Kinsmen Advocates Law Firm

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT/PUBLIC NOTICE

Kinsmen Advocates Law Firm is pleased to announce that it is duly registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

In line with its regional expansion strategy, the Firm will be opening a Nigeria Office in Abuja in 2026, extending its professional legal services beyond Cameroon into Nigeria.

Management
Kinsmen Advocates Law Firm
One Call 📞 That’s All
Cross-Border. Professional. Ethical.

A client recently approached me with the following questions:

“We intend to import production machinery for our manufacturing activities and subsequently export our finished products. Do we require import and export licenses in Cameroon?”

The answer is YES.

Engaging in importation and exportation activities in Cameroon requires prior authorization from the Ministry . Below is a clear overview of the formal procedure.

Procedure for Obtaining Import and Export Licenses in Cameroon

Step 1: Address a Formal Application to the Ministry.

A written request must be submitted to the Minister, clearly stating the intention to import equipment and/or export manufactured goods.

Step 2: Prepare and Attach Required Supporting Documents

- Certified copy of Articles of Association (AOA)

- Certificate of Incorporation

- Valid Taxpayer Card / Business License

- Certificate of Non-Indebtedness (Tax Clearance Certificate)

- National ID or Passport Data Page of Shareholders and Directors

- Company address and contact details

- Proof of registration with the Chamber of Commerce (recommended for exporters)

- Any sector-specific approvals where applicable

Step 3: Submission, Administrative Review and payment of statutory fees.

The Ministry reviews the request to ensure:

- Legal registration

- Tax compliance

- Business activities align with trade regulations

Upon successful review, the respective import/export licenses are issued with unique registration numbers.

This takes approximately 15 working days (due to a fully manual administrative process).

Why work with Kinsmen Advocates Law Firm

At Kinsmen Advocates, we manage the import and export licensing process from start to finish, ensuring accuracy, speed, and peace of mind.

Your global expansion starts with the right legal foundation.

One Call 📞 That’s All www.kinsmenadvocates.com

A client recently asked me a very important question:

“Barrister, now that my company is incorporated, is there anything else I need to do?”

Yes. Incorporation is only the beginning.
Every company in Cameroon must complete key post incorporation compliance steps to remain legally operational and credible.

Depending on the sector, additional licences may be required such as mining licences, tourism and hospitality authorisations, telecom approvals, health sector licensing, transport permits, microfinance authorisations, food safety certifications and environmental compliance.

Beyond sector licences, every company must also:

• Register for tax obligations and file monthly and annual returns
• Prepare and deposit annual financial statements
• Maintain proper corporate records under OHADA
• Register employees with CNPS
• Open a corporate bank account
• Update changes in activity, address or shareholding
• Renew permits and licences before expiry
• Comply with anti money laundering rules where applicable

These steps protect your business from penalties and position it for long term growth.

This is where the Kinsmen Advantage makes the difference. We offer structured and proactive compliance support so your business stays protected while you focus on growth.

For guidance or representation, contact Kinsmen Advocates Law Firm
One call, that’s all.
www.kinsmenadvocates.com

How We Help Locals and Foreigners Build Legal Businesses in Cameroon 🇨🇲

Every week at Kinsmen Advocates Law Firmour lines light up with inquiries from Cameroonians at home and investors abroad all asking one simple question:

“How do I register my company legally in Cameroon?”

It’s a fair question. While tax filing in Cameroon has gone digital, company registration remains a manual process under the OHADA Uniform Act.

Each document must physically pass through the Commercial Registry, Tax Office, and Treasury a process that demands precision, compliance, and the right legal guidance.

That’s where we come in.

Whether you’re in Douala, Yaoundé, Limbe or living abroad, our legal team handles every stage of incorporation from drafting and notarization to filing, attestation, and publication without requiring your physical presence.

Once registration is complete, you receive your full corporate identity package:

✅ Certificate of Incorporation
✅ Attestation of Business Creation
✅ Commerce MO Registration
✅ Duly Notarized Articles of Association
✅ Attestation of Business Non-Indebtedness
✅ Taxpayer’s Card
✅ Publication of Company Creation

The result?

A fully compliant Private Limited Liability Company (SARL) registered within 15 working days, valid for 99 years, and ready to operate or expand anywhere in Cameroon.

At Kinsmen, we blend legal precision with practical experience to help you build a business that’s not just registered but rightly established.

One Call 📞 That’s All ⚖️
www.kinsmenadvocates.com

This week, our inbox has been flooded with one question:

“I registered to vote but didn’t collect my card. Does that mean I’ve lost my right to vote?”

According to Cameroon’s Electoral Code (Law No. 2012/001 of 19 April 2012, as amended), every registered voter is issued a biometric voter’s card, which serves as the only official document authorizing you to vote.

If your card was not collected earlier, Section 85 provides that unclaimed cards are left at your polling station and remain available until the close of polls. However, there is no legal provision that allows voting without your card, even if your name appears on the voters’ list.

✅ Our advice:

Go early to your polling station with your national ID card, and ask ELECAM officials if your voter’s card is available there.

Do not stay home. The law gives you a chance to collect it on election day itself before voting.

Many citizens lose their voice not because the law forbids them but because they assume it does.

At Kinsmen Advocates Law Firm, we believe civic participation is a duty protected by law.

Your vote is your voice. Make it count.

Kinsmen Advocates Law Firm
Upholding Law. Defending Rights. Serving Justice - One Call 📞 That’s All

www.kinsmenadvocates.com

Kinsmen Advocates Law Firm Kinsmen Advocates is a premier law Firm that provides world class services to local and international clients and is also known for its responsiveness as we continue to equip ourselves to serve clients and provide exceptional results that mirror the highest global standard.

Child Born Out of Wedlock — Who Has Custody in Cameroon?

After I shared last week’s post on “Child born in Wedlock, When Can the Father Take Custody?”, my inbox flooded with messages.

Many fathers wrote:

“Barrister, what about us whose children were born out of wedlock?”

“Do we have any rights at all ?”

Their questions touched me deeply because this is a struggle many men silently face in Cameroon.

Under Cameroonian law, a child born out of wedlock is legally under the custody of the mother unless the father has formally acknowledged paternity.

That acknowledgment can be done through:

✅ A declaration of recognition at the Civil Status Registry, or

✅ A court judgment confirming paternity.

Without it, the law views the child as belonging solely to the mother.

But once the father legally recognizes the child, he gains parental rights, including the right to apply for custody or visitation.

💡 In practice:

Infants and toddlers usually remain with the mother.

As the child grows, the court may grant custody to the father if it better serves the child’s welfare, stability, education, or moral upbringing.

The golden rule remains the same:

⚖️ “The best interest of the child.”

✅ Key takeaway:

For fathers of children born out of wedlock, recognition comes before rights. Once you take the legal step to acknowledge your child, the law will recognize your place in that child’s life.

Because every child deserves not just love but lawful protection.

Kinsmen Advocates Law Firm , Kinsmen Advantage - One Call 📞 That’s All 🇨🇲⚖️

Child Born in Wedlock - When Can the Father Take Custody?

Last month, a father walked into my office, heartbroken.

He said, “Barrister , I love my son. He’s my blood. But since the separation, I barely get to see him. Can the law allow me to take custody?”

This question is more common than most people think.

Under Cameroonian family law, a child born within a valid marriage belongs to both parents. They share joint parental authority, but when the marriage breaks down, custody (who the child lives with daily) is determined by the court, not emotions.

The guiding rule is simple but powerful:
⚖️ “The best interest of the child.”

💡 Here’s how it works in practice:

Children under 7 years are usually placed with the mother, unless she is clearly proven unfit.

As the child grows older, the court may favor the father, especially if he offers more stability and educational support.

The parent without custody still enjoys visitation rights and must be consulted on key decisions.

A father seeking custody must apply formally to the High Court (Anglophone regions) or Tribunal de Première Instance (Francophone regions). The court can order a social inquiry before making its decision.

✅ Bottom line:

A father can be granted custody of a child born in wedlock, but only when it serves the child’s welfare, not parental ego.

Every case is unique, and in family law, the child’s smile must come before the parent’s pride.

Kinsmen Advocates Law Firm , One Call 📞 That’s All ⚖️🇨🇲

✨ Honoured to be nominated! ✨
Grateful to be recognized in the Law Category for the Cameroon Youth Awards2025
Thanks to Kinsmen Advocates, our clients, and inspiring young professionals, this is for all of us!

📍 Aug 22 – Krystal Palace, Douala

🚨 Cyber Scam Alert! 🚨

Last week, 10+ cyber fraud cases landed at our desk:
❌ Fake gold sales
❌ IELTS certificate scams
❌ Banana oil fraud
❌ Artifact sale scams

Victims paid without due diligence. Some recovered funds, others lost it all.

💡 Lesson: Due diligence is cheaper than fraud. Verify before you pay.

🌍 www.kinsmenadvocates.com
📞 One Call, That’s All

⚖️ Don’t let scammers hold your future hostage.

🇨🇲 Cameroon Presidential Election 2025 Alert! 🇨🇲

One wrong move could cost you your candidacy.

With the upcoming elections fast approaching, we recently advised some presidential candidates on:

⚖️ Campaign Laws & Penalties – Break the rules, face fines, or disqualification.

⏳ No Early Campaigning – Presidential campaigns start 15 days before election day. Not before.

📢 What Counts as a Campaign – Rallies, posters, social media.

Don’t risk your seat before the race begins.

📞 One Call — That’s all! The Kinsmen Advantage.

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