Tax Losses, National Security: Why Cameroon Is Forcing Telcos To Block Untaxed Phones

The Ministry of Finance has issued a stern directive to telecom giants MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroon, ordering them to immediately begin the systematic blocking of phones and digital devices smuggled into the country.

Intransigence?
In a signed memo dated June 4, 2026, the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze, expressed strong dissatisfaction that previous consensus agreements made on May 22, 2026 with the Directorate General of Customs had not yet been implemented by the mobile network operators. The government warned that any further delays would make the telecom operators financially and fiscally liable for allowing undeclared devices onto their networks.

Beginning April 1, 2026
The crackdown targets all mobile phones, tablets, and digital terminals that have been fraudulently imported into Cameroon since April 1, 2026. These measures are part of a broader government strategy to enforce the 2023 Finance Act, which establishes strict mechanisms for collecting customs duties and taxes on digital devices.

Economy, Security Threatened 
Minister Motaze emphasized that the unchecked influx of black-market electronics poses a dual threat to the country, directly impacting the national budget through massive tax evasion and compromising national security. Minister Motaze has therefore ordered the technical teams of both MTN and Orange to urgently coordinate with the government's reform tracking platform to enforce the ban.

IMEIs, Not SIM Cards Targetted 
Addressing growing public concern and rumors regarding the enforcement mechanism, the Ministry explicitly clarified that the operation will target specific hardware identifiers (IMEIs) of undeclared devices, rather than the phone numbers or SIM cards of subscribers.

MINPOSTEL, ART Involved
However, full implementation of the system relies on an ongoing upgrade of the technical infrastructure across all involved parties. State corporations and regulatory bodie...