Yearbook 2006
Cameroon. In May, Cameroon became the 19th country to qualify
for the World Bank's and the International Monetary Fund's
debt-cancellation program for particularly heavily indebted
countries. The equivalent of close to SEK 9 billion. was
postponed, since Cameroon met the requirements for reduced poverty
and increased social investment. However, as a condition for
depreciation, there was reduced corruption and increased
transparency in the state's business. During the autumn,
some 30 high-ranking officials were brought to justice for
corruption. In a later review of the state administration's
activities, it was discovered that about 45,000 public
employees who received salaries did not exist, which had
cost the state equivalent to about SEK 70 million. per
month.
The former colonial power in France granted Cameroon an aid
package valued at approximately SEK 460 million. for five
years. In return, the government undertook to invest at
least SEK 180 million during the same period. in
environmental protection in the Congo Basin. The 200 million
hectare forest area along the Congo River extends over six
countries and has a rich animal and plant life. However,
human encroachment and extensive deforestation mean that 70%
of the forest stock according to the World Nature Fund may
have disappeared by 2040 if no effective measures are taken.
According to
CountryAAH, opposition leader John Fru Ndi was indicted in August for
murder in connection with the death of a party activist in
clashes earlier this year between rival factions of the
Social Democratic Front. He was not himself involved in the
brawl but was considered by the prosecutors to have overall
responsibility for the actions of his employees.
In August, Nigeria handed over the long-contested Bakassi
Peninsula to K. The International Court of Justice in The
Hague had already granted K. the right to the potentially
oil-rich border area in 2002, but continued negotiations and
formalities had elapsed over time.
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