Capital: Yaounde
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria (slightly larger than California)
Registration Embassy and Consulate:
U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde or with the Embassy Office in Douala, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Cameroon. The Embassy is located on Rue Nachtigal in Yaounde. The mailing address is B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon, telephone: (237) 23-40-14, fax (237) 23-07-53. The Embassy Office in Douala can be contacted at (237) 42-53-31; fax is (237) 42-77-90.
Background:
The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy.
Ethnic Groups:
Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
Language:
24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
Currency:
XAF
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro
Climate:
Varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Population:
15,803,220
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
Indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Medical:
Medical facilities in Cameroon are limited. Sanitation levels are low, even in the best hospitals. While some medicines are available through local pharmacies, travelers should carry needed prescription medicines and medication with them. Hospitals and doctors often expect immediate cash payment for health care services.
The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.
Safety:
U.S. citizens should avoid crowds, political rallies and street demonstrations and maintain security awareness at all times.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Cameroon is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Fair to Poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance:
Poor to Nonexistent
Cameroon's road network, both paved and unpaved, is underdeveloped and unsafe. In general, roads and vehicles are poorly maintained. During the rainy season (May to October), many roads are passable only with four-wheel-drive vehicles. There are few road and traffic signs. Livestock and pedestrians create constant road hazards and road safety rules are routinely ignored. Buses and logging trucks traveling at high speeds are a threat.
Drivers are advised against nighttime travel. Outside major towns, especially in the Far North province, armed bandits pose a threat.
For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html.
