Central Africa.

GMT + 1.

465,458 sq km (179,714 sq miles).

16.6 million (2005).

35.6 per sq km.

Yaoundé (constitutional). Population: 1.4 million (2004). Douala (economic). Population: 2 million (2005).

Situated on the west coast of Africa, Cameroon is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Guinea, to the northwest by Nigeria, to the northeast by Chad (with Lake Chad at its northern tip), to the east by the Central African Republic and to the south by Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The far north of the country is a semi-desert broadening into the vast Maroua Plain, with game reserves and mineral deposits. This is bordered to the west by the lush Mandara Mountains. The Benue River rises here and flows westwards into the Niger. The country to the northwest is very beautiful; volcanic peaks covered by bamboo forest rise to over 2,000m (6,500ft), with waterfalls and villages scattered over the lower slopes. Further to the south and west are savannah uplands, while dense forest covers the east and south. The coastal strip is tropical and cultivated. Cameroon derives its name from the 15th-century Portuguese sailor Fernando Po’s description of the River Wouri: Rio dos Cameroes (‘river of shrimps’).

Republic. Gained independence in 1961.

President Paul Biya since 1982.

Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni since 2004.

The most recent presidential poll, in 2004, saw Biya secure another seven-year term in office with 70% of the votes. International observers claim that the poll was fair and transparent but opposition parties made allegations of widespread fraud. Cameroon joined the UN Security Council in 2002 and as a result found itself subject to serious pressure over the Iraq issue during early 2003. 2006 was a good year for Cameroon: a group of major lending nations agreed to cancel almost all of Cameroon’s debt and in August 2006 Nigeria finally handed over sovereignty of the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula.

The official languages are French and English. They are given equal importance in the Constitution but French is the more commonly spoken. Spanish is spoken in some urban centres. Pidgin English is widely spoken, particularly in coastal areas. Around 250 different African languages are also spoken.

The majority of the population hold Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) or traditional animist beliefs. The sizeable remainder are followers of Islam.

110/220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are round two-pin.

Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. In the north, where the population is largely Muslim, Islamic traditions should be respected. Visitors should never step inside a Muslim prayer circle of rocks. In other rural areas, where traditional beliefs predominate, it is essential to use tact.

Photography: Cameras should be used with discretion, particularly in rural areas. Always ask permission before taking a photograph. Do not photograph airports, military establishments, official buildings, or military personnel in uniform.