On 11 October 2017, the Government of Cameroon deposited instruments of ratification or accession to three international conventions prepared by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). These three treaty actions are a remarkable illustration of Cameroon’s greater commitment to the harmonization of international trade law in Africa. They are to be seen in the context of Cameroon’s role as Chair of the 49^th session of UNCITRAL (2016-2017) and the announcement, at the 50^th session of UNCITRAL in July 2017, that an African regional centre of UNCITRAL is to be created in Cameroon.

With its accession to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (1980) (CISG), Cameroon becomes the eighty-eighth State Party to the Convention. The Convention will enter into force for Cameroon on 1 November 2018.  

Cameroon has also acceded to the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts (2005) (the Electronic Communication Convention) and becomes the ninth State Party. The Convention will enter into force for Cameroon on 1 May 2018.

With its ratification of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (2008) (the Rotterdam Rules), Cameroon becomes the fourth State Party to that Convention. Twenty treaty actions are required for the Convention to enter into force.