United States. Central Intelligence Agency

The 1992 CIA World Factbook


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French Cameroon)

       Constitution:

       20 May 1972

       Legal system:

       based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has not

       accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

       National holiday:

       National Day, 20 May (1972)

       Executive branch:

       president, Cabinet

       Legislative branch:

       unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

       Judicial branch:

       Supreme Court

       Leaders:

       Chief of State:

       President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)

       Head of Government:

       interim Prime Minister Sadou HAYATOU (since 25 April 1991)

       Political parties and leaders:

       Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC), Paul BIYA, president, is

       government-controlled and was formerly the only party; numerous small

       parties formed since opposition parties were legalized in 1990

       Suffrage:

       universal at age 20

       Elections:

       National Assembly:

       next to be held 1 March 1992

       President:

       last held 24 April 1988 (next to be held April 1993); results - President

       Paul BIYA reelected without opposition

       Other political or pressure groups:

       NA

       Member of:

       ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77,

       GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,

       INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD,

       UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

       Diplomatic representation:

       Ambassador Paul PONDI; Chancery at 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington,

       DC 20008; telephone (202) 265-8790 through 8794

       US:

       Ambassador Frances D. COOK; Embassy at Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde (mailing

       address is B. P. 817, Yaounde); telephone [237] 234014; FAX [237] 230753;

       there is a US Consulate General in Douala

      :Cameroon Government

      Flag:

       three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a

       yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular

       pan-African colors of Ethiopia

      :Cameroon Economy

      Overview:

       Because of its offshore oil resources, Cameroon has one of the highest

       incomes per capita in tropical Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious

       problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as political

       instability, a top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable climate

       for business enterprise. The development of the oil sector led rapid

       economic growth between 1970 and 1985. Growth came to an abrupt halt in 1986

       precipitated by steep declines in the prices of major exports: coffee,

       cocoa, and petroleum. Export earnings were cut by almost one-third, and

       inefficiencies in fiscal management were exposed. In 1990-92, with support

       from the IMF and World Bank, the government has begun to introduce reforms

       designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture,

       and recapitalize the nation's banks. Nationwide strikes organized by

       opposition parties in 1991, however, undermined these efforts.

       GDP:

       exchange rate conversion - $11.5 billion, per capita $1,040; real growth

       rate 0.7% (1990 est.)

       Inflation rate (consumer prices):

       8.6% (FY88)

       Unemployment rate:

       25% (1990 est.)

       Budget:

       revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.8 billion, including capital

       expenditures of $NA million (FY89)

       Exports:

       $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

       commodities:

       petroleum products 56%, coffee, cocoa, timber, manufactures

       partners:

       EC (particularly France) about 50%, US 10%

       Imports:

       $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.)

       commodities:

       machines and electrical equipment, transport equipment, chemical products,

       consumer goods

       partners:

       France 41%, Germany 9%, US 4%

       External debt:

       $4.9 billion (December 1989 est.)

       Industrial production:

       growth rate - 6.4% (FY87); accounts for 30% of GDP

       Electricity:

       755,000 kW capacity; 2,940 million kWh produced, 270 kWh per capita (1991)

       Industries:

       crude oil products, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles,

       sawmills

       Agriculture:

       the agriculture and forestry sectors provide employment for the majority of

       the population, contributing nearly 25% to GDP and providing a high degree

       of self-sufficiency in staple foods; commercial and food crops include

       coffee, cocoa, timber, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, livestock,

       root starches

       Economic aid:

       US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $440 million; Western (non-US)

       countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.5 billion; OPEC

       bilateral aid (1979-89), $29 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $125

       million

      :Cameroon Economy

      Currency:

       Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural - francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF)

       = 100 centimes

       Exchange rates:

       Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 269.01 (January

       1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54

       (1987)

       Fiscal year:

       1 July - 30 June

      :Cameroon Communications

      Railroads:

       1,003 km total; 858 km 1.000-meter gauge, 145 km 0.600-meter gauge

       Highways: