Magister Legum - LLM / Indigenous peoples constitute at least 5000 distinct peoples with a population of more than 370 million, living in 70 different countries. These peoples are typically subjected to a number of human rights violations (being excluded from decision-making processes and forced to assimilate into dominant groups, among others). The plight of these peoples has recently received worldwide attention. In 1989, the international community adopted the Convention on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (Convention 169) to protect the rights of these peoples. In 2007 the UN adopted a Declaration on Indigenous peoples’ Rights. Attention is now focused on implementing indigenous peoples’ rights at the domestic level. Cameroon is not yet a party to Convention No.169 and so cannot be bound under the Convention to protect the rights of its indigenous peoples. Cameroon often denies any duty in this regard. However, Cameroon is party to core human rights instruments like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and Freedom. Cameroon also voted in favour of the adoption of the UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples Rights. These international human rights instruments, with the exclusion of the Declaration, are not specifically dedicated to indigenous peoples’ rights. Given this situation, two questions arise: is Cameroon bound by any international legal obligation to protect the rights of its indigenous peoples; and if so, is Cameroon implementing the basic international law principles relating to indigenous peoples’ rights. Using an in-depth study and analysis of various international human rights treaties to which Cameroon is a party, this research will explore the grounds on which Cameroon, though not a party to Convention 169, can be held bound to protect the rights of its indigenous peoples (chapter 2). This research present the situation of the indigenous peoples in Cameroon and provide a brief overview of the legislative and policy measures taken by the government which in some way provide entry points for the protection of the rights of the indigenous people in Cameroon (chapter 3). A critical analysis of these measures highlights some areas of success but also work that remains to be done to ensure that the rights of Cameroon’s indigenous peoples are fully protected (chapter 4). The study concludes with a number of recommendations for further study and legal reform (chapter 5).

La phaeoramulariose des agrumes (Pseudocercospora angolensis) attaque les agrumes en Afrique tropicale et constitue une menace pour les autres pays producteurs situés en zone tropicale. La lutte chimique est le seul moyen de lutte efficace contre cette maladie. Cependant, elle est couteuse et néfaste pour l'environnement. La mise en place de stratégies de lutte permettant de minimiser l'emploi de fongicides contre est donc nécessaire. La connaissance des facteurs de risque de la phaeoramulariose est une étape préliminaire à cette démarche. Le travail entrepris avait pour but de préciser, à l'aide d'une enquête et des expérimentations, les effets de certains facteurs sur le développement de la maladie. L'enquête a été effectuée dans 39 sites de production des agrumes au Cameroun. Elle a permis de recenser les facteurs pédoclimatiques et biologiques dans l'environnement des arbres et de retenir les plus importants dans l'épidémiologie. Les expérimentations sur 8 sites ont permis de confirmer et évaluer les paramètres retenus après l'enquête. L'altitude, le type de sol, l'espèce d'agrumes et le type de végétation ont été retenus comme principaux facteurs de développement de la maladie. Les relations entre ces facteurs et l'incidence de la maladie sont illustrées dans les arbres de segmentation. Les expérimentations ont confirmé la grande sensibilité des pomélos et orangers vis-à-vis P. angolensis. En revanche, les mandariniers et la lime Tahiti se sont avérés moins sensibles. L'incidence de la maladie augmente avec une élévation en altitude, une diminution de la température et de la pluviométrie. La texture du sol s'est avérée plus déterminante du niveau de la maladie que sa composition. Le rôle de l'ombrage s'est avéré déterminant sur l'incidence de la maladie. L'analyse de la structure spatiale de la maladie a permis de mettre en évidence une structure agrégée. La structure spatiale des sous populations de familles d'arbres d'une parcelle agroforestière était aussi agrégée. La dispersion de la phaeoramulariose au sein d'une telle parcelle entre les différents agrégats d'agrumes serait limitée. L'analyse de régression a permis de déceler des différences entre les paramètres contribuant au développement de la maladie sur pomélos, satsuma et orangers. La possibilité d'une conception des systèmes agroforestiers raisonnés pour diminuer la pression des bioagresseurs est envisagée. / Phaeoramularia leaf and fruit spot disease of citrus (PLFSD) caused by Pseudocercospora angolensis attacks citrus in tropical Africa. It also constitutes a threat for the other producer countries located in tropical zone. Chemical treatment is the only method used for effective control of this disease. However, in addition to causing ecological problems, this method lies beyond the reach local smallholders. The development of ecologically friendly strategies to ensure effective protection of citrus is thus necessary. To this end, knowledge of PLFSD risk factors is pre-required. The purpose of this study was to specify, by means of a survey and experiments carried, the effects of certain biotic and abiotic factors on the development of the disease. The survey carried out in 39 production sites of Cameroon, targetted a collection of environmental and biological tree characteristics. Experiments on 8 sites enabled a confirmation and evaluation of suspected factors. A stepwise logistic regression analysis of survey data made it possible to target altitude, soil type, citrus species and vegetation type as main factors influencing disease development. Relations between these factors and disease incidence are illustrated in segmentation trees. Experiments confirmed the great sensitivity of grape fruit and orange trees, while tangerine and Tahiti lime trees were less sensitive. Disease incidence increased with a rise in altitude and a reduction in temperature and rainfall. Soil texture proved to be more determinant in disease development than its chemical composition. Experimentation showed that trees planted under shade are less affected than those located in sunshine. A spatial structure analysis of the disease made it possible to highlight an aggregate structure indicating small scale disease dispersion. An analysis of the spatial structure of an agro forestry farm showed an aggregate structure of the sub populations of constituent tree families. This structure suggested that the dispersion of PLFSD within such a farm would be limited between the various citrus aggregates. PLS regression analysis suggested that several of these parameters play a determinant role in contributing to the development of disease on grape fruit, orange and Satsuma mandarin trees. The development of integrated agro forest systems which enable a decrease of the pressure of pest and diseases is envisaged.

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the various reasons that have contributed to the decisionof international students not to return to their home countries after completing their studies, with a focus on students from Rwanda, Nigeria, and Cameroon. The study will include information about student’s home countries to provide a greater understanding of where they come from and how this has contributed to the decisions they have made. The push and pull factor theory will help to understand the different reasons why people choose to immigrate instead of staying in their home countries and what becomes a pull factor in the whole process. To gain even more insight into the students' choice not to return home, semistructured interviews with the 10 individuals will become important. By interviewing the 10 individuals from Rwanda, Nigeria, and Cameroon, one could tell that the countries have had amajor impact on the students' choice not to return home. Results showed that many chose not to return home because of the political instability that council in their home countries, some also felt living a life where they did not have to worry about tomorrow was an important factor in not going back home. The conclusion drawn was that countries were losing talented people because of their inability to put the needs of their citizens first.

Une des 17 maladies tropicales négligées déclarées par l’OMS, l’ulcère de Buruli constitue aujourd’hui un réel problème de santé publique en Afrique centrale et de l’Ouest où il sévit dans près de 30 pays. Cette maladie touchant principalement les populations des zones enclavées reste un mythe car l’on ne connaît pas aujourd’hui le mode de transmission exacte de la bactérie responsable, Mycobacterium ulcerans, à l’humain. Une meilleure connaissance de l’écologie de ce bacille constitue pourtant un levier important tant pour apporter des informations concernant sa transmission que pour lutter contre ce fléau. Fortement soupçonnés de jouer un rôle d’hôtes ou de vecteur de M. ulcerans, certains taxons de punaises aquatiques semblent être prédisposés de par leur écologie ou leur comportement à héberger le bacille voire à le transmettre. Les travaux que nous présentons ici visent dans un premier temps à identifier sur des bases anatomiques complétées par des approches moléculaires les différents taxons de punaises aquatiques présents au Cameroun. Au-delà de proposer une clé d’identification d’espèces et une classification des punaises aquatiques du Cameroun reposant sur des séquences nucléotidiques, nous discutons du rôle important joué par l’écologie de certaines espèces de punaises dans la transmission de M. ulcerans. Les différentes approches comparatives et biostatistiques développées dans ce travail de thèse étayent l’hypothèse que certains taxons de punaises aquatiques, et notamment issus des familles Belostomatidae et Naucoridae, acquièrent la mycobactérie à partir de l’environnement en partageant des habitats (fréquentation de la végétation aquatique émergée) où le bacille prolifère, et en se nourrissant de proies, comme des mollusques ou de petits poissons, eux-mêmes contaminés par la bactérie. La capacité de vol chez les punaises aquatiques n’apparaît pas faciliter l’acquisition de M. ulcerans mais semble impliquée dans la dissémination de ce dernier en contaminant de nouveaux environnements. Au terme de cette thèse, nous discutons de l’écologie des communautés de punaises aquatiques et de leur macroécologie au Cameroun, et examinons l’importance de l’échantillonnage comme élément important de tout travail de recherche en écologie et évolution des maladies infectieuses. / One of 17 neglected tropical diseases declared by WHO, Buruli ulcer is now a real public health problem in Central and West Africa, where it occurs in nearly 30 countries. This disease mainly affecting people in remote areas remains a myth because we don't know today the exact mode of Mycobacterium ulcerans transmission, the causal agent to humans. A better understanding of the ecology of this bacillus is an important lever to make the information about its transmission as the fight against this scourge. Strongly suspected to playing a role of host or vector of M. ulcerans, some aquatic bugs’ taxa seem to be predisposed by their ecology or behavior to harbor the bacillus or to convey it. The works presented here are intended firstly to identify on anatomical bases complemented by molecular approaches different taxa of aquatic bugs present in Cameroon. Beyond proposing an identification key of taxa and classification of aquatic bugs in Cameroon based on the nucleotide sequences, we discuss the important role of the ecology of some taxa of aquatic bugs in the transmission of M. ulcerans. Different comparative and biostatistics approaches developed in this thesis support the hypothesis that some taxa of water bugs, especially from the Belostomatidae and Naucoridae families acquire the mycobacteria from the environment by sharing habitats (attendance of emerged aquatic vegetation) where the bacilli proliferate, and feeding on prey such as molluscs and small fish themselves contaminated with the bacteria. The flight capacity of aquatic bugs do not appear to facilitate the acquisition of M. ulcerans but seems to be involved in their dissemination by contaminating new the environments. At the end of this thesis, we discuss the ecology of aquatic bugs’ communities and their macroecology in Cameroon, and examine the importance of sampling as an important component of any research work in ecology and evolution of infectious diseases.

L’intérêt accordé à l’entrepreneuriat féminin reflète l’ampleur du phénomène sans cesse croissant partout dans le monde. En effet, le potentiel entrepreneurial des femmes est manifeste et ce travail doctoral s’intéresse à ce potentiel dans le contexte camerounais. La littérature en entrepreneuriat féminin propose des travaux essentiellement axés sur l’émergence des entreprises alors que les écrits se focalisant sur le développement sont rares. Pourtant, malgré les difficultés d’accès aux ressources, des femmes entrepreneurs camerounaises ont réussi. Il semble alors à la fois utile et nécessaire de faire « voir » ces cas, avec la prudence qu’apporte le protocole scientifique de la méthode des cas. Notre travail vise donc à comprendre comment et pourquoi les femmes entrepreneurs camerounaises passent d’un « petit business » à un business plus ambitieux. A ce propos, des études approfondies et comparatives de trois entreprises sélectionnées par homogénéisation dans le secteur des services ont été menées. Le guide méthodologique ainsi fourni est étayé par le concept de Business Model pour mettre au jour les cas à analyser et par la théorie des conventions pour les comprendre. / The focus on female entrepreneurship reflects the growing magnitude of this phenomenon worldwide. Indeed, the entrepreneurial potential of women is obvious and this doctorate thesis focuses on this potential in the Cameroonian context. The literature on female entrepreneurship offers works mainly focused on the emergence of firms while writings dealing with development are rare. Yet, despite difficulties linked to access to resources, women entrepreneurs in Cameroon have succeeded. It has appeared both useful and necessary to “exhibit” these cases with the caution ensured by the scientific protocol of the “case study” method. So, our work aims at understanding how and why Cameroonian women entrepreneurs succeed in moving from a “small business” to a more ambitious business. In this regard, in-depth and comparative studies of three enterprises selected by homogenization in the service sector were conducted. The methodological framework thus chosen is supported by the concept of Business Model for the presentation of cases under analysis and by the convention theory for their understanding.

This study aimed at determining whether the use of indigenous techniques of communication can have a positive impact on the motivation of the learner of English as a foreign language in Cameroon. By indigenous techniques of communication we mean techniques like role-play, songs, the telling of folktales, riddles and proverbs. This work is intended as a contribution to the search for improvement of student motivation and enthusiasm, whereby they can be more responsive as they participate spontaneously in learning English as a foreign language. Some writers agree that it is beneficial to learn a foreign language using the material that the learners are familiar with (Lado 1964, Gee 1987, Post and Rathet 1996). The telling of folktales, role-play, songs, and the use of riddles and proverbs are found in all societies and every indigenous society uses them in teaching in one way or the other. Most foreign language learners are familiar with them. Their abundance in the Cameroonian society presents an excellent opportunity for foreign language teaching/learning. My interest in this research has been substantially influenced by my experience of working for almost a decade with learners of English as a foreign language in Francophone secondary/high schools in Cameroon. This work led me to the realization that students respond to English language teaching with very little motivation and enthusiasm. They make little or no progress in learning the language, much less in communicating in it. One of the major questions I have often asked myself is why Francophone students find English language learning boring and what could be done to solve the problem of teaching English to these students. I have tried on a number of occasions to tell folktales or teach a song in class when I found the students were bored with the lessons and discovered that the students immediately became alert. Their alertness was probably not for the direct purpose of making any linguistic gain but for the sheer entertainment of listening to a story or taking part in the singing, all of which they seemed to enjoy. Based on this positive change in the students, it was hypothesized that the introduction of some indigenous techniques of communication in the foreign language classroom might help improve its learning. The results from this study indicate that the recommendations for the use of these techniques in language teaching will help improve on the present negative attitude of foreign language learners. This study is significant to foreign language teaching/learning in all developing countries but most especially to the Cameroonian educational system where the study was carried out. Its relevance is due to the fact that most of the facilities that are presently used for the teaching of foreign languages in advanced countries are absent in developing countries. To help improve on the enthusiasm of the learner of a foreign language therefore, educational planners should resort to the use of indigenous techniques, which this study has found out could be very helpful in any foreign language classroom if properly applied. / Es ist allgemein anerkannt, dass es für Schüler, die eine Fremdsprache erlernen sollen, von Vorteil ist, wenn ihnen vertrautes Material im Unterricht verwendet wird (Lado 1964, Post und Rathet 1996). Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist deshalb, die positive Wirkung von indigenen Kommunikationsstrategien und –techniken auf die Lernermotivation kamerunische Schülern und Schülerinnen zu ermitteln, welche Englisch als Fremdsprache erwerben. Unter indigenen Kommunikationstechniken verstehen wir Rollenspiele, Lieder, das Erzählen von Märchen, Rätseln und Sprichwörtern. Die vorliegende Studie soll einen Beitrag bei der Suche nach Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten von Schülermotivation und Enthusiasmus leisten und dazu beitragen, das Schülerinteresse durch spontanes, teilnehmendes Erlernen zu wecken.

Magister Commercii - MCom / Nearly half a century after independence, the Cameroon economy has experienced little or no growth in per capita incomes in spite of the enormous natural and human potentials of the country and in spite of the huge packages of aid and subsequent debt relief received from the international donor community, suggesting a more profound cause to the development problems facing the country. Under the current WTO rules-based system of multi-lateral trade management, Cameroon, like other poor countries, is left with limited scope for effective implementation of industrial and trade policies that could bail her out of her present predicament. Against this backdrop, this study seeks to explore the fundamental determinants of sustainable growth within the context of the Cameroonian economy. While acknowledging the role of openness to international markets in promoting growth, its effects could only be maximised with the attainment of certain threshold conditions such as the availability of basic skills, provision of vital infrastructure services and public goods, and good governance. In a nutshell, for development to happen, the country needs not only well functioning markets, but also good governments that do not steal the fruits of workers' labour. Drawing on the endogenous growth models, the study suggests that incentives for investment in knowledge capital, for infrastructure provision and for good governance could bail the country out of its low level traps, setting it on the path of sustainable growth in an evermore globalising world economy.

Given the state and social homophobias one can encounter in Cameroon, it can be rightly assumed that MSM (men who have sex with men) constitute an extraordinarily vulnerable group. Such vulnerability, besides its legal nature, encompasses a number of sexual risk behaviours and psychological distress precisely derived from criminal prosecution and social discrimination. For that reason, and following the humanitarian imperative, humanitarian actors might want to launch an operation targeting such populations. Nevertheless, various ethical challenges linked to conflicting humanitarian principles, the post-colonial socio-political positions, and the diversity of queer identities might arise. This thesis will explore such ethical challenges, in an attempt to sensitise foreign humanitarians about the most sensible, yet effective, ways to support MSM in 21st- century Cameroon. The methodology used will include primary data collection through interviews and open- ended questionnaires, secondary data collection through articles and books, and the analysis and discussion of both. The theoretical framework utilised will be a combination of the Post-colonial and Queer theories, complemented with concepts borrowed from the advocacy and humanitarian ethics field.

Cette thèse fournit une description et une analyse détaillée du déroulement à l’heure actuelle des funérailles chez les Éton du Sud-Cameroun en privilégiant leur dimension sonore. Elle cherche en même temps à identifier la place qu’occupent les changements apportés par la colonisation et l’évangélisation, ainsi que les changements, plus récents, impulsés par l’ouverture de morgues, le développement des mass médias et la mobilité des populations. Fondé sur des matériaux recueillis de 2009 à 2013, ce travail s’attache donc à comprendre comment des expressions traditionnelles – polyrythmies, langage tambouriné et chants – cohabitent avec des pratiques importées – chants chrétiens, musiques de variété – au sein de cérémonies structurées par un dispositif spatio-temporel particulier, une répartition spécifique des rôles entre les participants et la récurrence d’un certain type d’interaction sonore (par exemple celle d’annonce/réponse). La diversité et l’abondance des sonorités étant indicatives de la puissance et du prestige du lignage du défunt, la plupart des familles cherchent à organiser de « grands deuils » où la présence sonore du mort et des deuilleurs est clairement mise en évidence. / This thesis provides a detailed description and analysis of the successive stages of present-day funeral ceremonies among the Eton of Southern Cameroon, emphasizing their sonic aspects. At the same time, it seeks to identify the role of changes introduced by colonization and evangelization, as well as more recent innovations linked to the opening of mortuary services, the development of mass-media communication and increased population mobility. Based on materials collected from 2009 to 2013, this work focuses on understanding how traditional expressions – polyrhythm, drum language and songs – coexist with imported practices – Christian songs, contemporary musical styles – in ceremonies structured by a distinctive spatio-temporal pattern, a specific distribution of roles among participants, and the recurrence of certain forms of sound-making (for example that of announcements/responses). The variety and number of sounds are indicators of the power and prestige of the lineage of the deceased; most families seek to organize “big ceremonies” where the sonic presence of the deceased and of the bereaved parents is clearly highlighted.

La famille est une ressource potentielle pour les personnes malades, mais la fratrie est moins souvent étudiée que les parents. Il est important de comprendre ce que vivent les frères et sœurs d’un enfant atteint d’une maladie létale comme la drépanocytose, maladie génétique se manifestant par des crises de douleur et par l’anémie chronique. S’inscrivant dans une approche compréhensive, cette thèse a exploré, via l’entretien et le dessin de la famille, le vécu de 4 frères et 10 sœurs d’enfants atteints de drépanocytose rencontrés au Cameroun dans 9 familles différentes. L’analyse des entretiens et celle des dessins mettent montrent que les enfants donnent sens à la maladie en s'appuyant sur des représentations traditionnelles et occidentales. Ils ressentent des sentiments d’impuissance, de culpabilité, de honte et vivent le malade comme étrange durant les crises. Ils disent avoir peur d’être atteints à leur tour et désirent/craignent la mort de l’enfant malade. Chacun se sent seul, la fratrie n’est pas une ressource et parler de la maladie est problématique. L’enfant malade est vécu comme une victime passive, pas comme un frère. Cette thèse montre les spécificités du vécu de ces enfants et souligne comme d’autres travaux sur la fratrie la nécessité de proposer un accompagnement aux frères et sœurs et à l’enfant malade pour qu’il puisse être/devenir un enfant parmi les autres. / The family is a potential social resource for sick people. However, under such circumstances, siblings are less often considered and even studied than parents. It is important to understand how siblings of a child with a chronic condition such as sickle cell disease cope with the situation. This genetic disease is characterized with pain and chronic anemia, generally unpredictable. This dissertation explored the experiences of 4 brothers and 10 sisters of children with sickle cell disease met in 9 different families in Cameroon through the clinical interview and the family drawing. The analysis of interviews and the analysis of family drawings highlight the children give meaning to the disease by relying on traditional and Western representations. They have feelings of helplessness, guilt, shame and experience the sick as strange during crises. They are afraid of being contaminated as well while having ambivalent feelings whereby they wish for the sick sibling’s death while at the same time exhibiting fear of the same. They feel lonely, siblings are not a resource and talking about the disease is a challenge. The sick child is perceived as a passive victim, not like a brother. This dissertation shows the specificities of the experiences of these siblings and emphasizes the need to offer a listening ear among them and the sick child so that he/she can be/become a child among others.