Cameroon Embassy

The Government of the Republic of Cameroon is structured on the French model, with a powerful Office of Presidency. Prime Minister and Ministers are appointed by the Head of State. There is a National Assembly comprising of an Assembly and a Senate, elected by popular vote every four years. The Presidential elections are held every seven years.

The President of the Republic is His Excellency Paul Biya.

Regions: The Republic is divided into ten Regions, these being:

ADAMAWA, NORTH WEST REGION, EAST REGION, FAR NORTH REGION, LITTORAL REGION, SOUTH REGION, CENTRE REGION, SOUTH WEST REGION, NORTH REGION, and WEST REGION. Each region is controlled by a Governor, who co-ordinates Divisional officers, and sub divisional officers.

The national government has embarked on a major program of privatization, determined to make the private sector the major economic force in the economy. Privatization, apart from former government agriculture operations, includes water and sewer, railways, and Municipal services etc.

Institutions:

Executive: The PRESIDENT is head of the executive branch. He is the Head of State and guarantor of the Institutions of the Republic, of national independence and the integrity of the national territory. He is elected by direct universal suffrage, by secret ballot, with a simple majority of the votes cast, for a mandate of seven years renewable once

Legislative: National Assembly. The President of the National assembly is the second personality of the State. He is the Speaker as he presides over deliberations in parliament.

The Prime Minister: The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of the Republic. He is the head of Government business.

Judiciary: The Judiciary is headed by the President of the Supreme Court. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court, Appeal Courts and the Courts. It is independent of the executive power and legislative power. The Supreme Court has three chambers; the Judicial, Administrative and Audit Benches. Apart from the Supreme court and Appeal courts, other courts in Cameroon include: the High Court; Court of First Instance; Magistrate Courts; Customary Courts etc. 

The Senate: The Senate represents the decentralized collectivities. Each region is represented by ten (10) Senators. The senate is headed by the president of the senate.

The Economic and Social Council: The Economic and Social Council is a consultative organ of the Republic of Cameroon whose main mission is to render opinion and to make proposals to political leaders on economic, social and cultural issues.

Political parties: Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM is presently the rulling party. Major opposition parties include: Cameroonian Democratic Union (UDC), Movement for the Defense of the Republic (MDR), National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), Social Democratic Front (SDF), Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC). There are several other smaller and less influential political parties numbering more than 100.

International organization participation: Cameroon is an active member of the following international organizations: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, AU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO etc