Independence: 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French
administration)
National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972)
Constitution: 20 May 1972
Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law influence; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) elected
for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 11
October 1992 (next to be held NA October 1997); results - President
Paul BIYA reelected with about 40% of the vote amid widespread
allegations of fraud; SDF candidate John FRU NDI got 36% of the
vote; UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI got 19% of the vote
head of government: Prime Minister Simon ACHIDI ACHU (since 9 April
1992) appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 1 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats (180 total) CPDM 88, UNDP 68, UPC 18, MDR 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) (government-controlled and the only party until legalization of opposition parties in 1990), Paul BIYA, president major opposition parties: National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP); Social Democratic Front (SDF); Cameroonian Democratic Union (UDC); Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC); Movement for the Defense of the Republic (MDR)
Other political or pressure groups: Alliance for Change (FAC),
Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM)