In 2002, Cameroon was a Central African country with a population of around 16 million people. It was led by President Paul Biya and the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement. The economy was largely based on agriculture, with subsistence farming being the main source of income for most families. In addition to agriculture, the country had begun to diversify its economy in recent years and had experienced some growth in the tourism sector. According to computerannals, education was highly valued in Cameroon and primary school enrollment had increased significantly since independence in 1960. Healthcare services were provided by both public and private institutions, though access to healthcare remained limited due to lack of infrastructure and resources. Despite its progress since independence, poverty remained a major issue for many Cameroonians with over 40 percent living below the poverty line. Corruption and mismanagement were also an issue as the government struggled to combat these issues with limited resources.

Yearbook 2002

Cameroon. Parliamentary elections were held at the end of June after a week’s delay due to poor preparation. Among other things, not all ballots had been printed. Several opposition parties suspected planned election fraud and claimed that President Paul Biya had announced the election in the middle of the Soccer World Cup in order to more easily divert attention.

According to Countryaah, national day of Cameroon is every May 20. Once the election was conducted, after the Interior Minister was dismissed, a number of complaints came about that many voters did not receive their voting cards or were not registered on the voting lists. Re-election was conducted in nine constituencies, which did not, however, prevent the ruling Cameroonian People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC) from winning a grand victory. The RDPC received 149 of Parliament’s 180 seats, an increase of 33 seats. The largest opposition party, the Social Democratic Front (FSD), fell from 43 seats to 22.

In October, the International Court of Justice in The Hague gave K. the right to the Bakassi Peninsula on the Gulf of Guinea. The conflict with Nigeria over the potentially oil-rich area had been going on since 1993 and K. made his claim on the peninsula to the court in 1994. Despite Nigeria having promised in advance to respect the ruling, the country’s government refused to grant K. access to the area. However, the two states pledged, under the UN’s oversight, to set up a joint commission to resolve the dispute without violence.

Country data

Area: 475,650 km² (world ranking: 53)

Residents: 24,054,000

Population density: 51 per km² (as of 2017, world ranking: 55)

Capital: Yaoundé (Yaounde)

Official languages: French, English

Gross domestic product: 34.8 billion US $; Real growth: 3.2%

Gross national product (GNP, per resident and year): US $ 1,360

Currency: CFA franc

Embassy

Ulmenallee 32, 14050 Berlin
Telephone 030 89068090,
Fax 030 3089005749 www.ambacam.de

Government
Head of State: Paul Biya, Head of Government: Philémon Yang, exterior: Lejeune Mbella Mbella

National Day: 20.5. (Referendum on the United Republic 1972)

Administrative structure
10 regions

State and form of government
Constitution of 1972
Presidential republic (in the Commonwealth)
Parliament: National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) with 180 members; Senate (Sénat) with 100 members (70 indirectly elected, 30 appointed); Election every 5 years.
Direct election of the head of state every 7 years. Right to
vote from 20 years.

Population of: Cameroonians, last census 2005: 17,463,836 residents.
Over 200 ethnic groups: approx. 40% Bantu mainly in the S and E (including Bafia, Bakoko, Bakweri, Balong, Banen, Basaa, Batanga, Bulu, Duala, Eton, Ewondo, Maka, Mbo, Yambasa), 20% Semibantu and Adamawa in the west (including Bafut, Bali, Bamileke, Bamun, Banso, Kom, Tikar, Widikum), Sudan-speaking ethnic groups, Fulbe, Hausa and so-called pygmies in the north and center

Cities (with population): (as of 2015) Douala 2,768,400 inh., Yaoundé (Yaoundé) 2,765,600; (As of 2005) Bamenda 269,530, Bafoussam 239,287, Garoua 235,996

Religions: 69% Christians, 21% Muslims, 6% followers of indigenous religions (as of 2006)

Languages: 80% French, 20% English; Bantu languages, Semibantu languages, Fang, Bamileke, Duala and Ful; Gbaya, Weskos and others

Employed by economic sector: Agriculture 62%, industry 9%, business 29% (2017)

Unemployment (in% of all labor force): no information

Inflation rate (in%): 2017: 0.6%

Foreign trade: Import: 5.3 billion US $ (2017); Export: US $ 3.6 billion (2017)