US Consulate closure in Douala: A Risk to Cooperation between Cameroon and the United States

Announced as an austerity measure by the Trump administration, the closure is part of a broader program of budget streamlining at the State Department, supported by the new Department of Government Effectiveness headed by Elon Musk. According to an internal document obtained by CNN, a total of 10 embassies and 17 consulates are affected worldwide. In Africa, the embassies are those of the Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Eritrea, Gambia, Lesotho, and South Sudan, while the targeted consulates are those in Durban, South Africa, and Douala, Cameroon.

A blow to bilateral cooperation

In Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital, the consulate does more than just issue visas. It is a key player in security, economic, and cultural cooperation between the two countries. The closure of this representation would significantly weaken this strategic relationship, particularly in the tense regional context of the Gulf of Guinea and the fight against violent extremism.
The consequences are to be anticipated in the economic and security spheres. Many American companies operating in Cameroon rely on the consulate in Douala to facilitate administrative procedures, guarantee legal protection for their citizens, or initiate local partnerships. Its closure would slow investment and weaken trade, while seriously impacting the business environment.
On the security front, cooperation in the fight against terrorism, particularly in Cameroon’s Far North, could be weakened by the distance from operational diplomatic channels. The Douala representation allows for seamless exchanges between U.S. and Cameroonian authorities, essential for information sharing, training, and logistical support.

Expected regional and continental repercussions

In the absence of representation in Douala, Cameroonian citizens wishing to travel to the United States would have to turn to other U.S. embassies in the sub-region, requiring lengthy and costly procedures. For many Cameroonians, the cost of a simple visa (currently $185 for a tourist visa) is already a significant obstacle. Having to travel abroad to obtain the document would further exacerbate economic exclusion.

But beyond the individual impact, the image of the United States in Africa could be tarnished. By reducing its diplomatic footprint on the continent, the United States is sending a contradictory signal to its rhetoric about strategic partnership with Africa. Cameroon, one of the pivotal countries in Central Africa, would see its relationship with Washington relegated to the background to the benefit of diplomatic solutions favourable to Yaoundé.

A disengagement decision?

The decision to close consulates like the one in Douala reflects a desire for strategic refocusing by the United States, to the detriment of its role as an engaged partner on the African continent. In an increasingly multipolar world, where other powers like China and Russia are strengthening their diplomatic presence, such a withdrawal could cost Washington dearly in terms of influence.
Although the project remains on hold pending confirmation, it should be noted that if this decision is ratified, it would mark a major shift in Cameroon-United States relations, and possibly in the place Africa occupies in American diplomacy, and later vice versa.

By Yves Modeste NGUE