REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON

Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.

  • Population:
    – total: 14,693,000
    – under-18s: 7,389,000
  • Government armed forces:
    – active: 13,100
    – paramilitary: 9,000
  • Compulsory recruitment age: no conscription
  • Voluntary recruitment age: 18
  • Voting age (government elections): 20
  • Child soldiers: none indicated
  • CRC-OP-CAC: not signed
  • Other treaties ratified: ACRWC; CRC; GC/API+II
  • There are no indications of under-18s in government armed forces.

GOVERNMENT

National Recruitment Legislation and Practice

Article 11 of Presidential Decree No. 94/185 (September 1994) concerning non-officer military personnel sets the minimum age for recruitment at 18 and the maximum age at 22 within the year of recruitment. Candidates must also hold a First School Leaving certificate. Recruitment is on a voluntary basis.357 There is no evidence of underage recruitment into the armed forces of Cameroon.

Military Training and Military Schools

The Ecole Militaire Inter-Armes in Yaoundé, a military school for officers, has a minimum recruitment age of 18. Applicants under age 21 must have parental authorisation.358

357 Horeman and Stolwijk op. cit.

358 Press communiqué from the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, 12/5/97.

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