Insurance in Cameroon

Cameroon’s insurance system follows the regional CIMA framework and the CIMA Code. The Commission Régionale de Contrôle des Assurances (CRCA) provides regional supervision, while the Ministry of Finance, through the DGTCFM and DNA, acts as the national regulatory and supervisory relay. The Conseil des Ministres de la CIMA sets regional norms, and OHADA rules may apply to related business matters. Insurers, brokers, agents and technical experts require the relevant approval or authorisation. Private insurance is divided mainly into IARD and Vie/Capitalisation. IARD products cover risks such as motor third-party liability, fire, accidents, transport, property, agricultural activity and other liabilities. Vie/Capitalisation products cover life, death and savings-related risks. Individual accident, group and microinsurance products are also available through approved companies, but access, product scope and premiums depend on the insurer, contract and applicant’s risk. There is no single nationwide ranking of private products or premiums. Motor third-party liability insurance is compulsory for every natural or legal person who owns or operates a vehicle, except the State, including trailers and semi-trailers. The cover protects the vehicle owner, driver or custodian, passengers and the owner of damaged property according to the applicable rules. The vehicle should carry the insurance certificate and detachable certificate. The State and CIMA minimum tariff framework influence motor premiums; other private premiums usually depend on the covered risk, insured amount, duration, deductible and exclusions. CNPS is Cameroon’s public social insurance institution. Its statutory protection has three main branches: family benefits, old-age, invalidity and death pensions, known as PVID, and occupational accidents and diseases, known as AT/MP. Affiliation is compulsory for private-sector employees and certain other categories. The main CNPS presentation does not include general health insurance or unemployment insurance. Self-employed workers and people in the informal sector can use voluntary insurance, currently limited to PVID. For 2025, CNPS contribution rates are 7% for family benefits in the general and domestic regime, 5.65% in agriculture and 3.70% in private education. The PVID rate is 8.4%, split equally between employer and employee. AT/MP rates are 1.75% for risk class A, 2.5% for class B and 5% for class C, paid by the employer. Family-benefit and PVID contributions use a monthly salary ceiling of 750,000 FCFA, or 9,000,000 FCFA annually; AT/MP contributions have no ceiling. The minimum contribution base is 45,000 FCFA per month in agriculture and 60,000 FCFA in other sectors. Employers make the total payment, including the employee share, and declare and pay monthly within the CNPS deadline. A voluntary CNPS contributor pays 8.4% of declared income. After 180 months of contributions, the person can apply for a pension from age 50; each additional contribution period above 180 months adds one percentage point to the calculation rate. With fewer than 180 months, the rules provide for a lump-sum payment. Beneficiaries follow the order spouse, minor children under 21 and parents. Access is available through CNPS centres, banks, microfinance institutions, Orange Money, Mobile Money and cards. CNPS has 39 centres across Cameroon’s 10 regions. To buy private cover, the customer normally contacts an approved insurer, broker or agent, describes the risk and receives a proposal and conditions. The insurer then issues a policy, cover note or certificate after the premium arrangement. The policy should identify the parties and insured object or person, covered risks, start date, duration, insured amount, premium and payment terms, renewal, duties, claim reporting, payment period, assessment, limitation period and termination procedure. Exclusions and forfeiture clauses require close attention. Contracts and microinsurance documents use an official language, with a local-language translation possible for microinsurance. Payment to an intermediary against the contractual documents can preserve coverage even if the intermediary fails to transfer the money to the insurer. The insured must provide accurate risk information, report material changes or an increased risk, pay premiums on time, notify claims within the policy rules, provide supporting evidence and take reasonable steps to limit damage. The insurer must provide the policy, maintain the agreed cover and pay within the contractual period. A policy does not automatically remove responsibility for a new loss merely because the contract has ended or cover has been suspended; the timing and circumstances of the loss remain decisive. A claim normally starts with the insurer or broker and includes the policy, certificate, evidence of the loss and any required police, authority or expert documents. Victims of motor accidents may contact the insurer directly. Under CIMA rules, certain exclusions and forfeiture clauses cannot be enforced against injured third parties; the insurer may pay the victim and later seek reimbursement from the responsible party. When the responsible vehicle is unknown or uninsured, the Fonds de Garantie Automobile may apply. It is separate from CNPS, and current local contact and procedure details require confirmation. A dispute usually goes first to the insurer or broker, then to the DNA or MINFI for supervision or litigation matters, and finally, where appropriate, to the CIMA Secretariat-General or CRCA. Contractual claims generally have a two-year limitation period from the triggering event. Claims concerning life insurance and beneficiaries in accidental death generally have a ten-year period, while motor non-contractual liability claims can have a maximum five-year period from the accident. Changing or ending cover depends on the policy and the CIMA Code. Ordinary cancellation after one year generally requires registered letter at least two months before the due date, but exceptions include individual health, construction, certain non-private and life insurance contracts. A change of residence, occupation, retirement or marital status can allow cancellation within three months, effective one month after receipt, with the unused premium portion returned. After a vehicle sale, cover is suspended from the fifth day, cancellation can follow with ten days’ notice, and the contract ends automatically after six months; the sale should be reported to the insurer. The specific life-insurance rules do not follow the vehicle and ordinary-risk rules described above.