Cameroon has launched plans to raise CFA1.65 trillion on domestic and international capital markets to finance its 2026 budget, with proceeds earmarked for development projects and the clearance of long-standing payment arrears. The capital raise was authorised by presidential decree on 21 January 2026, empowering Finance Minister Louis Paul Motazé to mobilise the funds. A central objective is the settlement of outstanding payment arrears (RAP), invoices pending at the Treasury for more than three months that have strained liquidity for state contractors and suppressed private sector activity.
Motazé presented the 2026 state financing programme in Douala, outlining the government’s strategy to diversify funding sources while maintaining sustainable public debt levels. Clearing contractor arrears is expected to inject liquidity into the real economy, enabling businesses to meet payroll, service bank loans, and undertake new investments. The dual-track approach of domestic and international issuance reflects efforts to balance cost, maturity, and investor base considerations while funding the public investment needed to sustain growth.
