Cameroon’s economy demonstrated “remarkable resilience” in 2025 despite multiple shocks, including the October 12 presidential election, according to the International Monetary Fund in a report published on 01/04/2026.
The Fund noted that election-related disruptions affected trade, services and investment in the final quarter of the year. The Cameroon Business Group estimated direct losses at over 200 billion CFA francs, alongside a tax revenue shortfall of 43 billion CFA francs.
The report also highlighted an 11 per cent increase in current public spending, driven partly by election organization and security-related expenditures, including those undertaken by the National Hydrocarbon Society. This contributed to a slight slowdown in economic growth.
Looking ahead, the IMF described the outlook as “cautiously favourable”, with growth expected to recover. However, it warned of persistent vulnerabilities, including volatile commodity prices such as cocoa, declining oil exports, and pressures on foreign exchange reserves within the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa.
Tighter global financial conditions and rising interest rates are also expected to constrain access to financing, compounded by external shocks such as disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz. The IMF is urging authorities to pursue fiscal consolidation measures, including stronger revenue mobilization, tighter expenditure controls, and the completion of fuel subsidy reforms, to safeguard debt sustainability.