Douala tramway would cost 400 billion CFA francs
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Investir au Cameroun
Illustrative image · BmndaThe Douala Urban Council estimates the budget for its first tramway line, about 20 kilometres long, at around 400 billion CFA francs excluding tax. The call for expressions of interest published on 29 October provides for public guarantees for investors, but its annexes also rule them out, a contradiction to resolve before their selection.
The Douala Urban Council (CUD) estimates the cost of the first pilot tramway line in Cameroon’s economic capital at around 400 billion CFA francs excluding tax. The figure appears in the call for expressions of interest No. 016/AMI/CUD/2026, dated 26 October and published on 29 October on the international platform dgMarket, Investir au Cameroun reports.
The budget, estimated at around €610 million, is indicative and does not yet represent secured funding. The proposed line would stretch for about 20 kilometres, from the Bekoko interchange to the SCDP junction in Ndogsimbi, via the bridge over the Wouri and the Deido roundabout. It would be built as a double track, mainly along existing road rights of way.
The CUD is seeking private investors to design, build, operate and maintain the network. Candidates will have to provide at least 30% of capital expenditure in equity, or 120 billion CFA francs based on the projected budget, and submit two firm letters of intent from banks or development finance institutions. Their financial model must target an internal rate of return of more than 12%. The call also provides for a partial traffic guarantee, which could reach 2 billion CFA francs a year depending on the terms agreed, while several annexes explicitly rule out certain public guarantees.
