Cameroon has discussed an overhaul of its ship-registration system with the United States as it seeks to curb fraudulent use of its flag, including by tankers linked by European authorities to Russia’s sanctions-evading shadow fleet.

Transport Minister Jean Ernest Masséna Ngalle Bibehe held talks with John G. Robinson, interim head of mission at the US embassy in Cameroon, in Yaoundé on July 27.

The two sides discussed vessels fraudulently claiming Cameroonian registration and reform of the country’s ship registry, as well as public-health screening at Yaoundé-Nsimalen and Douala international airports, and a planned bilateral strategic economic dialogue.

Cameroon’s transport ministry said a draft framework governing ship registration and registry management had been ready since April and was awaiting validation.

The government suspended new ship registrations in February after uncovering irregular registrations carried out through unauthorised channels.

The ministry said Cameroon was working with the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the European Union to identify and deregister vessels fraudulently claiming the country’s flag.

A Cameroonian government letter to the International Maritime Organization said an investigation had found that several vessels were unlawfully using the flag and that two websites had fraudulently assigned Cameroonian registration, Reuters reported.

Cameroon subsequently removed 39 vessels from its registry, according to the report. Several tankers inspected or detained by European authorities had continued to display the Cameroonian flag despite lacking valid registration.

European governments have stepped up action against vessels suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet, which uses opaque ownership structures, frequent flag changes and limited Western insurance to transport sanctioned oil.

Russia-linked oil tankers have increasingly turned to African registries as established flag states tightened sanctions compliance, while some vessels have also used fraudulent African registration documents. The ships are rarely African-owned or operated and often use opaque shell companies, repeatedly change names and flags, and sail without recognised Western insurance to obscure their ownership, cargoes and movements.

Cameroon has become a prominent example. European military sources told Reuters that the Nelsa, Oneiroi and Sandhya, three tankers inspected in 2026, were using fraudulent Cameroonian registration. Nine other vessels had been seized by European navies since the start of the year, including five displaying Cameroon’s flag.

France also detained the Deliver after it continued to fly the Cameroonian flag despite having been removed from the country’s registry, leaving it effectively stateless.

An Italian-led EU naval mission boarded another sanctioned tanker, the Toa Payoh, on August 2 after it switched to the Cameroonian registry days earlier. Inspectors sought to determine whether its flag documents were valid as the vessel sailed from Benin towards Istanbul.

Other African registries have also appeared in Russia-linked shipping networks. US sanctions have identified Gabon-flagged and Sierra Leone-flagged tankers as part of Russia’s shadow fleet.

Reuters reported in 2024 that dozens of vessels linked to Russian state shipping company Sovcomflot had shifted to Gabon’s registry, mainly from Liberia and Panama, as sanctions enforcement tightened.

The International Maritime Organization has circulated 2026 communications from Cameroon, Gabon, Botswana, Tanzania, Guinea, Comoros, Zimbabwe and Madagascar concerning registration or fraudulent use of their flags.

Fraudulent registration can prevent flag states from exercising jurisdiction over vessels operating in their name, damage their reputations and leave ships outside recognised safety and environmental standards.

The UAE barred Cameroon-flagged vessels from its ports in 2024 unless they held top-tier safety certification, Reuters reported.

Cameroon’s transport ministry said it was cooperating with international authorities to enforce maritime rules, protect the credibility of its registry and combat fraudulent registrations.

Cameroon and the US are due to hold a strategic economic dialogue on August 27 focused on improving the business environment and identifying bilateral trade and investment opportunities, with the transport ministry expected to participate.