[Digital Business Africa] – Cameroon is accelerating its transition toward an assertive digital sovereignty. On the occasion of the “Cloud Days” organized by Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL) at the Zamengoe Data Center, public authorities and digital sector stakeholders laid the foundations for a strategic repositioning: better regulation of data exploitation, reduced dependence on foreign cloud providers, and the structuring of a local ecosystem aligned with new regulatory requirements.
Data: A New Lever for Competitiveness and Sovereignty
In a context marked by the widespread adoption of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital services, data has become a strategic asset. It determines business performance, state security, and the innovative capacity of economies.
However, as in many African countries, a significant share of Cameroonian data is still hosted outside the continent. This situation exposes local organizations to legal and strategic risks, particularly in the face of extraterritorial legislation such as the U.S. Cloud Act.
For CAMTEL, the objective is now clear: to regain legal, technical, and economic control over national data.
A New Law to Structure the Market
Law No. 2024/017 of 23 December 2024 on the protection of personal data forms the cornerstone of this strategy. It significantly modernizes Cameroon’s regulatory framework and brings the country closer to international standards, notably the European GDPR.
The law imposes strengthened obligations on companies, public administrations, and digital platforms: lawful grounds for data processing, transparency toward users, information system security, and internal data governance. The sanctions provided for—up to one billion CFA francs—reflect the authorities’ determination to ensure effective compliance.
Cloud, Data Localization, and New Trade-offs
One of the most sensitive issues concerns international data transfers. Cameroonian regulations now strictly govern cross-border data flows and encourage local hosting, particularly for sensitive data related to health, public finances, biometrics, and telecommunications.
For companies using international cloud solutions, these requirements imply new trade-offs: partial data relocation, contract renegotiation, reliance on local data centers, or the adoption of so-called “sovereign cloud” offerings.
In the long term, this movement could stimulate investment in national digital infrastructure.
Cybersecurity: A Catalyst for Reform
The strengthening of regulation comes amid several major cyber incidents in Cameroon. Ransomware attacks, leaks of sensitive data, and service outages have highlighted the vulnerabilities of many organizations.
The law now introduces a mandatory data breach notification requirement, increasing pressure on companies to invest in cybersecurity, staff training, and digital risk management.
A Highly Anticipated Regulatory Authority
The creation of an independent National Data Protection Authority is a central pillar of the framework. Responsible for authorizing, monitoring, and sanctioning, it will play a key role in the effective enforcement of the law and the credibility of the regulatory environment.
For market participants, the authority’s resources, independence, and operational capacity will be critical to avoiding legal uncertainty.
Compliance: Constraint or Business Opportunity?
While compliance represents a short-term cost, it is also viewed as an opportunity to structure the market. The development of local data centers, compliance services, managed cybersecurity, and sovereign cloud solutions are all segments likely to benefit from the new regulatory landscape.
For both authorities and operators, the challenge lies in transforming regulatory constraints into a driver of digital competitiveness.
A Strategic Shift to Be Confirmed
With this reform, Cameroon is demonstrating strong political will to make data a pillar of its digital and economic strategy. The legal framework is in place, infrastructure is beginning to follow, but success will depend on execution, public–private coordination, and the market’s ability to adapt.
For Cameroon, data sovereignty is no longer a theoretical concept. It is becoming a structuring project for the national digital business ecosystem.
Written by Digital Business Africa
