Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Cameroon, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. Cameroonian law does not afford many of the protections to which you may be accustomed in the United States. Legal proceedings tend to be complex, lengthy, and subject to inappropriate influence. If you violate the law in Cameroon, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses, and the condition of detention centers, while improving, is poor. During the February 2008 civil unrest, there were reports of arbitrary arrests by law enforcement officials. Although no expatriates were known to have been arrested, the Department of State cautions you against venturing out during such periods of unrest. If you break local laws in Cameroon, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. 

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Cameroon are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws.  Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well. 

Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Cameroon, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert nearest U.S. Embassy or the Embassy Branch Office in Douala of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the Embassy or Branch Office. In Cameroon, the U.S. Embassy contact number is 22 20 15 00, and is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:  

U.S. Citizens of Cameroonian Descent: Cameroon does not recognize dual nationality and considers U.S. citizens of Cameroonian descent to have lost their Cameroonian citizenship. Naturalized U.S. citizens should enter Cameroon using their U.S. passports, and should be alert to possible hostility on the part of Cameroonian officials regarding their changed citizenship. Cameroonian law enforcement, customs, and other officials wield significant authority, and disputes with Cameroonian authorities can result in detention, confiscation of documents, and considerable expense and delays to the traveler. You should treat Cameroonian officials with the same deference and respect as you would give to similarly ranked individuals in the United States.

Currency: Cash in local currency, the Central African franc (FCFA), is the most common (and almost only) form of payment accepted throughout the country. A few large hotels in Yaoundé and Douala will change U.S. dollars at a poor exchange rate. Larger banks in Yaoundé, Douala, and other cities often have ATMs. Credit card cash advances are not available, and most banks do not cash personal checks for non-clients. U.S-dollar-denominated traveler’s checks are not accepted in Cameroon, and while credit cards are accepted at some larger hotels and shops in Yaoundé and Douala, you should be cautious, as identity theft is endemic in the region. Western Union and other money transfer services have extensive networks in many parts of Cameroon. The U.S. Embassy does not provide currency exchange, check cashing, or other financial services. In recent years, business travelers have experienced difficulty in obtaining adequate services from Cameroon's banking sector. Business travelers find it useful to employ the services of a local agent in the Cameroon market. Counterfeit currency appears to be a growing problem.

Customs: Cameroonian customs authorities may enforce strict import and export regulations, particularly with regard to pharmaceuticals and wood products. Customs regulations restrict trade in ivory and items protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Some wood products available in Cameroon may be made from endangered tropical hardwood. Trading in such banned woods is a federal offense, punishable by civil and criminal penalties in the United States. Please see our Customs Information sheet and the U.S. Commercial Service’s Country Commercial Guide for Cameroon.

Game Parks: While visiting game parks and reserves, tourists should bear in mind that they are ultimately responsible for maintaining their own safety. Tourists should use common sense when approaching wildlife, maintain a safe distance from animals, and heed all instructions given by guides or trackers. Even in the most serene settings, the animals in Cameroon's game parks are wild and can pose a lethal threat. There have been reports of armed poachers in game parks. Most game parks require that a professional guide accompany visitors. You should not pressure or pay those persons to be more flexible in their duties.

Corruption: Corruption is a pervasive problem in Cameroon that has the potential to hamstring business opportunities. Potential investors are encouraged to follow all U.S. and local laws and remain vigilant in business dealings. The Government of Cameroon takes an active interest in combating corruption, although results have proven uneven.

Photography: While photography is not officially forbidden, security officials are sensitive about photographs taken of government buildings, military installations, and other public facilities, many of which are unmarked. Photography of these subjects may result in seizure of photographic equipment by Cameroonian authorities. Due to the threat of harassment and the lack of signs designating sites prohibited for photography, and the fact that some Cameroonians object to having their picture taken, you should ask permission before taking photographs.

If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Cameroon’s penal code punishes sexual relations between people of the same gender with jail terms of up to five years, and the Government of Cameroon actively prosecutes and convicts individuals under this code. Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community are advised to maintain a low profile to avoid harassment, discrimination, and possible detention. Allegations of brutality, illegal searches and seizures, and coerced confessions have been made against law enforcement officials investigating such cases. There are also reports of vigilante groups committing violent acts against suspected LGBT individuals. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Cameroon, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. Despite recent legal efforts to improve accessibility, many buildings remain without adequate infrastructure to accommodate persons with disabilities, and sidewalks are limited and poorly maintained in major cities throughout the country.