Showdown looming between GECAM and the Port of Douala.
The employers’ organization has issued an ultimatum, threatening to suspend the lifting of import and export declarations, as well as customs declarations, starting February 16, 2026, if its concerns are not addressed favorably.
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This announcement comes amid heightened tensions surrounding port costs, particularly those related to goods scanning operations. For GECAM, these additional charges would heavily impact business competitiveness and consumer prices.
In response, the employers’ association is considering a form of administrative paralysis that would directly affect the supply chain.
The Port of Douala’s reaction was swift. Through its head of communications, Raoul Simplice Minlo, the port authority described the threat as a “political stance” disconnected from legal and operational realities. The primary argument put forward is GECAM’s lack of legal standing in this matter. Customs declarations, the port reminds, are regulatory obligations strictly governed by the CEMAC Customs Code. According to the port, no employers’ group can suspend their execution.
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Economically, the Port of Douala believes the announced strategy would be counterproductive for businesses themselves. Container demurrage, port parking fees, and supply chain delay penalties could quickly exceed the disputed additional cost. “Importers know this: blocking their own goods is self-punishment,” the port’s communication states.
Finally, the institution warns of the legal risks incurred by companies engaging in such actions: formal notices from customs authorities, contractual disputes with suppliers and clients for non-fulfillment of obligations, and even contract terminations.
Behind the exchange of statements, the balance of Cameroon’s main maritime hub is at stake. It remains to be seen whether GECAM’s ultimatum will lead to a negotiation table or if it will remain, as the port claims, “a shot in the water.”
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