This advice has been reviewed and reissued with extensive amendments throughout. The overall level of the advice has not changed.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Terrorism
The threat from terrorism is low but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. Please read the "
Security and General Tips" and "
Risk of Terrorism when Travelling Overseas" pages for further information and advice.
Crime
Incidents of mugging and banditry, often armed, are a serious problem throughout Cameroon. You should take sensible personal security precautions and maintain a high level of vigilance in public places.
There are also occasional reports of car hijackings and robberies, often armed and accompanied by violent acts. These have occurred most frequently in Douala, Yaoundé, Kribi and Maroua. British nationals have been affected. Armed highwaymen operate in the three provinces of Adamaoua, the North, and the Far North. There have been recent incidents of child abduction, ransom demands and car hijacking. You should plan your journey carefully and travel in convoy. We strongly recommend against travelling at night.
You should avoid carrying valuables or wearing jewellery in public and avoid isolated or poorer areas of towns (notably, in Yaoundé, La Briquetterie and Mokolo). Petty theft is common on trains, coaches and in bush taxis. You should take sensible precautions when using city taxis as most do not comply with basic security norms, such as seatbelts. Violent assaults on taxi passengers are not uncommon. You should avoid travelling alone as far as possible, particularly after dark.
Political situation
A presidential election will take place in September or October 2004. We recommend that you avoid political rallies, demonstrations and large public gatherings.
Local Travel
We advise against all travel to the area bordering Nigeria in the region of the Bakassi Peninsula. The territory is subject to a dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon. The demarcation of the disputed border is on going. Tension in the area remains and localised skirmishes between Nigerian and Cameroonian police and security personnel have occurred with little warning.
We advise against all but essential travel to the area bordering the Central African Republic, where armed banditry is common. If you chose to travel to this area, against our advice, you should inform the British High Commission in Yaoundé and the local security authorities before travelling.
Visitors to the Lake Chad area in the Far North Province should report to the local authorities (the Prefet or Sous-Prefet) on arrival. The local authorities advise visitors to engage a reliable guide, such as one of those offered by the Hotel Porte-Maillhot in Maroua.
The border with the Republic of Congo is closed. Overland travel out of Cameroon can be difficult. Gendarmerie detachments are posted along the road between Maroua and the Chadian border.
Roadblocks set up by the police or gendarmerie are common throughout Cameroon. You may be asked to show your passport, driving licence or vehicle registration documents. There are regular reports of uniformed members of the security forces stopping motorists on the pretext of minor or non-existent violations of local vehicle regulations in order to extort small bribes. We recommend that you do not pay bribes. Where possible you should request the officer to provide a ticket payable at a local court.
Road Safety
Roads in Cameroon are generally in poor condition. Many are badly pot-holed, and street lighting, where it exists, is poor. Pedestrians and stray animals on roads are a frequent hazard. Many vehicles are poorly lit and badly driven.
We recommend you avoid driving at night in rural areas, particularly on the Yaoundé-Douala trunk road, where accidents are common. Exercise caution when driving at night in urban areas, including Yaoundé and Douala, and lock your doors.
British driving licences and International Driving Permits may be used on first arrival, but you should obtain a Cameroonian licence as soon as possible after arrival. Holders of a British driving licence can do this by filling in a form at the Delegation of Transport.
Air Safety
Cameroon Airlines is the only airline operating internally. We do not have reliable information about safety standards, but flights are frequently delayed or cancelled.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
Homosexuality is not widely accepted in central African society and some sexual acts between members of the same sex are illegal.
Penalties for the use and possession of drugs are severe and usually include a prison sentence.
You should carry identification at all times (either a residence permit or a certified copy of your passport). Failure to produce such identification can lead to detention by the police.
Photography of military sites, government buildings airports and ports is forbidden.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
British passport holders require a visa to visit Cameroon and your passport must be valid for six months from the date of entry into the country. To apply for a visa and to obtain further information on entry requirements, please contact the
High Commission for the Republic of Cameroon.
You will be asked to produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival in the country. Failure to do so will result in a further vaccination being administered, for which a charge is made.
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Cameroonian High Commission in London: Cameroonian representation in the UK.
HEALTH
There is currently an outbreak of cholera in Cameroon. The outbreak has mainly affected Douala and the surrounding area, though the disease has recently spread to the capital Yaounde. Since the beginning of 2004, of the 6377 people who have been affected by the disease, approximately 130 people have died. 21 cases in two weeks have been reported in Yaounde.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.
Medical facilities are poor, particularly in rural areas. Emergency facilities are extremely limited. For serious medical treatment, medical evacuation to the UK or South Africa would be necessary. Water-borne diseases, malaria and HIV/AIDS are prevalent.
You are advised to take medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information visit the Department of Health’s website at
www.dh.gov.uk, advice to travellers or contact your GP.
GENERAL
There are regular reports of extortion by police, officials and others at roadblocks, airports, and in government offices. Many are made on the pre-text of minor or non-existent violations of regulations. We recommend that you do not pay bribes. Where possible you should ask for a ticket that can be paid at a local court.
Visitors staying longer than one month should register with the British High Commission in Yaoundé (contact details below) or the British Consulate in Douala: Standard Chartered Bank Cameroon SA, Boulevard de la Liberté, BP 1016, Douala, tel: +237 3 422 177 or 3 428 145, fax +237 3 428 896, email:
bcdouala@yahoo.co.uk.
The British High Commission in Yaoundé does not issue full passports and, before setting off, you should ensure that your passport has sufficient validity and a plentiful supply of unused pages. Applications for new passports are accepted in Yaoundé for forwarding to the British High Commission in Nairobi for processing, but this may take up to six weeks. If a courier is used, the cost must be borne by the applicant.
