Republic of Cameroon

Brazil recognized the independence of Cameroon in 1960. The Embassy of Brazil in Yaounde was opened in 1982 and, two years later, Cameroon opened its Embassy in Brazil. In 1999, the Brazilian representation in the Cameroonian capital was closed due to budgetary constraints.

Bilateral relations have gained new momentum from the 2000s. In 2005, the Embassy of Brazil in Yaounde was reopened, which led to progress in bilateral cooperation in areas such as agriculture and defense. That same year, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited Cameroon and, in 2010, President Paul Biya visited Brazil.

Since 2018, a submarine fiber optic cable links the cities of Fortaleza in Brazil and Kribi in Cameroon. There are bilateral technical cooperation projects in the cotton sector, in addition to initiatives being negotiated in different areas. Other highlights include cooperation between the Navies of the two countries and, in the field of education, the descentralized collaboration between Brazilian and Cameroonian universities.

Chronology of Bilateral Relations

2023 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Lejeune Mbella Mbella visits Brazil on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (January)

2021 – 1st Political Consultations Meeting between Brazil and Cameroon (June 17, by videoconference); signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Rio Branco Institute and the Cameroun Institute of International Relations (IRIC), the diplomatic academies of the two countries (Brasília, November 17)

2019 – Cameroun's Minister of Justice Laurent Esso makes an official visit to Brazil. On the occasion, bilateral agreements on extradition and transfer of convicted persons are signed (September 5)

2018 – Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Brazilian Navy and the National Navy of Cameroon (Yaounde, August); the South Atlantic Inter Link (SAIL), a submarine cable system with around 6,000 km, connecting Fortaleza (CE) to Kribi, in Cameroon, becomes operational

2015 – Minister Mauro Vieira visits Cameroon, where he holds a work meeting with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, and participates in the opening of a business meeting between the two countries. The Brazilian Foreign Minister is hosted, among other authorities, by Prime Minister Philemon Yang (August 31)

2013 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cameroon, Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, visits Brazil (May 9)

2012 – Minister Eyebe Ayissi, Minister Delegate to the Presidency of the Republic, in charge of the Supreme State Control, visits Brazil (October)

2010 – The Cameroonian Foreign Minister, Henri Eyebe Ayissi, visits Brazil, and the Third Brazil-Cameroon Joint Committee is held in Brasília (February). The President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, visits Brazil (August)

2007 – Lectureship in Brazilian language and literature is opened at the University of Yaounde

2005 – The Embassy of Brazil in Yaounde is reopened (April); Foreign Minister Celso Amorim (January) and the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (April) visit Cameroon; Second Brazil-Cameroon Joint Committee is held in Brasília (August)

2004 – Signing of Memorandum of Understanding in the Area of Education

1999 – The Brazilian Embassy in Yaounde is temporarily closed;  the Embassy of Brazil in Libreville (Gabon) becomes cumulatively responsible for overseeing bilateral relations with Cameroon

1986 – On the occasion of the visit of Foreign Minister Roberto Abreu Sodré to Yaounde, the first meeting of the Brazil-Cameroon Joint Committee is held (November)

1984 – Opening of the  Embassy of Cameroon in Brasília

1982 – Creation of the Brazilian Embassy in Yaounde, cumulative with Chad and responsible for overseeing matters related to the Central African Republic (which did not have diplomatic relations with Brazil)

1972 – Foreign Minister Gibson Barbosa visits Yaounde; signing of Technical and Cultural Cooperation Agreements

1965 – Signing of Commercial Agreement between Brazil and Cameroon

1961 – Brazilian parliamentary group visits Cameroon, and special Cameroonian mission visits Brazil

1960 – Brazil recognizes the independence of  French-administered Cameroon on January 25 and of British-administered Cameroon on September 19