IMF raises its forecast for Cameroon 2015 GDP growth to 6 pct

The International Monetary Fund has raised its 2015 forecast for GDP growth in Cameroon to 6 percent but said it could achieve higher growth still were it not for a drop in the global oil price and the cost of a fight against Islamist militants.

The forecast, up from 5 percent in April, is based on "good performance in certain sectors, such as construction, public works and finance, and increased oil output," said Mario de Zamaroczy, head of an IMF mission to Cameroon on Wednesday.

"It (the economy) was slowed down because of the impact of the oil slump during the whole year, as well as the fight against terrorism," Zamaroczy said.

Inflation would remain below the regional limit of 3percent, while the budget deficit would be reduced to 5.4 percent of GDP because of revenues from taxes and mobile telephone licenses, he said.

Cameroon's army is fighting Boko Haram in the north of the country and is contributing troops to an 8,700-member regional force to combat the Nigerian Islamist militant group, which has launched a string of incursions into Cameroon's territory.