Government
Name of country:
conventional long form:
Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form:
Cameroon
former:
French Cameroon
Data code:
CM
Type of government:
unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)
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)
National holiday:
National Day, 20 May (1972)
Constitution:
20 May 1972
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) elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA October 1997); results - President Paul BIYA reelected with about 40% of the vote amid widespread allegations of fraud; SDF candidate John FRU NDI got 36% of the vote; UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI got 19% of the vote
head of government:
Prime Minister Simon ACHIDI ACHU (since 9 April 1992) appointed by the president
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale):
elections last held 1 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats (180 total) CPDM 88, UNDP 68, UPC 18, MDR 6
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) (government-controlled and the only party until legalization of opposition parties in 1990), Paul BIYA, president
major opposition parties:
National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP); Social Democratic Front (SDF); Cameroonian Democratic Union (UDC); Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC); Movement for the Defense of the Republic (MDR)
Other political or pressure groups:
Alliance for Change (FAC), Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM)
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, 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, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
chancery:
2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 265-8790 through 8794
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Charles H. TWINING
embassy:
Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address:
B. P. 817, Yaounde
telephone:
[237] 23-40-14, 23-05-12
FAX:
[237] 23-07-53
Flag:
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
