Republic of Cameroon: A Mirage of the Rule of Law

The Rule of Law simply means the absolute supremacy of the law, as opposed to the arbitrary power of government or individuals. This is reflected in several indicators: absolute equality before the law; guarantee of the personal liberty of citizens; the independence of the judiciary; the right to be heard; the impartiality of the courts; access to justice; respect for the norms of international law; the presumption of innocence, expediency in legal proceedings as well as the execution of court judgements; and the enactment of fair and clear laws, inter alia. It is a central pillar of democracy, good governance, and creates a favourable climate for development. In Cameroon, the existence of both adequate legal instruments and relevant institutions, suggests at first sight that Cameroon is endowed with the requirements of the rule of law. However, this article observes through the use of the black-letter research methodology that the implementation of these norms as well as the functioning of the relevant institutions reveals the contrary, thereby according this long essay the boldness to qualify the Cameroonian situation in relation to the rule of law as a mirage, leading the author to strongly propose some crucial recommendations.