Cameroon Orders MTN and Orange to Disconnect Smartphones That Bypass Customs
June 10th 2026
- Cameroon has ordered MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroon to block smartphones imported without payment of customs duties.
- Authorities detected nearly 700,000 undeclared phones connecting to local mobile networks between April 1 and April 25, 2026.
- The government now uses IMEI-based tracking to identify devices that bypass official import channels and recover lost customs revenue.
The Cameroonian government has strengthened its efforts to combat the illicit importation of digital devices. In a letter sent on June 4 to the management teams of MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroon, Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze instructed the operators to fully implement measures that block phones imported without prior payment of customs duties.
The government issued the directive after authorities concluded that commitments made during a May 22 consultation involving telecom operators and the Directorate General of Customs had not produced the expected results.
The latest move forms part of a broader reform of the system used to collect duties and taxes on mobile phones, tablets, and other digital devices.
Authorities launched the new framework on April 1, 2026. The system identifies devices through their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers and cross-checks that information against customs administration records. Authorities use the process to detect equipment that enters the country outside official import channels.
Initial results have highlighted the scale of the challenge. According to the Ministry of Finance, nearly 700,000 phones connected for the first time to local mobile networks between April 1 and April 25 without customs clearance. Authorities view the figure as evidence that parallel import channels remain widespread and continue to deprive the state of significant customs revenue.
The framework requires mobile operators to identify automatically all devices that do not appear in the national customs database and to remove their access to mobile services. In his letter, Motaze also reminded operators that any connection of an undeclared device to a local network could trigger fiscal liability for the operator involved.
Beyond the fiscal implications, Yaoundé also seeks to improve oversight of a rapidly expanding digital devices market. The widespread adoption of smartphones and digital services has driven strong growth in device imports in recent years. However, a significant share of devices continues to enter the market through informal channels.
Authorities believe that stronger equipment traceability can help secure telecommunications networks and curb the use of non-certified devices. As a result, the government views the new system as both a revenue protection tool and a mechanism to strengthen regulatory oversight of the country’s digital ecosystem.
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