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Cameroon

The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central Africa. It borders Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Gulf of Guinea. The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroons merged in 1961 to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon which in 1972 was renamed the United Republic of Cameroon; since 1984 the country is known as the Republic of Cameroon or République du Cameroun (its official languages are English and French). Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy. The capital is Yaoundé.

Republic of Cameroon
Cameroon_flag_large.png Cameroon_coa.jpg
((details)) ((details))
National motto: Paix, Travail, Patrie
(French: Peace, Work, Fatherland)
image:LocationCameroon.png
Official languages English and French
Capital Yaoundé
Largest City Douala
President Paul Biya
Prime Minister Ephraïm Inoni
Area
 - Total
 - % water
Ranked 52nd
475,440 km²
1.3%
Population


 - Total (2003)


 - Density
Ranked 60th


15,746,179


34/km²
Independence
 - Date
From France
January 1, 1960
Currency CFA franc (XAF)
Time zone UTC+1
National anthem Chant de Ralliement (The Rallying Song)
Internet TLD .cm
Calling Code 237
Contents

History

Main article: History of Cameroon

The first inhabitants of Cameroon were the pygmy Baka tribes. The Bantu language originated in the highlands of Cameroon, but many of its speakers moved out before foreign invaders came into the nation.

The first European contact was in the 1500s with the Portuguese, but they did not stay. The first permanent settlements were started in the late 1870s, with Germany emerging as the major European Power. After World War I though, the country would be split by Britain and France.

In 1961 the French and British portions of Cameroon were united, the French portion having gained independence a year earlier. The new coalition government was led by Ahmadou Ahidjo who led a crack down on rebel groups who had remained since before independence.

Ahidjo stepped down in 1982 and was succeeded by the current president, Paul Biya. Biya has won numerous elections, but the fairness of these elections has been questioned. The last elections were held on October 11, 2004.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Cameroon

The President of Cameroon holds executive power in the government of Cameroon. This provision was part of the reforms instituted in 1996 to the Constitution , that had been originally written in 1972. The President is given a broad range of powers, and is able to carry them out without consulting the National Assembly .

The National Assembly consists of 180 delegates and meets three times a year. The main responsibility of the Assembly is to pass laws, but rarely has it changed any laws or blocked the passage of legislation.

The judiciary is subordinate to the executive branch's Ministry of Justice. The Supreme Court may review the constitutionality of a law only at the president's request.

Provinces

Map Of Cameroon

Main article: Provinces of Cameroon

Cameroon is divided into 10 provinces:

Geography

Main article: Geography of Cameroon

Economy

Main article: Economy of Cameroon

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Cameroon

Culture

Main article: Culture of Cameroon

Holidays
Date English Name
January 1 New Year's Day
February 11 National Youth Day
May 1 Labor Day
May 20 National Day
August 15 Assumption
December 25 Christmas

In addition, movable holidays include: Christian: Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday Muslim: 'Id al-Fitr and 'Id al-Adha

See also: Music of Cameroon, List of writers from Cameroon

Education

Main article: Education in Cameroon

Miscellaneous topics


Countries in Africa

Algeria | Angola | Benin | Botswana | Burkina Faso | Burundi | Cameroon | Cape Verde | Central African Republic | Chad | Comoros | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Republic of the Congo | Côte d'Ivoire | Djibouti | Egypt | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea | Ethiopia | Gabon | The Gambia | Ghana | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Kenya | Lesotho | Liberia | Libya | Madagascar | Malawi | Mali | Mauritania | Mauritius | Morocco | Mozambique | Namibia | Niger | Nigeria | Rwanda | São Tomé and Príncipe | Senegal | Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Somalia | South Africa | Sudan | Swaziland | Tanzania | Togo | Tunisia | Uganda | Zambia | Zimbabwe

Other areas: Canary Islands | Mayotte | Réunion | Saint Helena | Western Sahara


Commonwealth of Nations
Antigua and Barbuda | Australia | Bahamas | Bangladesh | Barbados | Belize | Botswana | Brunei | Cameroon | Canada | Cyprus | Dominica | Fiji | The Gambia | Ghana | Grenada | Guyana | India | Jamaica | Kenya | Kiribati | Lesotho | Malawi | Malaysia | Maldives | Malta | Mauritius | Mozambique | Namibia | Nauru | New Zealand | Nigeria | Pakistan | Papua New Guinea | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Samoa | Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Singapore | Solomon Islands | South Africa | Sri Lanka | Swaziland | Tanzania | Tonga | Trinidad and Tobago | Tuvalu | Uganda | United Kingdom | Vanuatu | Zambia



Last updated: 02-07-2005 09:51:42
Last updated: 02-24-2005 14:41:11