Cameroon has no single nationwide public transport network. In cities, passengers flag down motorcycle taxis (moto-taxis) on the street or use known stands and routes. Shared yellow taxis carry several passengers and often serve fixed areas or negotiated sections. For longer distances, coaches and private bus companies operate from agencies or bus stations (gare routière), as they are often called locally. There is no documented nationwide uniform timetable or fare for bus transport. According to the available research, Douala and Yaoundé have an urban transport system that is predominantly small-scale and informal. A 2021 statistic from the Ministry of Transport mentions local transport operators (STECY and SOCATUR); their current operating status has not been verified. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) (BHNS) and Trans-Yaoundé are at the planning or PPP-review stage and must not be presented as regular services currently in operation. The Douala Urban Community (Communauté urbaine de Douala) and the Yaoundé Urban Community (Communauté urbaine de Yaoundé) plan local mobility and, among other things, designate zones for motorcycle taxis. Formal operation of a motorcycle taxi is described as requiring a special S2 licence (S2-Lizenz), a public-road-transport card, registration, a technical inspection, insurance, and the locally required tax. Access and enforcement nevertheless differ by region. A driver may therefore be licensed in one municipality or serve a particular zone while the same practice is handled differently elsewhere. Rail services are operated by the Cameroon railway operator (CAMRAIL) under a state concession that has existed since 1999. The network covers approximately 1,000 kilometres. Douala and Yaoundé are about 264 kilometres apart; an express train takes approximately 4 hours and 40 minutes, and several services run daily. Yaoundé and Ngaoundéré are about 620 kilometres apart; a sleeper train runs daily and stops at 17 stations. Tickets are available at ticket offices, from partners, or online. The connection between Mbanga and Kumba has been interrupted since 2018. Fares, train conditions, and departures must therefore be checked with the operator for the specific connection. For long-distance road travel, private buses and coaches are usually the most common option. Departures normally take place through an operator agency or bus station, not through a central nationwide booking platform. On long routes, traffic jams, road damage, checkpoints, seasonal disruptions, and regional security conditions can change travel times. The corridor between Douala and Bangui is described as being particularly affected by damaged roads, long travel times, checkpoints, and informal payments. The road network is central to passenger and freight transport. According to the available statistics, it covers approximately 121,873 kilometres; as of 31 December 2025, 10,939.92 kilometres were paved. The classification includes motorways as well as national, regional, and municipal roads. The Ministry of Transport regulates traffic and road safety. The Ministry of Public Works is responsible for national, regional, and municipal roads, including their construction and maintenance. Quality varies greatly between regions, and many roads are unpaved. Aircraft are used mainly for long-distance or regional connections and are not part of daily urban transport. The Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) approved 16 flight schedules for winter 2025/2026. A Cameroon airline (Camair-Co) lists domestic connections involving Douala (DLA), Yaoundé-Nsimalen (NSI), Ngaoundéré (NGE), Garoua (GOU), Maroua (MVR), and Bafoussam (BFX), among others. Fares, check-in times, and baggage conditions depend on the airline and the booked flight. Many people walk in everyday life, but safe crossings, pavements, lighting, and bridges are not adequate everywhere. Projects of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development include green corridors, safe crossings, and footpaths. On motorways, pedestrians, animals, and vehicles travelling too slowly are excluded. There is no documented nationwide uniform standard for pedestrian routes. There is likewise no reliable evidence of a broad formal cycling network or a nationwide bicycle-sharing system; active mobility and non-motorized transport are nevertheless considered in individual plans and infrastructure projects. Traffic drives on the right, and overtaking takes place on the left. Gendarmerie guidance states that motorways may have speed limits of 110 to 130 km/h depending on the signs, as well as a minimum speed of 80 km/h unless the signs provide otherwise. U-turns, reversing, and stopping outside marked areas are not permitted there. Seat belts, helmets, sober driving, appropriate speed, and valid insurance, vehicle, and inspection documents are among the main obligations. Required safety equipment includes, among other items, a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, and reflective vest. Violations may result in fines, vehicle immobilization, or, in certain cases, criminal proceedings. Passengers must pay the agreed or displayed fare and comply with the conditions of the relevant provider. Depending on the transport mode, operators require authorization, registration, insurance, and a technical inspection and must meet safety requirements. CAMRAIL’s conditions of carriage apply to rail travel. Air travel is governed by the conditions of the relevant airline under the safety and oversight role of the CCAA. The reviewed sources did not identify a single national catalogue of passenger rights. The currency is the BEAC CFA franc (CFA-Franc BEAC). In urban transport, prices often depend on the route or zone and may sometimes be negotiated; for buses, trains, and aircraft, the relevant operator sets the conditions and prices. Travel times also depend on traffic jams, road quality, checkpoints, weather, the season, and regional disruptions. Train and flight schedules should therefore be checked again shortly before departure. The high share of road transport, older vehicles, and traffic jams increase air pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions. Urban mobility plans, Bus Rapid Transit, non-motorized transport, and green corridors are intended to improve safety and traffic flow and encourage a shift to cleaner transport modes. According to UNEP, tax incentives for electric vehicles were introduced through the 2025 Finance Law; electric and clean mobility are nevertheless not yet a widespread everyday standard. There is no reliable evidence of a nationwide passenger-transport structure on waterways with a uniform timetable. Local ferries and river crossings may provide limited alternatives, but they do not replace a nationwide public transport network.
Transport in Cameroon
Passenger transport in Cameroon is highly fragmented and combines government rules with private, community-based, and informal services. In Douala and Yaoundé, motorcycle taxis and shared taxis handle most urban transport. Private buses and coaches are the main means of travel between cities; rail and air services cover specific routes. Prices, travel times, and safety conditions depend on the transport mode, provider, location, and current road conditions.
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