Arbitral Ruling Against the State
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington has officially ordered the State of Cameroon to pay a global package of 50 billion CFA francs (€78.5 million) to the Italian construction firm, Gruppo Piccini. The milestone ruling, finalized on September 4, 2026, concludes that Cameroon was guilty of the illegal expropriation and unjust treatment of its former partner.
Financial Details and Slashed Claims
- The Judgment: The tribunal ordered Cameroon to pay a principal damage sum of 17 billion CFA francs, which escalates to over 50 billion CFA francs once all accumulated court fees and legal interest are included.
- The Initial Demand: Although the verdict is a major blow to public finances, the final fine is significantly lower than the 250 billion CFA francs originally demanded by the Italian group for the prejudice suffered.
- The Origin: The bitter legal battle began back in November 2019 when the Cameroonian Ministry of Sports abruptly evicted Piccini from the 60,000-seat Olembé Stadium construction site in Yaoundé and handed the project over to Canadian firm Magil Construction.
Stalled Infrastructure and Appeals
The judicial ruling highlights ongoing systemic flaws in the management of Cameroon’s large-scale public infrastructure projects. The iconic stadium, which partially opened to host matches for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), has been at a complete standstill since 2022. State authorities have already expressed a firm intention to lodge an appeal with the ICSID and launch secondary counter-proceedings to contest the heavy fine.
