Cameroon Government 1997

Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
former: French Cameroon

Data code CM

Government type unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition partieslegalized 1990)

National 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 notaccept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGA (since 19 September 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections : president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election lastheld 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA October 1997); prime minister appointedby the president
election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 40%, SDFcandidate John FRU NDI 36%, UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI 19%; note -election held amid widespread allegations of fraud

Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; membersare elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - the presidentcan either lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature)
elections: last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results : percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDPM 109, SDF 43, UNDP13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC I; note - 7 contested seats will be filledin an election at a time to be set by the Supreme Court

Judicial branch Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM (government-controlledand the only party until legalization of opposition parties in 1990) [PaulBIYA, president]
major opposition parties: Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; Movement forthe Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA, leader]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA, chairman]; SocialDemocratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI, leader]; Union of Cameroonian Populationsor UPC [Ndeh NTUMAZAH, leader]

Political pressure groups and leaders Alliance for Change or FAC; Cameroon Anglophone Movement or CAM

International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, 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, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
chancery : 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 through 8794

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles H. TWINING
embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address : B. P. 817, Yaounde; Pouch American Embassy DOS, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 23-40-14, 23-05-12
FAX: [237] 23-07-53

Flag description three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow witha yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-Africancolors of Ethiopia

NOTE: The information regarding Cameroon on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Cameroon Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Cameroon Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.