Moving to Cameroon: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

27,744,989

Population - note

Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS

this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of the population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population Growth Rate

2.04%

Urban Population

52.100000

Population in Major Urban Areas

Douala 2.449 million; YAOUNDE (capital) 2.432 million

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Age Structure

42.600000

Median Age

19.700000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

32

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

11.51

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

4

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

23.4%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

23.4%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

19.7

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.7

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.030000

Ethnic Groups

Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%

Nationality Noun

Cameroonian(s)

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Literacy - total population

67.9%

Literacy - male

84.7%

Literacy - female

73.4%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

3.2%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

10.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

55.020000

Infant Mortality Rate

58.510000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

58.510000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

690

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.08

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

1.3

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

5.2%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

Very high

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

10.3%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

94.100000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

61.700000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

15.1%

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Economic Overview

Cameroon’s market-based, diversified economy features oil and gas, timber, aluminum, agriculture, mining, and the service sector.

Oil remains Cameroon’s main export commodity, and despite falling global oil prices, still accounts for nearly 40% of exports.

Cameroon’s economy suffers from factors that often impact underdeveloped countries, such as stagnant per capita income, relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, continuing inefficiencies of a large parastatal system in key sectors, 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 continues to press for economic reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs.

The Government of Cameroon provides subsidies for electricity, food, and fuel that have strained the federal budget and diverted funds from education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects, as low oil prices have led to lower revenues.

Cameroon devotes significant resources to several large infrastructure projects currently under construction, including a deep seaport in Kribi and the Lom Pangar Hydropower Project.

Cameroon’s energy sector continues to diversify, recently opening a natural gas-powered electricity generating plant.

Cameroon continues to seek foreign investment to improve its inadequate infrastructure, create jobs, and improve its economic footprint, but its unfavorable business environment remains a significant deterrent to foreign investment.

Industries

Petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,300.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

4.8%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$94,940,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$3,300.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

4.8%

GDP - official exchange rate

$30,870,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• Consumption: 76.8% Government
• Consumption: 12.1% Investment in Fixed
• Capital: 22.7% Investment in
• Inventories: 0.2% Exports of Goods and
• Services: 20.3% Imports of Goods and
• Services: -32.1%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

21.3%

GDP by Sector- Industry

30.8%

GDP by Sector- services

47.9%

Industrial Growth Rate

5.2%

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Inflation Rate

2.4%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

605.7

Currency Name and Code

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF)

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

12.5%

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Labor Force

9,612,000

Unemployment Rate

30%

Major Industries

Petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair

Agriculture Products

• Coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, cassava (manioc, tapioca)
• livestock
• timber

Population Below Poverty Line

48%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

1,396,281

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

31%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

70%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

13%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

17%

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Annual Budget

$4,765,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

31.1%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-5.6%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

15.4%

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Full Country Name

Republic of Cameroon

Country Name

Cameroon

Local - Long

Republique du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English)

Local - Short

Cameroun/Cameroon

Former Name

Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon

Etymology- history of name

• in the 15th century, Portuguese explorers named the area near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) after the abundant shrimp in the water
• over time the designation became Cameroon in English
• this is the only instance where a country is named after a crustacean

Independence

1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National Holiday

State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)

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Government Type

presidential republic

Constitution

• history: several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996
• amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; amendment drafts require approval of at least one third of the membership in either house of Parliament; passage requires absolute majority vote of the Parliament membership; passage of drafts requested by the president for a second reading in Parliament requires two-thirds majority vote of its membership; the president can opt to submit drafts to a referendum, in which case passage requires a simple majority; constitutional articles on Cameroon’s unity and territorial integrity and its democratic principles cannot be amended; amended 2008

Legal System:

mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
• head of government: Prime Minister Joseph Dion NGUTE (since 4 January 2019)
• cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
• elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president
• election results: 2018: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO (MRC) 14.2%, Cabral LIBII (Univers) 6.3%, other 8.2% (2018)

Legislative Branch:

• Description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate or Senat (100 seats; 70 members indirectly elected by regional councils and 30 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members directly elected in 49 single and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
• elections:
• Senate - last held on 12 March 2023 (next to be held in 2028)
• National Assembly - last held on 9 February 2020 (next to be held 28 February 2025)
• election results:
• Senate - percent of vote by party - CDPM 100%; seats by party - CDPM 100; composition as of October 2023 - men 69, women 31, percent of women 31%
• National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 152, UNDP 7, SDF 5, PCRN 5, UDC 4, FSNC 3, MDR 2, UMS 2; composition as of October 2023 - men 109, women 58, percent of women 32.2%;
• Note: total Parliament percent of women 31.7%
• Note: 13 National Assembly seats were vacant after the 9 February 2020 election due to violence in northwest and southwest regions; CDPM won those seats in a 22 March 2020 election

Judicial Branch:

• office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Higher Judicial Council of Cameroon, a body chaired by the president and includes the minister of justice, selected magistrates, and representatives of the National Assembly; judge term NA; Constitutional Council members appointed by the president for renewable 6-year terms
• subordinate courts: Parliamentary Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases involving the president and prime minister); appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrates' courts

Regions or States:

10 regions (regions, singular - region) Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extreme-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest)t)

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Alliance for Democracy and Development [Garga Haman ADJI]
• Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM [Paul BIYA]
• Cameroon People's Party or CPP [Edith Kah WALLA]
• Cameroon Renaissance Movement or MRC [Maurice KAMTO]
• Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Hermine Patricia TOMAINO]
• Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation or PCRN [Cabral LIBII]
• Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon or FSNC [Issa Tchiroma BAKARY]
• Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Paulin DJOWRWE]
• Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel YONDO]
• National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA]
• Progressive Movement or MP [Jean-Jacques EKINDI]
• Social Democratic Front or SDF [Joshua OSIH]
• Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Pierre Baleguel NKOT]
• Union of Socialist Movements [Pierre KWEMO]

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon dual citizenship
• recognized: no residency requirement for
• naturalization: 5 years

Capital Name

Yaounde

Capital - geographic coordinate

3 52 N, 11 31 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ACP
• AfDB
• AU
• BDEAC
• CEMAC
• EITI (compliant country)
• FAO
• FZ
• G-77
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICRM
• IDA
• IDB
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• IHO
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• IMSO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• LCBC
• MIGA
• MNJTF
• MONUSCO
• NAM
• OIC
• OIF
• OPCW
• PCA
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNHRC
• UNIDO
• UNMISS
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAMORA (since 21 March 2022)
• Embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaoundé
• Mailing Address: 2520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520
• Telephone: [237] 22251-4000/[237] 22220-1500
• FAX: [237] 22220-1500, Ext. 4531
• Email: YaoundeACS@state.gov
• Website: https://cm.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016)
• Chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790
• FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826
• Contact: mail@cameroonembassyusa

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Geographic Location

Africa

Geographic Coordinates

6 00 N, 12 00 E

Total Area

183,567 Square Miles 475,440 Square Kilometers

Land Area

182,513 Square Miles 472,710 Square Kilometers

Water Area

1,054 Square Miles 2,730 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

2,853 Miles 4,591 Kilometers

Border Countries

Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km

Coastline

250 Miles 402 Kilometers

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Terrain

Diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in the west, plains in the north

Highest Point

4,095 Meters

Highest Point Location

Fako (on Mount Cameroon) 4,095 m

Lowest Point Location

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources

Petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Irrigated Land

99 Square Miles 256 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

Cameroon's climate is as varied as its geography.

High humidity and temperatures with little seasonal variations characterize the coast and southern lowlands.

In the north, extremely high temperatures and little or no humidity are normal, although seasonal fluctuations occur.

In Yaounde, humidity and temperatures are lower but fluctuate daily.

Two rainy seasons are interspersed with two relatively dry periods.

April and May bring the "mango rains." These moderately heavy rains average 8 inches monthly, then taper off into the drier months of June and July.

Rainfall then increases to more than 12 inches monthly from August through November and recedes to as little as 2 inches monthly during the dry season of December through March.

During the dry season temperatures may peak above 100°F and dust is a serious problem.

Terrain

Diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in the west, plains in the north

Location

Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Total Area

183,567 Square Miles 475,440 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km

Environment - Current Issues

• Water-borne diseases are prevalent
• deforestation
• overgrazing
• desertification
• poaching
• overfishing

Environment - International Agreements

Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$5,559,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$6,630,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton

Major Imports

Machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food

Top Export Partners

China 16.7%, India 15.7%, Spain 6.2%, Belgium 6.1%, France 6.1%, Portugal 5.6%, Netherlands 5%, Italy 5%

Top Import Partners

China 27.9%, Nigeria 13.9%, France 10.9%, Belgium 4.1%

Export Partners

China 16.7%, India 15.7%, Spain 6.2%, Belgium 6.1%, France 6.1%, Portugal 5.6%, Netherlands 5%, Italy 5%

Import Partners

China 27.9%, Nigeria 13.9%, France 10.9%, Belgium 4.1%

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Country Description

Cameroon is a developing country in central Africa that offers many natural and cultural attractions but lacks modern tourism facilities.

The busy port and commercial center of Douala, its largest city, contrasts with the relative calm of inland Yaounde, the capital.

Cameroon is officially bilingual.

French dominates as the language of education and government in all regions except the Southwest and Northwest, where English is widely spoken.

Most educated people and staff at major hotels speak both languages.

In February 2008, social and political discord led to civil unrest; however, since that time the country has experienced relative stability and peace.

Safety & Security

If you are living in or visiting Cameroon, you are encouraged to stay abreast of local political and social developments that could signal instability in the country.

Elections for the newly created Senate occurred in April without incident.

Legislative and municipal elections are expected to take place on September 30, 2013.

You should remain alert as these elections approach.

Embassy employees have been instructed to refrain from traveling outside of city limits after dark and to be cautious in their movements in centrally located areas within cities and towns.

You should follow the same guidelines and not travel by night on Cameroon’s dangerous highways.

Armed highway bandits (most notably in border areas); poorly lit and maintained roads; hazardous, poorly maintained vehicles; and unskilled, aggressive, and intoxicated drivers all pose threats to motorists.

Attacks and accidents are most common outside major towns, especially in the regions bordering Chad and the Central African Republic, but occur in all areas of the country.

The U.S.

Embassy recommends against travel to the Far North Region, which includes the city of Maroua.

In February 2013, Nigerian terrorists affiliated with Boko Haram kidnapped a French family traveling from Waza National Park in Cameroon and took them from Cameroon into Nigeria.

The French family was released after being held captive for two months, but the situation remains tenuous, and there is a continuing concern that expatriates could be targeted in the Far North Region.

The U.S.

Embassy has placed restrictions on travel by U.S. officials to the Far North of Cameroon; all U.S. officials must receive advance clearance from the U.S.

Embassy to travel to the Far North, including the city of Maroua.

While we alert U.S. citizens against all travel to the Far North of Cameroon, we also urge extreme caution when traveling in the North region of Cameroon, especially in areas that border Nigeria.

On May 14, 2013, Nigeria proclaimed a state of emergency in the states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe (Adamawa and Borno states in Nigeria share borders with the North and Far North regions of Cameroon).

The Nigerian military has stepped up military operations against Boko Haram in these states.

This could adversely affect security in neighboring regions of Cameroon should terrorists cross into Cameroon to avoid Nigerian military operations.

The U.S.

Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against travel to the neighboring Central African Republic (CAR), and the U.S.

Embassy in Bangui remains closed until further notice.

On occasion, conflict in CAR has spilled across the border into Cameroon, affecting outposts in the Adamaoua and East Regions.

Humanitarian and religious workers in eastern Cameroon are strongly encouraged to coordinate their efforts with the Embassy and the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Yaoundé.

If you are in Cameroon and considering crossing into Chad, you should review the U.S.

Department of State's Travel Warning for Chad given past security concerns in the border region with Cameroon.

Cameroon assumed control of the Bakassi peninsula in August 2008.

While there have been no reported attacks by armed groups on Cameroonian military forces in the last five years, Cameroon's military authorities restrict access to the Bakassi Peninsula.

U.S. official travelers must receive prior approval from Embassy authorities to travel to this area.

U.S. employees are not permitted to make personal travel to the region.

Armed robbery at sea and piracy in coastal areas remain a threat.

While mostly occurring at sea, criminal groups have also conducted armed raids against lucrative coastal targets including banks.

Heightened security measures by the government began in 2009 and have reduced the number of attacks.

If you are caught in such an attack, you should comply immediately with any demands made by the aggressors and avoid any action that could be interpre

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Crime

continues to be a significant concern throughout Cameroon.

Elections for the newly created Senate occurred in April without incident.

Legislative and municipal elections are expected sometime between September and November 2013.

Crime Crime is a serious problem throughout Cameroon.

U.S. citizens should exercise caution when traveling in Cameroon.

Internet-based crime in Cameroon is escalating rapidly, and everyone, including businesses and other institutions, should be extremely skeptical of any financial transactions that involve sending money for goods, services, or adoptions.

Crimes against property, such as carjacking and burglaries, have often been accompanied by violent acts and resulted in fatalities.

All foreigners are potential targets for theft with possible attendant violence.

Armed banditry has been a problem throughout all ten regions in Cameroon.

In January 2011, over 20 Peace Corps volunteers were robbed at gunpoint in Kribi.

In December 2010, a U.S citizen who was residing in Douala was murdered, and in Yaounde a U.S. citizen and a British citizen were sexually assaulted in separate incidents in March 2011.

In August 2012, a U.S. citizen residing in Bamenda was murdered, and a British family was held at gunpoint in their hotel room for almost an hour in the middle of the night.

Shortly after the attackers left, one of the victims went for help only to be shot at several times.

This incident happened in the vicinity of Melong and Mount Manengouba National Park in the Littoral Region.

In the past, armed bandits have erected road barricades to steal vehicles.

While there have been no major incidents of banditry involving westerners since 2010, travelers may encounter random security checkpoints intended to curb the practice.

Cameroonian law requires that you must carry identification at all times, and security personnel may request that travelers show their passport, residence card, driver's license, and/or vehicle registration at these roadblocks.

You should keep certified copies of these important documents in a secure location separate from the originals.

In an effort to monitor road safety, security personnel have also established roadblocks along major highways to check for safety triangles and fire extinguishers.

Vehicles without these items may be required to pay a fine.

Security personnel have been known to ask for bribes, but normally allow expatriate travelers to continue after delaying them for a period of time.

The U.S. government does not condone bribery or corruption of any kind.

There have been many crimes involving public transportation.

Taxis can be dangerous; U.S.

Embassy personnel cannot use taxi cabs in Cameroon.

Taxis in Cameroon function more like a U.S. bus system, with drivers stopping along the road to pick up additional passengers as long as there is space left in the vehicle.

Taxi drivers and accomplices posing as passengers often conspire to commit serious crimes including rape, robbery, and assault.

If you must use a taxi, consider hiring a driver you know and his/her private taxi for your exclusive use for that particular trip.

Taxi passengers should be particularly vigilant at night.

The risk of street and residential crime is high.

Incidents often involve gangs and relate to home invasions and kidnappings.

Periodic efforts by authorities in Yaoundé to clear streets and public spaces of illegally constructed homes and market stalls can become confrontational and may contribute to surges in criminality as these very modest homes and businesses are destroyed.

Many crimes involve an “inside man” and target individuals or locations involved with payrolls or other activities involving large sums of cash.

Carjackings and robberies have also been reported on rural highways, especially in the northern region near Cameroon's border with the Central African Republic and Chad.

The Embassy has identified a wide range of internet scams based in Cameroon.

These schemes cover a broad spectrum of bo

Criminal Penalties

While you are in a foreign country, you are subject to that country’s laws and regulations, even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

Cameroonian law does not afford many of the protections to which you may be accustomed in the United States.

Legal proceedings tend to be complex, lengthy, and subject to inappropriate influence.

If you violate the law in Cameroon, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses, and the condition of detention centers, while improving, is poor.

During the February 2008 civil unrest, there were reports of arbitrary arrests by law enforcement officials.

Although no expatriates were known to have been arrested, the Department of State cautions you against venturing out during such periods of unrest.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs in Cameroon are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

There are also some things that might be legal in Cameroon, but still illegal in the United States.

You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in your host country, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Cameroon, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the nearest U.S.

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Medical Facilities

• following: Taking a prescription antimalarial drug, Using insect repellent and wearing long pants and sleeves to prevent mosquito bites, and Sleeping in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms and using bednets. All of the following antimalarial drugs are equal options for preventing malaria in
• Cameroon: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine. For information that can help you and your doctor decide which of these drugs would be best for you, please see Choosing a Drug to Prevent Malaria on the CDC website. Chloroquine is NOT an effective antimalarial drug in Cameroon and should not be taken to prevent malaria in this region. If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in Cameroon, or for up to one year after returning home, you should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician your travel history and what antimalarials you have been taking. Schistosomiasis is endemic in Cameroon. Avoid wading, swimming, bathing, washing in, or drinking from bodies of fresh water such as canals, lakes, rivers, streams, or springs. There are periodic outbreaks of cholera in Cameroon. People in high-risk areas can protect themselves by following a few simple rules of good hygiene and safe food preparation. These include scrupulous washing of hands under running water, especially before food preparation and eating, thorough cooking of food and consumption while hot, boiling or treatment of drinking water, and use of sanitary facilities. Above all, be very careful with food and water, including ice. Please see the CDC webpage for additional advice. Yellow fever can cause serious medical problems and the vaccine, required for entry into Cameroon, is very effective. Measles and meningitis are also present in northern Cameroon. You should be sure your vaccinations are current. Polio remains a threat in northern Nigeria and Chad, which share porous borders with Cameroon. Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Cameroon.

Traffic Safety

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Cameroon's road networks, both paved and unpaved, are poorly maintained and unsafe at all times of the year.

Drivers frequently ignore road safety rules.

There are few road and traffic signs, and speed limits are neither posted nor enforced.

Vehicles are poorly maintained and there is no mechanism or requirement to inspect them for roadworthiness.

Livestock and pedestrians create constant road hazards, especially at night.

Buses and logging trucks travel at excessive speed and are a constant threat to other road traffic.

During the rainy season, many roads are barely passable even with four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Travelers on roads near the borders with the Central African Republic and Chad should ensure that they have adequate vehicle fuel, cooking fuel, food, and water for several days, as well as a reliable means of communication, such as a satellite or cell phone, or radio.

There are no national or local ordinances governing the use of mobile telephones, text messaging, and other electronic communications while operating a motor vehicle.

Visitors who do not have a valid passport and a visa may experience difficulties at police roadblocks or other security checkpoints.

It is not uncommon for a uniformed member of the security forces to stop motorists on the pretext of a minor or non-existent violation of local motor vehicle regulations in order to extort small bribes.

The

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Airports - total

33

Airports with Paved Runways

11

Railways

774 Miles 1,245 Kilometers

Roadways- total

31,907 Miles 51,350 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

2,553 Miles 4,108 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko

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Pipelines: Gas

33 Miles 53 Kilometers

Pipelines: Liquid Petroleum Gas

3 Miles 5 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

688 Miles 1,107 Kilometers

Pipelines: Water

22 Miles 35 Kilometers

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Telephones

323,800

Cell Phones

4,536,000

Internet Users

370,000

Internet Country Code

.cm

Internet Hosts

90

Broadcast Media

• The government maintains tight control over broadcast media
• state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), broadcasting on both a TV and radio network, was the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster until August 2007 when the government finally issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private radio broadcaster
• about 70 privately owned, unlicensed radio stations operating but are subject to closure at any time
• foreign news services required to partner with state-owned national station

Telephone System

• Assessment: system includes cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter; Camtel, the monopoly provider of fixed-line service, provides connections for only about 3 per 100 persons; equipment is old and outdated, and connections with many parts of the country are unreliable
• Domestic: mobile-cellular usage, in part a reflection of the poor condition and general inadequacy of the fixed-line network, has increased sharply, reaching a subscribership base of 50 per 100 persons
• International: country code - 237; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

10 facts — expand for details.

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

4,801,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

5,601,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

210,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

150,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

135,100,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

29,410

Oil Exports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

55,680

Oil Imports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

34,220

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

82,300

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

200,000,000

2 facts — expand for details.

Anthem Lyrics

• Chorus: Chère Patrie, Terre cherie, Tu es notre seul et vrai bonheur, Notre joie,notre vie, En toi l'amour et le grand honneur. Que tous tes enfants du Nord et Sud, De l'Est a l'Ouest soit tout amour, Te servir que ce soit le seul but, pour remplir leur devoir toujour;
• Chorus: Chère Patrie, Terre cherie, Tu es notre seul et vrai bonheur, Notre joie,notre vie, En toi l'amour et le grand honneur.

Anthem Lyrics English

• Chorus: Land of Promise, land of Glory! Thou, of life and joy, our only store! Thine be honour, thine devotion, And deep endearment, for evermore. From Shari, from where the Mungo meanders From along the banks of lowly Boumba Stream, Muster thy sons in union close around thee, Mighty as the Buea Mountain be their team; Instil in them the love of gentle ways, Regret for errors of the past; Foster, for Mother Africa, a loyalty That true shall remain to the last.
• Chorus: Land of Promise, land of Glory! Thou, of life and joy, our only store! Thine be honour, thine devotion, And deep endearment, for evermore.