Legal System of Cameroon

Cameroon is located in Africa. It is geographically situated in central africa, bordering the bight of biafra, between equatorial guinea and nigeria. The country achieved independence on 1 january 1960 (from french-administered un trusteeship). The capital is Yaounde.

Government Overview

Government Type: presidential republic Chief of State: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) Head of Government: Prime Minister Joseph NGUTE (since 4 January 2019) Cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president Administrative Divisions: 10 regions (régions, singular - région); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extrême-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest) National Holiday: State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972) Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Cameroon is described as mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law International Law: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996 Amendment Process: 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

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court of Cameroon (consists of 9 titular and 6 surrogate judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and audit chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 11 members) Judge Selection: 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

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of bicameral Lower Chamber: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale - National Assembly) (180 (all directly elected) seats) Electoral System (Lower Chamber): proportional representation Upper Chamber: Senate (Sénat - Senate)

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Historical Background

Powerful chiefdoms ruled much of the area of present-day Cameroon before it became a German colony known as Kamerun in 1884. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year, the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Cameroon based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.