Shanda Tonme: Questions Cameroon Airport Strategy for Traffic Growth

• Shanda Tonme, President of COMICODI, sent a letter to Cameroon's Minister of Transport on September 28, 2026, questioning the government's strategy for increasing international airport traffic.
• Tonme described Cameroonian airports, including Yaoundé and Douala, as deserted and underutilized compared to other sub-regional hubs.
• He criticized Air France's perceived monopolistic operations with 15 weekly flights and high prices, while other airlines are absent.
• The letter highlighted the low number of daily flights (10-15 in Yaoundé, ~20 in Douala) as unacceptable for a country of Cameroon's stature.
• Tonme asserted that boosting airport activity is crucial for wealth creation, job growth, capital flow, and tax revenue, urging policy reforms and the establishment of a national airline.

Tonme's letter underscores a critical belief that robust airport activity is not merely a logistical matter but a fundamental driver for national wealth, employment, and fiscal health.

Shanda Tonme, who serves as the President of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and Discrimination (COMICODI) and the Popular Movement for Dialogue and Reconciliation (MPDR), and is also known as the Universal Mediator, formally addressed Cameroon's Minister of Transport on September 28, 2026. His communication, framed as a citizen's interpellation, directly questioned the government's strategic approach to increasing traffic at the nation's international airports. Tonme's central concern revolved around the perceived lack of a coherent plan to enhance airport activity, which he views as crucial for national development.

Tonme painted a stark picture of Cameroon's international airports, describing them as resembling an "abandoned garage," a "boycotted house," or a "deserted circus" due to their low passenger numbers and activity. He noted that for frequent travelers, the airports often appear desolate from morning to evening, a stark contrast to the bustling hubs found in other sub-regional countries such as Lomé, Libreville, Cotonou, Abidjan, Dakar, and Brazzaville. This comparison, he stated, evokes deep disappointment and discouragement among observers.

Specific examples highlighted the severity of the situation: Yaoundé's airport, despite being the capital's gateway, frequently sees its single runway deserted, with only two old, dilapidated aircraft visible. Tonme found it unacceptable that an airport in the capital of the sub-region's largest country experiences only 10 to 15 take-offs and landings daily. Similarly, Douala, identified as Central Africa's largest business center, records approximately 20 daily take-offs and landings, a figure Tonme deemed insufficient given the nation's potential and strategic geographical position.

The letter also singled out Air France, accusing the airline of operating with a monopolistic and "insolent" rotation of fifteen weekly flights, characterized by exorbitant prices. Tonme questioned why other airlines appear to avoid Cameroon, suggesting a systemic issue that deters broader engagement from international carriers.

Tonme's letter underscores a critical belief that robust airport activity is not merely a logistical matter but a fundamental driver for national wealth, employment, and fiscal health. He argued that a thriving airport economy directly contributes to economic growth and an improved Gross Domestic Product (GDP), identifying this as a missing or underdeveloped component in Cameroon's overall economic framework that urgently needs to be built or reconstructed.

In light of these concerns, Tonme issued an urgent call to the Minister of Transport to assemble a team dedicated to devising a new strategy. He demanded the formulation of urgent proposals, the support of alternative strategies, and a comprehensive review of airport management practices and partnership policies. Furthermore, he expressed a long-term aspiration for the emergence of a "true" national airline, acknowledging past inefficiencies, inertia, and neglect in this sector. This vision suggests a broader overhaul of Cameroon's air transport policy to align with its economic development goals.

This public interpellation highlights significant policy and economic concerns within Cameroon's air transport sector, signaling potential future government action or regulatory reforms. Lawyers advising aviation companies, logistics firms, or investors in infrastructure should monitor developments for new policies on airport management, competition, or the potential establishment of a national airline, which could impact operational frameworks and investment strategies.

Source: Original reporting via Actu Cameroun