise, these measures aim to cut transit times, reduce operational costs, and foster a more predictable business environment for logistics operators.