Cameroon’s customs authority has instructed telecommunications operators to block imported mobile phones, tablets, and digital devices that are not registered on the national identification platform, starting on May 25, 2026.
In a letter to the directors general of CAMTEL, MTN Cameroon, and Orange Cameroon, the Director General of Customs said the measure applies to Article Six of the 2023 Finance Law and Articles 4, 6, and 7 of the joint decisions between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications of March 25, 2026. That decision sets out the specific procedures for collecting customs duties and taxes on imported mobile phones, tablets, and digital terminals.
The directive follows the release from the Ministry of Finance on March 25, 2026, which announced the rollout of a new mechanism for identifying and tracking imported devices.
Following the release, any imported terminal not listed on Cameroon’s material identification platform for phones, tablets, and digital devices must be blocked from connecting to local networks. The letter notes that allowing a non-cleared terminal to connect will make the telecommunications operator liable under Article 7 of the decision.
The government says the system is intended to ensure imported devices are properly declared and taxed.
