<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French administration)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> National Day, 20 May (1972)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 20 May 1972
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 20 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982); election last held 11 October 1992; results—President Paul BIYA reelected with about 40% of the vote amid widespread allegations of fraud; SDF candidate John FRU NDI got 36% of the vote; UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI got 19% of the vote
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Simon ACHIDI ACHU (since 9 April 1992)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; appointed by the president
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM), Paul BIYA, president, is government-controlled and was formerly the only party, but opposition parties were legalized in 1990
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<item>• <hi format=ital>major opposition parties:</hi> National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP); Social Democratic Front (SDF); Cameroonian Democratic Union (UDC); Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC)
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<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> NA
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of mission:</hi> Ambassador Harriet ISOM
<item>• <hi format=ital>embassy:</hi> Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
<item>• <hi format=ital>mailing address:</hi> B. P. 817, Yaounde
<item>• <hi format=ital>telephone:</hi> [237] 23-40-14 and 23-05-12
<item>• <hi format=ital>FAX:</hi> [237] 23-07-53
<item>• <hi format=ital>consulate(s):</hi> none (Douala closed July 1993)
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<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia