According to education economist Olivier Ze Nchoutnsu, debt service spending will significantly exceed the combined budgets of the main ministries responsible for training and supervising young people in Cameroon.
In an economic context marked by strong budgetary constraints, the issue of public debt continues to fuel debate in Cameroon. According to education economist Olivier Ze Nchoutnsu, budget projections for the year 2026 reveal a worrying imbalance between debt repayment and investment in human capital.
According to his analysis, Cameroon will devote approximately 2 423 billion CFA francs to debt service, including principal repayment and interest payments. At the same time, the combined budgets of the ministries in charge of education, training, and youth—notably Basic Education, Secondary Education, Higher Education, Employment and Vocational Training, Scientific Research, and Youth—reach approximately 1 170 billion CFA francs.
“Cameroon will pay 2,07 times more to repay its debt than to train, educate, and prepare its human capital,” the economist emphasizes.
This situation comes as the country faces persistent economic challenges, including debt pressure, growing infrastructure needs, and the necessity to invest more in education and youth employment. For many analysts, the question of the balance between financial obligations and investment in human capital remains a central issue for Cameroon’s long-term development.
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