Cameroon Faces Crisis as Many Public Company Leaders Hold Expired Mandates

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns regarding numerous public companies and state-owned enterprises in Cameroon led by officials whose mandates have expired. According to the IMF's May 2026 report, which followed March consultations under Article IV, these illegal leadership situations are contributing to financial losses and weakening public finances, increasing fiscal risks for the state. The IMF attributes these underperformances to weak governance, insufficient oversight, inactive supervisory bodies, and the persistent issue of expired mandates or vacant positions. Despite legal frameworks established by laws n°010 and 011 of July 12, 2017, ten companies remain non-compliant, with many boards of directors and general assemblies either absent or dysfunctional. In 2024, two public enterprises reportedly lacked any governance bodies, and over half of key leadership positions were held by individuals with expired mandates or vacancies. Public governance expert Professor Viviane Ondoua Biwole has also highlighted this issue, with her 2024 analysis revealing that 57 out of 88 analyzed public entities had illegally appointed chairpersons, representing a 64.77% non-compliance rate. Her analysis also indicated that by July 12, 2026, 64 out of 112 entities would have leaders with expired mandates, including 57 CEOs and 37 deputy CEOs. Furthermore, eight key positions, five deputy CEO and three CEO roles, were vacant. Professor Biwole had previously warned in 2024 that the President needed to appoint 102 leaders and 57 chairpersons before July 12, 2026. She is expected to release updated statistics on expired mandates in Cameroon on June 23, 2026.