The Cameroonian government, in collaboration with the Société Immobilière du Cameroun (SIC), is launching a bold initiative to better channel real estate investments from its diaspora. On May 19, 2026, the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella, and the Director-General of SIC, Ahmadou Sardaouna, formalized a memorandum of understanding in Yaoundé, marking the launch of the Diaspora-SIC project.
This strategic partnership aims to direct a significant portion of the savings of Cameroonians living abroad towards the national real estate sector. The agreement lays the foundation for close cooperation between the Ministry of External Relations and SIC, to promote the public company's real estate projects internationally and to mobilize technical and financial partners through the Cameroonian diplomatic network.
MINREX will rely on its network of embassies and consulates to present SIC projects abroad. Focal points will be designated in certain geographical areas to facilitate exchanges with the diaspora, and promotional events, such as "SIC Real Estate Weeks," will be organized within diplomatic missions.
For its part, SIC is committed to creating an international catalog of real estate products, accessible via a secure digital platform. The public company will also ensure rigorous monitoring of project execution, the production of periodic reports, and active participation in the joint committee responsible for steering the implementation of the agreement.
Trust is a key element of this program. To reassure investors, several security mechanisms are being put in place: foreign currency escrow accounts, staggered payments based on the progress of the work, compliance with international standards for combating money laundering, and the possibility of issuing real estate bonds for the diaspora.
This initiative responds to a major concern of Cameroonians abroad, who fear land disputes, unfinished projects, and the unreliability of intermediaries in the local real estate market. SIC aims to become a trusted institutional partner, capable of securing transactions and restoring confidence in real estate investments.
Beyond the sale of housing, this project has significant macroeconomic implications. Remittances from Cameroonians abroad represent a considerable source of financing, estimated at 650 billion FCFA in 2025, but are mainly used for current consumption. The goal is to transform a portion of these funds into structuring investments, by supporting housing production, expanding sources of financing for the economy, and creating jobs and tax revenues.
Cameroon faces a housing deficit estimated at 2.5 million units. The success of Diaspora-SIC will depend on its ability to offer verifiable guarantees, meet deadlines, provide secure titles, and ensure full transparency on the proposed projects. The country must demonstrate that the savings of its diaspora can be invested in real estate safely.
