N’DJAMENA / YAOUNDÉ — Chad is growing increasingly impatient as it awaits Cameroon’s decision on the route to be selected for the long-anticipated railway project linking Ngaoundéré in northern Cameroon to N’Djamena, the Chadian capital.
The multi-billion-dollar infrastructure initiative, first proposed several years ago, aims to strengthen trade and transport ties between the two neighboring countries while providing Chad with a more reliable connection to Douala, Cameroon’s main port.
According to sources close to the negotiations, three potential routes have been proposed by technical experts and consultants. The options have already been submitted to Cameroonian President Paul Biya, but no official decision has been announced yet.
“The choice of the route is critical. Each option comes with different costs, geographical challenges, and economic advantages,” a senior Chadian transport official told reporters. “For Chad, clarity is essential so that financial and technical partners can be brought on board.”
Yaoundé, however, appears to be weighing the decision carefully, given the political, financial, and logistical stakes involved. The government must balance internal priorities with the demands of its landlocked neighbor, which depends heavily on Cameroon for access to international markets.
Analysts say the delay reflects Cameroon’s cautious approach, as the project will require major international financing, complex engineering works, and long-term regional cooperation. For Chad, the railway is seen as a lifeline to reduce transport costs and boost exports, particularly in the oil and agricultural sectors.
All attention now turns to the presidency in Yaoundé. Until Paul Biya makes a final decision, the ambitious plan linking Ngaoundéré to N’Djamena will remain on hold, prolonging Chad’s wait for a project it considers vital to its economic future.
