Last Change:

05/13/2025

Law No. 96/06 of 18 January 1996 to amend the Constitution of 2 June, 1972

Year: 1996

Type: Domestic law

Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Housing, land & property, Liberty & security of person, Nationality & facilitated naturalization, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation

Description

Law No. 96/06 amends the Constitution of Cameroon, originally adopted on 2 June 1972. This revision introduced significant constitutional changes, including the establishment of a bicameral legislature with the creation of the Senate as the upper house.

Selected provisions
Article 1- National symbols, language and values

(1)The United Republic of Cameroon shall, with effect from the date of entry into force of this law, be known as Republic of Cameroon (Law No 84-1 of February 4, 1984).
(2)The Republic of Cameroon shall be a decentralized unitary State. It shall be one and indivisible, secular, democratic and dedicated to social service. It shall recognize and protect traditional values that conform to democratic principles, human rights and the law. It shall ensure the equality of all citizens before the law.
(3) The Official languages of the Republic of Cameroon shall be English and French, both languages having the same status. The State shall guarantee the promotion of bilingualism throughout the country. It shall endeavour to protect and promote national languages.
(4) Its motto shall be "Peace - Work - Fatherland".
(5) Its flag shall be three equal vertical stripes of green, red and yellow charged with one gold star in the centre of the red stripe.
(6) Its national anthem shall be "O Cameroon, Cradle of our Forefathers".
(7)The seal of the Republic of Cameroon shall be a circular medallion in bas-relief, 46 millimetres in diameter, bearing on the obverse and in the centre the head of a girl in profile turned to the dexter towards a coffee branch with two leaves and flanked on the sinister by five cocoa pods, with the French words "Republique du Cameroun" inscribed below the upper edge and the national motto "Paix - Travail - Patrie" inscribed above the lower edge; on the reverse and in the center the coat of arms of the Republic of Cameroon, with the English words "Republic of Cameroon" inscribed beneath the upper edge and the national motto "Peace - Work - Fatherland" inscribed above the lower edge.
The coat of arms of the Republic of Cameroon shall be an escutcheon surmounted chief by the legend "Republic of Cameroon" and supported by two crossed fasces with the motto "Peace - Work - Fatherland" base.

The escutcheon shall be composed of a star on a field vent and triangle gules, charged with the geographical outline of Cameroon azure, and surcharged the sword and scales of justice sable.

(8) The Capital of the Republic of Cameroon shall be Yaounde.

Article 37 - Judicial independence and appointment procedures

(1) Justice shall be administered in the territory of the Republic in the name of the people of Cameroon.
(2) Judicial power shall be exercised by the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal and Tribunals. The Judicial Power shall be independent of the executive and legislative powers. Magistrates of the bench shall, in the discharge of their duties, be governed only by the law and their conscience.
(3) The President of the Republic shall guarantee the independence of judicial power. He shall appoint members of the bench and of the legal department.
He shall be assisted in this task by the Higher Judicial Council which shall give him its opinion on all nominations for the bench and on disciplinary action against judicial and legal officers. The organization and functioning of the Higher Judicial Council shall be defined by law.

Article 43 - Ratification of international agreements and treaties

The President of the Republic shall negotiate and ratify treaties and international agreements. Treaties and international agreements falling within the area of competence of the legislative power as defined in Article 26 above shall be submitted to Parliament for authorization to ratify.

Article 44 - Authorization to ratify a treaty or international agreement

Where the Constitutional Council finds a provision of a treaty or of an international agreement unconstitutional, authorization to ratify and the ratification of the said treaty or agreement shall be deferred until the Constitution is amended.

Article 45 - Authority of international treaties and agreements

Duly approved or ratified treaties and international agreements shall, following the publication, override national laws, provided the other party implements the said treaty or agreement.