$474m relief for Cameroon

France signed a debt relief package worth 214-billion CFA francs ($474-million) with Cameroon.

The debt forgiveness deal for the period 2011-2016 includes 128-billion CFA francs to boost agriculture and rural development; the rest will be used to improve the oil-producing nation's urban infrastructure.

Cameroon's $22-billion-a-year economy is the biggest in the region but poor infrastructure has hampered growth.

Cameroon is one of the biggest recipients of French aid in sub-Saharan Africa. The country received 352.7-billion CFA between 2006 and 2010.