World Bank Approves $1.12 Billion Program for Central Africa’s Key Trade Route

The World Bank Group has approved a $1.12 billion program to modernize the Douala-Bangui economic corridor, one of Central Africa’s most important trade routes.

Announced on June 12, the initiative will support upgrades along the transport axis linking Cameroon’s Port of Douala to the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR). According to the World Bank, the program could generate between 2,000 and 4,000 direct and indirect jobs over its lifetime.

The project will be implemented through a multi-phase approach. The first phase, worth $525 million, will focus on rehabilitating priority infrastructure, improving road safety and strengthening road maintenance systems in Cameroon, the Central African Republic and across the wider CEMAC region.

Cameroon Receives the Largest Share of Initial Funding

The first phase includes $407 million from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and $18 million from the International Development Association (IDA) for Cameroon, bringing total funding for the country to $425 million.

The Central African Republic will receive $90 million from the IDA, while CEMAC will receive $10 million through the IDA’s GROW facility. According to the World Bank, the investments will rehabilitate key road segments to climate-resilient standards, establish axle-load control stations, develop logistics hubs and feeder roads, strengthen value chains and support trade facilitation and institutional reforms.

Future phases will expand the program based on lessons learned and results achieved during the initial stage. For Cheick Kanté, a division director at the World Bank, the initiative goes beyond road rehabilitation. The program is designed to advance regional integration within CEMAC by addressing long-standing obstacles that have hindered movement along the corridor, including high transport costs, excessive checkpoints, informal payments and weaknesses in road maintenance systems.

A Strategic Route Burdened by High Costs

Stretching more than 1,400 kilometers, the Douala-Bangui corridor is a critical trade route for both countries. For the Central African Republic, a landlocked nation, it handles more than 80% of external trade and serves as the country’s primary gateway to international markets.

Despite its strategic importance, the corridor faces persistent challenges. Transport costs can reach $270 per ton, while transit times typically range from nine to twelve days under normal conditions. Numerous checkpoints continue to slow movement and increase costs.

The World Bank identified 38 checkpoints along the corridor in Cameroon alone, including 17 where informal payments are reportedly common. These inefficiencies restrict trade, raise consumer prices and weaken supply chains, particularly for food products.

For Cameroon, the project also supports its ambition to strengthen its position as a regional logistics hub built around the ports of Douala and Kribi, as well as transit services, trucking operations and cross-border trade activities.

Road Maintenance Remains the Key Challenge

The success of the program will ultimately depend on more than infrastructure upgrades.

Authorities will need to reduce administrative bottlenecks, curb informal payments, improve axle-load enforcement and ensure regular maintenance of rehabilitated roads. Without those reforms, the long-term impact of the investment could be limited.

“By rehabilitating infrastructure, reducing bottlenecks and testing sustainable maintenance systems, the program will lower transport costs, improve market access and support inclusive growth along one of Central Africa’s most vital trade routes,” the World Bank said.

The institution estimates that routine and periodic maintenance activities could support an additional 150 to 250 jobs each year.

Brice R. Mbodiam