Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, has authorised the government to raise up to FCFA 1.65 trillion through domestic and external borrowing to finance development projects and clear outstanding payments, according to a decree signed on 21 January 2026.
The decree empowers the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze with powers of delegation, to contract loans on both local and international markets in line with the country’s 2026 Finance Law.
Under the authorisation, the borrowing package is broken down into three main components. A sum of FCFA 400 billion to be be raised on the domestic financial market through the issuance of Treasury Bonds and/or Fungible Treasury Bonds. An additional CFAF 250 billion to be sourced through direct borrowings from international private organisations, while CFAF 1,000 billion will be mobilised on external banking markets.
According to the decree, the funds will be used to finance development projects and settle outstanding payments, a move expected to ease liquidity pressures, revive stalled projects and inject fresh momentum into key sectors of the economy.
The decision comes as the government seeks to accelerate infrastructure development, support economic recovery and improve the execution of public investment programmes, amid persistent challenges linked to funding gaps and unpaid commitments to contractors and suppliers.
The decree is grounded in the Constitution, the 2026 Finance Law, and existing legislation organising the government, reaffirming the legal framework guiding public borrowing in Cameroon.
