Douala and Yaoundé, the two largest cities in Cameroon with more than 5 million inhabitants, do not have an efficient transport system. However, unlike Douala where the Cameroonian Urban Transport Company (Socatur) is resisting despite a drastic reduction in its services, in Yaoundé, it has been more than 2 years since there have been any companies operating in the transport sector. urban mass transport by bus. The successive failures of the companies Le Bus and Stecy SA left the market completely unexploited, even if in February 2024, the urban community of Yaoundé decided to turn to the company Salem Tours Mfoundi (STM) for the operation of a network urban transport by bus. Which makes this company the new concessionaire of this type of transport in the capital.
Scania jokers
However, in the corridors of the ministries, an offer is being refined which could shake up the STM monopoly or help it maintain a transport offer perfectly suited to the city. Indeed, since 2022, the Swedish heavy goods vehicle and coach manufacturer Scania has been walking the corridors of power in Cameroon, in order to obtain government agreement for the implementation of rapid and less polluting transport solutions, with equipment that meets the expectations of the population. After an interview in April 2022 with Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, François Lechat, West Africa LTD director of Scania was with the Prime Minister on April 4, 2024.It was about obtaining the blessing of the Prime Minister, head of government, on the project that we proposed to the State of Cameroon. This is a sustainable transport and urban mobility project for Yaoundé and Douala», declared the French official after his interview with Joseph Dion Ngute. According to our colleagues from Cameroon Tribune, “The offer includes 600 buses for Yaoundé and Douala, but also bus servicing and maintenance services, drivers and operators».
Collaboration framework
However, the framework for collaboration between the State and Scania has not been specified. The Swedish manufacturer could sign agreements with the urban communities of Yaoundé and Douala for the supply of vehicles, associated products, related services and benefits for the benefit of the urban mass transport concessionaire in these metropolises. It is also this type of agreement that its West African branch signed on March 29, 2024 with the town hall of Ouagadougou. The agreement signed between the two institutions will allow this urban community to acquire thirty-four (34) 13-meter buses; a service van; the training of 90 technicians from the Public Transport Company (Sotraco) in Ghana; delivery of spare parts and equipment tools; an inspection visit to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, place of bus production and after-sales service. Total cost of the project, 6.8 billion FCFA.
Scania’s advocacy with the Cameroonian authorities could also lead to its contracting as the main partner of the cities of Yaoundé and Douala in the development of their Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project for which the two cities have obtained financing from the Bank. world and the European Union. Indeed, on its website Scania highlights its expertise in BRT and its financing, but also in the supply of buses adapted to this type of project. “Thanks to our long experience in network planning and infrastructure, we can support our clients in all stages of their project through our consulting firm. We can help you define the best ticket distribution solution and support you in defining the concept and choosing the supplier. We also offer financing solutions that adapt to your activity“, they indicated.
