Cameroon under pressure after the registration of 37 tankers suspected of belonging to the Russian 'phantom fleet'

Cameroon is under scrutiny from European partners following the registration of 37 tankers linked to the Russian maritime registry. These registrations, concentrated mainly in three ports, have seen a significant increase since late 2025, with a peak in January and February 2026. Observers fear that the Cameroonian registry may be used to circumvent sanctions on Russian hydrocarbon exports.