Cameroon Customs: Phone Clearance Reform Quadruples Revenue

Cameroon's Directorate General of Customs (DGD) implemented a new customs clearance system for mobile phones and digital devices on April 1, 2026, which led to a quadrupling of customs duties and taxes collected on imported mobile phones, reaching over CFA1.8 billion between April 1 and early September 2026. This significant increase from approximately CFA400 million in the comparable period a year prior highlights the immediate impact of the reform. The new system mandates the registration of each device’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number within the CAMCIS customs system, enabling authorities to verify proper customs clearance for devices connected to Cameroonian mobile networks. Since September 1, 2026, the reform has entered a new phase, allowing for the blocking of non-regularized devices, further tightening enforcement.