Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07YAOUNDE1391
2007-11-26 06:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:  

CAMEROON: GOVT PRACTICES ON INFO COLLECTION, SCREENING AND

Tags:  KVPR PTER PREL PGOV PINR CVIS ASEC KHLS SNAR CM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4964
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHYD #1391/01 3300624
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 260624Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8348
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 1563
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 001391 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/C, S/CT MCKUNE
DEPT PASS TO NCTC, DHS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2017
TAGS: KVPR PTER PREL PGOV PINR CVIS ASEC KHLS SNAR CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: GOVT PRACTICES ON INFO COLLECTION, SCREENING AND
SHARING

REF: 06 SECSTATE 190832

Classified By: Poloff Linnisa Wahid for reasons (1.4.b & d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YAOUNDE 001391

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/C, S/CT MCKUNE
DEPT PASS TO NCTC, DHS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2017
TAGS: KVPR PTER PREL PGOV PINR CVIS ASEC KHLS SNAR CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: GOVT PRACTICES ON INFO COLLECTION, SCREENING AND
SHARING

REF: 06 SECSTATE 190832

Classified By: Poloff Linnisa Wahid for reasons (1.4.b & d)


1. (C) Below are responses to reftel information request on the
Government of the Republic of Cameroon (GRC) information collecting,
screening and sharing.


A. Immigration Data Base
--------------


2. (C) The GRC does not have a computerized database system that
tracks entry and exits. Instead, passengers arriving by air or sea
must present an entry card with their personal information. Those
traveling by land need not present an entry card. The GRC reports
that it is attempting to create uniform requirements for all visitors
regardless of method of entry, i.e. requiring entry cards for all
visitors.


B. Watchlist and Information Sharing
--------------


3. (C) The watchlist is populated by Interpol, the United Nations
and the local police department; however, it is not updated regularly
due to communication problems between officials at the Ports of Entry
(POE) and the relevant offices that contribute to the watchlist. The
names consist mostly of Cameroonian criminals with a few names of
terrorists provided by the United Nations. Post is unaware of any
bilateral watchlist agreement between the GRC and its neighbors.


C. Biometrics
--------------


4. (C) There are no biometric systems at the POE's. The GRC issues
machine readable passports; however, there is no biometric data
contained in the passport. There are currently no plans to add
biometric data.


D. Identifying Appropriate Partners
--------------


5. (C) Post believes that Cameroon is not an appropriate partner at
this time to share information. The GRC's watchlist exists only on
paper and is transmitted to the POE's via fax and radio
communication. Cameroon's legal system is not sufficiently developed
to adequately provide safeguards for the protection and
non-disclosure of information. Even internally, there is little
information sharing between the ministries. There is no single
consolidated database. For example, the police department (which is
in charge of immigration) has a separate database from Interpol,
which has its own separate database from internal security. Cameroon
is a member of Interpol, BEAC (Bank of Central African States) and
the Central African Banking Regulatory Board (COBAC). To the extent
that the statutes of these bodies address terrorism, those statutes
are binding under Cameroonian law. The only terrorism reference
developed by the GRC is in the Cameroonian penal code, which
addresses money laundering for terrorist finance. Cameroon has not
passed domestic legislation addressing terrorism per se. The Central
African Economic Community (CEMAC),however, has passed regulations
regarding terrorism finance that include a definition of terrorism
(full definition, below). As Cameroon is a member state of CEMAC,
CEMAC regulations are part of Cameroonian law.


6. (U) The CEMAC Ministerial Committee decision 01/03-CEMAC-UMAC
includes the following definition of terrorism:

Terrorism: any of the following acts:

a. an act that constitutes an infraction in regard to and according
to the definition of a relevant international treaty ratified by the
member state;

b. an act intended to cause death or serious physical damage to any
civilian, or to any other person who does not participate directly in
an armed conflict, when, by its nature or context, this act is
intended to intimidate a population or force a government or
international organization to take or to refrain from taking any
action;

c. an attempt to commit an act mentioned in lines a or b.

d. participation as an accomplice in the acts mentioned in a, b or c.

e. the organization of an act mentioned in a, b or c.


YAOUNDE 00001391 002 OF 002


f. the deliberate contribution to the commission of any of the acts
mentioned in lines a, b and c by a group of persons acting in concert
in order to facilitate criminal activity of the group or to serve its
means, when this activity or its goals intend the commission of an
act in line a or b or when having been made aware of the group's
intention to commit an act in line a or b.

End CEMAC definition of terrorism.



GARVEY