(Business in Cameroon) - In Cameroon, the coastal region’s administrative court temporarily suspended Douala-Bonaberi container terminal concession’s process. According to credible sources that revealed the information, it was at the consortium Bolloré-APMT’s request.
“This decision issued before a thorough review of the case can not stop the process,” the port’s authority (PAD) indicates. “The awarding process (…) will continue and the results are expected in mid-September 2019,” the PAD adds.
Well-informed sources indicate that the PAD will lodge an appeal in compliance with paragraph 1 of section 5 in the article 111 of law N° 2006/16/ of December 2, 2006, governing the organisation and functioning of the high court. This paragraph provides that an appeal against a conditional sentence issued against an administrative act automatically suspends that sentence.
In June 2019, the consortium Bolloré-APMT lodged a complaint before Douala administrative court to know the why it was not shortlisted in the Douala-Bonaberi container terminal concession awarding process. Indeed, Five companies have been shortlisted by the port’s authorities to replace Bolloré, which has been managing the terminal since 2005. They are CMA Terminals, Dubaï Port World, Hutchison Port Investments Ltd, Red Sea Gateway Terminal and Terminal Investment Ltd. The consortium Bolloré-APMT, whose concession contract on this container terminal will expire in December 2019, has not been shortlisted despite its application to renew its contract. The end of the judicial battle is not near.
Sylvain Andzongo