Foreign relations of Cameroon

Cameroon's noncontentious, low-profile approach to foreign relations puts it squarely in the middle of other African and developing country states on major issues. It supports the principles of non-interference in the affairs of third world countries and increased assistance to underdeveloped countries. Cameroon is an active participant in the United Nations, where its voting record demonstrates its commitment to causes that include international peacekeeping, the rule of law, environmental protection, and Third World economic development. In the UN and other human rights fora, Cameroon's non-confrontational approach has generally led it to avoid criticizing other countries.

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Nations with which Cameroon has diplomatic relations.

Cameroon enjoys good relations with the United States and other developed countries. Cameroon enjoys generally good relations with its African neighbors. It supports UN peacekeeping activities in Central Africa.

International disputes

Delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is complete and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula and Lake Chad is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as is a dispute with Equatorial Guinea over the exclusive maritime economic zone. As of 10 October 2012, it has been resolved that Cameroon own Bakassi.

Cameroon also faces a complaint filed with the African Commission on Human Rights by the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) and the Southern Cameroons Peoples Organisation (SCAPO) against the Government of the Republic of Cameroon, in which the complainants allege that the Republic of Cameroon is illegally occupying the territory of Southern Cameroons. The SCNC and SCAPO ultimately seek the independence of the territory of Southern Cameroons.[1] As of 2008, both parties have submitted briefs and responded to the Human Rights Commissions' inquiries. A ruling by the African Commission on Human Rights is awaited.

Bilateral relationships
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Argentina 2 January 1975 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 January 1975[2]
 Australia
  • Both countries are full members of The Commonwealth.
  • Cameroon is accredited to Australia through its embassy in Tokyo, Japan.[3]
  • Australia is represented in Cameroon through its High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria.
 Azerbaijan 24 February 1995 On 24 February 1995, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Cameroon signed a protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations[4]
 Bahrain 18 March 1975 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 March 1975[5]
 Canada1962

Cameroon and Canada have established diplomatic ties since 1962 with three agreements and four protocoles signed in 1965. Both countries share the use of English and French as the two official languages as well as memberships in the Francophonie and The Commonwealth.

  • Cameroon has a high commission in Ottawa.[6]
  • Canada has a high commission in Yaoundé.[7]
 China26 March 1971Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 March 1971[8]
See also: Cameroon–China relations

The People's Republic of China has a number of health and infrastructure projects underway in Cameroon. In January 2007, China signed a series of economic agreements with Cameroon, giving more than $54 million in loans.,[9] China constructed the multipurpose sports complex in Yaounde and renovated the famous Amadou Ahidjo stadium.

 Cuba 31 August 1974 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1974[10]
 Equatorial Guinea27 October 1968

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 October 1968[11].Cameroon has a dispute with Equatorial Guinea over the exclusive maritime economic zone, which is currently before the ICJ. They also have a dispute over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River.

 France

Cameroon has particularly close ties with France, with whom it has numerous military, economic, and cultural agreements, the construction of the Bonaberi bridge in Douala is pioneered by the French and they are to exploit uranium discovered in the Nort by 2018.

 Gabon 12 June 1966 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 June 1966[12]
 Germany 1 January 1960 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 January 1960[13]
 Ghana 20 August 1963 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 August 1963[14]
 India 3 October 1962 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 October 1962[15]
 Indonesia 16 June 1992 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 June 1992[16]
 Iran 10 March 1975 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 March 1975[17]
 Israel
See also: Cameroon–Israel relations

Cameroon's Rapid Reaction Force is trained and armed by Israel, and Cameroon supports Israel in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) draft resolution votes. Many citizens of Cameroon receive training and education in agriculture in Israel. The Israeli ambassador described Cameroon as Israel's best friend in Africa. Additionally, Cameroon strongly opposes the existence of and antagonizes Palestine and is one of only two nations in Africa not to have yet recognized it[18]

 Ivory Coast
 Kuwait 22 February 1975 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 February 1975[20]
 Malaysia 1 March 1991 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 March 1991[21]
 Mexico22 December 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 December 1975[22]
  • Cameroon is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States[23] with a consulate in Mexico City.
  • Mexico is accredited to Cameroon from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria[24] with a consulate in Yaoundé.
 Morocco 14 August 1963 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 August 1963[25]
 Namibia 10 July 1990 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 July 1990[26]
 Nigeria
See also: Cameroon–Nigeria relations

Cameroon is engaged in a sporadic armed conflict with Nigeria in the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula. The dispute was resolved through the 2006 Greentree Agreement which led to the full withdrawal of Nigerian troops from the region and its administrative transfer back to Cameroon in August 2013.[27] The two countries agree on maritime delimitation.Economic relations between both states are however timid, the uprise of the Boko Haram terrorists group called for military co-operation between Cameroon and Nigeria.

 Panama 14 August 1984 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 August 1984[28]
 Russia
See also: Cameroon–Russia relations
  • Cameroon has an embassy in Moscow.
  • Russia has an embassy in Yaoundé.
 Sierra Leone 30 September 1976 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 September 1976[29]
 South Africa 29 April 1994 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 April 1994[30]
 South Korea10 August 1961

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 August 1961[31].In 2012 Bilateral Trade was US$64 million[32]

 Spain10 November 1961Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 November 1961[33]
See also: Cameroon–Spain relations
 Turkey1 Jan. 1960[34]
  • Cameroon has an embassy in Ankara
  • Turkey has an embassy in Yaoundé
  • Trade volume between the two countries was US$205 million in 2019 (Cameroon's exports/imports: 54/151 million USD).[35]
  • There are direct flights from Istanbul to Yaoundé.
 United Arab Emirates 24 February 1975 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 February 1975[36]
 United Kingdom 1 January 1960 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 January 1960[37]
 United States1 January 1960Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 January 1960[38]
See also: Cameroon–United States relations
 Uruguay 18 December 2017 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 December 2017[41]
 Venezuela 25 June 1991 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1991[42]
 Vietnam30 August 1972

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 August 1972.[43] Vietnam is represented in Cameroon through a non-resident embassy in Abuja, Nigeria and an honorary consulate in Douala.[44][45] In 2014 Nexttel, Joint operative company of Viettel becomes the First 3G operator in Cameroon.[46]

Multilateral relations

In addition to the United Nations, Cameroon is very active in other multilateral organisations or global institutions such as the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, The Commonwealth, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Group of 77, the Non-Aligned Movement, the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States.

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Refugees (country of origin): 20,000-30,000 (Chad); 3,000 (Nigeria); 24,000 (Central African Republic) (2007)

See also

References
  1. "Southern Cameroons: The Banjul Communiqué". Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization. 23 May 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
  2. "Comunicado Conjunto Estableciendo Relaciones Diplomáticas entre el Gobierno de la República Argentina y la República Unida de Camerun (Biblioteca Digital de Tratados Argentina)".
  3. "The Department - About us - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade".
  4. "Diplomatic Relations Between Azerbaijan and Cameroon as of 24 Feb. 1995 (United Nations Digital Library)".
  5. Nouvelles Du Cameroun: Cameroon News. Service de presse et d'information de l'Ambassade du Cameroun., 1974. p. 16.
  6. High Commission of Cameroon in Ottawa
  7. High Commission of Canada in Yaoundé
  8. "General picture of bilateral relations between China and Cameroon".
  9. "China, Cameroon Sign Economic Agreements". VOA News. Voice of America. 31 January 2007. Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2008.
  10. "Cuba celebra el 48 aniversario del establecimiento de relaciones diplomáticas con la República de Camerún".
  11. Summary of World Broadcasts: Non-Arab Africa. British Broadcasting Corporation. Monitoring Service 1968. p. 4.
  12. Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts, Issues 116-120. United States. Central Intelligence Agency. 1966. p. 11.
  13. "Kamerun: Überblick (Auswärtiges Amt Bundesrepublik Deutschland)".
  14. Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts, Issues 137-138. United States. Central Intelligence Agency. 1963. p. 30.
  15. Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts, Issues 193-194. United States. Central Intelligence Agency. 1962.
  16. Marchés tropicaux et méditerranéens - Issues 2434-2446. 1992. p. 1758.
  17. Nouvelles Du Cameroun: Cameroon News. Service de presse et d'information de l'Ambassade du Cameroun., 1974. p. 16.
  19. "Biographie de l´Ambassadeur". Ivory Coast Embassy, Yaounde (in French). Ivory Coast Embassy, Yaounde. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  20. Nouvelles Du Cameroun: Cameroon News. Service de presse et d'information de l'Ambassade du Cameroun., 1974. p. 11.
  21. Summary of World Broadcasts: The Far East. Part III - Page B-31. Monitoring Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. 1991.
  22. "Hoy celebramos el 47 aniversario de relaciones diplomáticas entre México y Camerún".
  23. "Embassy of Cameroon in the United States". Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  24. Embassy of Mexico in Nigeria
  25. Middle Eastern Affairs - Volume 14. Council for Middle Eastern Affairs, 1963. p. 284.
  26. African Defence Journal - Issues 113-124 - Page 18. The Journal, 1990.
  27. "Cameroon; Nigeria: Bakassi Peninsula Transition Completed". Loc.gov. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  28. "Un día como hoy en 1984, Panamá y la República de Camerún iniciaron relaciones diplomáticas que se mantienen vigentes, siendo este un importante aliado del continente africano".
  29. Cameroon and Sierra Leone establish diplomatic relations. Service de presse et d'information de l'Ambassade du Cameroun. October 1976. p. 17.
  30. "Diplomatic Relations Between Cameroon and South Africa as of 29 Apr. 1994 (United Nations Digital Library)".
  31. "Countries & Regions (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Korea)".
  32. Korea, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of. "Countries and Regions > Middle East and Africa > List of the Countries". Mofa.go.kr. Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  33. "Conferencia pública sobre el papel de Camerún en los conflictos".
  34. "Turkey celebrates anniversary in Cameeroon". Cameroon Web. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  35. "Relations between Turkey and Cameroon".
  36. Nouvelles Du Cameroun: Cameroon News. Service de presse et d'information de l'Ambassade du Cameroun., 1974. p. 11.
  37. West Africa. 1960. p. 165.
  38. "A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Cameroon".
  39. "Embassy of Cameroon in Washington, D.C." Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  40. Embassy of the United States in Yaoundé
  41. "Diplomatic relations between Cameroon and Uruguay as of 18 December 2017 (United Nations Digital Library)".
  42. "Diplomatic Relations Between Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Cameroon as of 25 June 1991 (United Nations Digital Library)".
  43. "Republic of Cameroon (vietnam.gov.vn)".
  44. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam. "TÀI LIỆU CƠ BẢN VỀ NƯỚC CỘNG HOÀ CA-MƠ-RUN VÀ QUAN HỆ VỚI VIỆT NAM" (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  45. "Tin từ Cục Lãnh sự: Việt Nam bổ nhiệm Lãnh sự danh dự tại Cameroon" (in Vietnamese). Baoquocte.vn. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  46. "Nexttel telecommunications network | Let's fly with 3G High speed". www.nexttel.cm. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
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