This article examines Special Economic Zones in Africa: Design, Governance, and Development Effectiveness: From Theory to Practice with a focused emphasis on Cameroon within the field of African Studies. It is structured as a policy analysis article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.