Cameroon

The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central Africa. It borders Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Gulf of Guinea. The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroons merged in 1961 to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon which in 1972 was renamed the United Republic of Cameroon; since 1984 the country is known as the Republic of Cameroon or République du Cameroun (its official languages are English and French). Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy. The capital is Yaoundé.

Republic of Cameroon
République du Cameroun


(Detail)	(Detail)

National motto: Paix, Travail, Patrie
(French: Peace, Work, Fatherland)

Official languages

French and English

Capital

Yaoundé

Largest City

Douala

President

Paul Biya

Prime Minister

Ephraïm Inoni

Area
- Total
- % water

Ranked 52nd
475,440 km²
1.3%

Population

- Total (2003)
- Density

Ranked 60th

15,746,179
34/km²

Independence
- Date

From France
January 1, 1960

Currency

CFA franc (XAF)

Time zone

UTC+1

National anthem

Chant de Ralliement

Internet TLD

.cm

Calling Code

237

Contents

9 Miscellaneous topics

History

Main article: History of Cameroon

The first inhabitants of Cameroon were the pygmy Baka tribes. The Bantu language originated in the highlands of Cameroon, but many of its speakers moved out before foreign invaders came into the nation.

The first European contact was in the 1500s with the Portuguese, but they did not stay. The first permanent settlements were started in the late 1870s, with Germany emerging as the major European Power. After World War I though, the country would be split by Britain and France.

In 1961 the French and British portions of Cameroon were united, the French portion having gained independence a year earlier. The new coalition government was led by Ahmadou Ahidjo who led a crack down on rebel groups who had remained since before independence.

Ahidjo stepped down in 1982 and was succeeded by the current president, Paul Biya. Biya has won numerous elections, but the fairness of these elections has been questioned. The last elections were held on October 11, 2004.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Cameroon

The President of Cameroon holds executive power in the government of Cameroon. This provision was part of the reforms instituted in 1996 to the Constitution , that had been originally written in 1972. The President is given a broad range of powers, and is able to carry them out without consulting the National Assembly .

The National Assembly consists of 180 delegates and meets three times a year. The main responsibility of the Assembly is to pass laws, but rarely has it changed any laws or blocked the passage of legislation.

The judiciary is subordinate to the executive branch's Ministry of Justice. The Supreme Court may review the constitutionality of a law only at the president's request.