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Cameroon
Country Specific Information
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April 02, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Cameroon is a developing country in central Africa. Although there are many natural and cultural attractions in Cameroon,
facilities catering to Western-style tourism are quite limited. The capital is Yaoundé, though Douala, the country's largest
city, is its main port and commercial center. Official languages are French and English, though French predominates in most
of the country. English may be used in Cameroon's two Anglophone provinces of Southwest and Northwest, and the larger cities.
The staff of major hotels in Cameroon’s large cities is usually bilingual. In February 2008, social and political unrest
led to civil unrest, although the immediate threat of violence has now receded. For general information on Cameroon, read
the Department of State Background Notes on Cameroon.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport, visa, evidence of yellow-fever vaccination, and current immunization records are required, and travelers may be denied entry if they lack the proper documentation. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon, 2349 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington D.C. 20008, tel: (202) 265-8790, fax: (202) 387-3826. Visit the Embassy of Cameroon’s web site at http://www.ambacam-usa.org/ for the most current visa information.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: During the week of February 25, 2008, Cameroon experienced significant civil unrest in half of its ten provinces, most notably in the port city of Douala. Demonstrators clashed violently with police and then military personnel, resulting in the reported deaths of forty persons and arrest of over 1,600 individuals. The unrest was marked by widespread road blockages, attacks on public and private vehicles, looting, burning of government and other buildings, and roaming crowds of malcontents. This disturbance created shortages of fuel, food and other supplies throughout the country, and was ended through the deployment of military units and the use of significant force.
Following the restoration of order, some efforts have been made to address fuel and food prices that were among the key grievances of the demonstrators. However, economic conditions, notably the high unemployment rate, remain difficult without the prospect for rapid improvement. Political tensions also remain, particularly over a possible amendment to the Constitution that would allow President Biya to serve again. Although a rapid resumption of violence is considered unlikely, Americans living in or visiting Cameroon are encouraged to stay abreast of local political and social developments that could signal additional difficulties for the country.
Embassy employees have been instructed to refrain from travel outside of city limits after dusk, and to monitor their movements in centrally located areas within cities and towns. Private American citizens are urged to follow the same guidelines and are strongly advised against nighttime travel. Armed highway bandits (most notably in border areas); poorly lit roads; hazardous, poorly maintained vehicles; and unskilled, aggressive and/or intoxicated drivers pose a threat to motorists. Attacks and accidents are most common outside major towns, especially in the provinces bordering Chad and the Central African Republic but occur in all areas of the country.
The U.S. Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against travel to neighboring Central African Republic (CAR). On occasion, conflict between insurgents and government security forces in CAR has spilled across the border into Cameroon, affecting outposts in both Adamawa and East Provinces. Humanitarian and religious workers in eastern Cameroon are strongly encouraged to coordinate their efforts with the Embassy and the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Yaoundé.
In February 2008, an attack by rebel insurgents on Ndjamena, the capital of Chad, forced the evacuation of the Embassy in Chad and sent up to 50,000 refugees across the border into the town of Kousseri in Cameroon. Although the attack was ultimately repelled, the possibility of further military action by the rebel forces remains.
In late 2006, inter-ethnic clashes were reported in the town of Kye-Ossi near the Cameroonian border with Gabon. These confrontations were a result of a discord between moto-taxi drivers and the security forces, which resulted in demonstrations and roadblocks. According to security authorities, tensions in the area are still high, despite the deployment of a large security force to the region.
Following a ruling from the International Court of Justice defining a section of the Cameroon-Nigeria border, Cameroon assumed administrative control of most of the Bakassi Peninsula, in August 2006, with Nigerian military forces withdrawing across the border. Although the transition has generally gone smoothly, there was an attack on Cameroonian military forces in November 2007, reportedly by criminal elements from the Niger Delta not connected to the Nigerian government. It is very difficult to reach Bakassi, but travelers thinking of going near there should exercise extreme caution as there is the potential for violence if tensions rise.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Crime is a serious and growing problem throughout Cameroon and U.S. citizens should exercise caution when traveling in Cameroon.
Internet-based crime is escalating rapidly, and Americans should be extremely skeptical of financial transactions -- e.g.
adoptions, hiring a service worker, such as a nanny, to come to the U.S., or purchasing a pet -- that involve sending money
for goods or services not yet delivered (see below). In February 2008, two European nationals were kidnapped by criminals
posing as businessmen seeking to establish a palm oil export business. Although several perpetrators were arrested and the
individuals were not harmed, the incident highlights a dangerous new confluence of internet-based and violent crime. If you
have concerns about the legitimacy of a transaction, such as adoption, in Cameroon contact the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon –
see Registration/Embassy Location section below.
All foreigners are potential targets for theft with possible attendant violence. Petty crimes, crimes against persons, thefts
from vehicles, and of vehicles are the most common criminal activities. Armed banditry is a growing problem throughout all
ten provinces in Cameroon. Specifically, incidents of armed highway-robbery have been reported in the North West, West, South
West and East provinces. Armed bandits have erected road barricades on major routes that link rural towns to provincial headquarters,
and have taken as many as 100 cars in a single attack. To curb banditry, security personnel may request persons to show their
passport, residence card, driver's license, and/or vehicle registration at random checkpoints. Certified copies of these
important documents should be kept in a secure location separate from the originals. Security personnel have been known to
ask for bribes and may hurt citizens who refuse to pay. The U.S. Government does not condone bribery or corruption of any
kind.
Due to the frequency of criminal incidents involving public transportation, American citizens are advised that use of public taxis can be dangerous. In April 2007, two American women were assaulted and robbed in a taxi. Public taxis in Cameroon function more like the U.S. bus system with drivers stopping to pick up additional passengers as long as there is space left in the vehicle. There have been numerous reports of assaults and robberies committed by "passengers" in shared taxis since crimes – rape and robbery being among the most common – are often a collaborative effort between the driver and "passengers." If a traveler must use a taxi, the use of a private taxi – or a taxi hired for exclusive use by the individual for that particular trip – where the driver is known to the passenger is a better alternative to the use of shared taxis. Taxi passengers should be particularly vigilant at night.
The risk of street and residential crime is high, and incidents of violent crime are on the rise throughout the country. During the last year, the number of carjacking and armed burglary incidents in residences and restaurants, particularly in Yaoundé and Douala, continued to increase. Carjacking and robbery has also been reported on rural highways, especially in the Northern provinces and regions near Cameroon's border with the Central African Republic.
On March 27, 2006, 11 armed men attacked a group of four U.S. citizens in a private residence (adjacent to a hotel frequented by expatriates) in Kribi, located in the Southern province. A group of five armed bandits held up and robbed staff and guests of a hotel in Ngaoundere (Adamawa Province) on December 20, 2006. Similar incidents occurred in the middle of the night at hotels in Bertoua (East Province) on April 22, 2007, and in Yaoundé (Central Province) on May 15, 2007 when assailants broke into hotel rooms and robbed the residents. Americans were among the victims. Crimes against property, such as carjacking and burglaries, have often been accompanied by violent acts and have resulted in fatalities. There were four incidents of armed robberies in the month of April 2007, involving American citizens in or near restaurants in Yaoundé and Bertoua.
In January 2007, a French expatriate was fatally shot in the upscale Bastos neighborhood of Yaoundé. The woman was dropping off a friend to her residence and interrupted an attempted home invasion. Upon realizing what was happening, the friend returned to the vehicle and both women attempted to flee the scene. As they were leaving, an armed bandit shot and fatally wounded the driver of the vehicle.
In September 2007, several expatriates suffered armed attacks. In one incident, an Israeli citizen giving a ride to a friend was attacked in Bastos by two men with knives. In the ensuing scuffle, the Israeli was critically wounded. A Moroccan diplomat was fatally injured while walking near his residence. Found unconscious by security guards, he was taken to a local hospital where he died the following day. A Chinese business woman was also robbed and killed outside her home in a neighborhood near Bastos. All incidents occurred late at night.
In December 2007, a police officer was arrested and jailed in Yaoundé after he and his accomplices surprised a couple returning from Europe and stole a briefcase and jewelry.
In January 2008, three bandits posing as passengers on a bus to Douala – and carrying locally made guns - were intercepted
at Bafoussam and apprehended. In Douala, armed bandits robbed a soap company at gun point, surprising the employees. They
attempted to loot the company’s computers, but were intercepted by a SWAT team and ran off.
Also in January, an Embassy employee using public transportation in the Northwest Province was the victim of highway robbers,
who robbed the passengers (including a local mayor) and roughed-up those who did not have enough money.
In February 2008, Cameroon experienced a brief period of civil unrest during a taxi strike that involved road blockages, attacks
on public and private vehicles, looting, burning of government and other buildings, and roaming crowds of malcontents. This
period was attended by a sharp increase in reported crimes, including the stabbing death of a night watchman at a residence
in Yaoundé, an attack at the Brussels Airline travel agency in the Bonapriso district of Douala, an attack by a group of armed
bandits on a motorbike rider who suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and numerous reports of rape and armed attacks with
firearms and machetes in Douala.
Recently, many American citizens have become victims of Cameroonian advance-fee fraud and other scams offering antiques, exotic and domesticated animals, and even adoption services through the Internet. Americans should be very cautious about sending money or traveling to Cameroon to meet someone contacted via the Internet. Commercial scams targeting foreigners, including many U.S. citizens, continue to be a problem. The scams generally involve phony offers of lucrative sales and repeated requests for additional funds to pay for unforeseen airport and/or customs fees. No one should provide personal financial or account information to unknown parties. The ability of U.S. Embassy officers to extricate U.S. citizens from unlawful business deals and the consequences is limited. For more information on international financial scams, including those involving Internet dating, a promise of an inheritance windfall, a promise of a work contract overseas, overpayment for goods purchased on-line, or money-laundering, see the Department of State's publication International Financial Scams.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
See our information on Victims of Crime .
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical facilities in Cameroon are extremely limited. Even in large cities, emergency care and hospitalization for major illnesses and surgery are hampered by the lack of trained specialists, outdated diagnostic equipment, and poor sanitation. Medical services in outlying areas may be completely nonexistent. Doctors and hospitals often require immediate payment for health services in cash. Pharmacies in larger towns are well stocked, but in other areas many medicines are unavailable. Travelers are advised to carry their own supply of needed prescription and anticipated over-the-counter medicines.
Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease. Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the type that predominates in Cameroon, is resistant to the antimalarial drug chloroquine. Because travelers to Cameroon are at high risk for contracting malaria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that travelers should take one of the following antimalarial drugs: mefloquine (Lariam™), doxycycline, or atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone™) as prophylaxis to reduce this risk. Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area, and up to one year after returning home, should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel history and what antimalarials they have been taking. For additional information on malaria, including protective measures, see the CDC Travelers’ Health web site at http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/. There are periodic outbreaks of cholera in Cameroon. Yellow fever can cause serious medical problems, but the vaccine, required for entry, is very effective in preventing the disease.
In March 2006, avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in wild ducks in northern Cameroon. There have been no reports of avian influenza among humans in Cameroon. Avian influenza has been reported in both birds and humans in neighboring Nigeria. For additional information on avian influenza as it affects American citizens residing abroad, please read the U.S. Department of State’s Avian Influenza Fact Sheet .
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s website at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: 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. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas .
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: 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.
Cameroon's road networks, both paved and unpaved, are poorly maintained and unsafe at all times of the year. Vehicles are poorly maintained and there is no mechanism or requirement to inspect for roadworthiness. During the rainy season, many roads are barely passable with four-wheel-drive vehicles. Livestock and pedestrians create constant road hazards (especially at night) and road safety rules are frequently ignored. There are few road and traffic signs; speed limits are neither posted nor enforced. Buses and logging trucks travel at excessive speed and are a constant threat to other road traffic.
Travelers on roads near the borders with CAR and Chad should ensure that their vehicles are fully fueled, and that they have adequate cooking fuel, food, and water for several days as well as a reliable means of communication, such as a satellite or cell phone, or radio.
Visitors who are not in possession of a valid passport and a visa may experience difficulties at police roadblocks or other security checkpoints. It is not uncommon for a uniformed member of the security forces to stop motorists on the pretext of a minor or non-existent violation of local motor vehicle regulations in order to extort small bribes. Visitors are advised not to pay bribes and to request that the officer provide a citation to be paid at the local court.
Local law states that vehicles involved in an accident should not be moved until the police arrive and a police report can
be made. If an accident results in injury, drivers should be aware of the possibility that a "village justice" mentality
may develop. If an angry crowd forms, drive directly to the U.S. Embassy or another location where you can receive assistance.
Contact the local police once you are safely away from danger. Cameroon has no real equivalent to 911-type service or roadside
emergency telephone numbers, but you can dial 112 in major cities to contact ambulance services. American citizens should
contact the U.S. Embassy (237) 2220-1500 if emergency assistance is needed.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Cameroon, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Cameroon’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s internet website at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: While visiting game parks and reserves, tourists should bear in mind that they are ultimately responsible for maintaining their own safety. Tourists should use common sense when approaching wildlife, maintain a safe distance from animals, and heed all instructions given by guides or trackers. Even in the most serene settings, the animals in Cameroon's game parks are wild and can pose a threat to life and safety.
Cameroonian Customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Cameroon of items such as large quantities of medicine or wood products. Customs regulations also restrict the importation of ivory. Please see our information on customs regulations.
Cash in local currency, the Central African franc (CFA), is the only form of payment accepted throughout the country. Larger hotels in Yaoundé and Douala will change U.S. dollars and cash traveler's checks, though at a disadvantageous rate. Credit card cash advances are not available, and most banks do not cash personal or traveler's checks for non-clients. While credit cards are accepted at some larger hotels and shops in Yaoundé and Douala, caution is urged, as identity theft is endemic in the region. Some larger banks in Yaoundé and Douala have ATM facilities, and several banks in Cameroon have wire transfer services through Western Union. The U.S. Embassy does not provide currency exchange, check cashing or other financial services. Tourists and business travelers should also note that there is an increasing circulation of counterfeit U.S. and Cameroonian currency in the country. In recent years, business travelers have experienced difficulty in obtaining adequate services from Cameroon's banking sector. Business travelers are also advised that using the services of a local agent is strongly recommended in establishing a presence in the Cameroonian market.
While photography is not officially forbidden, security officials are sensitive about photographs taken of government buildings, military installations, and other public facilities, many of which are unmarked. Photography of these subjects may result in seizure of photographic equipment by Cameroonian authorities. Due to the threat of harassment and the lack of signs designating sites prohibited for photography, photography should be limited to private homes and among friends. U.S. citizens are advised to seek proper permission before taking a photograph of a specific subject or location.
The government of Cameroon has recently started enforcing laws against homosexuality. Charges of homosexuality and/or of corruption are also made and enforced indiscriminately in the course of business or personal disputes.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Cameroonian law does not afford many of the protections to which Americans are accustomed, and legal proceedings tend to be complex, lengthy, and subject to inappropriate influence. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Additionally, the condition of detention centers, while improving, is poor. Persons violating Cameroonian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. During the February 2008 civil unrest, there were reports that people were arrested arbitrarily by law enforcement officials quelling the civil disorder that ensued. Although no expatriates were known to have been arrested, the Department of State cautions Americans against venturing out during such periods of unrest.
Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Cameroon are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Cameroon are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Cameroon. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé is located on Avenue Rosa Parks in the Mbankolo Quartier, adjacent to the Mount Febe Golf Club; mailing address P.O. Box 817; embassy tel. (237) 2220-1500, fax: (237) 2220-1572. The Embassy Branch Office in Douala is located on the corner of Rue Ivy and Rue French in the Ecobank Building in Bonanjo, tel: (237) 3342-5331, fax: (237) 3342-7790. Further information, including the U.S. Embassy's business hours, is available at the U.S. Embassy's web site: http://yaounde.usembassy.gov.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Cameroon dated 7 June 2007, to update sections on Country Description,
Entry and Exit Requirements, Safety and Security, Crime, Aviation Safety Oversight, Criminal Penalties, Children’s Issues,
and Registration/Embassy Location.
