République du Cameroun

Political Status: Independence proclaimed 1960; federation established 1961; one-party unitary republic declared June 2, 1972; multiparty system introduced under legislation approved December 6, 1990.

Area: 183,568 sq. mi. (475,442 sq. km).

Population: 24,678,000 (2018E—World Bank); 25,640,965 (2018E—U.S. Census).

Major Urban Centers (2016E—UN): YAOUNDÉ; (3,204,000, urban area), Douala (3,051,000, urban area).

Official Languages: French, English.

Monetary Unit: CFA Franc (official rate October 19, 2018: 570.93 CFA francs = $1US). The CFA franc, previously pegged to the French franc, is now permanently pegged to the euro at 655.93 CFA francs = 1 euro.

[Page 247]President: Paul BIYA (Democratic Rally of the Cameroon People); served as prime minister 1975–1982; installed as president on November 6, 1982, to complete the term of Ahmadou Babatoura AHIDJO, who had resigned on November 4; ...