Local taxation: As delays penalize municipalities, Paul Biya orders effective transfers

Paul Biya has instructed the government to ensure that tax revenues collected for municipalities and regions are effectively transferred to them in 2027. The directive appears in point 20 of the state budget preparation circular, signed on October 12, 2026, which also calls for more predictable transfers to decentralized local authorities. The tax revenues concerned were forecast at 603.6 billion CFA francs for 2026. The order comes as the government acknowledges difficulties in transferring these resources to local authorities.