Paul Biya has authorised the signing of a major loan agreement with China’s Export-Import Bank to finance the expansion of Cameroon’s fibre optic transmission backbone, according to a presidential decree issued on March 6, 2026.
In Decree No. 2026/084, the President empowered the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development to conclude the agreement with Export–Import Bank of China for the implementation of the Fibre Optic Transmission Backbone Expansion Project (Phase IV).
The decree states that the minister is authorised “to sign with EXIMBANK-China, a loan Agreement for an amount of 1,350,963,161.10 Yuans RMB, or approximately 108,395,579,743 CFA francs, to finance the fiber optic transmission backbone expansion Project (Phase IV).”
The document indicates that the authorisation is granted “with powers of delegation,” enabling the economy minister to complete the formalities necessary for the loan agreement on behalf of the Cameroonian government.
According to the decree, the decision is grounded in several legal instruments, including the Constitution and the country’s 2026 Finance Law. The text specifies that the President acted while being “mindful of the Constitution” and “mindful of Law No. 2025/012 of 17 December 2025: Finance Law of the Republic of Cameroon for the 2026 financial year.”
The project represents another phase in Cameroon’s effort to expand its national digital infrastructure and improve broadband connectivity across the country.
The fibre optic backbone expansion programme is expected to strengthen Cameroon’s telecommunications infrastructure by extending high-speed data transmission capacity, a move seen as critical for the country’s digital economy, e-governance initiatives and regional connectivity.
