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Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Cameroon

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

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357 Horeman and Stolwijk op. cit.

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

Topics: Child soldiers, Military service,