The 2025 finance bill was finally submitted to the National Assembly with nearly 40 days of delay, a Cameroonian exception. Members of Parliament are required to work day and night to deliberate on the content. Unfortunately, this bill consecrate the budget of the Republic of Cameroon for the year 2025, one of the most important documents of the Republic.
Upon analysis, the bill offers nothing tangible. Instead, new provisions foreshadow difficult times for citizens. Such an inclusive law should have been filtered through social partners supposedly grouped within the Economic and Social Council.
Lack of Budgetary and Fiscal Coherence
The 2025 finance law does not clearly indicate the economic vision of the Cameroonian state. It does not specify whether the country is still operating within the framework of the SND30. The economic stake carried by the SND30 was the fight against the extraversion of the national economy. In 2025, the finance law still consecrates dependence on the outside.
The only provision that could enter the import-substitution policy is Article 8. However, this provision has been formulated in a pernicious manner, excluding substitution, even by applying the principle of reciprocity, of products contained in trade agreements. Consequently, it consecrates the status quo. Nothing will change.
High Increase in Cost of Living
Inflation increased in 2024 to 14% for food products, directly affecting citizens. To maintain the same standard of living as in 2024, the budget should have increased proportionally to inflation, by approximately FCFA 1000 billion. The budget of the Republic of Cameroon should have exceeded FCFA 8000 billion to achieve this objective. An increase of FCFA 39 billion compared to 2024 is ridiculous and insignificant for Cameroon.
Strong Increase in Production Costs
The Cameroonian government plans to increase the price of fuel at the pump. This is economic suicide in a context where we have a wide range of choices. Let’s calculate together! In December 2024, the cost price of a liter of super at the port of Douala is FCFA 369. The pump price is FCFA 840, thanks to the government’s unique and controversial choice.
If the government were social-democratic like us, we could sell a liter of super for FCFA 400. But they are mafiosi and capitalists. They have created a chain of 9 intermediaries in the fuel importation process, and each actor gets their share of the cake.
The government’s choice to favour mafia and capitalism has led to the destruction of the local economic fabric. The government has consistently put non-subsidized local products in unfair competition with subsidized foreign products.
A Fiscal Policy that Fosters Inequality
A fiscal policy determines incentives for work, investment, and innovation, influencing a country’s growth and development potential. In normal countries, it seeks to balance revenue guarantees for governments to fund social and economic programs with strengthening fiscal system contributions to inclusive and sustainable economic growth. In Cameroon, what is the government’s fiscal policy? Where are we headed? Can we vote for our meager FCFA 1800 billion investment budget while allowing production costs to rise? If we produce more expensively in Cameroon, we will also sell more expensively. Transportation will also be more expensive with the announced increase in fuel prices. Where are we headed?
Conclusion
The solution to Cameroon’s political and economic stagnation is called “citizen engagement.” If you continue to think that the KAKDEUs are foolish for migrating from civil society to politics, then you will have chosen to continue barking so that the devastating caravan can continue to pass as always and without scruples. The choice is ours!
Louis Marie Kakdeu
Second Vice National Chairman,
SDF
