: National Union for Democracy and Progress
(UNDP); Social Democratic Front (SDF); Cameroonian Democratic Union
(UDC); Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC); Movement for the
Defense of the Republic (MDR)

Other political or pressure groups: Alliance for Change (FAC),
Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 through 8794

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles H. TWINING
embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde
telephone: [237] 23-40-14, 23-05-12
FAX: [237] 23-07-53

Flag: 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

Economy
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Economic overview: Because of its offshore oil resources and
favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the
best-endowed, most diversified primary commodity economies in
sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems
facing other underdeveloped countries, such as political
instability, a top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable
climate for business enterprise. The development of the oil sector
led to rapid economic growth between 1970 and 1985. Growth came to
an abrupt halt in 1986, precipitated by steep declines in the prices
of major exports: coffee, cocoa, and petroleum. Export earnings were
cut by almost one-third, and inefficiencies in fiscal management
were exposed. In 1990-93, with support from the IMF and World Bank,
the government began to introduce reforms designed to spur business
investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, and recapitalize the
nation's banks. Political instability, following suspect elections
in 1992, brought IMF/WB structural adjustment to a halt; currently
Cameroon receives only minimal assistance from those Bretton Woods
institutions. Although the 50% devaluation of the