Country name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form:
Cameroon
former:
French Cameroon
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Government type: |
unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990)
note:
preponderance of power remains with the president
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Administrative divisions: |
10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
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Independence: |
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
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National holiday: |
Republic Day, 20 May (1972)
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Constitution: |
20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted; revised January 1996
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Legal system: |
based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage: |
20 years of age; universal
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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 from proposals submitted by the Prime Minister
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
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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 17 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, further elections on 3 August 1997 gave these seats to the RDPC
note:
the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court of Justice (consists of nine judges and 6 substitute judges, elected by the National Assembly)
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Political parties and leaders: |
Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; Democratic Rally of the Cameroon People or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [leader NA]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MLJC [Marcel YONDO]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA, chairman]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Cameroonian Populations has two sections UPC-N [Ndeh NTUMAZAH] and UPC-K [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Cameroon Anglophone Movement or CAM [Vishe FAI, secretary general]; Southern Cameroon National Council [Nfor Ngala NFOR, acting]
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International organization participation: |
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, CCC, CEEAC, CEMAC, 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, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
chancery:
2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 265-8790
FAX:
[1] (202) 387-3826
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador John M. YATES
embassy:
Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address:
P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone:
[237] 23-40-14, 22-25-89, 23-05-12, 22-17-94
FAX:
[237] 23-07-53
branch office(s):
Douala
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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
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