Cameroon to block non-customs-cleared mobile phones from September 1

The Cameroonian government is set to implement a decisive phase of its customs reform by blocking mobile phones, tablets, and other terminals that have not been properly cleared through customs. Starting September 1, 2026, non-compliant devices will lose access to all local telecommunications networks, including those operated by Camtel, MTN Cameroon, and Orange Cameroon.

Finance Minister Louis Paul Motazé announced that the measure targets devices connecting to local networks for the first time after April 1, 2026, without being registered. It also affects devices that received prior warnings but failed to regularize their status, as well as certain devices activated in groups using the same SIM card. The crackdown utilizes IMEI identification to track irregular equipment and aims to curb tax revenue losses from the informal mobile market.

In a separate business development, MTN Cameroon reported that data services have become its primary revenue driver, accounting for 50.8% of its service revenue in the first half of 2026. This growth in data usage contrasts with a slower expansion in fintech services, which saw a slight decline in its share of the company's total service revenue.