Cameroon’s Government Payment Delays Exceed 200 Days, Straining Businesses and Public Finances

In Cameroon, in 2025, the government accumulated more than 200 days to pay invoices from service providers, after 120 days in 2023 and 160 days in 2024. The information was revealed on February 6th, 2026 in Yaoundé by the Treasury Directorate at the Ministry of Finance (Minfi) during the coordination meeting of the heads of central and decentralized services of this ministerial department.

The Ministry of Finance justifies these extended payment terms by citing “a mismatch between commitments and available cash.” Furthermore, the Treasury Department of the Ministry of Finance indicates that “in addition to the extended payment terms, disbursements are concentrated at the end of the fiscal year.”

Cameroon faces growing supplier payment delays as cash-flow imbalances and year-end spending surges increase arrears and pressure businesses, particularly SMEs

For example, in 2023, over 30% of expenditures were incurred during the last months of the fiscal year, according to figures from the Ministry. Specifically, during that fiscal year, in December alone, the Treasury disbursed 38% of the 3,531 billion FCFA (approximately USD 6.4 billion) paid that month, amounting to 1,338 billion FCFA (approximately USD 2.4 billion). In 2025, Cameroon’s Government paid 1,305 billion FCFA (USD 2.3 billion) in December, representing approximately 37% of the total budget, while 3,486 billion FCFA (approximately USD 6.3 billion) had been paid between January and December.

According to the Ministry of Finance, “these payment disparities throughout the year disrupt the State’s cash flow and create a backlog of arrears that weighs on businesses and impacts the perception of sovereign risk.” The financial administration complains that “when four out of ten payments are concentrated in a single month, the cash flow cannot absorb the shock. Suppliers wait, some invoices are deferred to the following fiscal year, and the delays turn into outstanding balances. These inherited expenses reduce the capacity to finance new expenditures as early as January.”

Analysis reveals that this management of domestic debt in Cameroon contributes to maintaining a high level of arrears. It is in this context that the Audit Chamber of the Supreme Court assessed the stock at 926.49 billion FCFA (approximately 1.7 billion USD) as of December 31, 2024. According to the Autonomous Sinking Fund (CAA), this stock was reduced to 485.4 billion FCFA (approximately 872 million USD) by the end of September 2025.

Furthermore, delays in settling outstanding invoices are straining the cash flow of service providers. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Cameroon are the most affected. At the macroeconomic level, these extended payment terms impact sovereign risk assessments and influence rating agency analyses.

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(Featured image by Ariel Nathan Ada Mbita via Unsplash)

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First published in Financial Afrik. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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