Government Cameroon
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
former: French Cameroon
Government type:
unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition
parties legalized in 1990)
note: preponderance of power remains with the president
Capital:
Yaounde
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord,
Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence:
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Constitution:
20 May 1972 approved by referendum, 2 June 1972 formally adopted;
revised January 1996
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal