This article covers the diplomatic relationship between India and Cameroon: the political relationship, visits by Cameroonian leaders and ministers to India, Indian visits and meetings, parliamentary contacts, the Foreign Office Consultations and Cameroon's participation in India-led initiatives. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of February 2025, the most recent available, so later developments are not covered.

Political relations

According to the MEA brief of February 2025, India and Cameroon have friendly and cordial relations dating back to Cameroon's independence in 1960. Both countries now have resident missions in each other's capitals; the practical article of this guide gives the details.

Visits from Cameroon

President Mr. Paul Biya visited India in March 1983 to attend the NAM Summit. Other Cameroonian visits recorded in the brief include:

  • Defence Minister Mr Edger Alain Mebe Ngo'o visited in March 2012 to attend DefExpo India 2012 in New Delhi.
  • Minister for External Relations Mr. Mbella Mbella Lejeune led the Cameroonian delegation to the India-Africa Summit-III from October 26-30, 2015.
  • Mr. Louis Paul Motaze, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, attended the AfDB meeting in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, from 22-26 May 2017. His earlier visit that year to sign a loan agreement is covered in the development article.
  • A three-member team from the Cameroon Defence forces, led by a senior Army officer, attended the Aero show in Bengaluru in February 2023.
  • Mr. Eloundou Essomba Gaston, Minister of Energy and Water Resources, attended the 6th Session of the Assembly of the International Solar Alliance in New Delhi from 30 October to 02 November 2023.
  • Mme. Minette Libom Li Likeng, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, attended the ITU-WTSA Assembly from 15 to 24 October 2024.

Visits by Cameroonian leaders to business conclaves in India, including Prime Minister Mr. Philomen Yang in March 2013, are covered in the trade article.

Parliamentary contacts

Mrs. Emilia Mojowa Lifaka, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and then Vice-Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), visited India on 11 October 2017 as part of a delegation from the African Group of the Commonwealth Speakers Forum. As Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, she visited New Delhi again from 24-29 November 2019 for the Commonwealth Youth Parliament Meeting.

A 4-member parliamentary delegation led by Mr. Njaingum Musa Mbutoh, Member of Parliament, visited India from 2-5 December 2019. In the other direction, a 60-member Indian parliamentary delegation of MPs and MLAs, including Speakers of some State Assemblies, visited Yaoundé for the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) from October 2-10, 2014.

Visits and meetings from India

  • The External Affairs Minister of India met the Cameroonian Foreign Minister in New York in September 2002.
  • In June 2008, Mr. Anand Sharma, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, met the Cameroonian Foreign Minister at the AU Summit in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.
  • Prof. Ram Shankar Katheria, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister and Minister of State for HRD, visited Cameroon on July 15-17, 2015 to hand over letters from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inviting President Mr. Paul Biya to the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III).
  • Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Muraleedharan visited Yaounde on September 3-4, 2019, called on the Prime Minister and met the Minister for External Relations.
  • Dr. S. Jaishankar met Mr. Adoum Gargoum, Minister Delegate for External Relations in charge of Islamic Affairs, on 24 October 2019 on the sidelines of the NAM Ministerial Meeting in Baku.

Foreign Office Consultations

The 3rd Round of Foreign Office Consultations was held on 07 August 2023. The Indian side was led by Shri Sevala Naik Mude, Additional Secretary (C&WA).

Voice of Global South Summit

Cameroon took part in the virtual Voice of Global South Summit, held on 12-13 January under the theme "Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose", which the brief says aimed to bring together countries of the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform. The participation of Cameroon's Minister of Public Health is covered in the development article. Prof. Wilfred N. Gabsa, Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, attended the second summit in November 2023.

International Solar Alliance

Cameroon joined the International Solar Alliance, an inter-governmental organisation established in India, in 2022.