(Business in Cameroon) - The honeymoon is back on between the French logistics company, Necotrans and the consortium of Cameroonian companies gathered within KPMO (Kribi Port Multi Operators), winners of the concession contract for the management of the multi-purpose terminal at the deep water port of Kribi, built in the Southern region of Cameroon. Based on information gathered from reliable sources, the two partners just concluded negotiations for the creation of a company named TPK, through which the above-mentioned infrastructure would be managed.

The distribution of the capital of this new company should be, according to our sources, based on the terms of the alliance agreed in 2013 between the two partners (a 51% shareholding for Necotrans and 49% for KPMO). Upon observation, the conclusion of these negotiations is closely linked to the appointment, at the end of 2016, of the Cameroonian businessman Mouctar Hamadama, as President of the Board of the Cameroonian subsidiary of Necotrans. The latter had the mission of negotiating with “his brothers” from the KPMO consortium, to find common ground to create and operate the company in charge of managing the multi-purpose terminal at the deep water port of Kribi.

An especially difficult mission as, after being declared winner of the concession contract, in August 2015, the Necotrans-KPMO group somewhat shattered last year. In a correspondence addressed to the Cameroonian administrative authorities at the end of 2016, KPMO, consortium gathering nine local operators who altogether claim over 50% of the operations taking place at the Douala port; denounced the hegemonic actions of their partner Necotrans. The French company was accused of having started private negotiations with some members of KPMO, for the consortium to break up, to better control the management of the multi-purpose terminal.

Brice R. Mbodiam