Once a German protectorate, Cameroon was divided among the French
and British after the World War I. The two merged in 1961 to form
the present Cameroon. Political stability is the hallmark of the country,
resulting in the development of agriculture, infrastructure. Thanks
to its oil resources Petroleum industry is making its presence felt
in the African country. Democratic reforms are being initiated, though
political power remains firmly entrenched in the hands of an ethnic
oligarchy led by President Paul Biya.
Travel overview
Located on the Gulf of Guinea, on the west coast of Africa, Cameroon
offers a wide range of tourist attractions including spectacular landscape,
exotic wildlife, tropical beaches around Limbe and places as well
as museums. Visit the palace of the Sultan of Bamoun and museum in
Famboun. Mandara Mountains are ideal for trekking. The country is
home to Africa's highest active volcano, Mt Cameroon. For wildlife
enthusiasts, Waza National Park at Kribi is a must visit. Located
on seven hills, Yaound, the capital city, brims with modern shops,
supermarkets and hotels, while Douala is the financial and biggest
city of this country.
Capital: Yaounde
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial
Guinea and Nigeria
Climate: tropical, semiarid, hot
Total Area: 475,440 sq km
Total Population: 18,060,382
Population Growth Rate: 2.241%
Sex Ratio: 1.007 male(s)/female
Literacy: 67.9%
Ethnic Groups: Cameroon Highlanders, Equatorial Bantu , Kirdi , Fulani
, Northwestern Bantu , Eastern Nigritic
Irrigated land: 260 sq km
Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official), French
(official)
Time Zone: UTC+1
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF)
Type of govt.: republic
Head of Govt.: Prime Minister Ephraim INONI
Major Political Parties: Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC, Cameroon
People's Democratic Movement or RDCP, Movement for the Defense of
the Republic or MDR, Movement for the Liberation and Development of
Cameroon or MLDC, Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC, National
Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP, Social Democratic Front
or SDF, Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC
Participation in International Organizations: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU,
BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Major Agricultural Products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas,
oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber
Natural Resources & Minerals: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber,
hydropower
Industry & Transport: petroleum production and refining, aluminum
production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber,
ship repair
Airports: 47
Railways: 987 km
Roadways:
50,000 km
Waterways: navigation mainly on Benue River.
Major Trade Partners: Spain, Italy, France, South Korea, UK, Netherlands,
Belgium, US
Exports: $4.318 billion
Imports: $3.083 billion |
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