Cameroon’s Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) has disbursed more than FCFA 491.3 million in compensation to communities affected by the Bertoua Airport expansion project, marking a significant milestone in the modernisation of one of the country’s key regional airports. Between 15 and 17 July 2026, the CCAA distributed FCFA 491,338,884 to 340 beneficiaries during a compensation exercise held at the Bertoua Prefecture conference hall. The payments were made in accordance with Decree No. 2024/02597/PM of 1 July 2024, enabling the authority to secure the airport’s expanded right-of-way ahead of construction.
The compensation follows property valuation activities completed in 2022 and physical boundary demarcation undertaken in 2025. After an awareness campaign launched on 13 July, affected residents gathered to receive their compensation through a streamlined process involving identity verification, document authentication, and payment by cheque or cash, depending on the amount due
The Bertoua Airport expansion forms part of Cameroon’s national airport modernisation programme, which also includes upgrades to the secondary airports at Tiko and Kribi. Once completed, the project is expected to strengthen connectivity between the East Region and the country’s major economic centres while supporting increased investment, tourism, and regional trade. As part of the expansion, the airport’s land area has increased from 180 hectares to 729 hectares, providing sufficient space for future infrastructure development. Following the compensation exercise, affected residents have a statutory period of three months to vacate the land in accordance with Cameroon’s expropriation legislation, after which construction work is expected to commence.
