Power outages in Cameroon: when darkness disrupts everything ⚡️

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In Cameroon, power outages are no longer just a minor inconvenience—they’ve become a daily reality. Nowadays, people simply say, « We deal with it, » like any good Cameroonian. Between unexpected blackouts, poorly explained load shedding, and damaged appliances, Cameroonians are growing used to the uncertainty that looms over every part of the day. The electrical grid often seems unable to keep up, leaving behind frustration and anger. Yet this situation persists and is deeply changing people’s everyday habits.

A daily life ruled by blackouts 🌑

Unpredictable outages, unannounced load shedding, extended blackouts… For many Cameroonians, these are part of everyday life. In Yaoundé, Douala, and even smaller towns, the situation feels like a constant burden. No one is getting used to it. Users constantly complain about disruptions that seriously affect their work and well-being.

“Every time there’s a storm, we know it’s over. One time, I was watching a live show, and everything just shut off. I couldn’t recover the video. It happens way too often,” shares Dorothée, a resident of Yaoundé.

Power cuts have very real consequences: burned-out appliances, damaged electronics, and spoiled food. Households—often unprepared for such sudden voltage changes—are the first victims.

“I lost two fridges because of power surges. I don’t even have the strength to fix them anymore, it’s just too expensive. The power goes off and comes back randomly, over and over again. We’re exhausted,” explains Roger.

Remote workers left in the dark 💻

With the rise of remote work, power outages are also disrupting productivity. Freelancers and employees working for international companies struggle to keep up with the irregular power supply.

“In the middle of an online meeting, the power went out. I not only lost a whole day’s work, but also disrupted my colleagues. It’s not the first time. When this keeps happening, even your employer stops taking you seriously. You feel embarrassed, but to really understand, you have to be a Cameroonian living in Cameroon,” says Valérie, a freelancer.

Solutions aren’t always within reach. Some turn to generators or external batteries, but not everyone can afford such equipment.

Students studying… by phone light 📉

Local businesses—especially small and medium-sized ones—are particularly vulnerable to these outages. Vendors who depend on electricity to operate see their income plummet every time the power goes out.

“I sell fish. These constant blackouts have already made me lose over 100 kg of stock. The power can be off for days. You can’t make a profit like that. It’s constant loss. I got a generator, but even the fuel is expensive,” complains Aline, a vendor.

Moreover, students find it difficult to keep up with school when there’s no electricity.

“The power cut happened while I was studying for an exam. I had to prepare for my defense, but with no electricity, I couldn’t work. I lost valuable hours,” recounts Léonard, a student.

Students resort to temporary solutions—reading by candlelight, using solar lamps, or going to cafés and cyber cafés. But these are far from sustainable.

Cameroonians continue to live with this issue, more or less resigned. Some find workarounds like generators or solar panels, but for most people, managing outages is a daily struggle. The question remains: will the government and energy companies finally implement lasting solutions to stabilize the grid and ensure a reliable power supply?

🗣️ Your turn to speak!
What damage have power cuts caused you?