October 1, 2026
PRESS OFFICER: Rahim Kanani
Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org
End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF's Executive Board for discussion and decision.
Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Christine Dieterich held discussions in Yaounde from September 17 to 30, 2026, as part of Cameroon’s Post-Financing Assessment[1]. The team met with representatives of the government, the central bank, civil society, the private sector, banks, and development partners. At the end of the mission, Ms. Dieterich issued the following statement:
“Cameroon’s economy grew 3.5 percent in 2025, repeating the performance of the previous year, but prospects are weakening for 2026. The services sector continues to show strength, but declining hydrocarbons production and delays in boosting electricity transmission capacity suggest a slight slowdown in 2026. Average inflation has continued to decline to 2.6 percent through August 2026 but will reverse amid accelerating food price pressure.
“Fiscal policy weakened in 2025, with the overall deficit rising from 1.5 percent of GDP in 2024 to 2.1 percent of GDP. A modest further weakening is expected in 2026 with the international oil price shock generating sizeable fuel subsidies. The outlook remains subject to downside risks, notably international capital market conditions, slow reform implementation, and continued security and climate-related challenges. Cameroon’s debt sustainability analysis remains at high overall risk of debt distress.
“Sustaining hard-won macroeconomic stability in a shock-prone world requires fiscal tightening, boosting domestic revenue mobilization, and marshalling concessional financing. This should be complemented by pro-growth reforms to strengthen governance around public spending, improve management of state-owned enterprises, and deepen the financial sector.
“The IMF team thanks the authorities for their constructive and open discussions. Cameroon’s 2026 Post-Financing Assessment is expected to be discussed at the IMF Executive Board in December 2026.”
[1] A Post-Financing Assessment (PFA) is expected for countries with outstanding IMF credit above the absolute or quota-based thresholds that do not have an IMF-supported program or a staff-monitored program. It reports on the members’ policies, the consistency of the macroeconomic framework with the objective of medium-term viability, and the implications for the member’s capacity to repay the Fund
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