République du Cameroun | |
Motto Paix, Travail, Patrie Peace, Work, Fatherland | |
Anthem Ô Cameroun, Berceau de nos Ancêtres Cameroon, Cradle of our Forefathers | |
Capital | Yaoundé |
Government | Republic |
President | |
- From 1982 | Paul Biya |
Prime Minister | |
- From 2009 | Philémon Yang |
Legislature | National Assembly |
History | |
- June 2, 1972 | Federal states abolished |
Commonwealth accession | November 13, 1995 |
Area | 475,442 km² |
Population | |
- 2003 | 15,746,179 |
Density | 33.1/km² |
GDP | 2003 (PPP) |
- Total | US$ 34.1 billion |
- Per capita | US$ 2,170 |
Currency | CFA franc |
Federal Republic of Cameroon | |
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The Republic of Cameroon is a republic in Middle Africa.
Background
The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.[1]
Economy
Because of its modest oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems confronting other underdeveloped countries, such as stagnant per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. The IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. Weak prices for oil led to the significant slowdown in growth in 2010. The government is under pressure to reduce its budget deficit, which by the government's own forecast will hit 2.8% of GDP, but the presidential election in 2011 may make fiscal austerity difficult.[2]
President
- Paul Biya (₩) (November 6, 1982 - )
Prime Minister
- Philémon Yang (₩) (June 30, 2009 - )
Nation
Cameroonia Polities
- British Cameroons
- French Cameroun
- Autonomous Republic of Cameroun
- Republic of Cameroun
- Federal Republic of Cameroon
Neighbouring Nations
- Central Africa (Republic)
- Chad
- Congo (Brazzaville)
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Nigeria
References
- Cameroon: Guide to Law Online (Library of Congress)
- Cameroon: Location Map 2013 (UN OCHA, PNG)
- The World Factbook (CIA)
- Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments (CIA)
- U.S. Department of State
- Australian Government
- Commonwealth of Nations
- Inter-Parliamentary Union - National Assembly
- BBC News Country Profile
- BBC News Time Line
- World Statesmen.org
- International Constitutional Law Project
- Psephos Election Archive
- Wikipedia