Provinces

The 1996 constitution divided Cameroon into 10 semi-autonomous regions, each under the administration of an elected Regional Council. However, in practice, Cameroon still follows the system that was in place prior to the adoption of the 1996 constitution, in which the country is divided into 10 provinces, each headed by a presidentially appointed governor. These leaders are charged with implementing the will of the president, reporting on the general mood and conditions of the provinces, administering the civil service, keeping the peace and overseeing the heads of the smaller administrative units. Governors have broad powers: they may order propaganda in their area or call in the army, gendarmes or police.

The provinces are subdivided into 58 divisions (French départements). These are headed by presidentially appointed divisional officers (prefets), who perform the governors' duties on a smaller scale. The divisions are further sub-divided into sub-divisions (arrondissements), headed by assistant divisional officers (sous-prefets). The districts, administered by district heads (chefs de district), are the smallest administrative units. These are found in large sub-divisions or in regions that are isolated or difficult to reach.