Overview

According to official statistics, there are about 50,000 km of roads in Cameroon, of which 5,000 km are paved. The road network, both paved and unpaved, is poorly maintained. 

The country’s road density is estimated at 7 km for each 1,000 km². During the wet season, only paved roads remain passable. Traffic on unpaved roads may be restricted by rain barriers. Trucks can therefore be stopped for many hours. On many bridges the traffic of trucks is not allowed. Trucks must use deviations through rivers, but during the rainy season when the waters are high, passing through rivers bank may be impossible.

The Road Fund of Cameroon was created in 1996 in order to implement the government policy on the road sector. Government efforts to improve the state/condition of Cameroonian roads are focused on a network of 27,000 km and the process is being undertaken.

At N’Gaoundere, on the N1 to Garoua, the tarring process is ongoing. On the same road but from Maroua to Kousseri, repairs started in March 2018 are ongoing.

Further road works on the new highway from Kribi to Yaoundé and from Yaoundé airport to the capital were planned but are currently stopped. 

The Banque Africaine de Développement (BAD) has provided a loan of 18 million euro in November 2018 for the rehabilitation of a portion of 365 km in North-West, covering five of the seven districts. This portion is part of a 255 million euro project designated to redo the Yaounde-Bafoussam-Bamenda axis. The project is scheduled to run until 2024.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Cameroon Government Contact List

Road Security

Cases of carjacking and highway banditry are reportedly frequent, especially on the unpaved road stretches. Military escorts may be required on secondary roads in the northern part of the country. 

Axle Load Limits

Vehicles’ payload in Cameroon must not exceed:

• Axle load limits:
  • Simple axle : 13 mt
  • Double axle : 21 mt
  • Triple axle : 27 mt
• Maximum Authorized Load (PTAC): 28 mt maximum axle load authorized.
• Size: width 2.5 m / height 4 m

With the introduction of authorized load legislation and weigh bridges, the maximum tonnage a truck can load is limited to 28 mt. The weight limitation has had an impact on the availability of trucks. 

Bridges

On the paved roads, all bridges are built in concrete material. However, traffic on some of these bridges could be restricted for heavy trucks, especially when there is a risk of collapse.

On unpaved roads, there are some wooden bridges, especially on the ‘West’ road from Douala to Ngaoundéré via Bafoussam. It is advisable to know the state of these bridges before sending trucks from Douala to Ngaoundéré using the ‘West’ road.

Road Class and Surface Conditions

Distance Matrix

The distance matrix for the Cameroon Road Network can be found here: Annex 8 - Travel Distances Matrix (English)

Attachment - Travel Distances from Major Towns to Neighbouring Countries

Attachment - National Roads

Attachment - Provincial Roads

Source: Catalogue Road 2011 published by the Centre de Traitement de l’Information Numérique

Transport corridors

The Douala corridor, used by WFP, other UN agencies and most NGOs, provides the main route for aid commodities ex-Cameroon to CAR and Chad.

CAR

According to the conventions between Cameroon and CAR of December 22^nd 1999, legal roads to/from CAR are:

In Cameroon

Roads:

• Douala – Yaoundé – Naga/Eboko – Bertoua – Garoua Boulai
• Douala – Yaoundé – Abong/Mbang – Bertoua – Batouri Kentzou
• Douala – Yaoundé – Bertoua – Batouri Yakadouma Ngoka Border

Combined roads (rail – road):

• Douala – Belabo – Bertoua – Garoua Boulai
• Douala – Belabo – Bertoua – Batouri – Kentzou
• Douala – Nagoundere – Meiganga – Garoua Boulai

In CAR

Roads:

• Bangui – Bouar – Baboua – Beloko
• Bangui – Camot – Berberati – Gamboula
• Bangui – Bossangoa – Pende – N’Dim – Bouar – Beloko
• Nola – Tomori Border

Corridor Douala - CAR

- Check-Point 1 in Yassa (Douala exit)
- Check-Point 2 in Bertoua
- Check-Point 3 Border office in Garoua Boulai at the border (PK0) with CAR (Beloko Road (PK2) Bouar-Bangui).
- Check-Point 3’ Border office in Bombé (5km of the border (PK0) with CAR (Gamboula Road (PK30 –Berberati-Bangui).

Chad

According to the conventions between Cameroon and Chad of April 13th, 1999, legal roads to/from Chad are:

In Cameroon

Roads:

• Douala – Yaoundé – Nanga-Eboko – Bertoua – Garoua-Boulai - Meiganga – Ngaoundere – Garoua – Maroua – Kousseri – Border
• Douala – Yaoundé – Abong/Mbang – Bertoua – Garoua-Boulai – Ngaoundere – Garoua – Figuil – Border
• Douala – Yaoundé – Abong/Mbang – Bertoua – Garoua-Boulai – Ngaoundere – Touboro
• Douala – Yaoundé – Abong/Mbang – Bertoua – Garoua-Boulai – Ngaoundal – Border

Combined roads (rail-road):

• Douala – Ngaoundere (rail)
• Ngaoundere – Garoua – Figuil – Border
• Ngaoundere – Garoua – Maroua – Kousseri – Border
• Ngaoundere – Touboro – Border
• Douala – Ngaoundere (rail)
• Ngaoundal – Meiganga – Border

In Chad

Roads:

• Ngueli – Ndjamena
• Lere – Moundou – Sarh
• Larmanaye – Moundou – Sarh
• Gadjibian – Doba – Moundou

Corridor Ngaoundéré - Chad

- Check-Point 1 in Dang (Ngaoundere exit)
- Check-Point 2 inKollé (Figuil north)
- Check-Point 2’ Border office in Delelé (border with Chad)
- Check-Point 3 Border Office in Kousseri (border with Chad and Ndjamena).

Please see the annexes page at the following link for further information about the overland transport corridors, including information on weight bridges and checkpoints (annex 9) and information on penalties for infractions of timelines and rules for transit cargo (annex 10): 5 Cameroon Annexes

Road from Douala to Ngaoundéré

Ngaoundéré is the final station of the main railways line from Douala Port. Presently, there are two main road corridors from Douala to Ngaoundéré:

1. The main road via Garoua-Boulaï at the border with CAR, which is the legal/customs road.
2. The road via Bafoussam, also called the ‘west’ road, which should not be used for goods in transit to neighbouring countries, unless prior authorization is obtained from customs.

1) The road from Douala Port to Ngaoundéré via Garoua-Boulaï

The road from Douala Port to Yaoundé is the busiest highway in Cameroon, with many trucks, especially timber trucks.

The road is narrow and accidents are frequent. 

The entrance of Douala and Yaoundé is often congested.

2) The road from Douala Port to Ngaoundéré via Bafoussam (the ‘West’ road)

Organizations sometimes request the authorization of the Customs to use the ‘West’ road up from Douala port to Ngaoundéré. This normally happens during the months of February to May, in view of the upcoming wet season when many roads are closed in that country.

It should be mentioned that Chad-bound cargo from Douala Port should normally be loaded on wagons unless previous authorization.

Road from Ngaoundéré to Kousseri

Ngaoundéré is the end station of the railroad from Douala Port. The government has established a dry port in this town, as cargo loaded on wagons is transhipped there onto trucks directly to final destinations in northern Cameroon and Chad.

Due to security constraints in the region, the Touboro crossing point is now regularly used instead of Kousseri. Nevertheless this corridor is still active when it comes to carrying local bought products into Chad.

Logistical infrastructures in Ngaoundéré include many warehouses and a container terminal managed by Bollore. More details can be found in page 2.4 Cameroon Railway Assessment.

Road from Ngaoundéré to Touboro

As noted above this route is now used partially instead of the Kousseri border route.