Cameroon Government
Cameroon Government: A summary of information about Cameroon Government, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
Cameroon: Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon conventional short form: Cameroon former: French Cameroon
Data code
CM
Government type
unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990) note: preponderance of power remains with the president
Capital
Yaounde
Administrative divisions
10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence
1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French administration), 1 October 1961 (for areas ruled by Britain under UN trusteeship)
National holiday
National Day, 20 May (1972)
Constitution
20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted
Legal system
based on French civil law system, with common law influence; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19 September 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 92.6%; note - supporters of the opposition candidates boycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote shares relatively meaningless
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature) elections: last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RDCP 109, SDF 43, UNDP 13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC 1; note - results from 7 contested seats were cancelled by the Supreme Court and have yet to be filled note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders
Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC ; Cameroon Liberation and Development Movement or MLDC ; Democratic Rally of the Cameroon People or RDPC (the RDPC or its predecessor parties have ruled since independence) ; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR ; Movement for the Liberation of Cameroonian Youths or MLJC ; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP ; Social Democratic Front or SDF ; Union of Cameroonian Populations or UPC-K Political pressure groups and leaders: Alliance for Change or FAC ; Cameroon Anglophone Movement or CAM [Vishe FAI, secretary general]; Southern Cameroon National Council
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-8790 FAX: (202) 387-3826
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: 23-45-52 FAX: 23-07-53
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
