Chinese firms hold 66% of major road contracts in Northern Cameroon ⁰

Chinese companies account for nearly CFAF 306 billion in road construction contracts across Cameroon’s Adamawa, North and Far North regions. Of the roughly CFAF 465 billion in major road projects currently listed in those regions, Chinese contractors are carrying out 10 of the 16 contracts, representing about 66% of their combined value, according to a Public Works Ministry document reviewed by Business in Cameroon.

Chinese contractors are involved in four road programs: reconstruction of the Ngaoundéré-Garoua road, construction of the Maroua-Bogo-Pouss road, rehabilitation of the Maroua-Moutourwa and Magada-Yagoua sections under the Far North Territorial Development Project (PAT), and rehabilitation of the Mora-Kousseri road. The projects are financed in part by the African Development Bank, the European Union and the World Bank, with counterpart funding from the Cameroonian government.

However, the scale of those awards contrasts with slow progress on several projects. On Ngaoundéré-Garoua, all five lots were awarded to Chinese companies, and none is more than 5% complete 10 months after work began. On Magada-Yagoua, the Sinohydro/Stecol consortium has completed between 14% and 19% of the work even though more than 80% of the contract period has passed.

Zhonglin International Construction, which is handling one section of Mora-Kousseri, received a formal notice on September 2, 2026, for failing to deploy enough supervisory staff. The ministry has threatened to terminate the contract if the company does not address the shortcomings identified.

CCCC Holds Nearly CFAF 88 Billion in Contracts

Among the Chinese groups involved, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has the largest contract portfolio, through two subsidiaries. China First Highway Engineering Company (CFHEC) is carrying out two Ngaoundéré-Garoua lots worth about CFAF 58.8 billion, while China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has another lot valued at CFAF 29.2 billion. Together, the contracts are worth nearly CFAF 88 billion.

The Sinohydro/Stecol consortium, formed by two PowerChina subsidiaries, has contracts worth CFAF 68.6 billion for the Magada-Guidiguis and Guidiguis-Yagoua sections of the PAT. CGCOC Group was awarded about CFAF 63.3 billion in contracts covering Ngaoundéré-Garoua and Maroua-Bogo-Pouss.

China International Water & Electric is also working on Ngaoundéré-Garoua under a CFAF 26.1 billion contract. Xinjiang Communications Construction Group has a CFAF 24.1 billion contract on Maroua-Bogo-Pouss, while Zhonglin International Construction is working under contracts worth CFAF 35.5 billion on Mora-Kousseri.

Sotcocog Is the Main Non-Chinese Contractor

The remaining contracts are spread among several non-Chinese contractors. Chadian company Sotcocog, which has operated in Cameroon since 2011, is involved in three contracts worth about CFAF 75 billion, including projects carried out with STAPORT. It is working on Maroua-Moutourwa and on two Mora-Kousseri lots.

Progress also varies across its projects. The Sotcocog/STAPORT consortium received a formal notice on September 21, 2026, over the Maroua-Moutourwa project. By contrast, SOTCOCOG is nearing completion of the Mora-Tchakamari section of the Mora-Kousseri road, where work is about 93% complete.

Two other consortia are working on Mora-Kousseri: SOMAF, partnered with Turkey’s Metag İnşaat, under contracts worth about CFAF 38 billion excluding taxes, and the Nigerian consortium AA Hatlad Construction-JFA Construction, with contracts worth about CFAF 47 billion excluding taxes. Cameroonian companies have only a limited presence as lead contractors on these major road projects, many of which are backed by international lenders.

Source: Business in Cameroon