By Synthia Lateu
Cameroon is rolling out a new digital system to collect customs duties on mobile phones and tablets, with undeclared devices set to be blocked from local networks starting 1 April 2026.
Under the measure, all mobile phones, tablets and digital terminals imported into the country must be declared and cleared through the Cameroon Customs Information System (CAMCIS).
Devices that are not registered will have their identifiers transmitted to telecom operators, preventing them from connecting to local networks.
In a statement, the Ministry of Finance said the move implements Article 6 of the 2023 Finance Law and aims to curb smuggling while restoring declining customs revenues. The declaration, assessment and payment of duties and taxes must now be carried out through the CAMCIS platform by importers or their representatives.
“To avoid problems with the State, users will be able to enter the device’s Email number into our system, which will indicate whether the phone has been properly cleared through customs. It is crucial not to buy an undeclared phone, as using it will be difficult,” Director General of Customs Fongod Edwin Nuvaga said during a press conference on 31 March.
Phones already connected to local networks before the system takes effect will benefit from a fiscal amnesty and will be considered properly cleared. The ministry also advised buyers to verify the customs status of devices before purchasing them from local distributors, stressing that the reform does not introduce a new tax or increase existing charges.
According to Director Nuvaga, the measure is designed to digitalise border procedures and broaden the tax base. He said discussions had been held with traders in Yaoundé and Douala, as well as with neighbouring countries, to regularise devices already imported but not yet in use.
Users whose phones are already active on local networks, including visitors to Cameroon, will not be affected. Authorities say any device that has made at least one call on any of the country’s three main operators will be exempt from customs duties under the waiver.
Officials also say the system could help tackle phone theft. Devices reported stolen and already registered in the database could be blocked from further use if reintroduced into the network.
The reform comes amid a sharp drop in customs revenues from mobile terminals. The Directorate General of Customs says duties and taxes collected on phones have fallen from around two billion CFA francs per month in the 2000s to about 100 million CFA francs monthly in 2025, citing rising smuggling, informal entry points and parallel import channels.
For 2026, the Customs Administration has been assigned a target of mobilising at least 1,200 billion CFA francs in revenue. Authorities estimate that the new digital procedure could contribute roughly 25 billion CFA francs
