References: In accordance with the Preamble of the Constitution of January 18, 1996 and Article 1, subparagraph 3 of Law N° 90/053 of December 19, 1990 on the right of association (http//:www.prc.cm or [ LINK ])

Peer Review Comments: The goverment does not only control anti-corrution NGOs like Transparency International but also has a way of stifling their activities by creating bodies to destabilize such NGOs.

Peer Review Comments: The government attempts to control NGOs and associations. That is why they have 2 different laws: one for associations and one for NGOs. It is not true that they control Transparency International (TI). For what result? Cameroon's rankings in TI surveys are still very low, at endemic levels. The national chapter is still struggling to upgrade to NGO.

References: In accordance with Article 11 of Law N° 090 of December 19, 1990 on the freedom of association, CSOs must be declared to be of public utility.

Peer Review Comments: The state gives the final stricto-senso authorizations to NGOs, and it might not grant such an authorization if the NGO is threatening.

Peer Review Comments: There is a restriction: CSOs must be recognized as associations working for public utility.

Peer Review Comments: Considering the difference made by the government between an association and an NGO, only NGOs are entitled to receive funding freely, but as usual, should not make a profit. In theory, NGOs can import goods without paying VAT.

References: In accordance with the article 9 of the Law N°90/O53 of December 19, 1990 on the freedom of association.

Peer Review Comments: We should consider the difference between an ordinary association and an NGO. Both are CSOs.

References: - Pelagie Ngo'onana, "Coalition for Transparency: un nouveau front anti-corruption" in La Nouvelle Expression, N° 2046 (June 2007), [ LINK ] - Pierre Titti Nwell, De la corruption au Cameroun, Yaounde, Gerddes-Cameroon and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 2001.

Peer Review Comments: Yes, There is freedom to create such CSOs, but there are practical barriers posed by the government, and till date no CSO fighting corruption and promotting good governance is properly functional in Cameroon.

References: - Valentin Simeon Zinga, "Lutte contre la corruption: le Cameroun tente de lutter...contre sa mauvaise réputation" in Rfi Service Pro, 24/05/2001 (www.rfi.fr/Fichiers/MFI/PolitiqueDiplomatie/353.asp)

- Fabien Eboussi Boulaga and Valentin Simeon Zinga, " La lutte contre la corruption : impossible est-il camerounais?", Yaounde, PUA, 2002

Peer Review Comments: Even criticism of the press and political parties is seldom taken into consideration.

Peer Review Comments: The 50 score, in my opinion, best reflects the actual influence that CSOs involved in corruption/good governance have on the political and policy-making process in Cameroon. While they have considerable influence over public opinion, they almost never influence political decisions and policy making.

A case in point: During the July and September 2007 twin elections, the Episcopal Conference of Cameroon came out alongside many other CSOs to criticize the decision of the Speaker of the National Assembly, who announced to all polling station heads that he would offer 100.000FCFA (US $200) to any polling station that voted 100 percent for the ruling CPDM Party (literally buying votes and flawing the electoral process). Despite the fact that the electoral law of Cameroon recognizes this as a crime, nothing was done to the speaker or the party. Finally, aside from a few exceptions where CSOs have insisted on being invited to meetings on major policy decisions, they are not regularly consulted.

Peer Review Comments: There is little influence to decision makers. Even when advocacy produces some results, like the law on the declaration of assets that was voted last year, implementation is still awaited. It needs a presidential decree.

References: - Alexandre Djimeli, "Transparency Cameroon s'upécise" in Le Messager, 26/02/2007 ([ LINK ]).

- Interview of Jean-Bosco Talla, General Secrectary of Coalition against Corruption (COAT) In Pelagie Ngo'onana, " Coaltion for Transparency: un nouveau front anti-corruption", La Nouvelle Expression, N°2046, juin 2007 ([ LINK ]).

Peer Review Comments: The question is whether they are even functional in order to have an impact.

References: - Lucien Ayissi, "Corruption et gouvernance", Yaounde, PUA, 2003 - Dieudonne Oyono, "Cameroun: les chantiers de la gouvernance", Published by the President of National program Governorship, Yaounde, 2004 ([ LINK ])

References: - Francis Ampère Simo, "Cameroun: les secteurs les plus corrompus", in Le Messager, 20/02/2005 ([ LINK ]).

- Moïse Nembot, "Comprendre la corruption au Cameroun", in Simon Pierre Sigué and Albert Roland Amougou (ed), Gérer pour la croissance au Cameroun, Paris, L'Harmattan, 2002.

- Dieudonné Oyono, "Cameroon: les chantiers de la gouvernance", The National Program Governorship, Yaoundé, 2004.

Peer Review Comments: Journalists have regularly received threats.

References: - Samuel Nguiffo, "Code contre la corruption et la transparence des Ong et des projets d'Eglises au Cameroun" in Les Chantiers de la société civile, 26 juin 2005 ([ LINK ]).

- Pierre Titti Nwell, "De la corruption au Cameroun", Yaoundé, Gerddes-Cameroon et Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 2001.

References: In accordance with the preamble to the constitution of January 18, 1996 ([ LINK ]).

References: - Norbert Tchana Nganté, Histoire du syndicalisme au Cameroun, in

- Leopold Moume Etia, " Cameroun: les années ardentes. Aux origines de la vie syndicale et politique", Paris, JALIVRES, 1991.

Peer Review Comments: The management of trade unions is regularly manipulated to the detriment of union members.

Peer Review Comments: The lack of solidarity and sometimes the interferences of regime are the main characteristics of trade unions in Cameroon. It is difficult to appreciate their impact on society.

Peer Review Comments: Not only is it rare to see Cameroonians who proudly present themselves as union members, but it is extremely difficult for trade unions to have authorization to organize even peaceful demonstrations and strikes. Anyone called a trade union leader in Cameroon is generally seen as a rebellious character.

The press release from the International Federation of Journalists below is a great testimony. In addition, on Wednesday Nov. 28, 2007 the Civil Servants Union was refused the right to organize a peaceful march, and the few hundred who defied the ban and marched to the National Assembly were dispersed by the forces of law and order.

IFJ Condemns Sacking of Media Strike Leaders in Cameroon, Calls for Government Action

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on Cameroon's Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni to intervene after media group TV + dismissed 8 journalists and media workers accused of being the organizers of a recent strike protesting their working conditions.

"The management of TV + should be addressing the concerns of its employees not sacking the union leaders who have led the fight for decent working conditions," said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa Office. "Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni and his government should intervene to ensure the company is meeting national labor standards and the dismissed workers are allowed to return."

Journalists Adrienne Nobodem and Doris Ngali Nang were dismissed on November 17, less than two weeks after their colleagues Junior Kaparan, Josué Ndongo, Valery Kenmogne, Albert Jocelyn Djoukam, Constant Ekolle, Abdouraman Yepdo were fired on November 6.

All of them have been accused by the management of TV + of "having organized and taken part to a strike which made huge material and moral damage to the company" in connection to the one-day strike held on 29 October to demand receipt of unpaid salaries, employment contracts, social security registration for employees, a fixed date for payment of monthly salaries, and upgrading wage as announced by the company.

"It is unacceptable that the workers of such a prominent media group don't have a contract and are not registered for social security," said Baglo.

The group is the leading electronic media company in the country and owns Canal 2 International television station and Sweet Fm radio station.

In a joint statement the Cameroon Journalists Trade Union (SNJC) and the Union of Journalists Workers in Cameroon (SJEC) declared that they were surprised by this move. The journalists' unions said that after negotiation between TV + management and the workers held on October 29 the group's General Manager Emmanuel Chatué signed an agreement with a plan of action to solve all the issues raised.

The SNJC and the SJEC added that these dismissals follow two others in September. Achille Assako, a producer at Sweet Fm and Canal 2 International, was sacked for excessive absences. Clarence Hardy Yongo, former news director of Canal 2 International, was also fired but the company has not given her any reason for its decision.