By Nformi Ngi Jones Tamfu
The economic capital of Cameroon, Douala, was the scene of a major development for regional cooperation and citizen welfare on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, as the new headquarters of the CEMAC National Bureau of the “Carte Rose CEMAC” (Pink Card) (BNCR) was officially inaugurated.
Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze, presided over the ceremony, marking the completion of an impressive facility that cost over 2.5 billion FCFA. The structure represents a significant joint investment between the supervisory authority and various stakeholders in the insurance industry, underscoring a commitment by both public and private sectors to enhance infrastructure for better service delivery in the Region.
During his address, Minister Motaze powerfully articulated the critical function of the new building. “In situations of distress experienced by victims of accidents involving foreign drivers, this location must be the first resort, the place where the State materializes, where administrative justice takes shape, and where community solidarity is realised,” he stated.
The Minister’s remarks emphasized the facility’s role in providing immediate support and assistance to accident victims, reinforcing the state’s dedication to safeguarding the rights and welfare of its citizens in times of need.
Minister Motaze also took the opportunity to clarify the BNCR’s specific operational limits within the legal framework.
“The national bureau is not the insurer of the civilly responsible party. It cannot be subject to joint seizures by simple assimilation, because the Republic never confuses the guarantee of the system with contractual responsibility.”
This statement affirms the government’s commitment to a clear legal understanding, delineating the bureau’s responsibilities from those of contractual insurers.
The CEMAC Pink Card is more than just an insurance tool; it is the embodiment of a legal framework established by the Heads of State of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) on July 1, 1996. Its primary goal is to ensure the seamless movement of people and goods across the six-member states.
Holders of the Pink Card, who are insured in their home country, can now traverse all CEMAC member states without the necessity of securing additional insurance in each territory. This initiative significantly facilitates regional integration and makes travel safer and more efficient for citizens and businesses.
Pierre Didier Ngoumou, the Permanent Secretary of the BNCR-CEMAC, reinforced this view, commenting, “This card falls within the more general framework of free movement in the CEMAC zone; in this way, it constitutes an instrument of economic and social integration.
He proceeded to emphasize several challenges encountered, particularly the issue of fraudulent activities, which include the fabrication of medical certificates, sometimes with the complicity of certain uniformed officers and healthcare professionals. He indicated that this complicates their work significantly; however, they have developed a meticulous approach to scrutinizing all documents submitted to them in order to reduce errors.
He also emphasized instances involving fabricated victims, where reports of severely ill individuals are presented for review. Upon requesting to meet the alleged victim in person, it becomes clear that all the claims made about them were false. In response to this, we require that victims provide their identification documents.
To maintain the system’s security and integrity, each CEMAC state established its own National Bureau. Cameroon’s Bureau was created on May 3, 1999, with a substantial public guarantee of 20 billion FCFA, highlighting the state’s unwavering commitment to user protection.
The vision for a modern headquarters began in 2005. Construction started in 2021 and was completed in 2024. The total financial outlay for the project was FCFA 2,608,937,912.
FCFA 892,574,329 was contributed by non-life insurance companies.
The remaining FCFA 1,716,363,583 was financed using reserves accumulated from the Pink Card’s operational funds, showcasing a model of financial sustainability.
Operating as a public entity, the Pink Card system will now better prioritize and streamline the management of cross-border claims, ensuring efficiency and swift payments to victims by responsible insurance companies, thereby fostering trust within the sector and supporting regional cohesion.
Richard Lowe, Founder and President of one of the leading Cameroonian insurance company Activa, speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Pink Card (Carte Rose CEMAC) national headquarters in Douala, emphasized the system’s vital role in fostering regional integration and facilitating the free movement of people and goods within the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) zone.
The newly established building will serve as Cameroon’s strategic hub for the regional initiative, mirroring similar national headquarters set up across all CEMAC member countries.
Mr. Lowe explained that the Pink Card system is an agreement designed to ensure that drivers traveling across CEMAC borders are fully covered in the event of an accident in a neighbouring country.
“If a driver travels from Cameroon to Gabon and is involved in an accident while there, the insurance provider from Cameroon should be able to compensate the affected parties in Gabon, and vice versa,” Mr. Lowe clarified. “This encapsulates the purpose of the Pink Card. Its aim is to enhance mobility across all member countries of the CEMAC zone.”
The Douala headquarters will specifically handle claims related to accidents involving Cameroonian drivers within other CEMAC states, including Chad, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. Conversely, the national offices of those member countries will process claims for accidents involving their citizens within Cameroon.
Lowe was careful to point out that the Pink Card Building is not an insurance company itself, but a crucial facilitating mechanism for cross-border travel. Its existence allows people to travel within the sub-region without the concern of lacking insurance coverage after an accident.
To benefit from this system, drivers in Cameroon who have settled their regular insurance premium are required to pay a small additional fee of 1,000 CFA francs for the Pink Card. “This system ensures that we can traverse the CEMAC zone confidently, backed by insurance coverage,” Lowe concluded, confirming the card’s nominal cost, making it easily accessible for all drivers.
