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Country name:
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conventional long form:
Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
local long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic
of Cameroon
local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon
former: French Cameroon, British Cameroon,
Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of
Cameroon |
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Government type:
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republic; multiparty
presidential regime |
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Capital of Cameroon
Africa:
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name: Yaounde
geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of
Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
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Administrative
divisions in Cameroon Africa:
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10 provinces; Adamaoua,
Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest,
Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest |
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Independence:
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1 January 1960 (from
French-administered UN trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Republic Day (National Day),
20 May (1972) |
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Constitution of
Cameroon Africa:
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20 May 1972 approved by
referendum, adopted 2 June 1972; revised January 1996
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Legal system of
Cameroonians:
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based on French civil law
system, with common law influence; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage of
Cameroonians:
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20 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state:
President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
head of government: Prime Minister Ephraim INONI
(since 8 December 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from
proposals submitted by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for
a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election
last held 11 October 2004 (next to be held by October
2011); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Paul BIYA reelected;
percent of vote - Paul BIYA 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%,
Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, Garga Haman ADJI 3.7%
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Legislative branch:
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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 22 July 2007 (next to be
held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - RDCP 140, SDF 14, UDC 4, UNDP 4, MP 1,
vacant 17; note - vacant seats will be determined in a
yet to be scheduled by-election after the Supreme Court
nullified results in five districts
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:
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Supreme Court (judges are
appointed by the president); High Court of Justice
(consists of nine judges and six substitute judges,
elected by the National Assembly) |
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Political parties and
leaders:
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Cameroonian Democratic Union
or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA]; Cameroon People's Democratic
Movement or RDPC [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the Defense
of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for
the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC
[Marcel YONDO]; National Union for Democracy and
Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA]; Progressive
Movement or MP; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU
NDI]; Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Augustin
Frederic KODOCK] |
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Political pressure
groups and leaders:
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Southern Cameroon National
Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]; Human Rights Defense Group
[Albert MUKONG, president] |
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International
organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC,
C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic
representation in the US:
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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:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Janet E. GARVEY
embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaounde
mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch:
American Embassy, US Department of State, Washington, DC
20521-2520
telephone: [237] 2220 15 00; Consular: [237] 2220
16 03
FAX: [237] 2220 16 00 Ext. 4531; Consular FAX:
[237] 2220 17 52
branch office(s): Douala |
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Flag description:
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three equal vertical bands
of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow
five-pointed star centered in the red band
note: uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia |
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