Cameroon: a case of state plundering.
Cameroon is a blessed country by nature, a nation that should be prosperous and has everything needed to succeed. Each year, hundreds of billions of CFA francs vanish, stolen from the people.
In 2021, Cameroon reportedly exported 4 kilograms of gold to the United Arab Emirates, but Emirati customs officials reported receiving 10 kilograms—10.6 tons of gold from Cameroon. According to Forest Trends’ 2022 report, this amounts to a fraud of $ 660 million for 2021 alone.
Between 2016 and 2020, Cameroon officially exported 1 9 billion dollars worth of timber to China and Vietnam. However, these countries declared receiving over 2 2.32 billion dollars, creating a gap of 422 million dollars. And the discrepancy persists.
According to the Pulitzer Centre, between 2013 and 2018, China claimed to have imported 1,497 billion dollars of Cameroonian timber, while Cameroon only recorded 693 million dollars, leaving a gap of 804 million dollars. Additionally, Enact Africa reports that in 2017, 1 4 million kilograms of rosewood were illegally exported from Cameroon, with an estimated value exceeding 300 million dollars.
Overall, Enact estimates that Cameroon lost more than 722 million dollars in just five years in the timber sector alone- 660 million for gold and 722 million for timber, totalling 1 38 billion US dollars. And this is only what we are aware of.
A colossal sum that could have transformed the country. This money could have funded at least one of the following projects: Phase 2 of the Douala – Yaoundé Highway, the construction of the 1, 500- kilometre Douala – Maroua Road, the building of 950 district hospitals, the creation of 23, 000 rural classrooms, the launch of two regional railway lines, or providing drinking water to 6 million people.
But no. This money has vanished. While Cameroonians drive on damaged roads, neglected and children study on the ground, this regime has systematically impoverished the population for over 40 years.
It is not a mere mismanagement but organised chaos- a system built on predation, corruption, and contempt for the people. On the eve of the 2025 presidential election, each Cameroonian should ask themselves a simple question: Can we still trust them?
Cameroon: How Corruption took centre stage for over 40 years
