The trade corridor connecting Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria is facing severe insecurity challenges, threatening the economies of the region. Kidnappings, assassinations, and attacks have surged along Cameroon's national highway linking Yaoundé to Kousséri, the northern border town with Chad. Boko Haram factions target passengers and freight trucks almost daily, despite a heavy military presence. The 2026 rainy season has further exacerbated the situation, with poor road conditions posing a significant threat to travel and commerce.
The Maroua-Kousséri-N'Djamena corridor serves as a lifeline for landlocked Chad, Nigerian exporters, and Cameroonian communities living along this stretch of road. Cameroon’s Douala port is vital for Chad’s supply lines, with trade between the two countries dependent on goods moving from the port to N'Djamena. The informal sector, valued at over CFA 174 billion (US$303 million) for Cameroon, is dominated by foodstuffs and livestock. This highlights the significance of the trade corridor for the regional economy.
Insecurity has intensified along this route due to collaboration between criminals and terrorists in kidnapping and human trafficking. The influx of weapons and ammunition in the region has fueled this crime. Opportunists collude with Boko Haram factions and pass on information about potential targets. For instance, on 14 August 2025, suspected Boko Haram fighters abducted 11 coach passengers near Zigagué on the Maroua-Kousséri route. They were freed a week later following a Cameroonian military incursion into Nigeria and the arrest of local accomplices.
Interviews with former hostages and ex-fighters reveal that in the Mora-Waza area, groups of armed bandits, blending in with the local community, kidnap people and sell them on to the Jama'atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda'Awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) Boko Haram faction. JAS then demands ransom from the victims' relatives. This suggests a shift from kidnapping to human trafficking, a more complex activity involving both criminals and terrorists.
Renewed insurgency has also contributed to growing security threats. Since January 2025, several high-profile attacks by the Islamic State West Africa Province on military posts along the national highway have caused heavy material and human losses for Cameroon's army. These setbacks created opportunities for kidnapping and banditry to expand. Traders are forced to use longer, more costly routes that can damage vehicles and delay deliveries.
Poor road conditions, especially during the June-October rainy season, facilitate ambushes because travelers can sometimes spend days traversing distances of less than 300 km. Beyond worsening security, regional economic problems are directly impacting Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria. Reduced cross-border trade represents a huge loss for national economies, as travelers, traders, and transporters are forced to use longer, more costly routes.
Efforts to alleviate the difficulties encountered on alternative routes, particularly through Chad, are necessary. This includes reducing checkpoints and roadside harassment. The construction of the 280 km Maga-Kousséri road embankment, announced in 2013, would allow traffic to bypass the site of Boko Haram's attacks. If these road links proved viable, they would reduce the risks and provide economic opportunities for the surrounding communities.
Key points
- Insecurity on the Cameroon-Chad trade corridor is fueled by collaboration between criminals and terrorists.
- Poor road conditions and renewed insurgency have contributed to growing security threats.
- Efforts to rehabilitate the Mora-Kousséri section of the highway and reduce checkpoints are necessary to alleviate economic difficulties.
