Cameroon Overview

The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon began its independence with a bloody insurrection which was suppressed only with the help of French forces.

Full Country Name: The Republic of Cameroon

Former: French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon

Independence: 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Area: 475,000 sq km (184,000 sq mi); land- 469,440 sq km, water-6,000 sq km

Cameroon is a Central African nation on the Gulf of Guinea, bordered by Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Yaoundé is the capital, and Douala is the largest city and main port.

President Biya established an authoritarian rule and implemented conservative fiscal policies. Opposition to his regime endured after a failed coup attempt in 1984, and his critics called for more substantive democratic reform.

Modern Cameroon was created as the German protectorate of Kamerun in 1884. In 1919, under League of Nations Mandates, France was awarded administration of Eastern Cameroon, and Britain Northern and Southern Cameroons. These mandates were converted in 1946 to UN Trusteeships. In 1960, French administered Cameroun became independent and Ahmadou Ahidjo was elected as President.

Little is known about Cameroon before 1472 when the Portuguese arrived shouting 'Camarões, camarões!' in amazement at the many giant shrimp - hence the country's name. For the next 400 years, southern Cameroon's history, like that of the rest of West Africa's Atlantic seaboard, revolved around the slave trade.

The earliest inhabitants of Cameroon were probably the Bakas (Pygmies). They still inhabit the forests of the south and east provinces. Bantu speakers originating in the Cameroonian highlands were among the first groups to move out before other invaders.

Politics

The constitution which brought in multi-partyism was adopted in 1992, and substantially amended in 1996. It provides for a limit on Presidential tenure to two terms of seven years, while the 180-member National Assembly is elected every five years. It also provides for an Upper Chamber, the Senate.

Cameroon generally maintains good relations with its neighbours, but has a low profile and participates little in African regional bodies. Nigeria and Cameroon have a long-running dispute over their border, including the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula. This has occasionally escalated into armed clashes.

Each of Cameroon's ethnic groups has its own unique cultural forms. Typical celebrations include births, deaths, plantings, harvests, and religious rituals.

Administrative division

10 provinces:

1. Adamaoua,
2. Centre,
3. Est,
4. Extreme-Nord,
5. Littoral,
6. Nord,
7. Nord-Ouest,
8. Ouest,
9. Sud,
10. Sud-Ouest.

Capital: Yaounde 1,395,200 (metro. area), 1,154,400 (city proper), population: 1.5 million.

Because of its modest oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Offshore oil deposits exploited since the early 1970s have made Cameroon one of the most prosperous nations in tropical Africa. Oil refining and the production of crude oil products lead the nation's industries.

The government tightly controls the broadcast media. The state publishes the daily newspaper Cameroon Tribune, and runs a TV network and radio station.

Cameroon is considered a haven of peace in a region that has often been beset by violence and unrest. Conflict in neighbouring Central African Republic and a rise in banditry there has led to the movement of populations across the border but, for the most part, violence has not spilled over into Cameroon.