Cameroon Road Fund: William Azebaze Jiofack Appointed Director General

• President Paul Biya appointed William Azebaze Jiofack as the new director general of the Cameroon Road Fund on November 5, 2026.
• This appointment follows a major reform on July 10, 2025, which transformed the Road Fund into a special-status public institution with legal personality and financial autonomy.
• Jiofack previously served as an attaché at the General Secretariat of the Presidency since August 31, 2022.
• He succeeds Aubin Essaie Moussa, a civil engineer whose formal appointment as administrator dated back over four and a half years before his confirmation on April 26, 2022.
• The reform also changed the agency's management structure and broadened its responsibilities, shifting from an 'administrator' to a 'director general' role.

Advisors working with clients involved in infrastructure projects, public works contracts, or financing within Cameroon should closely monitor the operational priorities and decision-making processes under the new director general.

President Paul Biya has officially named William Azebaze Jiofack as the new director general for the Cameroon Road Fund. This significant leadership change, announced through a presidential decree signed on November 5, 2026, comes approximately 16 months after the institution underwent a substantial structural transformation. Jiofack steps into this pivotal role following a tenure as an attaché at the General Secretariat of the Presidency, a position he had occupied since August 31, 2022.

His appointment marks a new chapter for the organization, succeeding Aubin Essaie Moussa, who previously led the Road Fund under the title of administrator. The transition reflects the broader changes implemented within the institution, which saw its management structure redefined and its operational scope expanded. The new director general, William Azebaze Jiofack, is now tasked with steering the fund under its updated mandate and organizational framework.

The appointment of the new director general follows a comprehensive reform initiated on July 10, 2025. This reform, formalized by Decree No. 2025/293, fundamentally altered the status and operational capabilities of the Cameroon Road Fund. Previously operating under a different structure, the fund was re-established as a special-status public institution, endowed with its own legal personality and significant financial autonomy.

This transformation was not merely administrative; it also involved a redefinition of the agency's management hierarchy and an enlargement of its functional responsibilities. The shift from an 'administrator' role to a 'director general' position is a direct consequence of these changes, signifying a modernized approach to the governance and execution of road infrastructure projects across Cameroon. The Road Fund reform 2025 aimed to enhance the institution's effectiveness and independence in managing crucial national assets.

William Azebaze Jiofack takes over from Aubin Essaie Moussa, a seasoned civil engineer with a distinguished career in public service. Moussa's professional background includes serving as a former director of contracts at the Ministry of Public Works, bringing extensive experience in infrastructure development and contractual oversight to his role at the Road Fund. He had initially served in an acting capacity before his formal appointment.

Moussa's confirmation as administrator was the result of a competitive recruitment process, which culminated in an extraordinary meeting of the management committee on April 26, 2022. Notably, his formal appointment to lead the institution dated back more than four and a half years prior to this confirmation, highlighting a long period of dedicated service under the Road Fund's previous organizational model. His departure concludes a significant period of leadership during which the institution prepared for its subsequent transformation.

The recent changes in leadership at the Cameroon Road Fund, particularly the appointment of William Azebaze Jiofack by Paul Biya decree November 2026, carry substantial implications for the nation's infrastructure sector. The comprehensive reform of July 2025, which granted the fund legal personality and financial autonomy, positions it as a more independent and potentially more efficient entity in managing road development projects. This shift in Cameroon public institutions leadership could influence how future tenders are structured, how contracts are negotiated, and the overall pace of infrastructure development.

Advisors working with clients involved in infrastructure projects, public works contracts, or financing within Cameroon should closely monitor the operational priorities and decision-making processes under the new director general. The combination of a reformed institutional framework and new leadership may signal evolving compliance requirements and strategic directions for road infrastructure, necessitating a proactive approach from stakeholders to adapt to these changes and leverage new opportunities.

Lawyers advising clients on infrastructure projects, public works contracts, or financing in Cameroon should note the new leadership at the Road Fund. This appointment, following a significant reform, may signal shifts in the institution's operational priorities or decision-making processes, potentially impacting future tenders, contract negotiations, or compliance requirements related to road infrastructure development.

Source: Original reporting via external news source