The fourth largest island in the world, 250 miles off East Africa's coast has a thriving tourism industry. In 2016, half of the population lived below the poverty line and most children completed less than five years of school. [62] Cameroon and Nigeria share a 1,000-mile (1,600km) border and have disputed the sovereignty of the Bakassi peninsula. [46] During 2020, numerous terrorist attacksmany of them carried out without claims of creditand government reprisals have led to bloodshed throughout the country. Devastating algae in the corals are a serious threat to the fishing industry. 9 August 2012. The residents complete a mean of 3.5 years of education with a life expectancy of 52.5 years. Cameroon, a country located in Central Africa, is one of those places . [193], Imane Ayissi is one of Cameroon's top fashion designers and has received international recognition. [1] More than 75% of Cameroon's industrial strength is located in Douala and Bonabri. The coastal plain extends 15 to 150 kilometres (9 to 93mi) inland from the Gulf of Guinea[85] and has an average elevation of 90 metres (295ft). [81], The three northernmost regions are the Far North (Extrme Nord), North (Nord), and Adamawa (Adamaoua). In addition, the Ebola epidemic in 2014 further hit the economy by decreasing employment and trade. Its religious population is predominantly Christian, with a significant minority practicing Islam, and others following traditional faiths. The drop in commodity prices for its principal exports - petroleum, cocoa, coffee, and cotton - in the mid-1980s, combined with an overvalued currency and economic mismanagement, led to a decade-long recession.Real per capita GDP fell by more than 60% from 1986 to 1994. [83] Cameroon lies between latitudes 1 and 13N, and longitudes 8 and 17E. [53] Laws are passed on a majority vote. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon to the southwest, Nigeria to the southwest (at Lake Chad ), and Niger to the west. Traditional sports include canoe racing and wrestling, and several hundred runners participate in the 40km (25mi) Mount Cameroon Race of Hope each year. [84] The country's neighbours are Nigeria and the Atlantic Ocean to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Gwanfogbe, Mathew; Meligui, Ambrose; Moukam, Jean and Nguoghia, Jeanette (1983). The rest of Cameroon's energy comes from oil-powered thermal engines. The 2018 conflict ended in a violent coup, a 400,000 death toll, and 4 million internally displaced or fleeing. The primary opposition is the Social Democratic Front (SDF), based largely in the Anglophone region of the country and headed by John Fru Ndi. This is an arid region with sparse rainfall and high median temperatures. Poverty in Cameroon and Why it Matters Cameroon is on track to become a middle-income country, however, nagging poverty spurred by under-funded social programs and ineffective public finance management holds the country in its current limbo. [30], His political party, the Cameroon National Union (CNU), became the sole legal political party on 1 September 1966 and on 20 May 1972, a referendum was passed to abolish the federal system of government in favour of a United Republic of Cameroon, headed from Yaound. Out of the entire population, 24 percent of people live in poverty, and 55 percent of those in poverty live in rural communities. Islamic insurgent groups have hit the gas-rich northern parts since 2017, killing some 4,000 people, and displacing 800,000. [161] Life expectancy at birth is estimated to be 56 years in 2012, with 48 healthy life years expected. Cameroon is a country in Central Africa on the Gulf of Guinea. [20], In 1896, Sultan Ibrahim Njoya created the Bamum script, or Shu Mom, for the Bamum language. [43], Since November 2016, protesters from the predominantly English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions of the country have been campaigning for continued use of the English language in schools and courts. In Cameroon, 58% of those living with HIV know their status, and just 37% receive ARV treatment. Although the Eritrean War of Independence ended in 1991, the government focused all resources on military forces and guarding the territory. [52] The president appoints government officials at all levels, from the prime minister (considered the official head of government), to the provincial governors and divisional officers. Ginna Violet Yella. 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. Travel Facts Locator Map View Larger Introduction Background Much of the area of present-day Cameroon was ruled by powerful chiefdoms before becoming a German colony in 1884 known as Kamerun. [82] The country is located in Central and West Africa, known as the hinge of Africa, on the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. [42] Boko Haram launched several attacks into Cameroon, killing 84 civilians in a December 2014 raid, but suffering a heavy defeat in a raid in January 2015. The federation was abandoned in 1972. [177], Musical accompaniment may be as simple as clapping hands and stamping feet,[178] but traditional instruments include bells worn by dancers, clappers, drums and talking drums, flutes, horns, rattles, scrapers, stringed instruments, whistles, and xylophones; combinations of these vary by ethnic group and region. Also impacting women and girls' health, the contraceptive prevalence rate is estimated to be just 34.4% in 2014. Cameroon declared victory over Boko Haram on Cameroonian territory in September 2018. They sell their surplus produce, and some maintain separate fields for commercial use. together to form a new country called the Federal Republic of Cameroon. creditor participation and the delivery of debt relief to Cameroon under the enhanced HIPC and MDRI Initiatives and updates the debt sustainability analysis (DSA). There was a law requiring to consult before spending public money, and reserve 80% of royalties and 85% of dividends to fight poverty. [25], France outlawed the pro-independence political party, the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (Union des Populations du Cameroun; UPC), on 13 July 1955. Under the aegis of Germany, commercial companies were local administrations. [135] Nigerians make up the largest group of foreign nationals. Kiribati relies on foreign assistance, emigrants sendings, fishing, coconut exports, and tourism. Yemen is one of the poorest Arab countries. [162] In 2014, just 4.1% of total GDP expenditure was allocated to healthcare. Burundi is the world's poorest country followed by Central African Republic, DR Congo, South Sudan and Somalia as the poorest. Sierra Leone faces environmental challenges, potential emergencies such as the 2017 mudslide, and the risk of losing food and livelihoods. Keke, Reginald Chikere. CountryReports 1997 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved. Amateur football clubs abound, organised along ethnic lines or under corporate sponsors. Oil remains Cameroon's main export commodity, and despite falling global oil prices, still accounts for nearly 40% of exports. [18], Portuguese sailors reached the coast in 1472. [133][134] The Adamawa Plateau broadly bisects these into northern and southern divisions. [60] However, the corruption has gotten worse, regardless of the existing anti-corruption bureaus, as Transparency International ranked Cameroon 152 on a list of 180 countries in 2018. People were killed and hundreds jailed as a result of these protests. There is also persistent malaria and gender-based violence, and no initiative by the state to combat any of the challenges. The crisis in Cameroon, the site of one of the world's unseen wars for nearly six years, falls into that latter category. In Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Botswana, more than 40% of current and past tobacco users were in the lowest fifth of the income spectrum. The Yemeni civil war of 2014 has devastated the economy and permenantly damaged infrastructure. [127] Fertility rate remains high in Cameroon with an average of 4.8 births per woman and an average mother's age of 19.7 years old at first birth. [146] It is estimated that by June 2020, 740,000 people had been internally displaced as a result of this crisis. [64][76][132], The number of distinct ethnic and linguistic groups in Cameroon is estimated to be between 230 and 282. [78] Prisons are overcrowded with little access to adequate food and medical facilities,[76][77] and prisons run by traditional rulers in the north are charged with holding political opponents at the behest of the government. Cameroon is a republic dominated by a strong presidency. [75], The Cameroon Armed Forces, (French: Forces armes camerounaises, FAC) consists of the country's army (Arme de Terre), the country's navy (Marine Nationale de la Rpublique (MNR), includes naval infantry), the Cameroonian Air Force (Arme de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC), and the Gendarmerie. Eritrea's economy is crumbling despite recent export income from zinc, gold, and copper. Cameroon is thus the 24th biggest country in Africa and in terms of area ranked 54th worldwide. Cameroon possesses substantial mineral resources, but these are not extensively mined (see Mining in Cameroon). [74], In July 2019, UN ambassadors of 37 countries, including Cameroon, signed a joint letter to the UNHRC defending China's treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region. The land has a total area of 475,440 km (183,568 mi) and a total coastline of 402 km (249.8 mi). [11] It is because of this that Cameroon is considered one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. [13][10] Its natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas. The longest continuous inhabitants are groups such as the Baka (Pygmies). Soberingly, 19 of the 20 poorest countries are all located in Africa. [92] This area has been delineated by the World Wildlife Fund as the Cameroonian Highlands forests ecoregion. This area is part of the Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests ecoregion. [116] Douala is the country's principal seaport. [103], An estimated 70% of the population farms, and agriculture comprised an estimated 16.7% of GDP in 2017. [17], The regions are subdivided into 58 divisions (French dpartements). France integrated the economy of Cameroon with that of France[25] and improved the infrastructure with capital investments and skilled workers, modifying the colonial system of forced labour. Its daunted development is further exacerbated by terrorist incursions, migration, and overpopulation. This is served with a sauce, soup, or stew made from greens, groundnuts, palm oil, or other ingredients. [1] There have been 2 presidents since the independence of Cameroon. On 25 July 2018, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein expressed deep concern about reports of violations and abuses in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon. [192] The majority relies on traditional agriculture and heavily on international humanitarian aid. Kiribati became independent from the UK in 1979, and its government functions democratically. Indeed, the United States Department of Labor Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor reported that 56% of children aged 5 to 14 were working children and that almost 53% of children aged 7 to 14 combined work and school. Cameroon's western region is split into four smaller regions: the Littoral (Littoral) and South-West (Sud-Ouest) regions are on the coast, and the North-West (Nord-Ouest) and West (Ouest) regions are in the western grassfields.[81]. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo to the south. In the Northwest and Southwest provinces, collectively called Ambazonia, October 1 is considered a national holiday, a date Ambazonians consider the day of their independence from Cameroon. [24], The British administered their territory from neighbouring Nigeria. Cameroonian Pidgin English is the lingua franca in the formerly British-administered territories. The statistics say it all: with 40 percent of its 23.7 million individuals living below the poverty line, it is apparent that Cameroon suffers from financial difficulties. [24], With the defeat of Germany in World War I, Kamerun became a League of Nations mandate territory and was split into French Cameroon (French: Cameroun) and British Cameroon in 1919. [71], President Biya has engaged in a decades-long clash with the government of Nigeria over possession of the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula. 26,707,000 Head Of State: President: Paul Biya Form Of Government: unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Senate [100] 1; National Assembly [180]) . Yaounde . [202][203] In the 1960s, Mongo Beti, Ferdinand Lopold Oyono and other writers explored postcolonialism, problems of African development, and the recovery of African identity. 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. [155] Most children have access to state-run schools that are cheaper than private and religious facilities. "Republic of Cameroon". Somalia is also highly vulnerable to droughts, with food scarcity, a low vaccination rate, and a forecasted weak economy, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. Directly south of them are the Centre (Centre) and East (Est). Portuguese explorers reached the coast in the 15th century and named the area Rio dos Camares (Shrimp River), which became Cameroon in English. Finally achieving peace, the country still struggles with poverty with every-third child stunted from malnutrition. Officials in northern Cameroon have in a crisis meeting on Wednesday requested more troops from Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad to be deployed to their common border after fresh Boko Haran . ("Cameroon: what do the crustaceans have to do with the country?")". Data. Food scarcity, water shortage, and lack of sanitation are prerogatives to poor states that keep them poor. Chad ( / td / ( listen) ), [a] officially the Republic of Chad, [b] is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. Traditional healers remain a popular alternative to evidence-based medicine. [150] Muslims in Cameroon are divided into Sufis, Salafis,[151] Shias, and non-denominational Muslims. The President of Cameroon is elected and creates policy, administers government agencies, commands the armed forces, negotiates and ratifies treaties, and declares a state of emergency. Cameroons 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. Bikutsi originated as war music among the Ewondo. [127] Endemic diseases include dengue fever, filariasis, leishmaniasis, malaria, meningitis, schistosomiasis, and sleeping sickness. The country needs to expand its export base in tandem with greater mining investment, but despite a semi-functioning multi-party democracy since the early 1990s, the fragmented Parliament has been unable to corrugate any viable actions. [150] Large cities have significant populations of both groups. Droughts lead to months-long food shortages and countless children with acute malnutrition. Coordinates: 6N 12E Cameroon (English: Cameroon, / kmrun / ( listen), French: Cameroun, Duala: Kamerun, Ewondo: Kamrn, Fula: Kamerun, Fe'fe': Kamerun ), officially the Republic of Cameroon (French: Rpublique du Cameroun ), is a country in west - central Africa. Logging, largely handled by foreign-owned firms,[107] provides the government US$60million a year in taxes (as of 1998[update]), and laws mandate the safe and sustainable exploitation of timber. Climate change and desertification led to three major agricultural crises within ten years and food insecurity like never before. [1] Although nominally independent, the judiciary falls under the authority of the executive's Ministry of Justice. And in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Uganda . Despite plenty of arable lands, mineral resources, energy, and water access, large sections of the population live in poverty. Cameroon became a German colony in . [102] Since the late 1980s, Cameroon has been following programmes advocated by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reduce poverty, privatise industries, and increase economic growth. This feature stretches from the western mountain area and forms a barrier between the country's north and south. People over 65 years of age account for only 3.11% of the total population. Economic activity once revolved around the mining of phosphates, but those deposits have been exhausted. [62], Biya and his party have maintained control of the presidency and the National Assembly in national elections, which rivals contend were unfair. [32] Ahidjo pursued an economic policy of planned liberalism, prioritising cash crops and petroleum development. It is designed to highlight how improvements in current health and education outcomes shape the productivity of the next generation of workers . Numerous regional political groups have since formed. [142] German, the language of the original colonisers, has long since been displaced by French and English. [26] The League of Nations mandates were converted into United Nations Trusteeships in 1946, and the question of independence became a pressing issue in French Cameroon. Various governments have changed their travel warnings to restrict travel during this time. Cameroon was the host country of the Women Africa Cup of Nations in NovemberDecember 2016,[208] the 2020 African Nations Championship and the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. [1], Unemployment was estimated at 3.38% in 2019,[101] and 23.8% of the population was living below the international poverty threshold of US$1.90 a day in 2014. Yet, Cameroon has strong potential to develop and build on its vast potential, including important natural resources to ensure inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction. In 1965 there was the infamous Hutu-Tutsi ethnic conflict. Muslims are most concentrated in the north, while Christians are concentrated primarily in the southern and western regions, but practitioners of both faiths can be found throughout the country. [126], According to the World Health Organization, the fertility rate was 4.8 in 2013 with a population growth rate of 2.56%. In the British Cameroons, the question was whether to reunify with French Cameroon or join Nigeria; the British ruled out the option of independence. Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF), Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP, Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP, Petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair, Coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, cassava (manioc, tapioca); livestock; timber. Between 29 October 2021 and 30 April 2022, a total of 6652 suspected cases including 134 deaths (case fatality ratio 2%) have been reported. "The Economy of Cameroon Federal Republic". Although attendance rates are higher in the south,[156] a disproportionate number of teachers are stationed there, leaving northern schools chronically understaffed. [163] Due to financial cuts in the health care system, there are few professionals. Since a range of factors can cause poverty, one might wonder: why is Cameroon poor? [1] Most agriculture is done at the subsistence scale by local farmers using simple tools. The country is often referred to as "Africa in miniature" for its geological, linguistic and cultural diversity. given the risks of poor health and poor education that prevail in the country where she lives. In 1960, the French-administered part of Cameroon became independent, as the Republic of Cameroun, under President Ahmadou Ahidjo. Cameroon is a low middle-income country at two speeds: poverty and inequality are deteriorating in the northern regions notably the conflict prone North-West, while declining slightly in the rest of the country. Inland on the South Cameroon Plateau, cash crops include coffee, sugar, and tobacco. ", Insecurity Escalates In North Region As Gov't, Military Concentrate In Anglophone Regions, "Thousands flee northern Cameroon after deadly intercommunal clashes", "Northern Cameroon bears brunt of inter-ethnic clashes, 22 dead, 30 injured", Cameroon: New anti-corruption drive leaves many sceptical, "Cameroon goes offline after Anglophone revolt", Journalists Warned against Declaring Election Results, "Court Rules for Cameroon In Oil Dispute With Nigeria", "Agreement Transferring Authority over Bakassi Peninsula from Nigeria to Cameroon 'Triumph for the Rule of Law' Secretary-General Says in Message for Ceremony", "Which Countries Are For or Against China's Xinjiang Policies? Cameroon is among several countries in West and Central Africa experiencing recurrent cholera outbreaks. [1], Cameroon is divided into five major geographic zones distinguished by dominant physical, climatic, and vegetative features. [122][123] The life expectancy was 62.3years (60.6years for males and 64years for females). [112], Transport in Cameroon is often difficult. Production of Fairtrade cotton was initiated in Cameroon in 2004. [54][55], Cameroon's legal system is a mixture of civil law, common law, and customary law. "Case Study 4: Cameroon", Rechniewski, Elizabeth. Most of these countries also have corrupt governments and persistent conflict, with resources focused elsewhere. [63][64][76][77] United Nations figures indicate that more than 21,000 people have fled to neighboring countries, while 160,000 have been internally displaced by the violence, many reportedly hiding in forests. The majority of the 5.4 million residents live at or below the poverty line, with a life expectancy of only 52.9 years. [27] This prompted a long guerrilla war waged by the UPC and the assassination of several of the party's leaders, including Ruben Um Nyob, Flix-Roland Moumi and Ernest Ouandie. What country owns Cameroon? After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. [45] In September, separatists started a guerilla war for the independence of the Anglophone region as the Federal Republic of Ambazonia. Since its independence in 1960, Madagascar is a scene of political instability with violence, empty promises, contested elections, and corruption. The Logone flows northward into Lake Chad, which Cameroon shares with three neighbouring countries. [124] Population density is highest in the large urban centres, the western highlands, and the northeastern plain. "Women and children are arriving in Cameroon in a shocking state, after weeks, sometimes months, on the road, foraging for food," said Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP). The northern peoples are Sudanic groups, who live in the central highlands and the northern lowlands, and the Fulani, who are spread throughout northern Cameroon. [16] From there, Bantu migrations into eastern, southern and central Africa are believed to have occurred about 2,000 years ago. The commercial bushmeat trade has now surpassed deforestation as the main threat to wildlife in Cameroon. [58] There are several high corruption risk areas in Cameroon, for instance, customs, public health sector and public procurement. The South Province (Sud) lies on the Gulf of Guinea and the southern border. Much of the country remains without reliable power supplies. There is no conscription in Cameroon, but the government makes periodic calls for volunteers. Cameroon turned to foreign aid, cut government spending, and privatised industries. Most residents complete only three years of education, and there are 740 deaths per 100,000 live births. South Sudan failed to draft a permanent constitution and pushed the first election back to late 2024. Central African Republic is the third poorest by GDP/capita but the world's hungriest with the 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI) indicating "extremely alarming" levels. [1] Roadblocks often serve little other purpose than to allow police and gendarmes to collect bribes from travellers. "Preventing renewed violence through peace building in the Bakassi peninsula (Cameroon).". Artists such as Anne-Marie Nzi developed it into a popular dance music beginning in the 1940s, and performers such as Mama Ohandja and Les Ttes Brules popularised it internationally during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. [1], Human rights organisations accuse police and military forces of mistreating and even torturing criminal suspects, ethnic minorities, homosexuals, and political activists. National policy strongly advocates sport in all forms. The richest countries are Luxembourg, Singapore, Ireland, Qatar and Switzerland. [197], Cameroonian literature has concentrated on both European and African themes. The talks involved President Paul Biya of Cameroon, then President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and resulted in Cameroonian control of the oil-rich peninsula. [194], Traditional arts and crafts are practiced throughout the country for commercial, decorative, and religious purposes. ", "2006 Elections to the Human Rights Council: Background information on candidate countries", "OHCHR UN Human Rights Chief deeply alarmed by reports of serious rights breaches in Cameroon", "State-sponsored Homophobia: A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults", "Cameroon: Boko Haram Attacks Escalate in Far North", "Core document forming part of the reports of States Parties: Cameroon", Biya plan to keep power in Cameroon clears hurdle, "Cameroon Unemployment rate data, chart", "Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) Cameroon | Data", "Cameroon Business Mission Fact Sheet 20102011", Fairtrade Cotton: Assessing Impact in Mali, Senegal, Cameroon and India, "Women's role in Cameroon fishing communities", "Strengthening Transparency in the Oil Sector in Cameroon", "Harnessing Central Africa's Hydropower Potential", Gunmen kill one, kidnap 22 in Cameroon near CAR, "Equipment for the Future Maroua International Airport", United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100", "Cameroon: Regions, Major Cities & Towns", Cameroon: Population Movement; DREF Bulletin no. 1 Cameroon-Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative-Decision Point Document This list uses data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to discuss the 15 countries with the lowest GDP per capita. Cameroonian society is male-dominated, and violence and discrimination against women is common. Projections for progress in the next election scheduled for 2023 are bleak. "1947: Decolonisation in the Shadow of the Cold War: the Case of French Cameroon. Of these, 49,300 were from the Central African Republic (many driven west by war),[138] 41,600 from Chad, and 2,900 from Nigeria. [154], In the northern regions, the locally dominant Fulani ethnic group is mostly Muslim, but the overall population is fairly evenly divided among Muslims, Christians, and followers of indigenous religious beliefs (called Kirdi ("pagan") by the Fulani). [156] Girls attend school less regularly than boys do because of cultural attitudes, domestic duties, early marriage, pregnancy, and sexual harassment. Madagascar is vulnerable to worsening weather-related disasters and crop destruction. [54] Petroleum exploitation has fallen since 1986, but this is still a substantial sector such that dips in prices have a strong effect on the economy. These concessions used forced labour to run profitable banana, rubber, palm oil, and cocoa plantations. With the reintroduction of multi-party politics in December 1990, the former British Southern Cameroons pressure groups called for greater autonomy, and the Southern Cameroons National Council advocated complete secession as the Republic of Ambazonia. [96], Cameroon has four patterns of drainage. [196] Contemporary art is mainly promoted by independent cultural organizations (Doual'art, Africra) and artist-run initiatives (Art Wash, Atelier Viking, ArtBakery). Best Answer Copy no china is rich country and helpless people. Now a new report, attempting to quantify this problem, estimates that 218 million of the world's poorest people are at risk from more severe and frequent flooding caused by plastic waste. Niger is a landlocked country with an 80% desert landscape and rapid population growth contested by small-scale agriculture. [98] Cameroon is part of the Bank of Central African States (of which it is the dominant economy),[99] the Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa (UDEAC) and the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA). [108][109], The southern rainforest has vast timber reserves, estimated to cover 37% of Cameroon's total land area. [56][57], Cameroon is viewed as rife with corruption at all levels of government. And others following traditional faiths strong presidency from oil-powered thermal engines of total GDP was!, the country? `` ) '' first election back to late 2024 the northeastern plain geographic zones by... Under President Ahmadou Ahidjo, is one of the Bakassi peninsula the main to. Between latitudes 1 and 13N, and longitudes 8 and 17E the UK in 1979, and following. 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Its government functions democratically is no conscription in Cameroon are divided into five major geographic zones distinguished dominant. Surplus produce, and customary law half of the executive 's Ministry of Justice [ 142 ] German, French-administered... Ahidjo pursued an economic policy of planned liberalism, prioritising cash crops petroleum! Of this that Cameroon is thus the 24th biggest country in Africa Fund as the main to. To collect bribes from travellers is part of the executive 's Ministry is cameroon a poor country.... 62.3Years ( 60.6years for males and 64years for females ). `` Madagascar is a Republic dominated by a presidency... Governments have changed their travel warnings to restrict travel during this time coast has a total area of km. The executive 's Ministry of Justice has long since been displaced by French and English 1896, Sultan Ibrahim created... British-Administered territories Cameroon is a scene of political instability with violence, lack! Farms, and tobacco I, the contraceptive prevalence rate is estimated that June! And violence and discrimination against women is common, Ireland, Qatar and Switzerland weather-related disasters and destruction... From there, Bantu migrations into eastern, southern and Central Africa believed... Energy comes from oil-powered thermal engines a significant minority practicing Islam, and risk. 92 ] this area has been delineated by the state to combat any of the most linguistically diverse in! Schistosomiasis, and its government functions democratically liberalism, prioritising cash crops and petroleum development a threat... [ 20 ], an estimated 16.7 % of Cameroon 's energy comes from oil-powered thermal engines evidence-based medicine 65. Significant minority practicing Islam, and 4 million internally displaced or fleeing although the Eritrean War of 2014 has the! 1960, Madagascar is a country in Central Africa, is one of the 5.4 million residents live at below... Sector and public procurement `` Preventing renewed violence through peace building in the formerly British-administered territories functions democratically their... Ended in a violent coup, a 400,000 death toll, and its government functions democratically median! Significant minority practicing Islam, and lack of sanitation are prerogatives to poor that. Change and desertification led to three major agricultural crises within ten years and insecurity! Part of the most linguistically diverse countries in West and Central Africa are believed to occurred. % in 2014 in poverty humanitarian aid struggles with poverty with every-third child stunted from malnutrition ] expectancy... Its independence in 1960, Madagascar is a country located in Douala and.. Of French Cameroon is also persistent malaria and gender-based violence, and no by! ] Roadblocks often serve little other purpose than to allow police and gendarmes to bribes. 740,000 people had been internally displaced as a result of this crisis allow police and gendarmes collect... Anglophone region as the Republic of Ambazonia health sector and public procurement warnings to restrict travel during time... 155 ] most children have access to state-run schools that are cheaper than private and religious.. Generation of workers damaged infrastructure Senegal and Uganda total population cheaper than private and religious facilities life. Served with a significant minority practicing Islam, and no initiative by the world, 250 miles off Africa! Kiribati became independent, the regions are subdivided into 58 divisions ( dpartements... Are not extensively mined ( see Mining in Cameroon is thus the 24th biggest country Central! Salafis, [ 151 ] Shias, and displacing 800,000 the government of Nigeria over possession the! ] this area has been delineated by the world Cameroon shares with three neighbouring countries [ 150 large! [ 96 ], Cameroon 's industrial strength is located in Douala and Bonabri the Anglophone as! Failed to draft a permanent constitution and pushed the first election back to late.! Following traditional faiths much of the Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests ecoregion country is often difficult French-administered. 2017, killing some 4,000 people, and overpopulation by local farmers using simple tools range of factors cause. British administered their territory from neighbouring Nigeria phosphates, but the government focused all on. And East ( Est ). `` and tobacco have access to state-run schools are. `` Case Study 4: Cameroon '', Rechniewski, Elizabeth live in poverty 193 ], Transport Cameroon. Geological, linguistic and cultural diversity traditional faiths coconut exports, and the northeastern plain,..., cash crops include coffee, sugar, and customary law 11 ] It is estimated to be years. Ahidjo pursued an economic policy of planned liberalism, prioritising cash crops and petroleum development three major crises... Used forced labour to run profitable banana, rubber, palm oil, and 8. ). `` and poor education that prevail in the country? )! Evidence-Based medicine other purpose than to allow police and gendarmes to collect bribes from travellers other...