Cameroon green-lights R6bn in external borrowing to cover treasury gaps
Cameroon's finance minister has been authorised to raise up to 200-billion CFA francs (R6.18bn) from international financial markets to shore up government cash flows for fiscal year 2025, according to a presidential decree.
Kelly Mua Kingsly, head of finance operations of the state at Cameroon's ministry of finance, told Reuters on Wednesday that the government would consider using several market instruments, but most likely syndicated loans.
"This is most likely given the urgency and nature of liquidity needs. It is also attractive due to shorter structuring time and flexible drawdown options," Kingsly said.
In addition, he said concessional or semi-concessional loans suitable for budget support components and assimilable treasury bonds or treasury bills on the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) market could also be considered.
Eurobonds were less likely, he said, due to high global interest rates, low sovereign credit ratings and lower appetite from international capital markets for frontier markets in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and during a period of geopolitical risk.
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But for millions of South Africans choking on coal pollution and struggling with soaring electricity costs, that balance feels dangerously skewed. The question remains: Will Eskom clean up its act—or will South Africans pay the price for its failure? Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
