Cameroon orders telecom operators to block unregistered smartphones in anti-smuggling crackdown

Cameroon has begun turning its telecom networks into weapons against smuggled smartphones, ordering operators to disconnect mobile phones and digital devices that were not cleared through customs in a dramatic escalation of the country’s fight against illegal imports.

• Cameroon has ordered telecom operators to block unregistered phones and digital devices from local networks.
• The move comes after nearly 700,000 devices reportedly entered the country’s telecom systems without customs clearance in less than a month.
• Authorities say smuggling and tax evasion have devastated government revenue despite soaring smartphone imports.
• The crackdown could become a model for other African countries seeking tighter control over the continent’s fast-growing digital economy.

The move places millions of dollars in trade, tax revenue and consumer access at the centre of a growing African battle over who controls the continent’s booming digital economy.

In a directive signed by Customs Director General Fongod Edwin Nuvaga, telecom operators were instructed to begin blocking undeclared devices from local networks starting May 25.

The order affects the country’s biggest operators, including MTN Group’s Cameroon business, Orange S.A.’s local subsidiary and state-owned Camtel.

Under the new regime, imported phones, tablets and other digital devices must first pass through Cameroon’s electronic customs clearance system before they can connect to local telecom networks.

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Authorities are relying on International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers to verify whether devices were properly declared and taxed before activation.

Devices operating under roaming arrangements or covered by a temporary amnesty programme will remain exempt.

The government says the crackdown is necessary after illegal imports and tax evasion severely weakened customs revenue from one of the country’s fastest-growing consumer markets.

Nearly 700,000 phones connected without clearance

The scale of the problem appears massive.

According to Cameroonian authorities, nearly 700,000 mobile phones connected to local telecom networks between April 1 and April 25 without customs clearance after the country introduced its new digital collection system.

Officials believe the actual figure could be even higher.

Finance Minister Louis Paul Motazé had earlier warned importers suspected of bypassing the new platform, which was introduced to tighten oversight of imported digital devices.

Authorities initially avoided systematic blocking and gave importers and users until April 30 to regularise undeclared devices without penalties.

That grace period has now ended.

Telecom operators could face sanctions if undeclared devices continue accessing their networks, effectively transforming telecom companies into frontline enforcement agents in the government’s anti-smuggling campaign.

The strategy reflects a broader shift across parts of Africa, where governments are increasingly linking customs systems directly to telecom infrastructure in an attempt to recover lost revenue from fast-expanding smartphone markets.

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Billions lost as smartphone imports rise

Cameroon says the reforms are aimed at reversing years of collapsing customs revenue from digital devices despite rising smartphone adoption across the country.

Official figures show customs earnings from phones and digital equipment have fallen sharply from around CFA2 billion (about $3.54 million)monthly in the 2000s to roughly CFA100 million ($176,900 million) today.

The decline comes even as imported smartphones have become more central to everyday life, powering mobile banking, e-commerce, ride-hailing, entertainment and Africa’s fast-growing fintech economy.

The government now hopes to generate at least CFA25 billion (about $44.2 million) annually from the sector through the new enforcement system.

Early signs suggest authorities are already collecting more money.

Government figures released in April showed that over 51,000 devices had been declared through the platform, generating approximately $354,000 in revenue.

But the aggressive approach also raises broader concerns for consumers and the telecom industry.

Higher enforcement could push up smartphone costs in a country where many consumers already struggle with affordability, while tighter digital tracking systems are likely to reignite debates around surveillance, data oversight and state control of telecom infrastructure.

The development is also being closely watched beyond Cameroon.

Across Africa, governments are under growing pressure to increase tax revenue as debt burdens rise and public finances tighten.

The continent’s booming smartphone market, heavily dependent on imported devices, has become an increasingly attractive target for tax authorities seeking new income streams.

For telecom operators, the policy introduces a difficult balancing act between regulatory compliance, customer retention and maintaining uninterrupted access to digital services that millions increasingly depend on daily.