Border communities and small-scale traders along critical Central African transit corridors face persistent administrative friction and logistical bottlenecks. Consequently, these challenges continue to constrain regional commerce despite the existence of grand continental trade integration frameworks.
To solve this problem, the governments of Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR) officially launched a major intervention. Organised alongside the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the teams debuted the $3 million Project to Support the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (PAMOZ) in Yaoundé. Backed by a $2.7 million contribution from the AfDB, the 24-month initiative focuses on upgrading border management and strengthening regional value chains. Furthermore, it aims to integrate women and young people into cross-border trade. Therefore, optimizing Douala corridors trade efficiency has become the primary operational focus of this pact. The launch was attended by high-level officials, including Cameroon’s Minister for Trade, Luc-Magloire Mbarga Atangana, CAR Ambassador Jeannette Marcelle Gotchanga, and IOM Chief of Mission Abdel Rahmane Diop.
Importantly, the project targets vital trade arteries supporting landlocked CAR, which recorded approximately $984 million in total goods trade in 2024. Of this sum, $779 million constituted imports. Cameroon serves as its major economic partner, recording roughly $5 billion in exports and $8.3 billion in imports based on recent data. The 24-month PAMOZ intervention specifically prioritizes local entrepreneurs, transport operators, and cross-border traders navigating these transit routes.
Overcoming Overland Transport Inefficiency in Central Africa
This initiative directly addresses a severe structural barrier: overland transport inefficiency and cumbersome border procedures. Landlocked economies like CAR rely heavily on transit corridors to access regional and global markets. Nevertheless, border communities routinely encounter lengthy delays, informal fees, and administrative barriers. These challenges raise operating costs and discourage small-scale traders from formalizing their activities.
Conversely, targeted investment in the Douala corridors trade network presents a substantial economic opportunity. Improving border management infrastructure, streamlining transit protocols, and promoting safe, orderly human mobility transform transit routes into dynamic economic hubs. This shift lowers trade transaction costs, integrates micro-entrepreneurs into regional value chains, and turns continental trade agreements into tangible local growth.
Operationalizing the AfCFTA and AU Free Movement Protocols
The PAMOZ project directly operationalizes the strategic objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It also advances the AU Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and the regional integration strategies of the AfDB. Ultimately, the framework reinforces cooperation under Central African trade corridors linking ECCAS member states.
However, policy execution gaps persist between regional trade commitments and frontline border operations. To achieve sustainable integration, national customs and immigration authorities along the Douala–Bangui and Douala–Kusari corridors must align national border procedures. Additionally, they must eliminate non-tariff barriers and integrate transport logistics with financial settlement frameworks like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
For formal logistics providers, improved corridor management reduces transit times, minimizes cargo holding costs, and provides legal predictability. Concurrently, for informal cross-border traders, women’s trade associations, and youth entrepreneurs, the project provides vital institutional support.
In conclusion, the launch of the PAMOZ project marks an important step in bridging the gap between high-level trade policy and ground-level border realities in Central Africa. Unlocking the full economic potential of these transit routes will depend heavily on sustained multi-institutional collaboration to reduce transit friction and secure safe, predictable cross-border mobility.
