Cameroon’s main seaport in Douala has become a hotspot for illegal exports from West and Central Africa, with criminal networks exploiting the port’s strategic location to traffic illicit goods to international markets.
In May 2023, a routine shipment of timber from the Central African Republic to China was stamped by a customs official in Douala. However, the company behind the export, Wood International Group, is part of a network of concerns operated by the Wagner Group, a notorious Russian private military enterprise. The United States has placed Wood International Group under sanctions due to its ties to Wagner.
Wagner operates in a grey zone between legal and illegal economies, deploying mercenaries to African countries in exchange for access to natural resources like gold and diamonds. Wagner-linked companies have been exploiting these resources using illegal means, with Douala serving as a hub for importing equipment and exporting goods such as timber.
Despite efforts by Cameroon to combat illegal logging, a recent investigation found a troubling increase in cases of illicit timber passing through Douala. The port has long been a major thoroughfare for illegal timber from Cameroon and neighboring countries, laundered through legal logging companies operating near major ports like Douala and Kribi.
Analysis of trade data between Cameroon, China, and Vietnam from 2013-2018 revealed a significant gap of US$1.099 billion, indicating a large volume of undeclared or illegal trade in timber.
Douala, as the main seaport and economic capital of Cameroon, handles nearly 85% of the country’s international trade. Criminal networks exploit the port’s strategic location as a transit route between West and Central Africa and global markets, despite security reforms in recent years.
The exploitation of transport hubs like ports by criminal networks is a global issue, with seaports carrying the majority of global trade. Ports are vulnerable to infiltration by criminal networks seeking access to global markets, as seen in Douala and other ports globally.
While security reforms have improved oversight in the Port of Douala, vulnerabilities persist, with corruption undermining physical security improvements. Strengthening the human side of port management, improving accountability, and working conditions are essential to combat exploitation by organized criminals in ports across Africa.
The lessons learned from Douala can be applied to other ports and infrastructure facing similar challenges, highlighting the importance of addressing both technical and human aspects of port management to combat illicit activities.
