(Business in Cameroon) - On October 9, 2019, French group Carrefour will open a new mall at Ekié, Yaoundé, Cameroon, in the framework of its partnership with CFAO Retail.

This would be the second Carrefour mall opened in Cameroon in less than 2 years. The first Carrefour mall was opened on December 5, 2017 at Bonamoussadi, Douala.

Besides the mall at Ekié, Carrefour-CFAO Retail is currently building another one at Ekoudou, in front of the Multi-purpose Sports Complex in Yaoundé.

According to the executive, the mall being constructed, though delayed by the “marshy ground,” should be ready in Q1, 2021. “It will be four to five times larger than the Ekié mall,” said Luc Demez, managing director of CFAO Retail Cameroun. 

Let’s note that the XAF30 billion project is the focus of a land dispute before the court. Indeed, despite the ground lease granted by the government to Carrefour-CFAO Retail, members of a family went before the court, with land deeds, claiming ownership.

“We have concluded a 35-year lease with the Cameroonian government which owns the plot. We are confident as far as the matter is concerned. In addition, our project will improve residents’ living conditions and create direct and indirect jobs,” the executive said. 

Brice R. Mbodiam