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Cameroon
Overview
Country Overview
Situated on the west coast of Africa, Cameroon is bounded by the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The country to the northwest is beautiful; volcanic peaks covered by bamboo forest rise to over 2000m (6500ft), with waterfalls and villages scattered over the lower slopes. The capital, Yaoundé, stands on seven hills. There are several modern hotels and many markets, shops and cinemas. Luna Park, a fun-fair and weekend holiday resort 40km (25 miles) north of the capital, can be found on the road to Obala. Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital, is 24km (15 miles) from the sea and dominated by Mount Cameroon, West Africa’s highest mountain (4095m/14,435ft). The cathedral, the Artisanat National (a craft/souvenir market) and Wouri Bridge are well worth visiting. The Kalamaloue Reserve, in northern Cameroon, is small but offers plentiful opportunities for viewing antelope, monkey and warthog.
Cooking is predominantly French or Lebanese, though local food can be very tasty. Avocado pears, pineapples and mangoes are frequently used ingredients. In Douala and Yaoundé, nightclubs and casinos can be found independently or within most good hotels.
General Information
Area: 475,442 sq km (183,569 sq miles).
Population: 14,859,000 (1999).
Population Density: 31.3 per sq km.
Capital: Yaoundé (constitutional). Population: 1,372,800 (1999). Douala (economic). Population: 1,448,300 (1999).
GEOGRAPHY: Situated on the west coast of Africa, Cameroon is bounded to the west by the Gulf of Guinea, to the northwest by Nigeria, to the northeast by Chad (with Lake Chad at its northern tip), to the east by the Central African Republic and to the south by Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The far north of the country is a semi-desert broadening into the vast Maroua Plain, with game reserves and mineral deposits. This is bordered to the west by the lush Mandara Mountains. The Benue River rises here and flows westwards into the Niger. The country to the northwest is very beautiful; volcanic peaks covered by bamboo forest rise to over 2000m (6500ft), with waterfalls and villages scattered over the lower slopes. Further to the south and west are savannah uplands, while dense forest covers the east and south. The coastal strip is tropical and cultivated. Cameroon derives its name from the 15th-century Portuguese sailor Fernando Po’s description of the River Wouri: Rio dos Cameroes (‘river of shrimps’).
Government: Republic. Gained independence in 1961. Head of State: President Paul Biya since 1982. Head of Government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany Musonge since 1996.
Language: The official languages are French and English. They are given equal importance in the Constitution but French is the more commonly spoken. Spanish is spoken in some urban centres. There are 240 local African languages.
Religion: Fifty-three per cent Christian, 25 per cent traditional animist beliefs, 22 per cent Muslim.
Time: GMT + 1.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are round two-pin; bayonet light-fittings are used.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available to and from Cameroon. Country code: 237. Outgoing international code: 00. International calls can be made from Intelcam offices. Telephones can usually be found in post offices and restaurants, and there are telephone booths in the towns. Phonecards are available. The main towns in Cameroon are linked by automatic dialling, but this service is often unreliable.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network provides coverage mainly in Yaoundé, Douala and the southwest of the country. Network operators include Société Camerounaise de Mobiles (SCM).
Fax
Available at Intelcam offices.
Internet
ISPs include Camnet (website: www.camnet.cm). Internet cafes, which are on the increase, exist in the main towns. Charges are significantly higher outside Yaoundé and Douala.
Telegram
Facilities are available at Yaoundé and Douala post offices and at larger hotels but service is slow.
Post
Stamps can only be obtained from post offices. Mail takes about a week to reach addresses in Europe. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1530.
Press
The main newspaper is the (government-controlled) Cameroon Tribune, published daily in French and English. Other English-language newspapers include the Cameroon Post and the Cameroon Times (weekly) as well as The Herald and The Messenger (three times a week).
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Passport/Visa
| | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | | British | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Australian | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Canadian | Yes | Yes | Yes | | USA | Yes | Yes | Yes | | OtherEU | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Japanese | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Restricted entry: A yellow fever vaccination certificate must be presented on arrival by all travellers.
PASSPORTS: Passport valid for a minimum of six months required by all.
VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of Central African Republic, Congo, Mali and Nigeria for a stay not exceeding 90 days;
(b) those in transit continuing their journey on the first or same aircraft within 24 hours provided holding onward tickets and not leaving the airport.
Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Short-stay: £39.22 (three months). Business: £39.22 (three months); £78.43 (six months). Transit: £39.22 (five days). All visas are for multiple entries.
Validity: Tourist and Short-stay visas are valid for up to three months; Business visas for up to six months. Transit visas are valid for up to five days.
Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Visas are also available on arrival for countries where Cameroon has no diplomatic representation.
Application requirements: (a) Passport valid for six months. (b) Two completed application forms. (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Return ticket. (e) Proof of hotel booking. (f) For a business visa, a letter from applicant’s company and a letter from business partners in Cameroon that must be legalised by the local police. (g) Appropriate fee.
Working days required: Two if the application is delivered in person; several days for postal applications.
Temporary residence: Applicants must have Residence and Work Permits. Apply to Immigration authorities in Cameroon.
Money
Currency: CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (CFAfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Cameroon is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.
Currency exchange: Euros are the easiest currency to exchange. US Dollars are the next most acceptable. Travellers should bring cash in preference to travellers cheques.
Credit & debit cards: Major credit cards are accepted on a very limited basis (some airline offices and hotels will take them). Cards cannot be used in banks to obtain cash advances.
Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros although it is possible to exchange Sterling travellers cheques. Commission rates tend to be high.
Currency restrictions: Import of local currency is limited to CFAfr20,000. Import of foreign currency is unlimited. Export of local currency is limited to CFAfr20,000 if travelling for touristic purposes, or CFAfr450,000 if travelling for business purposes. There is no limit on the export of foreign currency.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the CFA Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date | May ’02 | Aug ’02 | Nov ’02 | Feb ’03 | | £1.00= | 1035.90 | 1025.70 | 1038.27 | 966.15 | | $1.00= | 710.84 | 674.41 | 656.55 | 606.78 |
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1530.
Duty Free
The following goods may be taken into Cameroon without incurring any customs duty:
400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 5 packets of tobacco; 1 bottle of alcoholic beverage; 5 bottles of perfume.
Note: Sporting guns require a licence.
Public Holidays
Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 11 Youth Day. Feb 12 Eid Al Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). Apr 18-21 Easter. May 1 Labour Day. May 20 National Day. May 21 Sheep Festival. Aug 15 Assumption. Nov 26-28 Djoulde Soumae (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 2 Eid Al Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). Feb 11 Youth Day. Apr 9-12 Easter. May 1 Labour Day. May 20 National Day. May 21 Sheep Festival. Aug 15 Assumption. Nov 14-16 Djoulde Soumae (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas.
Note: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Djoulde Soumae (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Djoulde Soumae itself. Djoulde Soumae may last anything from two to ten days, depending on the region.
Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | Yes | 1 | | Cholera | Yes | 2 | | Typhoid and Polio | 3 | N/A | | Malaria | 4 | N/A |
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required of all travellers over one year of age.
2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Cameroon. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. For more information, see the Health appendix.
3: Immunisation against typhoid is recommended. Poliomyelitis is endemic and inoculation is advised.
4: Malaria risk exists all year throughout the country, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine has been reported. The recommended prophylaxis is mefloquine.
Food & drink: Water precautions are recommended outside of main hotels, but all water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Bottled water is readily available. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Hepatitis B is hyperendemic in the region. Hepatitis A and E, dysentery, dengue fever and typhoid fever are widespread. Lassa fever may be spread via rat populations in rural areas. Onchocerciasis (river blindness) exists and cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis may be found in drier areas. Human trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) is reported in certain areas. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Meningococcal meningitis risk exists during the dry season (December-June) in northern areas. Paragonimiasis (oriental lung fluke) has been reported.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health appendix.
Health care: There are roughly 250 hospitals in Cameroon, but health facilities are not recommended to foreign travellers. Facilities outside Yaoundé and Douala are extremely limited. International travellers are strongly advised to take out full medical insurance before departure.
Travel - International
AIR: Cameroon’s national airline is Cameroon Airlines (UY). Other airlines serving Cameroon include Air Afrique, Air France, Air Gabon, Delta Airlines, Kenya Airways, Nigeria Airways and Swiss. There are regular flights from Cameroon to other West African destinations including Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Togo.
Approximate flight times: From Douala to Paris is 6 hours.
International airports: Douala (DLA) is 10km (6 miles) southeast of the city. Taxis to the city are available at a cost of approximately CFAfr3000. Facilities include a duty-free shop, bar, post office, bank, shops and buffet/restaurant.
Nsimalen (NSI) airport is situated 25km (15.5 miles) from the city. Taxis to the city are available at a cost of aproximately CFAfr3000 (travel time – 20 minutes).
Departure tax: CFAfr10,000.
SEA: Cargo boats from Douala to Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) sometimes accept passengers. Speedboats and cargo boats ply the coastal route between Idendao (northern Cameroon) and Oron (Nigeria). However, these services are not regulated.
RIVER: There are ferry services across the Ntem River, on the border with Gabon. Pirogues also operate across this river to Equatorial Guinea.
RAIL: There are plans to extend the rail network from Mbalmayo to Bangui in the Central African Republic.
ROAD: There are road connections to Chad, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, Nigeria and Gabon. Travel on these routes is rough, and should not be attempted in the rainy season. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended. Problems may be experienced at the borders with Gabon and the Central African Republic. The Trans-Africa Highway from Kenya to Nigeria is under construction. Armed robberies have been reported in the border area with Chad. The border with the Republic of Congo has been closed. Bus: Minibuses and bush taxis run from Yaoundé and Douala to all neighbouring countries (except where borders are closed). It may be necessary to change at the border.
Travel - Internal
AIR: This is the most efficient means of national transport. There are daily flights between Douala and Yaoundé; less regular flights to other interior towns.
Departure tax: CFAfr500.
RAIL: Services are good, if relatively slow, and it is much quicker to go by train than by bus. There are twice daily services from Yaoundé to Ngaoundéré on the ‘Gazelle du Nord’, that runs from Douala to Ngaoundéré via Yaoundé and Belabo. Daily trains also run from Yaoundé to Douala, with onward connections to Nkongsamba. Couchettes are available, as are first- and second-class seats. Trains usually have a restaurant car. Tickets must be booked on the day of travel.
ROAD: There are paved roads from Douala to Yaoundé, Limbé, Buéa, Bafoussam and Bamenda and between main centres. Other roads are generally poorly maintained and become almost impassable during the rainy season. Traffic drives on the right. Night driving is not recommended. Car hijackings and violent muggings are increasingly common, particularly in Douala, Yaoundé and Kribi, so sensible precautions should be taken. Travellers should consult official government advice services for further information about security while driving. Bus: Modern coach services are available between Yaoundé and Douala and Bafoussam and Bamenda. Bus services also exist between other main centres and more rural areas, but tend to be unreliable and are often suspended during the rainy season. Car hire: This is limited and expensive and is available in Douala, Yaoundé and Limbé, with or without a driver. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not a legal requirement but recommended.
URBAN: Taxis and share-taxis are available at reasonable fixed rates (none are metered). A ten per cent tip is optional.
TRAVEL TIMES: The following gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Yaoundé.
| | Air | Road | Rail | | Bafoussam | 0.50 | 3.30 | - | | Bamenda | 1.10 | 4.30 | - | | Douala | 0.30 | 3.00 | 4.00 | | Dschang | 0.50 | - | - | | Garoua | 2.30 | 18.00 | - | | Koutaba | 1.25 | - | - | | Kribi | 0.45 | - | - | | Mamfe | 1.00 | - | - | | Maroua | 3.45 | 24.00 | - | | Ngaoundéré | 2.40 | 12.00 | 10.00 | Accommodation
HOTELS: Good accommodation of international standard is available in Douala, Yaoundé, Bamenda, Garoua and Maroua. The good hotels (government-rated 2-star and above) have air-conditioning, sports facilities and swimming pools; most rooms have showers. Some large hotels will accept major credit cards. Rates are for the room only. Cheaper accommodation is also available. Campement accommodation, with two pavilions and individual rooms comprised of straw huts, is available just outside Waza National Park, north of Maroua in the far north of the country. Hotel facilities are in heavy demand: it is advisable to book in advance, and to obtain written confirmation of your booking. For more information on hotels in Cameroon, contact the Ministry of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section).
CAMPING: Permitted in Boubandjidah National Park, on the banks of Mayo Lidi River. Elsewhere, camping is considered unsafe due to the possibility of theft.
The Centre & East
Yaoundé, the capital city, stands on seven hills. There are 13 modern hotels and many markets, shops and cinemas. Museums include the Musée des Bénédictins, a collection of traditional arts and crafts housed in a Benedictine Monastery on Mont Fébé, and the newer Yaoundé National Museum. To the northwest, jungle-clad mountains rise to an altitude of 1000m (3280ft). Mont Fébé, which overlooks the city, has been developed as a resort, with a luxury hotel, nightclub, casino, gardens and golf course. Its high altitude ensures a pleasant climate.
Luna Park, a permanent fun-fair and weekend holiday resort 40km (25 miles) north of the capital, can be found on the road to Obala. Further on, one can view the Nachtigal Falls on the River Sanga and continue to Bertoua, Yokadouma and Moloundou with its abundant wildlife, most notably a small population of lowland gorillas.
The West
Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital, is 24km (15 miles) from the sea, on the left bank of the Wouri and dominated by Mount Cameroon. The cathedral, the shopping avenues, the Artisanat National (a craft/souvenir market), Deido market, the harbour, the museum, Wouri Bridge and the electric coffee-grading plant are worth visiting.
Buéa is a charming town situated on the slopes of Mount Cameroon (4095m/14,435ft), West Africa’s highest mountain and the highest active volcano in Africa. For those interested in climbing the mountain, which is relatively easy, a permit from the local tourist office is necessary (these are not issued during the rainy season from March to November).
Limbé (formerly Victoria) is a pleasant port with a botanical garden and ‘jungle village’. There are beautiful white sandy beaches a short drive out of town. The tourist season runs between November and February.
Dschang is a mountain resort at an altitude of 1400m (4600ft) where the temperature is pleasantly cool. The road southwards to Nkongsamba and Douala passes through some splendid scenery – spectacular valleys and waterfalls.
Bamenda, in the highlands north of Dschang, has a museum and a craft market.
Foumban, northeast of Dschang, has many traditional buildings dating from its period of German colonisation, including Fon’s Palace which includes a craft centre. There is also the Musée du Palais, whose collection includes bejewelled thrones, armaments, musical instruments and dancing masks, the Musée des Arts et des traditions Bamoun, and a market. The town serves as an excellent base for experiencing the Bamileke region’s colourful Bamoun festivals and feast days.
Kribi, a small port and beach resort south of Douala, has perhaps the finest beach in Cameroon, Londji Beach. It is also a convenient starting point for tours to local villages and the Campo Game Reserve region. Buffaloes, lions and elephants roam the virgin forests inland.
The North
North Cameroon presents unexpected natural landscapes, with an average altitude of 1500m (4900ft) and plains, reaching an altitude of 300m (1000ft), covered by savannah.
Maroua is located in the foothills of the Mandara Mountains, along the Mayo River. Places worth visiting include the market, the Diamare Museum (mainly an ethnographic museum where local craftwares are on sale: jewellery, tooled leather articles, etc), the various African quarters and the banks of the Mayo Kaliao. There is a National Park nearby (see below).
Mokolo is a picturesque town in a rugged rocky landscape. Approximately 55km (34 miles) away is the village of Rhumsiki, which features a maze of paths linking the small farms known as the Kapsiki; the Kirdi live here, whose customs and folklore have changed little for centuries.
Going further north, there is a very typical village called Koza located at an altitude of 1100m (3600ft). From here the road continues to the village of Mabas which gives a panoramic view on the large Bornou plain of Nigeria and where one can still see primitive blast furnaces.
National Parks
The Kalamaloué Reserve is small but offers opportunities for viewing several species of antelopes, monkeys and warthogs; some elephants cross the reserve. Waza National Park covers 170,000 hectares. There is a forest area (open from November to March) and a vast expanse of grassy and wet plains, called Yaeres (open from February to June). Elephants, giraffes, antelopes, hartebeest, cobs, lions, cheetahs and warthogs are numerous. There is also a rich variety of birds: eagles, crested cranes, maribous, pelicans, ducks, geese and numerous guinea-fowl. Accommodation and other facilities are available. There are no vehicles for hire at the park, but buses run from Maroua.
The Bénoué National Park, situated just off the Ngaoundere-Garoua main road, has buffalo, hippopotami, crocodiles, hyena, giraffes, panthers, lions and a variety of primates, and can be visited all year round.
Korup National Park is Cameroon's newest national park, home to Africa's oldest and most biologically diverse rainforest. Accessible by bush taxi, it is located in the westernmost corner of the country, along the Nigerian border near the town of Mundemba, which is about 150km (93miles) north-west of Douala. A wide variety of primates, birds, trees and other plants, including dozens of recently discovered species are there. Travellers should dress to cope with the 100 per cent humidity and the fording of waist-high pools.
The Boubandjidah National Park is on the banks of Mayo Lidi River in the very far north of the country; its wildlife includes elan and buffalo, rhinoceri, elephants and lions. There are several other parks and reserves which are not open to the public.
Sport & Activities
Wildlife: There are six national parks, which offer excellent opportunities to see some of the richest flora and fauna in Africa. Antelopes, hartebeest, warthogs and lions are amongst the species inhabiting the parks, and there are also numerous types of birds. For further information, contact the Embassy/High Commission (see Contact Addresses section).
Photo safaris: A range of tours including photo safaris are organised by the Ministry of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section): a seven-to-ten day tour of northern Cameroon sets out from Ngaoundéré and includes sports activities at Ngaoundaba Ranch, safari photography at Bénoué and Waza National Parks, visits to Garoua, the volcanic landscapes of Rhumsiki, the traditional village of Oudjila, the Maga Dam and a crafts workshop at Maroua before returning to Garoua. An organised tour of western Cameroon and the Bamileke region sets out from Douala and includes visits to Nkongsamba coffee plantations, Batié and Dschang mountain towns, and Foumban with its museums of arts, crafts and culture before returning to Douala.
Hiking and trekking: Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in West Africa and Africa’s highest active volcano, is a popular mountaineering destination. No special equipment is required, but permits and guides are compulsory. The climb to the summit takes approximately three and a half days, and huts are available en route for accommodation. The best time to attempt the climb is in the dry season, between November and May. For those favouring really strenuous exercise, an international marathon is held annually at the mountain. Favourite hiking areas include the northern region near Mora (not far from the Nigerian border) and the highland area around Bamenda in the southwest. The Mandara Mountains west of Maroua are a good area for trekking. A permit is not required, but it is advisable to take a guide.
Other: Fishing is good in many rivers and coastal areas. Swimming in the sea and swimming pools of luxury hotels, which generally also have tennis courts, is available. A golf course is available to hotel residents in Yaoundé. Football is a very popular spectator sport.
Social Profile
Food & Drink: Cooking is often French or Lebanese, while local food can also be very tasty. Luxury items can be extremely expensive. The country abounds in avocado pears, citrus fruits, pineapples and mangoes. Prawns are in plentiful supply in the south. There are many restaurants in big towns and cities, with good service.
Most international hotels have bars. There are no licensing hours, and hotel bars stay open as long as there is custom.
Nightlife: In Douala and Yaoundé particularly, nightclubs and casinos can be found independently or within most good hotels. There are also some cinemas.
Shopping: Local handicrafts include highly decorated pots, drinking horns, jugs, bottles and cups, great earthenware bowls and delicate pottery, dishes and trays, mats and rugs woven from grass, raffia, jewellery and camel hair or cotton and beadwork garments. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0730-1800.
Special Events: Local entertainment troupes may be seen in most regional towns. For futher information on special events, contact the Ministry of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). Jan Mt Cameroon Race. Feb/Mar Tabaski. 20 May Cameroon National Festival. Mid-Nov Nso Cultural Week, including horse races through Kumbo.
Social Conventions: Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. In the north, where the population is largely Muslim, Islamic traditions should be respected. Visitors should never step inside a Muslim prayer circle of rocks. In other rural areas, where traditional beliefs predominate, it is essential to use tact. Photography: Cameras should be used with discretion, particularly in rural areas. Always ask permission before taking a photograph. Do not photograph airports, military establishments, official buildings, or military personnel in uniform. Tipping: The average tip for porters and hotel staff should be about ten per cent, otherwise service charges are usually inclusive.
Business Profile
Economy: Cameroon has enjoyed broad economic success since independence by virtue of consistent agricultural performance and the rapid growth of its oil industry, although low world commodity prices during the 1990s have dampened continued growth. The main agricultural products are cocoa (of which Cameroon is one of the world’s largest producers), coffee, bananas, cotton, palm oil, wood and rubber. There are sizeable but unexploited deposits of iron ore, bauxite, copper, chromium, uranium and other metals. Hydro-electric projects meet almost all the country’s energy needs so that oil and gas are largely treated as export products. Manufacturing industry is concentrated on processing of primary products: most of these are indigenous but imported raw materials (such as Guinean bauxite, which feeds the aluminium industry) play an important role. Wood and timber products, oil and coal, and food and drinks are the main sectors. During the 1990s, the Government opened up much of the economy to competition. France and The Netherlands are the major export markets followed by Germany, the USA and fellow members of the Central African Customs and Economic Union, of which Cameroon is a member. The IMF agreed a structural adjustment programme with Cameroon in 1995; this has been extended beyond the normal three-year term and continues to set the ground rules for the country’s economic policy.
Business: Office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1700. Government office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1530.
Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice on commercial information and on organising conferences and conventions: Chambre de Commerce, BP 36, Yaoundé (tel: 222 4776; fax: 222 155).
Climate
The south is hot and dry between November and February. The main rainy season is from July to October. Temperatures in the north vary. On the Adamaoua Plateau temperatures drop sharply at night; the rainy season is from May to October. Grassland areas inland are much cooler than the coast with regular rainfall.
Required clothing: Lightweight cotton clothes, canvas or light leather shoes or sandals. Rainwear is necessary for coastal areas.
History and Government
History: In the first century, the Sao people settled around Lake Chad and it is from them that much of the country’s remarkable sculpture originates. Present-day Cameroon was at the heartland of an area that extended into Nigeria under the control of the Duala people. An estimated 200 distinct ethnic groups live in the region, the largest of which is the Bamileke, a Bantu-related tribe occupying the west and centre of the country. Equatorial Bantu live in the area between the Congo basin and the plateaux of the interior. Small hunting bands of pygmies (the original inhabitants of central Africa) dwell in the remote southern forests.
Contact with Europe was first made in the 15th century with the arrival of the Portuguese. The area later became a German protectorate in the 1880s. But after Germany’s defeat in World War I, Cameroon was divided between Britain and France under a League of Nations (and later a United Nations) mandate instituted in 1919. French Cameroon achieved independence in 1957 under the control of the principal pro-independence party, the Union Nationale Camerounaise (UNC). In 1961, a plebiscite was held to decide the future of British Cameroon: the northern provinces voted to become part of Nigeria, while the south opted for union with French Cameroon. A centralised political and administrative system was introduced with the veteran northern politician Ahmadou Ahidjo as President.
In 1975, Paul Biya, the country’s dominant political figure in recent years, took up his first major appointment as prime minister. When Ahidjo stepped down of his own volition in 1982, Biya was chosen as his successor. Since then, as head of the UNC and its successor party, the Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais (RDPC), Biya has achieved political domination over Cameroon, seeing off the two major threats to his rule. The first of these came in 1984 when Ahidjo, discontented with the direction of his successor’s policies, launched a military coup. It failed. In 1992, the leader of a two-year-old semi-legal opposition party, the Social Democratic Front (SDF), John Fru Ndi, presented a major challenge to Biya at the year’s presidential election. Biya eventually claimed the election under uncertain circumstances; Fru Ndi was put under house arrest amid a state of emergency.
At the latest poll in 1997, Biya took no chances, and secured 93 per cent of the poll against two nominal candidates. Fru Ndi’s party, the SDF, is now ensconced as the main opposition party and commands the largest minority bloc in the National Assembly. In general terms, opposition to Biya is concentrated in the north, among the Muslim communities, and among anglophone regions, which fear discrimination at the hands of the predominately francophone regime. During 2002, tension between the two language groups reached a serious level.
Cameroon joined the Commonwealth in 1993 but also maintains a close relationship with France (not least through membership of the CFA franc zone). Relations with Nigeria, Cameroon’s powerful neighbour, have been awkward as the result of several outstanding border disputes (linked in part to control of the oil-rich Niger delta): the main one, involving an area known as the Bakassi peninsula, is under international mediation but has seen occasional small-scale military clashes between the two sides. Cameroon has also itself been involved in mediation in Togo in the dispute between the Government and its opponents.
Government: The President and the 180-seat Assemblée Nationale (National Assembly) hold executive and legislative power respectively. Both elected for five-year terms. Further revisions to the existing 1972 constitution allow for the introduction of a second National Assembly chamber at a later date.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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