Under the Civil Code 1981 (influenced by French law), Articles 312-320, paternity is determined by:
(a) The birth mother is the legal mother (Article 312).
(b) The husband at the time of birth is presumed the father (Article 314). Outside marriage, paternity requires acknowledgment or judicial proof (Article 316).
For informal sperm donation (AI or NI), no provisions address donor status. A donor risks legal recognition as the father if biologically linked and proven via court order (Article 316), with no exemptions.
Assisted Reproduction:
Cameroon has no specific ART legislation as of 2025. Clinical ART (e.g., IVF) is available at private facilities like Clinique du Bien-Être in Yaoundé, but it’s unregulated by statute and aimed at married couples.
Informal sperm donation lacks legal recognition or regulation. Cultural norms (70% Christian, 20% Muslim, patrilineal traditions) emphasize marital reproduction, making it rare and leaving donors unprotected.
Single women and same-sex couples have no access to ART due to cultural opposition and practical barriers, not explicit bans, though same-sex acts are illegal (Penal Code, Section 347-1).
Sperm Donor Agreements:
No legal framework supports informal sperm donation contracts. The Civil Code (Articles 314-316) prioritizes statutory paternity over private agreements.
A donor could face child support obligations if paternity is judicially established, with no statutory protection.
Surrogacy:
Surrogacy is unregulated. The Civil Code (Article 312) designates the birth mother as the legal mother, implying no recognition for surrogacy agreements.
Cultural taboos and limited healthcare infrastructure make surrogacy rare; international arrangements require court recognition.
Parentage Agreements:
Parentage is formalized through marriage or judicial processes under the Civil Code. Informal agreements are unenforceable unless validated by a court (Article 316).
Courts prioritize child welfare, potentially assigning paternity based on biology over donor intent.