Cameroon became a German colony in 1884. At the end First World War, under League of Nations mandates, eastern Cameroon was awarded to France while the southern and northern Cameroons was awarded to Britain. In 1960, French Cameroons gained its independence and Ahmadou Ahidjo was appointed to the presidency. In February 1961 the southern populations of British administered Cameroons voted to join the newly independent Republic of Cameroon. In 1966 Ahmadou Ahidjo made Cameroon a one-party state, in retaliation to a major rebellion, and through constitutional restructuring; concentrated power in presidential hands. Due to his failing health president Ahidjo resigned giving power to his prime minister Paul Biya but retained chairmanship of the ruling party the N.U.C. due to friction between the two powerful figures, In 1984, a faction of the army presumed loyal to former president Ahidjo staged a coup d’états. Paul Biya was able to crush the rebellion and promptly reasserted control over the army and the ruling party. President Biya approved the introduction of a multi-party system due pressure from the international community. Unfortunately Cameroonian democracy has not evolved much since. Paul Biya has managed to stay in power until now. Due to constitutional amendments Biya can be a candidate for and unlimited amount of terms. Although Cameroon is now a multiparty state, power remains concentrated with the presidency.
The prime minister of the Republic of Cameroon is Philémon Yang. The population is approximately 19.4 million. Its capital city is Yaoundé. Although French and English are the official languages, there are over 250 languages with a relatively equal amount of ethnic groups. Pidgin is widely spoken in the western...
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...ation for a more democratic government, there remains a lot of work to be done. Cameroonian civil society has remained for the most part in a state of chaos and confusion, expressing tendencies of ethnicism and regionalism witch has dramatically restricted the mobilization of the masses into a more democratic environment. Only when the population finds a way to transcend narrow, socio-political boundaries and identify with daily and legitimate struggles of ordinary citizens will change occur.
Works Cited
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/countrytemplate_cm.html>
African Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 9, Nos. 1&2, 2006, pp. 91–106
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/sub-saharan-africa/cameroon?profile=today
http://www.spm.gov.cm/en/prime-minister/biography.html>
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Charlick, R. (2000) "Popular participation and Local Government Reforms" Africa Notes, New York: Cornell University, (April) pp1-5
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