Document #1287027
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa
The Cameroon Tribune reported in January 2012 that the general assembly of the National Chamber of Notaries of Cameroon condemned the prevalence of fake identity cards in the country (15 Jan. 2012).
In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Nico Halle Law Firm, a general-practice law firm founded in 1986 and based in Douala, Cameroon, explained that
[i]dentity card fraud is commonplace in Cameroon. Those who are engaged in illegal practices are always in possession of more than one NIC [national identity card]. This is possible as the biometric system in Cameroon is not very effective, taking into consideration the fact that such technology in Cameroon is still backward. Some of these NICs are forged by highly skilled professional forgers for purposes of crime. (19 Mar. 2014)
In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Abeng Law Firm, a Douala-based law firm specializing in trade and investment law (n.d.), also indicated that identity document fraud is common (19 Mar. 2014). In contrast to the above, however, the representative of the Abeng law firm expressed his opinion that the prevalence of ID fraud "is due more to the relatively corrupt nature of ... society than [to] the ID process itself" (Abeng Law Firm 19 Mar. 2014). The representative also noted that the authorities are becoming increasingly "stringent and effective in identifying cases of fraud and double identity" (ibid.).
A representative of Muna, Muna & Associates, a Yaoundé-based general-practice legal firm (n.d.), stated in correspondence with the Research Directorate that identity fraud was common before identity cards were digitized, but that, with the advent of computerized national ID cards, cases of double identity and fraudulent cards "can easily be identified" (21 Mar. 2014).
Various sources report cases of fraudulent national identity cards or authentic cards obtained through fraudulent means:
Corroboration for the above information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Several sources mention fraud of other identity documents:
Corroboration for the above information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Abeng Law Firm. 19 March 2014. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by a representative.
_____. N.d. "About Us."
Cameroon Tribune. 28 August 2013. Augustin Fogang. "Au-delà de la sécurisation."
_____. 15 January 2012. "Les notaires en croisade contre les fausses pièces d'identité."
_____. 3 April 2011. "L'octogénaire percevait la pension de son oncle décédé."
L'Effort Camerounais. 21 February 2014. Sylvestre Ndoumou. "Cameroun, transport, permis de conduire informatisé : les faussaires pris au piège."
Institute for Security Studies (ISS). 18 December 2013. Martin Ewi. "Terrorism and the Threat Radical Islam Poses to Cameroon." (Factiva)
_____. N.d. "How We Work."
Le Monde diplomatique. 1 November 2012. Guillaume Pitron. "'They're Not Going to Find Anything Better Elsewhere'; African Odysseys Turn to the South." (Factiva)
Muna, Muna & Associates. 21 March 2014. Correspondence from a reprsentative to the Research Directorate.
_____. N.d. "Expertise."
Nico Halle & Co. Law Firm. 19 March 2014. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.
United States (US). 27 February 2014. Department of State. "Cameroon." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013.
Voice of America (VOA). 9 February 2011. "Cameroon Urged to Act Against Cybercrime."
Oral sources: The High Commission of Cameroon in Ottawa did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response. Attempts to contact the Embassy of Cameroon in Washington, DC, were unsuccessful.
Internet sites, including: Australia – Refugee Review Tribunal; Avocats sans frontières-Cameroun; Cameroon – Portail du gouvernement, Présidence de la République, Embassy of Cameroon in Washington, DC, High Commission of Cameroon in Ottawa; Camerounradio.com; ecoi.net; Interpol; Le Jour; Journal du Cameroun; Le Messager; Stratfor; United Nations – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Refworld.
Cameroon: information on fraudulent identity documents, including national identity cards (2007-March 2014) [CMR104811.E] (Response, French)