Cameroon has already set up working groups to take a closer look at Tripoli’s offer, while the proposal stirs debate over what a direct Tripoli-Yaoundé route could mean for travellers, trade and regional aviation.
Why the Libyan proposal is generating debate in Yaoundé
The prospect of a direct air service between Cameroon and Libya is no longer a distant talking point. On 23 September 2026, Cameroon’s Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Masséna Ngallè Bibehè, received a Libyan delegation led by Adel Shawi, Chargé d’affaires at Libya’s embassy in Cameroon. Their talks centred on the possibility of opening an air route linking the two countries.
Cameroon’s response: working groups and closer scrutiny
Yaoundé welcomed the initiative but chose a cautious path. The government proposed setting up working groups that would bring together the relevant officials to examine in depth the various issues tied to reactivating this cooperation. Both sides also intend to step up the preliminary steps and identify practical ways to move the project forward.
A signal of openness, with conditions
Cameroon has signalled it is ready to support initiatives that could strengthen air links between Yaoundé and Tripoli. The same approach is seen as a way to reinforce economic and logistical cooperation between the two countries.
The wider context: Libya’s gradual return to the skies
The timing is notable. On 17 September 2026, Libyan carrier MesSky operated its first direct flight connecting Tripoli to Paris, with a service from Benghazi also planned. That restart comes as Libya reopens progressively on the aviation front, even though security risks continue to weigh on its air transport sector.
What comes next for the Tripoli-Yaoundé project
For now, the focus is on technical groundwork rather than a launch date. The working groups are expected to assess the practical requirements, while public debate continues over how quickly a direct route could become a reality and what it would deliver for Cameroon.
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