About Cameroon
 official name: Republic of Cameroon
capital: Yaounde
head of state: President Paul Biya
state: unitary republic, multi party presidential regime (opposition legalised in 1990)
population: 17,340,702
independence: from France and Britain in 1961
languages: French (official), English (official) and 24 other African languages are spoken
religion: Traditional African 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF)
media: NA
Legal wise
Homosexual acts are banned in Cameroon, and are punishable with up to five years in jail according to Section 347 of the country's penal code. In May 2005, 11 men were arrested at a nightclub on suspicion of sodomy, and the government threatened to conduct medical examinations to "prove" their homosexual activity. As of February 2006, nearly all were still being detained, with trials scheduled in March 2006.
Gay life in the country
Cameroon is a conservative society. Homosexuality is frowned upon. In 2006, a number of tabloids published the names of at least 50 very prominent people they claimed were homosexual. They condemned them for deviant behaviour. The stories boosted newspaper circulation, but were criticized by the state communication council for invading people's privacy. The campaign provoked a national debate about gay rights and privacy.
A Cameroon court jailed Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga for four months for defaming Gregoire Owona, a government minister named in the list of 50 presumed homosexuals in Cameroon.
Communication
mainline telephones: 99,400 (2004)
cellular telephones: 2.259 million (2005)
internet country code: .cm
internet host: 34 (2005)
internet users: 167,000 (2005)
Articles:
 OBITUARY: roger william nowokap (1979 � 2007)
by Mask Admin 10/5/2007
CAMEROON � May 10, 2007: The controversial Air Kenya plane crash on Friday night of 4 May this year swept the life of one of staunch human rights defenders in Africa.
iglhrc appoints new african-based researcher
by Mask Admin 25/4/2007
CAMEROON � April 25, 2007: Former Behind The Mask fellow Joel Gustave Nana Ngongang has been recently appointed as Research and Policy Associate by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).
high court orders release of man jailed for sodomy
by Mask Admin 1/3/2007
CAMEROON � March 1, 2007: Two weeks ago the High Court in Yaounde, Cameroon, commanded the immediate release of Alexandre D. who was detained for more than two years without charge or trial on allegations of homosexuality.
yaounde 11 man rearrested
by Mask Admin 18/1/2007
CAMEROON � January 18, 2007: Francois Ayissi, one of the 11 men who were arrested for being gay in Yaound� in Cameroon has been rearrested.
academic challenges un-african myth
by Mask Admin 9/11/2006
CAMEROON � November 9, 2006: Yet another text book, written in French by one of Cameroonian academics � Charles Gueboguo, was launched recently in Paris, France.
 un takes stand on sexual orientation by Mask Admin 13/10/2006
to be or not to be a lesbian in cameroon's soccer teams by Mask Admin 4/7/2006
obituary: Alim Mongoche 1975 � 2006 by Musa Ngubane 4/7/2006
justice subverted as seven men convicted on sodomy charges by Mask Admin 14/6/2006
yaound� nine finally released from prison by Mask Admin 13/6/2006
an association launches a petition against homosexuality by Mask Admin 2/6/2006
yaounde nine still in prison by Mask Admin 3/5/2006
cameroon acquits nine men in major gay rights victory by Mask Admin 25/4/2006
nine gay men acquitted in major victory for human rights by Mask Admin 24/4/2006
a second journalist sentenced in case of by Mask Admin 30/3/2006
11 students dismissed for lesbianism by Mask Admin 28/3/2006
editor jailed over 'gay' list in cameroon by Mask Admin 27/3/2006
homophobic witch hunt at cameroon schools by Mask Admin 22/3/2006
a.i says anti-gay laws used as a political tool by Mask Admin 9/3/2006
rights group call for release of allegedly gay men by Mask Admin 9/3/2006
jail term for cameroon gay libel by Mask Admin 6/3/2006
jailed l'anecdote publisher appeals by Mask Admin 6/3/2006
cameroon gay list publisher jailed for defamation by Mask Admin 3/3/2006
public homophobia increases on the eve of sodomy trial by Mask Admin 2/3/2006
two jailed for gay sex by Mask Admin 28/2/2006
court poised to watch video evidence on homosexuality by Mask Admin 27/2/2006
cameroon papers sued for 'outing' by Mask Admin 15/2/2006
star 'outed' in anti-gay frenzy by Mask Admin 8/2/2006
cameroon papers outing gay politicians in 'purity' campaign by Mask Admin 6/2/2006
media excesses : a case for ethics by Mask Admin 1/2/2006
northwest tops hiv/aids chart by Mask Admin 6/11/2005
le th�me de l'homosexualit� prim� au festival international yaound� tout court by Mask Admin 3/11/2005
expediency the name of the game in trying to secure the release of yaound� eleven by Mask Admin 20/9/2005
violences polici�res au cameroun by Mask Admin 1/9/2005
efforts to secure the release of yaounde 11 hampered by lack of human rights movement by Mask Admin 17/8/2005
dans la peau d'un gay by Mask Admin 1/6/2005
a group arrested after they were found in a bar on suspicion that they are gay by Mask Admin 25/5/2005
January 2005: the difficulties of minorities in cameroon: cameroonian homosexual in asylum battle. by Mask Admin 1/1/2005
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Zuma referring to complainant's sexual orientation and dress code
