Solange Flore Yango has been appointed General Manager of the Douala Port Authority’s Timber Terminal, a strategic infrastructure facility operated by Africa Global Logistics. The first Cameroonian woman to hold this position since the terminal’s creation in 1999, she succeeds Frenchman Jean-Luc Pallix. Her appointment comes amid a major modernization of the site.
The board of directors meeting held on May 15th confirmed the appointment of Solange Flore Yango as head of the Douala Port Authority Timber Terminal (TBPD), a subsidiary of Africa Global Logistics (AGL). She succeeds Jean-Luc Pallix, who has been appointed to other positions within the group. This is a first for a Cameroonian woman, and even more so, for a woman, to head this essential platform for the export of timber, the country’s major resource.
Holding a Master’s degree in organizational management from the Douala School of Economics and Business and an MBA in Finance from ESSEC, Solange Flore Yango has an extensive background in logistics. She has held leadership positions at Bolloré Africa Logistics Cameroon and Saga Cameroon. Since 2017, she has served as Deputy General Manager of TBPD, overseeing timber handling operations.
His appointment comes at a key moment. In 2022, the Port Authority of Douala signed a 15-year concession contract with the Italian company Ejn Negri to modernize the terminal’s infrastructure. This project includes the construction of 250 linear meters of quay, the development of nearly 8 hectares of rear embankment, and the extension of the RTG lanes by 1,200 meters. The operation, costing 47.27 billion FCFA, is entirely financed by Ejn Negri, which will operate the infrastructure for ten years.
The arrival of Solange Flore Yango is seen as a strong signal in favor of promoting local skills in strategic sectors. Thanks to her local knowledge and expertise, she is expected to breathe new life into the Timber Terminal, in a context where the promotion of national know-how is becoming a major challenge for Cameroon’s economic development.
