According to cheeroutdoor, Cameroon is a small, landlocked country located in Central Africa. It has a population of over 25 million people and has an economy based largely on agriculture and natural resources. Agriculture accounts for around 35% of GDP and employs nearly 70% of the population. Other important sectors include mining, oil and gas, forestry and fishing.
The government has implemented a number of economic reforms in recent years aimed at liberalizing trade, encouraging foreign investment and improving access to credit. These measures have helped to stimulate economic growth which has been further supported by increased access to electricity, roads and telecommunications infrastructure. In addition to this, the government has also taken steps to diversify the economy away from its reliance on agriculture by promoting tourism and light manufacturing such as garments and footwear.
Despite this progress, Cameroon still suffers from high levels of poverty with nearly 40% living below the poverty line according to World Bank estimates. The government has begun taking steps to reduce poverty by investing in education, healthcare and social protection programs but much more needs to be done if Cameroon is going to become an upper middle-income country by 2030 as per its stated goal. In addition to this, corruption continues to be an issue in Cameroon with Transparency International ranking it as one of the most corrupt countries in Central Africa making it difficult for businesses operating in the country. In order for Cameroon’s economy to continue growing there needs to be greater investment in infrastructure such as roads and ports as well as a focus on developing human capital through improved education systems.
In February, a case against English-speaking Separatists with jail ended for 33 of the accused. Two of those who were members of the RDPC were also convicted of fraud. Throughout the first half of 2000, the SDF continued its support campaign for the South Cameroon National Council, which advocated secession. The same year, the UN reported that torture and ill-treatment had assumed a “systematic and general” character in Cameroon police stations.
In June 2002, parliamentary and local elections were held. The ruling party won most of the seats in the parliament, which saw serious irregularities during the election and the opposition demanded re-election. The Supreme Court therefore decided that re-election should be conducted in 9 districts.
Economy
| Inflation rate | 0.60% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% |
| Gross domestic product (GDP) | $ 89,540,000,000 |
| GDP growth rate | 3.50% |
| GDP per capita | 3,700 USD |
| GDP by sector | |
| Agriculture | 16.70% |
| Industry | 26.50% |
| Service | 56.80% |
| State budget | |
| Revenue | 3.611 billion |
| Expenditure | 2.609 billion |
| Proportion of the population below the national poverty line | 48% |
| Distribution of household income | |
| Top 10% | 35.4 |
| Lower 10% | 2.3 |
| Industrial production growth rate | 5.20% |
| Investment volume | 18.2% of GDP |
| National debt | 36.90% of GDP |
| Foreign exchange reserves | $ 2,357,000,000 |
| Tourism | 2013 |
| Visitors | 912,000 |
| Revenue | $ 607,000,000 |
In 2002, the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued a ruling in favor of Cameroon in the border dispute with Nigeria, which had been presented to the Court in 1998. The conflict started in 1994 when Cameroon demanded supremacy over the Bakassi Peninsula rich in fish and oil. According to Countryaah, the conflict quickly developed into a border conflict that also involved Equatorial Guinea. However, Nigeria rejected the decision of the International Court of Justice and retained its soldiers in the area. After a series of conversations with Cameroon in 2003, Nigeria announced that the country would retain its troops on the peninsula for at least another 3 years.
In January 2004, abbreviated as CMR by abbreviationfinder.org, Cameroon and Nigeria presidents signed a joint agreement to lift security obligations in the conflict zone between the two countries. Both countries described the joint patrol as a major step forward, declaring that the agreement was a friendship agreement. Paul Biya (Cameroon), Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria) and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated at a joint meeting in Geneva that they were seeking a common solution to the border conflict. The meeting was termed “friendly” by both presidents, and at the meeting they also discussed future control over the oil deposits in the Bakassi Peninsula.
In August, both countries reached a final agreement on Bakassi. After a series of meetings, it was decided that Bakassi should finally be transferred to Cameroon by September 15. Delegates from Nigeria and Cameroon met with a UN commission to discuss how the October 2002 verdict could be implemented. Cameroon’s delegation was led by Minister Amadou Ali, Nigeria’s Prince Bola Ajibola, while UNOWA (United Nations Organization for Western Africa) was led by Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah.
Note: the capital city of Cameroon is Yaoundé with a population of 3,822,000 (with suburbs, UN estimate 2019). Other major cities include Douala with a population of 3,536,000, Bamenda with a population of 514,000, Loum with a population of 472,000, Mbouda with a population of 455,000, Bafoussam with a population of 411,000 (with suburbs, UN estimate 2019).
In December 2004, Biya appointed a new government. Ephraim Inoni was appointed prime minister and has made his fight against corruption his main subject upon his accession. That same month, foreign investors had criticized the lack of transparency in the country’s public finances. for a year-round report from Transparency International, cf. which the use of corruption is widespread in Cameroon. In March of the following year, the government declared that widespread corruption in the Treasury had cost the country $ 2 million. US $ per month. About 500 officials were accused of putting money in their own pockets at to pay wages to non-existent employees. Prime Minister Inoni declared that those known guilty would face harsh penalties.
