FECIS · FECIS 2026 — 2nd edition
Why does the forum focus on Cameroon’s Septentrion?
At the crossroads of Sahelian routes and CEMAC markets, the Adamawa, North and Far North regions combine farmland, natural resources, a young population and a strategic position between Central and West Africa — yet still struggle to mobilise the finance their projects need.
Capital Ngaoundéré, 63,701 km², about 1.3 million inhabitants. The country’s leading cattle region (over 2.2 million head), the Minim-Martap and Ngaoundal bauxite deposits (over one billion tonnes estimated), terminus of the Trans-Cameroon railway and a university hub (University of Ngaoundéré, ENSAI).
Capital Garoua, 66,263 km². Cotton, maize and rice; food processing accounts for 41% of regional industry. Lagdo dam, Garoua international airport, a river port, and borders with Nigeria (about 320 km), Chad (about 400 km) and the CAR.
Capital Maroua, 34,262 km², over 115 inhabitants per km². About 134,000 tonnes of seed cotton (2017/2018), over 100,000 tonnes of paddy per year on SEMRY schemes, solar irradiation above 5.8 kWh/m²/day and the Maroua – Kousséri – N’Djamena corridor.
Floods, desertification, scarcer water and pasture; weak mobilisation of finance for territorial projects; limited capacity of local authorities to structure bankable projects; poor alignment between public policy, investors and private actors.
Source and status of this information
Data: “Investment assets and opportunities in the Septentrion 2026” study (citing regional development plans and statistical yearbooks) and the FECIS 2026 terms of reference. Figures are indicative and dated according to their sources.
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