New Customs Law May Push Up Phone Prices, Vendors, Importers Warn

By Synthia Lateu

Phone importers and vendors in Douala have raised concerns over government’s implementation of a customs mechanism targeting undeclared mobile phones and tablets, warning that it could drive up prices and threaten their businesses.

The customs control, which took effect on April 1 2026, aims to block undeclared phones and tablets from entering the market. At Akwa in Douala, several vendors expressed fear that the policy could put many out of business.

Omar Mike, a phone vendor, said prices could soar, leaving many Cameroonians unable to afford devices. “People who used to buy one or two phones for 100,000 F may not be able to buy at all under this law. About 95 percent of phones sold here are used devices imported from Europe and Asia, often without official representation,” he explained. He added that Inphonix R phones, which sell for 60,000 to 75,000 F, have been placed in Category C or 4, requiring a fee of around 33,000 F. “They don’t consult the market to see what prices people can actually pay,” he noted.

Maslow Kouanga, another vendor and importer said the measure could force buyers to use phones for over ten years. “A phone that usually costs 100,000 F may now sell for 133,000 F,” he said. Elombi who is also in the phone business added,

“Most of us never learned about this in school. When we buy from abroad, our profit margin is about 8 percent. If we are asked to pay 33 percent, it will bury us.” He lamented.

Vendors also highlighted the sector’s role in employment, noting that it supports many Cameroonians across Douala and beyond. Tibo Kamcheu Kamgue, who has been selling phones for 12 years, questioned the logic of the measure “I started by hawking phones and later travelled abroad to buy and sell. Is this how we are encouraged to build a sector over decades only to regress?” he expressed.

The Ministry of Finance clarified that the mechanism is not a new tax and is not intended to increase retail prices. Vendors, however, argue that without raising prices, they cannot make a profit. Some importers are reconsidering whether to continue bringing devices into the country.

For many in the sector, the only acceptable solution is a withdrawal of the measure. Meanwhile, the Ministry urges buyers to verify devices before purchase to curb smuggling and bolster declining customs revenues. The system is expected to generate about 25 billion CFA francs