Cameroon is located in Central Africa. Neighboring countries are
Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo,
Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Before the Europeans conquered areas in
Africa as colonies, most of the tribes were independent. Only the
northern area was connected to the neighboring areas of northern
Nigeria and Chad. These areas formed the Islamic-influenced state of
Kanem-Bornu. In the south, missionaries began to spread the
Christian faith (e.g. Alfred Saker, later Heinrich Bohner).
In 1884, the German Empire concluded a protection treaty with the
King of the Dualas (Manga Bell), thus forestalling a planned seizure
by Great Britain. This colony was therefore called the "German
Protectorate of Cameroon." The German Empire laid claim to the
entire hinterland and enforced this militarily. A termination of the
protection treaty was prevented by a high treason trial and ended
with the execution of Manga Bell, although many representatives of
the Christian churches protested against it or at least demanded
leniency. During the German colonial period, the construction of the
railway began, a functioning administration was set up and
plantations were established. In the First World War, there were
fierce battles between the numerically inferior German-Cameroonian
troops and the British and French colonial troops until the German
colony capitulated in 1916.
After the First World War,
Cameroon was divided, with Great Britain taking over only a strip
along the border with Nigeria and France everything else. French
rule was much more repressive than German rule.
In the Second
World War, French-Cameroonian troops were also deployed alongside
the Allies against the Axis powers and their vassals (Vichy France).
In 1960, Cameroon gained independence from France. In 1961, part
of the British-administered area returned to Cameroon (north-west
and south-west). The first president was Ahidjo. President Biya
(*1933) has been in power since 1982. The economy is concentrated in
Douala and Yaounde.
Cameroon is administratively divided into regions: Littoral, South,
Centre, Sudouest-Southwestern Province, Nordouest-Nortwestern Province,
Ouest, Amdamaoua, North, Extrème Nord, Est. The 1 Bakassi Peninsula was
ceded to Cameroon by Nigeria in 2008 after long-standing border
disputes.
Adamaoua
Adamaoua is a region that is good for
mountain climbing.
Cameroon's coast
Region with beaches.
Northern Cameroon
Religiously mixed region in the north.
Northwestern Highlands
English-speaking region, currently in a state
of war (as of 2023).
Southern Cameroon
Region with the capital
Yaounde and main entry point for tourists.
Large cities
1 Yaoundé – capital
2 Douala
Cities:
3
Bamenda
4 Bertoua
5 Foumban
Bafia, Bafoussam, Bamenda,
Bandjoun, Bellabo, Bertoua, Boumnyebel, Mt. Cameroon, Ebolowa, Edéa,
Dschang, Garoua, Kribi, Mt. Cameroon, Maroua, Ngaoundéré, Nkongsamba,
Sangmélima.
Mandara Mountains (Monts Mandara) in northern Cameroon near the
border with Nigeria.
In Bafoussam, especially the Chefferie, i.e. the
impressive palace of the pre-colonial king converted into a museum. The
city is easily accessible from Douala and Yaundé, although the Gare
routière is a little outside on the N4. It takes about an hour to
Foumban, three hours to Yaoundé and five hours to Douala.
The
Chefferie de Bandjoun is a little less impressive. Residence of the
traditional king of the Bamiléké. The town is also located on the main
roads to the two big cities.
Near the small town of Nyanon, a good
hundred kilometers from Yaoundé, there is a 1500 m high mountain where
the Ngog Lituba cave is located at 800 m. It is sacred to the tribesmen
of the Elog-Mpo'o, Bassa and Douala, as their creation myths place the
origin of Africans here.
It is one of the wettest areas in the world, the annual rainfall,
often in the form of drizzle for days, varies between 6350 and 8900 mm.
In the coastal village of Debunsha, there are over ten liters of rain a
year.
In Buea, near the coast, the official residence of the
German governor was from 1901. The university town, in the vicinity of
which tea is planted, is now in the English-speaking part of Cameroon.
The CTE Tea plantation can be visited, but written advance booking is
requested.
The town can be reached by Morango buses at Mile 17
Motor Park. There are at least eight accommodations in the mid-range
price segment.
The Spyce Night Club is also in the Chariot Hotel.
At the Executive Hotel Bakweri Town Road, there seem to be regular
problems with the electricity and water supply - for 10,000 CFA (2018)
you can't expect too much in Africa. The Str33tmob nightclub is right on
the corner. You can camp at the Presbyterian Mission.
The
National Park Administration, where you can buy a permit and where the
climb up the mountain 1100 meters above sea level begins, is next to the
old post office.
Mount Cameroon (4,095 m; "Cameroon Mountain,"
formerly "Albert Peak") is a still active volcano. The area was
protected as a national park in 2009, and the lower elevations are a
buffer zone to the farms. In the 20th century alone there were eight
major eruptions. Impatiens etindensis and I. grandisepala are plants
that only grow here in an area where, thanks to the volcanic activity,
little else grows.
It is possible to climb the mountain in a
one-day forced march if you start at 4:30 a.m., but three- to four-day
tours of the mountain are usually offered in Buea, with a guide and
porters costing 75,000-400,000 CFA in 2015. The season is mid-January to
May. Hut 1 can be reached in three hours. The actual climb begins from
Hut 2 at 2,800 m. It can be reached on foot in six hours or by car along
a dirt road. The actual climb is considered strenuous. Hut 3 is less
than an hour below the summit. Many tours lead down through the
"elephant forest," although these animals are rarely seen. Bamboo
forests grow on the lower slopes.
Since 1973, a brewery has
sponsored a 38 km run up the mountain. Several hundred participants
compete for 10 million CFA in prize money. Around 5,000 visitors come
during the event, which is held in January or February.
Toxic
gases can escape from the crater lakes Lac Nyos and Monoum.
In
Limbé, the eastern part of the town is still called Victoria, there is a
rough beach. The town's marine barracks and oil refinery do not affect
the water quality. There are several mid-range accommodations, as well
as the luxurious Musango Beach Hotel. Self-drivers camp right on the
beach.
Not far from the botanical garden, which is well worth
seeing, is the Limbé Wildlife Centre. Here, around 250 primates are
being prepared for release into the wild, and efforts are also being
made to preserve the population of African grey parrots (Psittacus
erithacus). Between the two facilities is the post office and the
inexpensive Costal Beach Annex with pool for 15,000 CFA (2018).
The bus stop is at Mile in the Bonadikombo district.
To the north
is Seme Beach (Bight of Bonny; on the coastal road from Limbé around
Mount Cameroon. The end of the N3 is at Idenau).
There is the
upscale Hotel Seme Beach, Mile 11 Route d'Idenau.
A little
further down the coast to the south is the small port of Bimbia. Slaves
used to be shipped from here. The ruins of a prison are still on the
offshore Île Nicole.
(Since the beginning of the uprising, which is less an armed struggle
than passive resistance, it has become more difficult to find direct
minibuses from Douala in the region. If you change trains, you can get
there easily.)
Coming from Doula, you can get to Mutengene on the N3
in a maximum of three hours. In this village is the simple Plakinen
Hotel. Here the road forks, heading towards the sea it is 18 km to
Limbé, up the hill you get to Buea, 12 km away.
In the town of Foumban, the people who gave the town its name had
their own writing and made a good living from trading in natural
pigments, the traditional Sultan of the pre-colonial kingdom of Bamum
still resides today in a palace built in northern German brick style
around 1917. The ruler at the time was inspired by German postcards. His
Highness and his court go in procession to the mosque every Friday. Next
to the palace is the Musée de Foumban, which presents the history of the
tribe and the region.
A quarter of the city focuses on the
production of handicrafts, often artificially aged, for the world
market. (Note the 10% export duty on carvings.)
The Hotel Pekassa
de Karche, 100m from the museum on the main road, has 2018 rooms for
15,000CFA, with air conditioning 25,000CFA.
From Douala on the N5 to Bafoussam, then on the N6. This can be
combined with a detour to the Chutes d'Ekom Nkam waterfalls. This is
almost exactly halfway, 165km from Douala and about 180km from Foudam.
Particularly impressive towards the end of the rainy season, a Tarzan
film was shot here in 1983.
Coming from Yaundé, first take the N4
to Bafoussam, then continue as above.
In the highlands, the so-called grasslands, is Bamenda, the capital
of the North-West Province. On the outskirts of the city there is a
well-kept park, which is somewhat exaggeratedly called a "botanical
garden". Starting from this city, a 367 km long route has been
designated, known as the Ring Road, which connects numerous tourist
attractions and natural beauties. That is not to say that the roads are
particularly good; in the rainy season they are impassable and in the
dry season they are dusty. Either you rent a four-wheel drive car or
bring plenty of time with you if you want to travel in bush taxis.
The route, for which you should plan 4-5 days, leads anti-clockwise
from Bamenda, past Sabga Hill to Bamessing and Ndop. In Kumbo there is a
Catholic church, the Mus'art Gallery and the chefferie to visit.
Further north you come to Nkambe and Missaje, where the road, and
especially the bridges, become increasingly worse. You can only get to
We in the dry season, and even then you should take enough supplies with
you. About halfway there is the small Kimbi Wildlife Reserve. It would
be a good idea to hike from Missaje to We, passing Lac Nyos, notorious
for the 1,700 deaths after a CO2 eruption in 1986.[4] The area is
therefore largely uninhabited today. Continuing south, you come to Wum.
The Menchum waterfall is worth at least a photo stop.
Bafut's
most attractive sight is undoubtedly the palace of the traditional
ruler, called Fon. Part museum and "ecovillage," partly still inhabited.
The Tikar tribe was very strong regionally, and the dynasty looks back
on a 700-year history. The museum, in a colonial stone building above
the palace, is also worth a visit.
A four-day traditional
festival takes place at the end of December.
The city is a
pilgrimage destination for the Islamic festival of sacrifice Tabaski
(June 16, 2024), and the rites are celebrated in a mixture with Bamoun
traditions.
If you are short on time, you can alternatively do
the "short" Ring Road in two days. This route connects the stages
Bamenda, Bafut, Wum, We, Fundong, Belo and Bambui in a clockwise
direction.
Bamenda Airport (aéroport de Bamenda, IATA: BPC; halfway between
Bafut and Bamenda). The long-neglected military airfield has been served
by Camair-co from Douala three times a week since July 2017 for 32,000
CFA.
Guaranti Express Bus Station, Food Market Rd., Bamenda.
Nebean is the Vatican Bus stop.
Nkwen Motor Park.
Minibuses along the western part of the Ring Road from Ntarikon Motor
Park. It takes about hours to get to Wum.
Towards Mamfe (127 km)
and Bali (18 km), about 1 km outside on Bali Rd.
Plain Hotel, Plain Hotel St., Ndop. Tel.: +237 6 76 31 95 34. The
name says it all.
Green Valley Hotel, Green Valley Hotel St.,
Ndop.
Dominion Hotel, Foncha St., Mulang Mankon, Bamenda. A bit out
of the way, but well maintained.
Jeps Hotel, Fon's Street, Bamenda
(Central near the bus stop and market).
Kribi is the most famous "seaside resort" in the country, even for
wealthy Cameroonians. The road from Edéa is paved. There are long sandy
beaches as well as good seafood. Auberges and mid-range hotels are
numerous.
Long-distance buses stop in front of the offices on Rue du
Marché.
To the north is Londji Beach with the upscale Hotel Costa
Blanca.
Just under seven kilometers south, at Bwambe Beach, you
can see the Lobé waterfalls; these plunge directly into the sea.
52 km along the P8 along the coast further south is the village of
Ébodjé, an ecotourism destination because of the sea turtles that live
here. The season during which the females lay their eggs ends at the
beginning of June. When the first animals begin to hatch in mid-July,
areas of the beach are fenced off.
There are a total of sixteen designated protected areas in Cameroon.
The more important ones are:
Bénoué National Park Established in
2001 The dry Sudan zone dominates the flora. Dry forests of Anogeissus
leiocarpa are widespread. The park has rocky outcrops, woodland and some
bodies of water. During the dry season from November to May, wild
animals crowd the waterholes. Mammals include hippos (in herds),
baboons, the occasional elephant, bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) but
also particularly endangered species such as the African wild dog
(Lycaon pictus), the manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) and the giant
eland (Taurotragus derbianus).
Campo Ma'an National Park 2,640 km²,
just before the border with Equatorial Guinea, directly on the Atlantic,
consists of barely touched rainforest. Gorillas also live here. The
construction of an oil pipeline nearby and the hunting ban have brought
the three pygmy tribes living here into serious distress. The protected
area can only be reached via 150 km of bad road from Kribi. It is
doubtful whether a tourist infrastructure, which was still lacking in
2017, will be created. At least one "hotel" financed by the WWF has
already fallen into disrepair. Officially, the fee for the park costs
5,000 CFA per person plus 2,000 CFA per vehicle. Guides, whose price
should be 10,000 CFA, can quickly charge several hundred dollars for a
tour. There are three accommodations on the beach in Campo. The
cheapest, however, is the guesthouse attached to the Les Bonnes
supermarket. Dja Wildlife Reserve Biosphere reserve and world natural
heritage site within a 5260 km² loop on the upper reaches of the Dja
River. Almost completely untouched tropical rainforest. In addition to
numerous primate and vervet monkey species, there is also a variety of
amphibians and reptiles. The pygmies living here are still allowed to
practice traditional hunting.
Waza National Park (Parc national de
Waza) in the Lake Chad basin, the core of which was designated in 1934
and is now a biosphere reserve. The park with the most animal-rich area
in the country, with classic African big game: lions, elephants,
giraffes and some cheetahs. Buffon's koban antelopes are common.
(Rhinoceros, Cape buffalo and hippos are extinct here.) The huge
grasslands in the eastern part of the Waza National Park are flooded
during the rainy season. The western part is forested to varying
densities, mostly with acacias. The controversial construction of the
Maga Dam has affected part of the park, but the reservoir has also
become a breeding ground for waterfowl species that are affected by the
increasing drying up of Lake Chad.
Since 2023 there has been an online portal for consular services.
This must be used. Here, unlike in other countries, entry permits are
not issued, but you receive an approval in advance with which you can
then get the visa from the consulate. Processing time should be a
maximum of 72 hours.
Consular department of the Cameroonian
embassy, Ulmenallee 32, 14050 Berlin. Tel.: +49 30 89 06 80 90, email:
consulaire@ambacamer.de. Responsible for all of Germany, Austria,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland and the
Czech Republic. The two honorary consulates in Germany are no longer
allowed to issue visas. Open: Personal appointments are only possible by
appointment: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Cameroonian consulate,
Villa Flora, Hüttelbergstrasse 23A, 1140 Vienna. Tel.: +43 1 914 77
44-0. Visas are no longer issued. Berlin is responsible. Open: Thurs
9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. for appointments.
Section consulaire de
l'Ambassade de Cameroun, Brunnadernrain 29, 3006 Bern. Also responsible
for Greece, Slovenia, Albania and Liechtenstein. Open: Mon–Thurs 9:30
a.m.–12:30 p.m., pick-up 2:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
In any case, proof
of yellow fever vaccination is required. If you don't have one, you can
get a booster vaccination at the airport for a fee.
When entering
the country by air, a valid return or onward flight ticket is required.
Anyone who has a long-term work/residence permit with a residence
card (Carte de séjour), which is normally valid for 2 years, must apply
for a re-entry permit in order not to lose their status when they leave
the country.
For vehicle imports, see the information below. The usual import bans
apply for pornography, drugs, weapons and explosives, as well as oil and
food.
More than one million CFA in cash must be declared upon
entry. CFA can be exported to countries in the monetary union in
unlimited amounts, otherwise the cash limit is 25,000 CFA for tourists
and 400,000 CFA for business travelers.
Import of (hunting)
weapons for big game hunting must be applied for through the Cameroonian
embassy in Berlin or one of the two honorary consuls (100€ fee).
Wood carvings are subject to an export duty of 10%. Fruit should be
transported in checked baggage and not in hand luggage.
Free
quantities (no age limit)
400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 5 packets of
tobacco.
1 bottle of alcohol.
5 bottles of perfume.
The most important airport in Cameroon is Douala (DLA), followed by
Yaoundé-Nsimalen.
The state flag carrier Camair-co flies
Douala-Yaoundé-Paris CDG and to surrounding African capitals several
times a week. It has a monopoly on domestic routes.
Despite its
name, the airport in Garoua does not currently offer any international
flight connections.
There are no cross-border rail connections.
Entry into Cameroon by land is currently considered extremely
dangerous due to armed conflicts, and the Foreign Office advises against
all land entry. Entry from Equatorial Guinea to Rio Campo (but
practically impossible due to the visa policy there) and Gabon is
comparatively safe.
When entering the country with your own
vehicle, you must have liability insurance that is valid in Cameroon (it
is best to also take payment receipts and a copy of the insurance policy
with you). Standard insurance policies taken out in Europe are generally
not valid in Cameroon.
A Carnet de Passage is also recommended.
The import of right-hand drive vehicles is generally prohibited.
You must also buy a vignette, which as of 2008 costs 25,000 CAF or
100,000 CAF for larger vehicles.
The rest is standard: a driver's
license and international driver's license, as well as a vehicle
registration document and a passport/identity card are regularly
required during the very frequent checks. The presence of a breakdown
triangle, fire extinguisher and first aid kit is now checked. 2 warning
triangles, 1 fire extinguisher (extenteur) are mandatory and the first
aid kit should also contain paracetamol, 95% alcohol and a yellow bottle
of Betadine (Beta-Isadona).
Registration of the vehicle is only
required if you are staying for more than three months.
Also read
the section on driving in Yaoundé.
During the rainy season (June
to September) many of the unpaved roads are impassable.
Diesel is
about 5-10% cheaper than (leaded) petrol. There are enough petrol
stations in cities.
In the past, there were opportunities to cross the Gulf of Guinea
from Nigeria to the Cameroonian port city of Limbe. However, the
connections were cancelled due to the precarious security situation in
Nigeria; unofficial ride sharing should not be used due to the risk of
kidnapping in Nigerian territorial waters.
In the rainy season,
it should also be possible to cross the Benue River to the city of
Garoua, but here too the security situation in the neighboring country
is considered the biggest obstacle.
The main means of transport in Cameroon are buses, taxis, cars,
trucks and motorbikes. Taxis and motorbikes travel to individual
destinations, buses travel on fixed routes.
The price for taxis
and motorbikes is negotiated before departure. The real price should be
known in advance, as Europeans are usually charged double the price.
Licensed taxis are usually yellow. The Peugeots that were once common
have been gradually replaced by Japanese small cars.
For about
ten years, Chinese companies have been building numerous new and better
roads, which is not yet reflected on all maps.
At the numerous bus agencies, you pay a fixed price for a seat and a
piece of luggage. The road network varies greatly in quality.
Many routes are served by minibuses, now often also of Japanese origin,
so-called bush taxis. Overcrowding and massive overloading are common.
In larger towns there are central departure points. If you wait long
enough, you will always find a bush taxi in the desired direction. The
bus only leaves when it is "full" in African terms.
A large number of private bus companies offer intercity connections
to the larger cities that are connected to the hard surface road
network. Traveling to places that can only be reached via dirt roads
usually involves changing to bush taxis. It is not advisable to travel
by bus to the north (provinces of Adamaoua, North and Extreme North), as
several hundred kilometers of dirt roads are used in the dry season,
which turn into mud in the rainy season.
Bus stations at rush
hour are vibrant places of the African way of life. Young people try to
win passengers for "their" bus company at the bus station. Sometimes the
competition is rough and the packers try to snatch the passengers'
luggage in order to win them over as customers. Here it is important to
keep calm and keep a firm hand on the luggage. The prices for tickets
vary depending on the time of day and the number of passengers. Before
you travel, ask other travelers about the current daily prices.
The benches in the buses are usually filled with passengers until there
is no more room. In practice, this means that five seats are sold on
benches of four. For comfortable travel, it is recommended to buy two
seats or a whole bench so that you don't travel like a sardine in a can
for hours. When loading the bus, you have to keep your extra seat free
and occasionally defend it against the packers, but this usually works
without any problems.
The companies Garantie, Buca Voyage and Central Voyage offer
air-conditioned VIP buses with decent and hygienic food. The waiting
rooms are clean and air-conditioned. Newspapers are usually also
provided. These buses usually respect higher safety standards in terms
of maintenance and overloading. In 2012, Buca Voyages was the best
organized (also in terms of safety and predictability) and most
comfortable bus company.
Prices vary depending on the time of day
and the general volume of travel (travel is more expensive before
holidays and in the morning). Trips during the day and during the week
are cheaper. VIP buses cost about twice as much and are worth the money.
Sometimes unsuspecting (European) passengers are asked to pay for
the transport of luggage, but this is usually not in line with the bus
operator's tariff policy. Larger companies issue a ticket for each piece
of luggage, which proves that it has been transported.
Safety on buses is generally precarious and accidents are common. Due
to the very high level of competition, most companies save on drivers
(poor training and too short rest periods) and on vehicle maintenance.
The choice of company is important for the safety of the trip. It is
best to ask the local population and other travelers about the company
with the best current reputation. When providing information, it should
be noted that the ethnic origin of the person being asked also plays an
important role in the preference for a bus company.
Buses that
already make a bad visual impression should be avoided. The companies
Kami and Mariama (same owners) had a particularly bad reputation in
2010.
In northern Cameroon, attacks on buses are possible. The
security forces are making varying efforts to combat the evil. The
security situation should be checked before travelling. In the rest of
the country, attacks are most likely to take place at night.
Traveling by train in Cameroon is a real adventure and therefore fun.
The slow journey means you can see a lot of the country and come into
contact with the colourful street vendors at the train stations or even
strike up a conversation during a longer stop. Those who prefer to
travel in comfort can use the VIP buses or the plane for a trip to the
north.
The trains derail relatively often. This is usually not
very dangerous given the low speeds of the trains (typically around 60
km/h). Thefts are common on trains, especially in second class.
(Passenger) trains often have to wait at train stations to cross freight
trains, as the latter are preferred through the network due to their
higher profitability. So allow enough time for the journey.
Three
trains a day run between Yaoundé and Douala (263 km), scheduled to take
3½-4 hours. Two are non-stop Intercity, another Express stops in Edea.
Prices in 2018 are 3000-9000 CFA, depending on class.
There is a
pair of night trains (seats only) between Yaoundé and Ngaoundéré
(N’déré) that depart daily shortly after 7:15 p.m. in each direction.
The scheduled arrival after 667 km is at 9 a.m. the next morning, but
more realistically you should plan for a sixteen-hour journey. There are
stops in Nanga Eboko, Belabo and Mbitom. Unreserved 2nd class costs
17,000 CFA in 2018; couchettes 25-28,000 CFA (if in operation). Morning
slow trains also run between Belabo ↔ N’déré for 4620 CFA.
Three
local trains (omnibus) with wooden bench class run daily on the 66 km
from Doula ↔ Mbanga ↔ Kumba for 500 CFA.
The ticket counter
clerks occasionally create artificial shortages of train tickets in
order to sell them to black market traders on their own account shortly
before departure. The price lists at the ticket counters are generally
correct and valid.
In principle, a car in Cameroon is always rented with a driver;
rental cars without a driver are very rare. In the big cities and
tourist resorts, tourists can also get vehicles on their own. You need
an international and a local driving license.
“Renting” can take
various forms: In the provincial capitals, there are travel agencies
that offer rental car contracts.
At short notice, you can simply
negotiate a daily rate with a taxi driver. Assume a rate of around 2000F
CFA/h (2008). With a little negotiating skill, this is the cheaper
option. In addition, off-road vehicles, for example, can be rented quite
easily from private individuals; just ask in a bar or at a kiosk.
Basically, French traffic rules apply. Drivers generally drive "by
sight" and systematically respect only a few traffic rules. These are
then particularly relevant in the case of traffic accidents. Minor paint
damage, dents and broken wing mirrors are commonplace, as drivers drive
and park "by contact". Scratches are not considered damage in the eyes
of local drivers and are therefore hardly grounds for compensation. So
be flexible in the case of minor jostling or if someone slams into the
body of your vehicle when opening the door. At intersections, you
usually have to drive as if you were in an imaginary roundabout, even if
the intersection is not signposted as a roundabout ("faire le
rondpoint"). Right-of-way applies in roundabouts (this is usually
respected), i.e. vehicles entering the roundabout have right of way.
Vehicles already in the roundabout must slow down. At intersections with
red lights, you can and must turn right when the light is red. Stopping
is considered a traffic violation. Red lights are not always observed,
so caution should always be taken when crossing traffic lights.
The typical speed is around 40-50 km/h and should not be exceeded even
when the road is clear. Children, disabled people and the elderly,
animals and vehicles can end up on the road at any time and without
warning.
Cycling is possible, but extremely dangerous. Cars and trucks pay little attention to cyclists and often push them onto sidewalks, sewers running parallel to the road or into the ditch. Numerous deep potholes, oil spills and theft of bicycle parts make the journey a risky adventure. Foreign cyclists are occasionally seen. They usually know in advance what to expect and are prepared accordingly.
Cameroon has two official languages: French and English. English is spoken in the South-West and North-West provinces, the other eight provinces are Francophone. Since the official languages are also the mandatory languages of instruction, most Cameroonians (except for the older rural population) are fluent in these languages. However, the common language is Pidgin English (Kamtok), a simplified English with various influences. The same applies to French. CAMpidginFrench (Franc-anglais), a mixture of Pidgin English and French (e.g. "on go" => <on> French for we, <go> English for go => "Are we going?"), has recently become established as the youth language. The more than 200 tribal languages and dialects also play an important role, particularly outside of the cities.
Cameroon allows the temporary import of hunting weapons. Hunting
permits and corresponding safaris will usually have to be booked through
specialised providers, who will also be able to provide information on
the export regulations for trophies and CITES rules. The yellow-backed
duiker (Cephalophus silvicultor) is completely protected. Lions, hippos
and elephants may still be hunted, but since May 2015 the EU has banned
all trophy imports.
General hunting rules prohibit shooting at
night, with artificial light or from a vehicle. There are also
species-specific quotas, classes of animals and minimum stays as well as
calibre regulations, which in combination affect the permit. Only
animals for which a permit has been granted in advance may be shot. The
fee doubles if a wounded animal escapes.
Hunting times are in the
savannah from January 1 to March 31, in forest areas from March 1 to
June 30. There are different types of hunting grounds, depending on who
receives the hunting fee:
ZIC (Zone d'Intérêt Cynégétique):
Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Nature Conservation
ZICGC (Zone
d'Intérêt Cynégétique à Gestion Communautaire): Half to the local
municipality and half to the Ministry of Nature Conservation
COZIC
(Cogestion Zone d'Intérêt Cynégétique): Fully to the Ministry of Nature
Conservation, additional fee for the surrounding communities.
Most hunting grounds are in the provinces of North and East near the
border with the Central African Republic.
In the north there are
special quarters for hunters. The preferred way to get there is by
four-wheel drive car.
In the east and south people mainly stalk
the forest on foot, which can be exhausting given the heat.
The CFA franc is directly tied to the EUR at a rate of just under € 1
= 656 CFA, which is inflated for political reasons. Note the current
import restrictions on cash.
It is advisable to take cash in euros
with you. There is a chronic shortage of small change in Cameroon.
Supermarkets and petrol stations can exchange larger notes. The euro can
be exchanged most easily and free of charge in banks for CFA. US$ and
sfr are relatively easy to buy but with purchase fees. Avoid exchanging
money on the street, which is often accompanied by fraud or robbery.
Banks and authorities open between 8 a.m. and 3.30 p.m.
Withdrawing cash from ATMs (almost only Visa) and paying with credit
cards are only possible in very few expensive hotels. In rural areas,
cards are still very limited. ATM logistics (network connection,
banknote supply, defects) will occasionally cause problems. Therefore,
always keep some cash in reserve. Longer queues can be expected from the
25th of the month.
Larger money transfers from abroad of up to
around 20,000 CHF / 13,000 EUR per year (depending on the
country-specific regulations on money laundering - this means the
regulations of the sender's country) can be transferred via Western
Union or other service providers such as MoneyGram, Express Union
International within minutes on working days. Holders of a Swiss postal
account can initiate a Western Union transfer to Cameroon via the
Internet and are therefore less dependent on carrying cash with them.
Domestic money transfers. In addition to the channels mentioned
above, domestic transfers can also be made via SMS/app via mobile phone
transfer systems (Orange Money and MTN MoMo - mobile money).
During a longer stay, you should consider opening an account with a
larger bank. A passport or residence permit and a copy of it are
required to open the account. The opening takes about 1-2 hours. The
cheapest way to transfer money to Cameroonian institutions is from
French banks, as there are no fees for intermediary correspondent banks.
Afriland, Ecobank, Credit Agricole and Standard Chartered also offer
local bank cards, which you can use to easily withdraw money from ATMs.
At the market, do not buy food in pieces or kilograms (except for
meat and fish), but in the units offered: fruit and vegetables are
bought in piles (French: un tas) or in cauldrons (French: saut).
Peanuts, spices, rice or grains are bought in cups (French: goblet).
Bananas are bought in bunches (French: régime), as part of a bunch
(French: main) or, you guessed it, in pieces (French: doigt). When
shopping at the market, take a porter (French: pousseur or porteur) who
can advise you where to buy things and protect you from pickpockets.
Younger porters cost around 200 CFA, older ones around 500 CFA.
Negotiate the price before hiring and give a little tip afterwards.
Cameroonian cuisine is part of the general West African cuisine, so
yams, corn (also known as couscous or polenta-like), cocoyam, plantains
and foufou are among the staple foods. Joloff rice is also popular.
Peanuts and palm oil are important components of meals.
For
bobolo (syn. bâton de manioc), manioc is mashed, fermented and then
steamed wrapped in a leaf. It is the traditional accompaniment to ndolé.
This type of stew with slightly bitter leaves comes from the Douala
region, but has now become a national dish.
Ikok is a dish that
is particularly popular among the Bantus of the Bassa tribe. It is based
on lianas of the Gnetum family. Suya are grilled meat skewers, seasoned
in the style of the Hausa tribe living in the north. A common
accompaniment is masa, a steamed rice cake. The low heat used when
preparing beef by street vendors spreads the tapeworm further.
Other commonly available dishes are: Poisson brézè, fish fried on a
charcoal grill. Poulet DG chicken in sauce. Tripes tripe in tomato or
peanut sauce. Sauce arachide, peanut sauce with rice and meat.
Brochettes, like everywhere in West Africa, skewers of shrimp, beef or
liver on a wood grill (usually grilled in oil barrels). Kilichi, dried,
spiced salted beef, in the Sahel regions also popular from dromedary.
Safu or prune are grilled or boiled safou fruits.
French-style
bread is often eaten for breakfast. Street vendors in particular sell
the pastry "ça va se savoir" for 50 CFA per piece.
Bush meat
(Viande de brousse), e.g. The highly valued pangolins, Gambian giant
hamster rats, porcupines, chimpanzees and gorillas still exist, but they
have become expensive delicacies due to increasing scarcity.
Odontol is the local firewater distilled from palm wine and grains,
which is very popular due to its low price. The flavor is provided by
the added essok (Garcinia lucida), a mangosteen. The main product on
offer is home-distilled moonshine, the production of which has been
banned since 1970, but is tolerated "as medicine". A few hundred people
die or are blind every year because of the methyl it may contain.
Gambling is permitted. There is a casino in Yaoundé and Douala.
Due to the overvaluation of the local currency, accommodation in
Cameroon is only slightly cheaper than in Germany (approx. 20,000 CFA
per night) and of a much lower standard. Western standards can only be
expected in the luxury segment. Camping is possible, but should be
avoided if possible due to the security situation in the country.
Most hotels do not accept credit cards. In hotels below the 4-star
category, hot water is not always available (either not installed or the
installation is defective). For children or those who take a shower in
the warm (for once, that's a nice touch), hot water can be ordered in
buckets from the hotel (give a small tip). You can also provide hot
water yourself using a kettle (approx. 2000 CFA) and a bucket.
You can have your dirty laundry cleaned in all hotels. Either the hotel
offers a service (more expensive) or you can ask the hotel staff
(cheaper), who will do it for you as an extra payment. Remember that
this is hand washing, which is less suitable for delicate items of
clothing (intensive scrubbing). If you want to have your laundry boiled,
you must order it separately. Laundry must be ironed if it is dried
outside (see also the Health section => Botfly).
The security situation in Cameroon has deteriorated significantly in
recent years, but you can still move around the country fairly freely if
you follow a few tips:
Valuables and jewelry should not be
displayed openly.
You should only take as much cash with you as you
need for the day, and the cash should be divided into different bags.
Important documents such as passports and visas should not be carried in
the original, but should be deposited in the hotel safe. You can copy
your passport and visa and have the copy officially certified at a
police station (cost: 1000 CFA), the copy is recognized as a valid ID.
The German embassy in Yaoundé also offers this service.
You should
not hail a taxi on the street (risk of robbery), it is best to ask the
hotel/host to order one for you. If you are planning longer trips
through the country, you should consider renting a car with a driver.
Fake police officers are common in the country, you should make sure the
officer is genuine and insist on being allowed to contact the embassy.
After dark, you should not stay outside.
In the event of a robbery:
do not resist, hand over the money or valuables demanded to the robbers.
At present, the rifts between the English-speaking minority on the
border with Nigeria and the French-speaking majority in the rest of the
country are erupting again and there are violent clashes. Since many of
Cameroon's neighboring countries do not have functioning governments
(Chad, Central African Republic) and the extensive border is difficult
to monitor, there is a risk of kidnappings by armed militias in the
border areas with neighboring countries. Travel to destinations outside
the two large cities of Yaounde and Douala should be carefully
considered.
A yellow fever vaccination is required to travel to Cameroon. This
vaccination has been valid for life since 2017 (entered in the
international vaccination certificate). Previously it was ten years. It
is not clear to what extent the change has spread to remote borders.
This must be shown when applying for a visa and when entering the
country. In addition, if you have stayed in the country for four weeks
or longer, you must prove that you have been vaccinated against polio
(poliomyelitis) when you leave. It makes sense to have the vaccination
done before you travel.
Tap water is not drinkable. Because of
the contamination, a special small water filter is more useful than
chemical agents. Otherwise, only drink bottled water, which costs
300-400 CFA for 1½ liters (2018). Be careful with street vendors to make
sure they are not refilled bottles. Brands are Tangui or Supermont.
The Cameroonian health system is well equipped for tropical
diseases. The quality level in the health care system varies greatly.
There are many very good facilities, but also many bad ones. Common
sense is the order of the day when assessing the services - but don't
panic. Cameroonian doctors and health workers immediately fight any
bacterial infections with antibiotics.
Hospitals require an
advance payment. In addition, medication and dressings must be obtained
by the patient themselves. Most small and medium-sized clinics or
dispensaries do not have their own laboratories. It is therefore
important to know their locations. If you suspect an illness, you can
order tests directly without a doctor's referral.
In the big
cities, the names of the on-call pharmacies are listed on the doors of
the pharmacies. Ask locals about the location. Pharmacies usually do not
require a doctor's prescription: if you feel confident, you can buy any
available medication from the pharmacy - at your own risk. This can be
an advantage in emergency situations or when the patient is clear about
the indication and posology of the medication.
For travelers who
regularly need certain medications, it is very important to bring enough
of them (e.g. insulin or prescribed medication). However, there are
pharmacies in larger cities where you can buy French-made medications
quite cheaply. To do this, you should find out the French or
international name of the respective medication or active ingredient,
which may differ from the brand name in German-speaking countries.
Cameroon is a high-risk country for malaria. Before traveling, you
should therefore get information from a tropical medicine specialist
about malaria prophylaxis options and, if necessary, have appropriate
medication prescribed. You should also always protect yourself against
insect bites. If you notice any symptoms of malaria, you should go to
one of the country's many hospitals immediately. The entire spectrum of
tropical diseases is also available. The HIV prevalence in the
population is between 5 and 12% nationwide.
When in swimming
pools, always use ear plugs or a tight swimming cap if possible, which
protect against water getting into your ears. Due to the mostly medium
to poor water quality, sensitive people are at risk of infections in the
throat, nose and ear area.
The amoeba is an organism between 0.1 and 2mm in size. Amoebae cause painful diseases in the digestive tract. White mucus in the excrement and painful bowel movements are typical symptoms of an amoeba disease. The amoebae usually enter the body via unhygienically stored food (salad, water, peeled fruit sold openly and cold, already prepared food in general). By following the tropical food rule (see: Healthy on the go) you can effectively avoid amoeba diseases. Amoeba medication can be bought in any pharmacy for around 2500 CFA.
The botfly lays its eggs on clothes hanging outside to dry. The
maggots hatch on contact with the skin and penetrate the skin, where
they develop. They feed on the host's skin. The skin-eating manifests
itself in itching and sometimes painful bites. After a few days or
weeks, a fly emerges from the affected area of skin. This disease is
visually disgusting, but if no sensitive parts of the body are affected,
it is usually harmless.
Avoid infestation by drying the laundry
inside buildings or by ironing the laundry thoroughly.
If infested,
you can "force" the maggots to emerge from the skin by suffocating them
using a few simple methods. This can be done by smearing the skin with
cooking fat, oil, butter or a piece of meat. Lemon juice and tobacco
smoke are generally recommended. Treatment for around 15 minutes is
sufficient. You can then squeeze the maggot out of the skin as a whole.
Do not cut the maggot - it must be removed as a whole. Local nurses
usually deal with the problem quickly and without pain. Infections
caused by the fly are rare. It is best to treat the infestation during
your stay with experienced staff and not after a return trip to Europe
or the USA. Doctors in these countries have little experience in
treating the infestation and often remove it surgically with a scalpel.
This is always expensive, but may also cause pain and inflammation from
the procedure.
There are a good two hundred tribes living in the country, some of
which have their own culture. In addition, there are a large number of
Muslims who react very unpleasantly to violations of their moral rules.
People you talk to often avoid direct eye contact. Insulting the
president and his clan is prohibited by law and punishable by law. Paul
Biya (*1933) has been in office since 1982.
Before taking
photographs of people, always ask the person for their consent. This is
almost always given - at most in return for a symbolic tip or an
invitation to a drink. Taking photographs without consent can lead to
serious conflicts. Anything that has military significance (e.g.
bridges) should be avoided if possible.
Africans are generally
not people with numbers - so don't expect precise answers to questions
about the number of inhabitants, unemployment rates, distances in (kilo)
meters or the exact duration of a trip. Be pragmatic and calculate an
average of several pieces of information. Although there are some street
names, hardly anyone knows them. So if you want to take a taxi to
"Avenue Foch", for example, ask for the "Pharmacie du Soleil" or the
"Commissariat de l'Elysée" and not the street name.
The practice
of breast ironing is particularly widespread in the Littoral province.
Around half of adolescent girls are subjected to this cultural practice.
The application of hot stones or similar is intended to reduce breast
growth and make the girls unattractive to potential rapists. Normal
breastfeeding is often not possible later on. The long-term consequences
include damage to connective tissue, pain, impaired self-esteem,
infections, cysts and an increased risk of cancer.
Invitations to dinner can be formal occasions. Cameroonians
appreciate a well-groomed appearance. Avoid shorts, flip-flops,
sleeveless T-shirts or swimwear in government offices, good hotels or
restaurants.
The various Cameroonian ethnic groups celebrate
various celebrations and ceremonies which - who is surprised? - have
their origins in the turning points of life: birth, wedding, death, etc.
As many guests are always invited as the budget allows, lavish food is
served, long speeches are given and there is dancing in the traditional
way. If you are invited to one of these, it is worth accepting the
invitation. Despite similar names, most of the events are very different
from those known in the western world and are therefore worth
experiencing.
Funérailles are memorial services for the deceased,
which are held by the Bamiléké, Bamoun and other grassland peoples. The
celebration is accompanied by traditional music and dances and gives a
colorful insight into the traditions of these peoples. These
celebrations take place between December and the beginning of March. You
must be invited by someone, which is usually not a problem, as the
principle for these celebrations is that the more participants the
better and a well-traveled guest is always welcome.
There are no area codes, all telephone numbers are nine digits long. Landlines start with 2 or 3, mobile phones with 7, 8 or 9.
Of the 232 post offices in the country, 58 accept international
parcels. Letters to foreign countries usually arrive. International
parcel service has been outsourced to EMS. This courier company has
similar prices to DHL.
The state postal service is suitable for
sending documents cheaply, where a possible loss does not cause major
problems. Many mail items are lost, and parcels in particular are looted
in whole or in part by employees.
Due to the problems with the
state postal service, intercity bus companies offer alternative shipping
services. At every major bus station there is a courier service counter
that accepts parcels and letters. The goods are entered in a register.
The postage depends on the declared value of the shipment and sometimes
on the sender. These services are usually quite reliable. However,
delays are possible. The possible shipping destinations depend on the
company's route network.
There are hardly any landline telephones in Cameroon. The state-owned
CAMTEL, with high access costs, is also responsible for landline
networks. The quality of the network (disconnections, overload, noise,
crosstalk between channels) is very poor due to poor maintenance, lack
of investment and poor operational management. The number of connections
has hardly changed for years. The telephone exchanges in Yaoundé are
digital (first generation), the terminal devices are analogue.
However, the mobile network is quite well developed. In 2014 there were
four providers: Orange, MTN, E (formerly nextel) and Camtel. The
networks of the first two are the best developed. All offer prepaid
cards or the electronic transfer of credit.
The state-owned Camtel is
mainly present in Douala and Yaoundé (the Vodafone LTE network there was
taken over in 2017), but also offers internet, with fiber optics in all
provincial capitals since 2015. Prepaid cards are also available
everywhere in the countryside.
In larger cities there are
countless call boxes, i.e. simple kiosks where you can make calls using
your mobile phone. This is often cheaper than using a private mobile
phone!
MTN (Mobile Telephone Network), Orange Communications,
Nextel operate a rapidly growing GSM 900/1800 network (standards: GSM;
3G and 4G since December 2015). Mobile phones commonly used in Europe
can be used. The price per minute for domestic calls is around CFA
100/minute. Credit can be transferred between end users via messages for
CFA 50 / transaction (transfert de crédit"). The quality of the networks
is good in the city and outside. A monthly data subscription for 3G or
4G networks costs 8,000-10,000 CFA (as of January 1, 2015) and is
recommended. It works with prepaid.
Local SIM cards can be bought
cheaply by presenting a passport or a Cameroonian identity card. The
quality of mobile data connections has increased significantly since
2016 with the introduction of 4G standards. WhatsApp, Skype, Messenger &
Co receive sufficient bandwidth and network stability. The reliability
of the networks is, however, significantly worse than in Central Europe.
Individual services (SMS, voice or data) can sporadically fail for a few
hours. The "rebellious" Anglophone regions were completely cut off from
the Internet for months in 2018.
If you are planning to travel in Cameroon or Central Africa for a longer period of time, it may be worth importing a vehicle that will later be sold locally. However, this procedure is only recommended for travelers with good knowledge of Africa, sufficient time budget and strong nerves. Most vehicles are imported by sea via Doula. This process is described in this article. It is advisable to commission an international logistics company to handle the customs clearance procedure, which will then carry it out with full transparency and at a slightly higher cost.
It is best to book the shipment through a specialized car exporter.
These are usually Lebanese businessmen, but sometimes also black
Africans. The vehicle must be registered and valued by the company SGS
(Société Générale de Surveillance) before shipping (this is done
according to a standard valuation table ("Argus"). The vehicle is
photographed and a file is created for the Cameroonian customs and the
SGS in Douala.
The vehicle can then be shipped to Cameroon. The
typical shipping ports are Antwerp, Rotterdam, Le Havre and Marseille.
Before the ship arrives, the port handling fees must be paid - you must
present the shipping documents (Bill of Lading) which identify you as
the owner. In the port, the company Socomar is responsible for the
vehicle, its employees are considered extremely corrupt. An inspection
("Visite") is carried out by customs, during which it is determined that
the value does not deviate significantly from the SGS estimate and that
there are no other goods in the vehicle that would require additional
customs clearance.
The customs officer's report is then recorded by
"Informatique" and a customs clearance report is created. With this
customs clearance report you go to the cash desk and pay the customs
amount against receipt. This is 58% up to 2000 cc, above that 77%
[probably increased by a further 10% in 2018]). Depending on the Argus
list, the customs amount can be 1-2 million CFA - in addition to the
import tax of 100-200,000 CFA. Upon presentation of the receipt, you
request that customs release the vehicle from the port.
A parking fee
must be paid for each day the vehicle has been in the port. In 2018,
this was 500-1850 CFA, depending on the size.
You will then receive a
corresponding stamp on the customs file and can leave the port.
The process described in "Standard process" is the one normally provided. Since Cameroon is still rated by Transparency International as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, the corruption factor must be taken into account, the epicenter of which in Cameroon is the port of Douala. The author recommends the strategy of following the standard procedure mentioned above as closely as possible and not taking any of the shortcuts that are offered everywhere. In your own interest, never try to bribe an official - the advantages of a clean transaction usually outweigh the disadvantages. The following explanations are therefore based on a bribe-free practice.
In Cameroon, spare parts and repair know-how are only available for a limited number of brands and models. It is best to choose Toyota, Nissan, Kia, Hyunndai or Mercedes. You can also find spare parts for other Japanese brands, Land Rover and French brands (especially Peugeot). Audi and Jeep were on the rise in 2008. It is best to avoid other brands, as you would then have to order the spare parts via DHL from abroad or through a local garage and finding a mechanic can be very difficult. Remember that there are only a few workshops with car electronics analysis and parameterization devices.
If possible, send the vehicle empty, otherwise an additional customs
clearance procedure will be required for the goods carried.
Try to
get the freight forwarder to book a ship that goes directly to Douala,
i.e. does not make any stops in West Africa. During these stops, parts
are often unscrewed or goods are stolen from the vehicle. Remove
particularly expensive accessories (e.g. car radio) or the lighting
system.
Book transport insurance that protects against total loss,
but not against minor transport damage or the unscrewing of individual
parts.
Certain freight forwarders offer a VIP shipping option, which
also insures the unscrewing of smaller parts and the shipping takes
place with special security precautions.
The whole procedure takes about 3 working days if all the necessary
papers and a professional customs agent are present.
The name of the
person who actually clears the car at the port must be listed on the
Bill of Lading (BL) - otherwise a certified power of attorney must be
provided (certified, for example, at a local police station). An ETCN
("electronic cargo tracking note") is also required.
Use the services
of an international logistics company (expensive) or a local customs
agent ("Transitaire") (cheaper) who knows the procedure. Self-clearance
is definitely not recommended for those who are not familiar with
Cameroon and can lead to weeks of torture, including customs fines and
vehicles being gutted while you wait. Negotiate the fee in advance.
Around 50,000 CFA was reasonable in 2008. Add at least the same amount
for taxi rides in the port (only special taxis with a port vignette
operate there), paying for food for the transitaire and yourself, port
fees when entering and all sorts of small expenses.
If you are
carrying goods in your vehicle, apply in writing to customs for a
“Visite conjointe,” which then also includes a simultaneous customs
visit for the goods. For such goods, a list in French is required.
Electrical appliances, etc. (computers are duty-free if they are 6
months old and must be documented with an invoice; import ban for
televisions with Braun tubes) must be listed with a serial number and
value. Anyone entering the country temporarily for work purposes
(present an employment contract) can bring their used household items
with them duty-free, but a flat fee of 2.5% is payable. In addition, the
items must remain in the possession of the importer (certified by a
“Certificate of free entry”), which then also applies to cars.
Before clearing customs, take out third-party insurance from a local
insurance company and buy a road tax sticker. The sticker is available
from the local direction des impots.
Buy a temporary vehicle plate
from a tradesman. Have the characters CH (for chassis) and then the last
6 to 8 characters of the frame number (chassis number) marked on it. You
can find tradesmen near the port entrance.
Mount the plate before
leaving the port. Take the necessary tools with you - they are usually
not available on site.
Register the vehicle with the Ministry of Transport with the help of
an administrative scout who will guide you through the thicket of
administration.
If you are importing a car with an engine capacity of
less than 2 liters, ask the Ministry of Transport official for a tax
power of 13 hp ("13CV"). You can then buy the vignette for 25,000 CFA
[2018 ?35,000 CFA] instead of the one for 100,000 CFA.
Once you have
received the vehicle registration document (Carte grise), buy a
permanent vehicle plate from an authorized manufacturer. The order
period takes about 2 months. Keep the receipt and show it to the police
during checks.
The name of the country comes from the hydronym "Rio dos Camarões" (port. Rio dos Camarões - "shrimp river"). This hydronym arose after the discovery by Portuguese navigators in the 1480s of the mouth of the Vouri River, where a large number of shrimp were found. Subsequently, the hydronym was transformed into the form "Cameroon".
Until 1884, the area of today's state of Cameroon was populated by
a variety of differently organized societies.
European influence
began in 1472, when Portuguese sailors landed on the coast of Cameroon.
Cameroon got its name from the many crabs in the Wouri River (then Rio
dos Camarões, Crab River). Around 1520, trade with the Portuguese began,
particularly with ivory and sugar cane. The slave trade never achieved
any particular importance on the Cameroon coast; the slave trade was
abolished as early as 1820 and the slave traders were persecuted.
Finally, on July 10, 1840, the Douala kings signed international
treaties with Great Britain for the worldwide ban on human trafficking
and slavery. (For comparison: slavery was abolished in the USA in 1865,
in Brazil in 1888 and in Saudi Arabia in 1963.) The slave trade was
replaced in the 19th century by the trade in palm oil and palm kernels.
The strong demand was a result of the industrial revolutions in parts of
Europe.
In 1868, German influence on Cameroon grew stronger with the
establishment of trading branches by the Hamburg trading house Woermann
at the mouth of the Wouri. On July 14, 1884, the German Consul General
Gustav Nachtigal, as Imperial Commissioner, concluded protection
treaties with several headmen of the Duala and other regional rulers and
thus proclaimed the protectorate of Cameroon as a German colony. The
name initially referred to the protection of German economic interests.
The actual seizure of the hinterland and the violent or cooperative
integration of the societies there took place over the next 30 years and
was not yet fully completed when the First World War broke out.
In 1911, the Morocco-Congo Agreement saw a significant expansion of the
colony (New Cameroon) at the expense of the French colonies in Central
Africa. In the Treaty of Versailles (Article 125), these territories
were assigned back to France.
During the First World War, the
numerically and materially inferior German Schutztruppe was able to hold
out in Cameroon for two years. In 1916, the last garrison in Mora (North
Cameroon) surrendered to the British colonial army.
During the
German colonial period between 1884 and 1919, Cameroon lost tens of
thousands of cultural and artistic objects, of which around 40,000 are
now in German museums.
Through the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, Cameroon officially became
the property of the League of Nations, which in turn gave a mandate to
Great Britain and France to administer it. The country was divided up,
with France receiving four-fifths.
France pursued a massive
assimilation policy. The use of local languages in schools was banned.
After 1929, as a result of the global economic crisis, mobility was
restricted and a forced labor statute was imposed that was reminiscent
of the German forced labor system before the First World War.
The
banana and cocoa plantations on Mount Cameroon were in the British
mandate after 1919. They were expropriated, but in 1924 the German
companies were able to buy the plantations back at a London auction.
After 1933, the Cameroon plantations became a testing ground for a
future National Socialist colonial economy ("German Cameroon bananas").
In 1940, the Vichy government's High Commissioner for the French
mandate joined the France Libre movement.
After the Second World
War (1945), both League of Nations mandates were converted into trust
mandates by the UN. The UN's goal was to achieve gradual self-government
or independence for the territory.
The path to women's suffrage
was different in the two mandated territories: The French territory
followed the pattern of other French colonies in West Africa: With the
founding of the French Union and the Fourth Republic, women were granted
the right to vote on October 27, 1946. The passive right to vote was not
explicitly mentioned in the law, but was not excluded either. According
to the Loi Lamine Guèye, all citizens had the right to vote in elections
to the French parliament and also in local elections, but voting was
carried out in two classes, which gave the French-born population an
advantage. This two-class voting system was only abolished on June 23,
1956 by the loi-cadre Defferre and confirmed at independence. The
British territory was administered by Nigeria until 1954. In 1954, the
House of Assembly of Southern Cameroon was created, which guaranteed
unrestricted universal suffrage in 1959. In 1961, the southern part of
the British territory joined the newly independent Federal Republic of
Cameroon, and the northern part joined the predominantly Muslim northern
part of Nigeria. As a result, women there did not receive the right to
vote until 1976.
In 1947, France created the Assemblée
représentative du Cameroun, whose members were elected by a dual
electoral college (24 seats for the "Cameroonians" and 16 seats for the
"settlers").
In 1956, the Defferre framework law (loi-cadre
Defferre) granted the French colonies and mandated territories (Togo and
Cameroon) internal and limited autonomy.
In 1957, the Assemblée
législative du Cameroun (in English, "Cameroonian Constituent Assembly")
was elected by general election. On May 10, 1957, the French High
Commissioner (Pierre Messmer) appointed André Marie Mbida as Prime
Minister of the first Cameroonian government, which had limited powers
(in particular, the areas of security, foreign policy and monetary
policy remained with France). After the fall of the Mbida government in
1958, Pierre Messmer replaced him with Ahmadou Ahidjo. In October 1959,
a state of emergency (état d’urgence) was declared, which gave him
extensive powers. On March 13, 1959, after pressure from the mandate
power France, the United Nations General Assembly decided in Resolution
1349 that no referendum to elect the first president after independence
would have to be held before independence.
From 1945 onwards there were repeated uprisings against the French
security forces and a fight for the independence of the French trust
territory. In 1948 the Union des Populations du Cameroun (UPC) emerged
from the environment of the trade union movement, which campaigned for
the independence of the mandate territory by political means until it
was banned by the High Commissioner Roland Pré on 13 July 1955. The
armed struggle of the UPC, or more precisely its military arm the ANLK
(Armée nationale de Liberation du Kamerun, note the German spelling),
initially against the mandate power France and later against the Ahidjo
government began in mid-1955 and ended in 1971 with the execution of
Ernest Ouandié in January 1971 in Bafoussam.
On 1 January 1960,
French Cameroon gained independence after a referendum and after the
expiration of the UN mandate and called itself the Republic of Cameroon.
In December 1960, the 15th General Assembly of the United Nations
decided that the trust territories should also be granted independence.
This could be achieved through complete independence, free association
with an already independent state or integration into an independent
state. The British trustees denied their trust territories the first
option, complete independence. The north of the British mandate trust
territory therefore voted in a referendum to join Nigeria, while the
southern part decided to join the Republic of Cameroon in the form of a
federation. Independence and simultaneous annexation took place on
October 1, 1961. The state thus formed was called the Federative
Republic of Cameroon. This is the reason why two official languages,
French and English, are now recognized in Cameroon.
The Fulani Ahmadou Ahidjo, who rose from prime minister to become
Cameroon's president, established a dictatorship. In terms of foreign
policy, the country's leadership leaned closely on France. With the help
of covert and open French support and brutal repression, Ahidjo managed
to consolidate his regime. On September 1, 1966, the Union Nationale
Camerounaise (UNC) was founded, which has been called the Rassemblement
démocratique du Peuple Camerounais or Cameroon People's Democratic
Movement (RDPC) since 1985.
In 1972, a referendum was held on the
future form of government. As a result, the Federal Republic of Cameroon
was transformed into a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon.
After President Ahidjo resigned on November 6, 1982, his prime minister
Paul Biya became head of state and chairman of the UNC. He won the
elections in 1984 and was able to thwart an attempted coup. With the
newly founded RDPC unity party, Biya promised to democratize the country
and bring more social justice. Biya won the 1988 elections because there
was no opposing candidate. The economic and social crisis in the country
during the 1980s was blamed on him and his cabinet; it weighed on the
government. Demands for freedom of the press and an end to the one-party
system became louder and louder. With the approval of freedom of the
press, many critical newspapers appeared and the opposition in the
country became stronger and stronger. In the early 1990s, there were
increasing riots and general strikes demanding an end to the RDPC's
monopoly position. Biya reluctantly gave in to pressure from the streets
and allowed opposition parties to be formed, so that the first free
elections took place in 1992, in which Biya won again. The opposition
suspected electoral fraud because foreign election observers were
obstructed. It is more likely, however, that the opposition parties were
too fragmented (32 parties ran in the election) to pool their votes.
Nevertheless, the election result meant that the RDPC (89 seats) had to
form a coalition with the largest opposition party, the National Union
for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) (65 seats). With French support and
skillful outplaying of his political opponents, Biya was able to
maintain his majority in parliament until 1997 and was confirmed in the
elections of the same year. The amended constitution of 1996 provided
for the decentralization of the state, including the introduction of a
second chamber of representatives, the Senate.
Since
independence, in particular the creation of a unitary state and the
renaming of the "United Republic of Cameroon" to the Republic of
Cameroon in 1984, there have been repeated attempts at autonomy in the
English-speaking part of Southern Cameroon. The South Cameroons National
Council and the South Cameroons Ambazonia Consortium United Front
(SCACUP) are fighting for a state of Ambazonia, whose name is derived
from the local name Ambas Bay of the Cameroon estuary. The Republic of
Ambazonia was first proclaimed in 1984. There were protests from 2016 to
2018; in 2017 they were bloodily suppressed by the army. According to
Amnesty International, by June 2018 20 Ambazonia supporters had been
killed by the army, while 44 were killed on the army side.
The natural area of Cameroon can be described as "Africa in
miniature" because it is home to all the main climate zones and
vegetation of the continent: sea coast on the Bay of Bonny, mountains,
tropical rainforest, savannah and desert in the far north. The interior
of the country consists mainly of flat plateaus that rise northwards to
the Adamaua highlands and the Mandara Mountains, then gradually descend
to the lowlands of Lake Chad in the far north, of which Cameroon still
holds a smaller share.
The west and northwest of Cameroon are
dominated by volcanic mountains along the Cameroon Line, which are
dominated by an active volcano near the coast: Mount Cameroon, at 4095
m, is the highest elevation in West Africa. Along the Cameroon Line
rises the Oku volcanic field, which is up to 3011 m high and contains
Lake Nyos and Lake Manoun. The Oku volcanic field is located in the
Bamenda highlands, where the highest mountain rainforests in West Africa
are located. The third highest elevation in Cameroon is the Bambouto
massif (2740 m). Other important mountains in the Cameroon mountains are
the sacred mountains of the Bakossi, the Manengouba and the Kupe. The
southern plateaus are covered with tropical rainforest and descend to
broad plains in the coastal region.
The soils found in the south
and center of Cameroon are ferrallitic soils, i.e. soils of the
equatorial brown loams of the humid tropics. In the north, in the area
of the dry and thorn savannah, there are typical red-brown and red
soils of the dry savannah.
The climate is tropical with high temperatures, which are milder at
higher altitudes. The rainy periods are predominantly rainy, but with
large regional differences. A total of five regional climate zones can
be distinguished (see map).
The north of the country is humid and
humid, with a dry season from October to April and an average rainfall
of around 700 mm per year. The period when there is little rainfall is
from July to September. The average temperature is 32.2 °C. Due to the
high temperatures and the relatively low rainfall, there is a medium
probability of drought in this area (every two to five years). In the
far north, near Lake Chad, the climate is dry. Here, Cameroon's part of
the Chad Basin lies with the floodplains of the Logone in the east of
the Waza Plain. From November, the El Beid River, which forms the border
with Nigeria in the west, receives the water for its main flood season.
In the inner highlands to the south (1000 to 1500 m above sea
level), the temperature reaches an average of 22 °C per year and
rainfall of 1500 to 1600 mm falls annually. This is where the transition
from the savannahs of the north to the rainforest of the south takes
place. The following West Cameroon mountains have constant rainfall
between 2000 and 11,000 mm. The area on the southern foothills of Mount
Cameroon has an average rainfall of 11,000 mm, making it one of the
rainiest areas in the world. In these two regions there is a "dry
season" between December and February, although this period is not
completely free of rainfall.
The coastal plain in the south has
an equatorial climate with rainfall between 1500 and 2000 mm and an
average temperature of 25 °C. There is dense tropical rainforest here.
The drier months are December and January.
Basically, Cameroon is divided into four large catchment areas (in addition to various coastal rivers). The watershed of these four large catchment areas is in the Adamawa highlands. In a northeasterly direction, the "northern" Vina and the Mbéré drain into the Chad Basin. The "southern" Vina and the Lom flow southwards and drain into the Sanaga. The Benue has its source in the north of the highlands and the Faro, a tributary of the Benue, in the northwest, which flows into the Niger system. There are also the Kadéï and Mambéré rivers, which drain southeast into the Congo via the Sangha.
According to a study by Bernard Foahom in 2001, at least 542
different species of fish live in Cameroon, 96 of which are endemic. In
addition, over 15,000 species of butterflies, 281 species of mammals,
165 of the 275 reptiles that exist in Africa, three species of
crocodiles and 190 to 200 frogs have been counted. Among the 885 species
of birds, there are 223 migratory bird species and seven endemic species
(as of 2017). In the western mountains, the Bakossi Mountains and the
Manengouba form a biodiversity hotspot.
The central part of the
country is located in the so-called forest-savannah mosaic ecoregion of
northern Congo.
The country's natural resources include oil, bauxite, iron ore, gold
and diamonds. These mineral resources have not yet been used
intensively. The first impetus came from the United Nations Development
Programme in the 1980s.
The development of oil deposits has
declined since 1986.
In 2021, 58 percent of Cameroon's inhabitants lived in cities. The two largest cities in Cameroon are the capital Yaoundé with around 4.2 million inhabitants (2015 estimate) and the port city of Douala with around 3.4 million inhabitants.
Cameroon had 26.5 million inhabitants in 2020. Annual population
growth was + 2.6%. A surplus of births (birth rate: 34.4 per 1,000
inhabitants vs. death rate: 8.9 per 1,000 inhabitants) contributed to
population growth. The number of births per woman in 2020 was
statistically 4.4. Starting from a peak of around 6.5 children per woman
in the early 1980s, the rate is steadily declining. The trend is favored
by the fact that more and more married women have access to modern
contraceptives. Nevertheless, their share was only 36% in 2020. The
median age in 2020 was an estimated 18.7 years, and 42.4% of the
population is younger than 15 years.
The most densely populated
areas are the grasslands in the west and northwest region, the coastal
province around the port city of Douala and the area around the capital
Yaoundé. In contrast, the center and southeast of the country are
sparsely populated.
Statements on the number of ethnic groups living in Cameroon vary
greatly and are partly permeated by ideas of colonial rule (divide and
conquer). Roughly speaking, four geographical areas with cultural
clusters can be distinguished:
The societies of the coastal
region, shaped, among other things, by contact with European traders in
the 15th century (for example, Duala, Kpe/Bakwiri and Batanga groups)
The societies of the Southern Woodland, largely shaped by migration
movements from the neighboring savannah areas, some of which began
several centuries ago. The low population density and the
difficult-to-penetrate terrain favored the formation of segmental
societies with special forms of exchange (for example, Ewondo, Basaa,
Ngumba, Eton, Bulu, Makaa, Njem, Ndzimu and Fang).
The societies of
the mountainous region in the west, characterized above all by a
favorable geographical location, which already in pre-colonial times led
to a high population density and, as a result, to phenomena of social
stratification, including in the form of a large number of smaller
kingdoms (for example, Bamun, Bamileke groups).
The societies north
of the Sanaga Basin, mainly shaped by contact with the societies in the
Sahel and in particular by the Fulbe invasion in the 19th century or by
the conflict with it (for example Fulbe, Kanuri, Mandara, Musgum,
Kotoko, Massa, Mundang, Gbaya, Kirdi).
People migrate to Cameroon mainly from the neighboring countries of Nigeria, the Central African Republic and Chad. In June 2015, the UNHCR counted a total of around 400,000 refugees in the country. In 2017, 2.2% of the population was born abroad.
The figures for the various language groups also vary greatly. The
Ethnologue database currently lists 285 languages spoken in the
country. However, this classification is also contradictory in detail.
The official languages are French (around 80% of the population) and
English (around 20% of the population), according to the allocation of
the administrative districts after the First and Second World Wars
(League of Nations mandates/UN trusteeship). Cameroonian Pidgin English
serves as the lingua franca in the Anglophone regions; Camfranglais, a
mixture of French, Pidgin and several Cameroonian languages, is gaining
importance in the Francophone cities and among young people.
The
main languages in the north are Fulfulde, Kanuri, the Kotoko languages
and Shuwa, in the south (about 40% of the total population) mainly
languages from the northwest branch of the Benue-Congo family (Duala,
Basaa, Kpe-Mboko, Malimba-Yasa, Makaa, Njyem, Ndsimu, Ngumba and
Kunabembe) and various Beti-Fang languages, including Ewondo, Bulu and
Fang. Over 20% speak Sudanese and Az-Sande languages. Important
languages in the west are Ghomálá, Fe’fe’, Medumba and Yemba. Spanish
is increasingly spoken in the border area with Equatorial Guinea. Around
230,000 people in Cameroon are learning German.
In Cameroon, around 69.2 percent of the population are Christians. In
more detail: around 38.4 percent are followers of the Catholic Church of
Cameroon, 26.3 percent are Protestants, around 0.5 percent are Orthodox
Christians and 4 percent are followers of other Christian denominations.
20.9 percent of the population are Muslims and 5.6 percent are followers
of traditional West and Central African religions. 1 percent describe
themselves as followers of other religions and 3.2 percent as having no
religion.
A large part of the population also practices
traditional local beliefs.
The first missionaries to enter the
country were freed slaves of African origin from the Jamaican Baptist
Missionary Society in 1841, followed by the English missionary and
engineer Alfred Saker in 1845. The Cameroon Baptists have maintained
close relations with the German Federation of Evangelical Free Churches
for over 100 years. In the course of German colonization during the 19th
century, the Basel Mission came to Cameroon in 1886. Two reformed
churches emerged from their activities: the Presbyterian Church in
Cameroon (PCC) and the Eglise évangelique du Cameroun (EEC). The Basel
Mission German branch and its associated Swiss mission are active there
today with numerous social projects.
Eight Pallottine Fathers
reached Duala on October 25, 1890 under the leadership of Father
Heinrich Vieter. Today, the Catholic Pallottine Mission in Cameroon is
important in the south (Kribi and Doume).
There are state universities in Yaoundé, Douala, Buea, Dschang,
Ngaunderé, Bamenda, Maroua and Bertoua. In addition to the
denominational universities (Catholic Central African University in
Yaoundé, Protestant Central African University in Yaoundé, the Adventist
University in Nanga Ebogo), there is a growing number of private
universities (for example, the University of the Montagnes in Banganté
and the Bamenda University of Technology and Science, Douala Institute
of Technology). In addition, there is the Cameroon-Congo Inter-State
University in Sangmélima (Southern Cameroon), which opened in 2015 and
focuses on technical subjects (information and communication
technology). The second location is in Ouesso (Republic of Congo).
The school enrollment rate is 79 percent and is high by African
standards, but there is a strong south-north divide. Attendance at state
primary schools is free. School materials, uniforms and snacks must be
paid for by parents, which reduces the school enrollment rate in the
southern provinces. In the northern provinces, the school enrollment
rate is also lower for cultural reasons. Despite compulsory schooling,
the proportion of illiterate people is over 25 percent. The expected
duration of school attendance in 2021 was 10.3 years.
An analysis
of the data from the 2001 Cameroon Household Survey shows that boys and
girls have equal opportunities when it comes to starting school;
however, girls show a higher dropout rate as soon as their school career
shows irregularities.
The life expectancy of Cameroon's inhabitants from birth was 59.6 years in 2020 (women: 60.9, men: 58.4). The infant mortality rate per 1,000 births is 59, and the child mortality rate is 85. Common diseases include malaria, tuberculosis and, due to inadequate access to clean water, cholera. Depending on the source, between 1.8 percent and 3.6 percent of the adult population is infected with the HIV virus.
Since 1960, Cameroon has been a presidential republic with a new
constitution. According to this Constitution, Cameroon is a unitary
state, whereby it has been further decentralized compared to before. The
President is elected for a term of seven years and can stand for
re-election indefinitely after a constitutional amendment of 10 April
2008. The National Assembly with 180 members is elected for a five-year
term; the second Chamber of Parliament, the Senate, is elected
indirectly. There is a multi-party system.
The head of state has
been Paul Biya since 1982. He was confirmed in the 1997, 2004 and 2011
elections. The last elections were held on October 7, 2018. Paul Biya,
then 85 years old, ran again and was re-elected with 71 percent of the
vote. The head of government of the country has been Joseph Dion Ngute
since January 4, 2019, who replaced Philémon Yang after a ten-year term
of office.
Paul Biya introduced multi-party democracy. The
current ruling party is the RDPC, the former Unity Party. She has been
confirmed in her majority since Amadou Ahidjo came to power and most
recently in the parliamentary election to the National Assembly held in
2020. The last elections have further weakened the opposition parties.
The opposition parties include the Front Social Démocrate (SDF, Social
Democratic) under the party leader John Fru Ndi. She has her followers
mainly in the English-speaking part of Cameroon. The opposition
regularly complains of election manipulation, which e.g. B. is confirmed
by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
The Cameroonian legal system has a hybrid structure: on the one hand,
local traditional, orally transmitted law applies to neighborhood
disputes, petty crime and land disputes. For criminal cases, on the
other hand, written law, built on the French model, applies. Judgments
rendered under "traditional law" can be transferred in "French" law to
the Tribunal of Grand Instance (Tribunal de Grande Instance) and finally
to the Supreme Court (Supreme Court/ Court Suprème). The Court of First
Instance (Tribunal of First Instance/Tribunal de Première Instance)
under French law is on the same level as traditional law, which is
therefore treated equally.
Since 2007, the New Code of Criminal
Procedure (Nouveau Code de procédure pénale) has been in force, which
has brought as the most important news the principle of the Habeas
Corpus, i.e. the right to protection from arbitrary detention. The time
limits for charges, detention without charge and the right to a lawyer
are now guaranteed. The police have been trained accordingly in several
waves since then. The new law has brought clear progress on the way to a
state governed by the rule of law.
In the course of
decolonization, Cameroon has allowed judgments for "witchcraft" in
jurisprudence. Since then, people can be found guilty of witchcraft by
calling in a witch doctor as a witness – the punishment includes large
fines, up to long-term imprisonment or forced labor. Belief in
witchcraft is widespread in Cameroon.
Homosexuality is also
threatened with imprisonment. The prison sentence is from six months to
five years, in addition, a fine of (converted) up to 305 euros is
imposed.
Cameroon is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is the first
country to have joined the confederation without having previously been
completely a colony of Great Britain. The country also traditionally has
good relations with the second former colonial power, France. Cameroon
is a UN member. It is also a member of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC), although only about 20 percent of the inhabitants are
Muslims.
Cameroon strives to have good relations with neighboring
states. The formerly sometimes violent border dispute over the Bakassi
Peninsula with the powerful neighboring state of Nigeria was peacefully
resolved by concessions from Nigeria in 2008. Since then, relations with
Nigeria have improved. Furthermore, Cameroon is involved in the Central
African Republic with a 120-strong peacekeeping force and has taken in
numerous refugees from Chad. Even though Cameroon is seen as an anchor
of stability in the region, there are increasing warnings about future
outbreaks of violence in the country, especially in connection with the
generally regarded as unclear succession plan for the office of the
president.
Cameroon maintains particularly friendly relations
with France, which is why it is one of the priority countries of French
development cooperation and is a member of the Francophonie.
After 2006, relations with China developed by leaps and bounds. China
has been expanding its influence on Cameroon and other African countries
since the China-Africa Summit. Numerous Chinese companies are active in
Cameroon and trade with the People's Republic of China has grown
significantly.
Cameroon is a member of the International Cocoa
Organization.
An anti-terrorism law passed in 2014 severely restricts freedom of
expression and political opposition in the country.
The country
prosecutes homosexuality criminally, "more aggressively than almost any
other country in the world.“
The Cameroonian military has a territorial Army, a Navy, air forces and a paramilitary gendarmerie and currently has around 25,400 active and 9,000 paramilitary soldiers on duty. There is no compulsory military service. Cameroon spent just under 1.0 percent of its economic output, or $ 408 million, on its armed forces in 2020.
The economy of Cameroon, unlike that of most other African states,
has been able to benefit from a liberal economic policy for a long time.
The country's gross domestic product (GDP) amounted to around 29.3
billion dollars in 2016 (2002: 8.9 billion euros). The average annual
income per inhabitant is about 1,200 euros (2002: 550 dollars). In the
Global Competitiveness Index, which measures the competitiveness of a
country, Cameroon ranks 116th out of 137 countries (as of 2017-2018). In
the Economic Freedom Index, the country ranked 150th out of 180
countries in 2017.
The country's GDP is made up of 23 percent
agriculture, 28 percent industry and 49 percent services. Although
agriculture accounts for only 23 percent of GDP, about 50 percent of the
working population is engaged in agriculture. However, this number has
been declining slightly in recent years.
Douala is the economic
center of the CEMAC zone.
Within eleven years (1990-2001) there
was an annual inflation rate of 4.9 percent. After the economic crisis
in 2009, it settled at 2 to 3%, with a low point in 2017 (0.6%).
Economic growth was 3.5% in 2021.
In 2010, almost 569,000
tourists visited the country. Tourism revenues in 2015 amounted to 450
million US dollars.
Unemployment was probably about 25 percent in 1992, but was
officially estimated at 7.6%. According to an official estimate, it was
3.9% in 2021. A large proportion of the population is employed in the
informal sector without social insurance and without protection under
labour law. The largest employer that hires employees under the current
labor and social insurance legislation is the state.
The current
employment law is based on the French model and provides generous
protection for employees (minimum wage according to the category of
employment/catégorie d'emploi, based on the level of training achieved,
statutory severance pay after years of service, few possible reasons for
dismissal, generous notice periods). In reality, most employees outside
the state sector are employed in black jobs and there is only limited
compliance with labour law (see chapter on Corruption).
The State
Employment Service, the Fonds National de l'emploi or National
Employment Fund, headquartered in Yaoundé and with 16 employment offices
nationwide (three of them in Douala), is actively trying to combat
unemployment.
The country imports goods worth 1.205 trillion CFA francs. Imported goods are mainly alcohol and raw materials for the production of alcoholic beverages, mineral and other raw materials, semi-finished goods, industrial consumer goods, food, tobacco and transport equipment. A little more is exported to other countries: 1.363 trillion CFA francs, including, first of all, petroleum, wood products, cocoa, coffee and domestically produced food. Cameroon has the highest logging of all African states, which is mostly uncertified and to a large extent illegally exported. The most important trading partners in 2015 were China, India and France.
Cameroon's agriculture is highly diversified. Agricultural and forestry products are important export goods. These include cocoa, coffee, bananas, rubber, cotton, sugarcane, corn and rice. Deforestation and the penetration of agriculture into the forest areas are increasingly threatening Cameroon's forests.
Cameroon has deposits of crude oil (the main export commodity), iron ore, bauxite, manganese, cobalt, nickel, rutile and gold. In the past, various foreign companies have received concessions, but the development of raw material deposits is difficult and costly. Crude oil production reached its previous peak of around 140,000 barrels/day in the early 1990s. In April 2023, only about 55,000 barrels / day were produced, with production between 1990 and 2023 characterized by repeated heavy drops followed by major increases. Therefore, production could increase significantly again through appropriate investments. In 2019, the consumption of crude oil products was 37,900 barrels/day. This makes Cameroon a net oil exporter and oil and petroleum products were the most important export goods in terms of value in 2021, followed by natural gas, cocoa, wood, gold and bananas. The production of natural gas is likely to continue to increase and, in view of low self-consumption, exports would continue to grow and could become the most important raw material for the economy of Cameroon. In 2019, production was ~2.678 billion cubic meters, consumption was ~986.19 million cubic meters, which brought exports to around 1.603 billion cubic meters.
Just over half of the population has access to an electrical energy supply. In rural areas, the supply is very low at only about 14 percent. Hydropower accounts for the largest share of the energy supply at 77 percent. The total capacity of the hydropower plants is 721 MW, the largest are located on the Sanaga River, but 60 percent of them are used for the aluminum industry. The power plant in Edéa, at the Édéa Reservoir, has a capacity of 264 MW, the one in Song Loulou has 384 MW.
Corruption is a widespread problem. Cameroon has been ranked in the
bottom third of Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions
Index ( CPI) for years. The terms used in Cameroon for corruption are
diverse: Gombo, bière, taxi, carburant, motivation, le tchoko and
others.
Since the massive wage cuts resulting from the austerity
measures of the International Monetary Fund IMF at the beginning of the
1990s, the phenomenon has multiplied. The excessive bureaucracy and lack
of transparency of administrative procedures promotes the phenomenon.
The judiciary is considered completely corrupt. Lynching of criminals
caught in the act is widespread and is usually justified by the lack of
confidence in the integrity of the security forces.
The port of
Douala is considered one of the centers of corruption. Customs clearance
is characterized by lack of transparency, arbitrariness and bureaucracy.
The handling fees are very high. Customs duties are levied in three
tariff levels (10 percent, 20 percent and 30 percent). Due to the high
transport costs, which are included in the customs calculation according
to the international standard and the VAT of 19.25 percent levied on
them, there are very high ancillary procurement costs, which generate
great incentives for corruption and cause significant damage to the
national economy (tax losses, high costs for imported goods in general
and capital goods in particular, legal uncertainty, distortions of
competition).
The state budget in 2016 included expenditures of the equivalent of 6.5 billion US dollars, which was offset by revenues of the equivalent of 4.7 billion US dollars. This results in a budget deficit of 6.1 percent of GDP. The national debt amounted to 32.8 percent of GDP in 2016.
Cameroon is one of the countries worldwide whose mammal populations
are most threatened by hunting. It is expected that the stocks of more
than half of all species will decrease by 70 to 100 percent due to
hunting activities.
In 2008, the Takamanda National Park was
established along the border with Nigeria to protect the endangered
cross-river gorillas. Hunting and deforestation had led to a decline in
the population to less than 300 animals worldwide. Another protected
area is the Banyang-Mbo Nature Reserve, where the forest elephant
(Loxodonta cyclotis) lives.
The Dja Wildlife Reserve has been a
UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
The following national
parks have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2006:
Boumba-Bek National Park
Campo Ma'an National Park
Korup National
Park
Lobé Waterfall near Kribi
Lobéké National Park
Nki
National Park
cameroonian part of Lake Chad
Waza National Park
Rail transport in Cameroon is operated by Camrail, but it has only a
very rudimentary route network, which does not connect the entire
country.
The entire road network covered about 51,350 km in 2016,
of which, however, only 4108 km are paved.
The National day is celebrated on May 20 with parades of the Uniformed State Services and civil society organizations (schools, parties, companies, etc.). The main parade will take place in Yaoundé on the Boulevard of 20th May / Boulevard du 20 May.
The Cameroonian grassland, the transitional area between the savannah
zone in the north and the forests adjoining it to the south, is renowned
as one of the most productive centers of West African art. The Viennese
ethnologist Walter Hirschberg compared the region to an artist street.
Artistically outstanding ethnic groups in history are the Tikar, who
immigrated from the northeast, the great Bamileke people and the Bamun
around Foumban, who became famous for their highly developed court art.
In Sultan Njoya they found an avid patron of art.
Important
artistic productions are various types of masks – also in animal form,
richly carved doorposts, drums and stools, as well as glass bead
applications on fabric masks, calabashes, figurines and throne-like
armchairs.
Well-known representatives of the visual arts in the
present are Pascale Marthine Tayou, Hervé Yamguen and Joseph-Francis
Sumégné, among others. In recent years, the Salon Urbain de Douala
(SUD), organized by the Doual'art Art Center, has established itself as
a central meeting.
The largest daily newspaper is the state-owned Cameroon Tribune with
a circulation of 25,000 copies, followed by the publishing sheets Le
Messager and La Nouvelle Expression (about 15,000 each) as well as Le
Jour Quotidien and Mutations (about 5000 each). Radio and television are
mainly operated by the state-owned Cameroun Radio Télévision/Cameroon
Radio Television (CRTV). In addition, there are relay broadcasts of the
international services BBC World Service and Radio France Internationale
on FM. There are also smaller regional and commercial stations. In 2020,
37.8 percent of Cameroon's residents used the Internet.
The
non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders sees a difficult
situation for press freedom in Cameroon.
Among the well-known Cameroonian writers of the French language are
Francis Bebey, Mongo Beti, Calixthe Beyala, Papé Mongo, Ferdinand Oyono
and René Philombé. Mongo Beti already caused a sensation with his
critical portrayal of the missionaries in his 1956 novel Le pauvre
Christ de Bomba (The Poor Christian of Bomba). Jean Ikellé-Matiba
(1936-1984), who lived for a time in France and Germany, dealt with the
colonial period in his book Cette Afrique-là (1963), which was awarded
the Great Literature Prize of Sub-Saharan Africa. Adler und Lilie in
Kamerun: Lebensbericht eines Afrikaners was published in German. It
tells the story of a Cameroonian who – socialized in a
Prussian-Protestant way – worked for the German conquerors and returned
to his village under the French colonial administration. Patrice Nganang
(* 1970) in Yaounde, studied literary studies in Frankfurt and Berlin,
among others, and has been living in the USA since 2000, where he works
at Shippensburg University / Pennsylvania. In 2001 he received the Prix
Litteraire Marguerite Yourcenar for Temps de chien and in 2002 the Great
Literature Prize for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Among the
English-speaking writers of Cameroon, strongly influenced by the
literature of Nigeria, are Sankie Maimo (with I am Vindicated from 1959,
the first literary publication of an English-speaking Cameroonian ever,
and A Few Nights and Days, 1966), the playwright Bole Butake, Mbella
Sonne Dipoko, Jedida Asheri (Promise, 1969), Kenjo Jumbam (The White Man
of God, 1980) and Nsanda Eba (The Good Foot, 1977).
In particular, the directors Jean-Marie Teno and Jean-Pierre Bekolo became famous. The actor Emile Abossolo M'bo has also become known in recent years as a character actor in many African films (among others Ezra by Newton I. Aduaka, Les Saignantes by Jean-Pierre Bekolo, When the Wind Touched the Sand by Marion Hänsel, Africa Paradis by Sylvestre Amoussou). He also stars in Night on Earth by Jim Jarmusch.
One of the most famous musicians in the country is the poet, singer,
composer and songwriter Francis Bebey. He authored the
ethnomusicological work Musique de L'Afrique in 1969, which was widely
published in the 1975 English translation, African Music: A People's
Art. Also worth mentioning is Manu Dibango, who became famous with his
album Soul Makossa. Makossa is the musical genre or rhythm that is at
home in the Littoral province around the city of Douala. The music was
developed by Nelle Eyoum. Other representatives are Albert Premier, Ange
Bagnia, Ben Decca, Efilingue Hiroshima and Grace Decca. The dance and
music style Bikutsi comes from the area around Yaoundé. Modern pop
singers are Dora Decca from Douala, Petit Pays, Sérgio Polo and Longue
Longue. In the musical segment of gospels and spirituals, the singer
Siyou Isabelle Ngnoubamdjum from Bafang has made a name for herself in
Germany, France and Cameroon. In the field of jazz/world music, the
multi-instrumentalist Richard Bona, who comes from Cameroon, should be
highlighted, as well as Jean Férouze Darouiche, who was awarded the
prize for the Best Ethno-Jazz Recording in 1986 with the formation
Voodoo Gang consisting of three brothers. Wes Madiko combines
traditional music from Eastern Cameroon with modern influences. Keng
Godefroy, Saint Bruno, No T'ack De wo, Tala Jeannot, Takam II and Tapros
– all from the Bamilike region - play traditional grassland music and
mix modern elements to varying degrees. The center of the Cameroonian
music industry is Douala, where a significant number of musicians,
studios and video production companies are concentrated.
African
bow harps of the type of the kundi of the Azande extend in a contiguous
distribution area from northern Cameroon over Central Africa to South
Sudan. The musical instruments characteristic of southern Cameroon are
the bridge harp mvet, which belongs to an epic singing tradition, and
the portable xylophone mendzan, which, together with slit drums, simple
standing drums and rattles, characterizes the traditional bikutsi
ensemble. The Bamileke in the West are known for ceremonial mask dances
performed by secret societies. In the western grasslands there are some
special lamellophones, such as the timbrh of the wute.
Diplomatic representatives of Cameroon at the United Nations or in other capitals – according to the Minister of Culture Ama Tutu Muna in Berlin (in 2010) - often wear the colorful Kaba Ngondo clothes. It is generally the case in Cameroon at receptions with a formal character that either formal European clothing (suit, tie for men and ensemble for women) is worn or traditional clothing. This is often noted accordingly on the invitation to the occasion.
The most popular sport in Cameroon is football. For the first time,
the national football team The Indomptable Lions/Les Lions Indomptables
(eng.: The Indomitable Lions) is world famous for her successes (three
draws) at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, where she narrowly failed to
beat the later world champion Italy in the preliminary round. Eight
years later, a triumph followed at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy,
where they became the first African team to reach the quarterfinals,
where there was a 2-3 defeat to England after extra time. The star of
the team was Roger Milla, who was twice voted Africa's Footballer of the
Year. As a result, Cameroon was able to qualify for the Football World
Cup three times.
The victory at the Olympic Games in 2000 and the
African Championships won in 2000 and 2002 followed. Cameroon
participated at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but was
eliminated after losing three matches in the preliminary round, as well
as at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. In 2017, the team won the
African Championship for the fifth time.
In 1996, the 10th
African Championships in Athletics were held in the capital's
Ahmadou-Ahidjo Stadium.
In 2022, the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations
was held in Cameroon, where the Cameroon men's national football team
finished in third place.