Government and Politics of Cameroon

Government Type

unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990)

Administrative Divisions

10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

Legal System

based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) head of government: Prime Minister Joseph DION NGUTE (since 4 January 2019) 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 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO 14.2%, Cabral LIBII 6.3%, other candidates received smaller shares of the remaining vote

Legislative Branch

Cameroon has a bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consisting of two chambers. The upper chamber, the Senate (Sénat), has 100 seats, with 70 senators elected by indirect vote through regional councils and 30 appointed by the president, serving five-year terms. The lower chamber, the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale), has 180 seats, with members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms. The president retains the authority to lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature. Elections: The most recent legislative elections were held on February 9, 2020. The next elections are scheduled for 2025. Election results (National Assembly): percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 152, SDF 5, UNDP 3, UDC 2, other 18. The Senate, long called for under Cameroon's constitution but slow to be established, was formally created and held its first elections in 2013. It has since become a functioning component of Cameroon's legislative structure, reinforcing the bicameral nature of the Parliament.

Judicial Branch

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)

Political Parties

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 [Marcel YONDO]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC [Dieudonne TINA]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Cameroonian Populations or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]

Head of State

President Paul BIYA

Head of Government

Prime Minister Joseph DION NGUTE

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted by the prime minister

Elections

The most recent legislative elections were held on February 9, 2020. The next elections are scheduled for 2025. Election results (National Assembly): percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 152, SDF 5, UNDP 3, UDC 2, other 18. The Senate, long called for under Cameroon's constitution but slow to be established, was formally created and held its first elections in 2013. It has since become a functioning component of Cameroon's legislative structure, reinforcing the bicameral nature of the Parliament.

Constitution

20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted; revised January 1996

Independence

1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National Holiday

Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)

International Organization Participation

ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Niels MARQUARDT embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [237] 220 15 00; Consular: [237] 220 16 03 FAX: [237] 220 16 20; Consular FAX: [237] 220 17 52 branch office(s): Douala

Capital City

Yaounde

Location

3 52 N, 11 31 E

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

founded as a German colonial settlement of Jaunde in 1888 and named after the local Yaunde (Ewondo) people

U.S. Embassy Yaounde Avenue Rosa Parks in the Mbankolo Quartier, adjacent to the Mount Febe Golf Club Mailing address: P.O. Box 817, Yaounde, Cameroon Telephone: 237 2220-1500 Emergency after-hours telephone: 237 2220-1500 Facsimile: 237 2220-1572 Embassy Branch Office, Douala, Cameroon Corner of Rue Ivy and Rue French in the Ecobank Building in Bonanjo Telephone: 237 3342-5331 Facsimile: 237 3342-7790.

Military Branches

Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC), Army (L'Armee de Terre), Navy (Marine Nationale Republique (MNR), includes naval infantry), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC), Fire Fighter Corps, Gendarmerie

Service Age and Obligation

18-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation 4 years; the government makes periodic calls for volunteers