China Development Bank to Finance $350M Port and Rail Upgrade in Cameroon

31 October 2026

Douala, Cameroon, Oct 29 — Today, Cameroon approved a US$350 million loan from China Development Bank to modernize the port of Douala and the vital rail corridor from the port to Yaoundé, raising concerns about Beijing's foreign influence over one of the country's critical infrastructure projects.

The loan will fund upgrades to Douala Port, the country's principal port, and the Douala-Yaoundé rail line that handles 90% of Cameroon's trade. The China Development Bank loan marks China's latest major infrastructure investment in the Francophone country, as Beijing seeks to strengthen ties and gain a foothold in the region.

However, the loan has drawn scrutiny, as it aligns with a broader port and rail modernization program backed by the World Bank and other donors. The Douala-Yaoundé rail track rehabilitation and railway signaling modernization component alone was budgeted at $368 million in World Bank documents published in June 2024.

"It's a mixed bag, really," said Luc Kando, Head of Infrastructure at the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce representative office in Douala. "On one hand, substantial investments in infrastructure are always positive for trade and regional connectivity. On the other hand, seeing China committed so heavily to this corridor, when it seems to piggyback on the multilateral projects already underway, raises concerns about indebtedness and long-term dependency."

Multilateral Aid and Dependencies on Foreign Money

The $350 million loan from the China Development Bank comes alongside a $538 million World Bank-supported Douala-N'Djamena corridor project approved in February 2022. That 10-year program aims to improve efficiency and safety along the 1,600 km intermodal link from Douala to Chad's capital N'Djamena, which includes railroad rehabilitation between Douala and Ngaoundéré. Over $800 million is expected to be invested in the corridor over the decade.

Meanwhile, the Cameroon Rail Authority (Camrail) is seeking to raise close to $100 million in private investment to complete the financing. It aims for a first phase completion date of 30-06-2032, providing an additional 30 years to recoup China's development bank investment.

Camrail and other donors, including the European Union, the EIB, and AfDB, are determined to use measurable metrics, enabling franchised implementation with on-time completion and progress reports.

"Our supply chain depends on the railway. If it's a dependable operator, you don't have to look back or worry," said Modo Djilo, director of the Bamenda Manufacturing Concern.

The manufacturing plant in Bonaberi will create 360 additional jobs. The plant is expected to create efficiencies, stability for traders, and assist customs officers if officials maintain operations as expected.