Cameroon's main weakness, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), remains the soundness of its banking system in the face of money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT) risks. In its annual consultation published on March 30, 2026, the IMF indicates that this vulnerability could permanently compromise growth financing.

The Cameroonian economy is now called upon to rely more heavily on its banks to support investment. However, the IMF warns that "this financial intermediation remains exposed to structural weaknesses, amplified by the country's persistent presence on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list".

Since June 2023, this classification has signaled to international markets deficiencies in the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework. As of October 2025, 13 of the 24 actions required by the FATF had still not been implemented. For the IMF, the stakes far exceed regulatory compliance. It is a key factor in country risk perception, directly impacting Cameroonian banks.

Local institutions are subject to increased scrutiny from their foreign partners, in a context where the slightest internal control failure can lead to breakdowns in financial relationships. This results in a diminished capacity to support businesses and channel investment flows.

This fragility is also combined with a slowdown in credit to the private sector. After an estimated increase of 12.3% in 2024, this is expected to fall to 11.2% in 2025, before a moderate recovery in 2026, conditional on reforms deemed "decisive and sustained". However, the projected growth, 3.3% in 2026 and 4.6% in the medium term, relies precisely on an increase in investment, particularly in infrastructure and the mining sector.