Constitutional Law at Cameroon
In Cameroon, Constitutional Law is based on the Constitution of January 18, 1996, which revised the original 1972 Constitution. Cameroon is officially known as the Republic of Cameroon and is structured as a unitary decentralized state.
Here are the key features of Constitutional Law in Cameroon:
Supreme Law: The Constitution is the highest law in Cameroon. All other laws must align with it.
Form of Government: Cameroon has a presidential system, with a strong, centralized executive branch. The President is both Head of State and Head of the Armed Forces.
The President: The President has very wide powers, including appointing ministers, judges, regional governors, and even dissolving the National Assembly. Presidential terms have been extended and limits removed through amendments.
Legislature: Cameroon has a bicameral Parliament:
National Assembly (lower house)
Senate (upper house, created after the 1996 amendment but operational only since 2013)
Judiciary: The judiciary is meant to be independent, and the Constitutional Council is responsible for constitutional review and election-related disputes.
Fundamental Rights: The Constitution guarantees human rights like equality, freedom of expression, and freedom of association — although in practice, these rights are sometimes restricted.
Decentralization: Although Cameroon is a unitary state, the Constitution introduced decentralization, giving more autonomy to regions (though this has been only partly implemented).
Language: Cameroon is officially bilingual (French and English), and the Constitution recognizes both languages.
Important constitutional institutions include:
The Constitutional Council (handles constitutional matters and election disputes)
The Supreme Court
The High Council of Local Authorities
Current challenges: Cameroon’s constitutional system faces pressure due to political conflicts (especially in the Anglophone regions), debates over presidential power, and calls for deeper reforms.
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