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100+ Free Concours IRIC Cameroon Practice Questions

Prepare for the Concours d'Entrée aux Cycles de Master Professionnel en Relations Internationales de l'IRIC (Université de Yaoundé II) exam with instant access — no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Concours IRIC Cameroon Exam

20,000 FCFA

Registration fee for regular candidates; working candidates pay 30,000 FCFA

MINESUP décision IRIC 2026/2027, Article 6

32 years

Maximum age for Cameroonian candidates on 30 August of the examination year

MINESUP décision IRIC 2026/2027, Article 5

35 places

Places opened per filière for Contentieux International, IRMIC and Banque-Monnaie-Finance Internationales in 2026/2027

MINESUP décisions IRIC 2026/2027, Article 1

3 hours

Duration of the written paper on International Relations and the filière subject (09:00-12:00)

MINESUP décision IRIC 2026/2027, Article 9

2 hours

Duration of the written language paper, taken in the candidate's second official language (14:00-16:00)

MINESUP décision IRIC 2026/2027, Article 9

1971

Year IRIC was created by presidential decree of 24 April, making it the oldest school of diplomacy south of the Sahara

IRIC / Université de Yaoundé II

The Concours IRIC is Cameroon's competitive entrance examination for the Master Professionnel programmes in International Relations at the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (University of Yaoundé II). Each filière is opened by its own MINESUP décision, with registration fees of 20,000 FCFA for regular candidates and 30,000 FCFA for workers, an age limit of 32, and 35 places per filière in the 2026/2027 session. The written stage is one 3-hour paper on International Relations plus the filière subject and one 2-hour language paper, followed by oral tests. This free bank provides 100 English-language multiple-choice practice questions built on that official scope; it is a study aid, not a simulation of the real essay-and-oral format.

Sample Concours IRIC Cameroon Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Concours IRIC Cameroon exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In classical International Relations theory, which seminal work by Hans Morgenthau published in 1948 formulated the six principles of political realism, positing that international politics is governed by objective laws rooted in human nature?
A.Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace
B.Theory of International Politics
C.The Twenty Years' Crisis, 1919–1939
D.Man, the State, and War
Explanation: Hans J. Morgenthau published *Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace* in 1948. It became the foundational text of classical realism, defining national interest in terms of power and arguing that political leaders act on rational assessments of power rather than universal moral principles.
2Which theoretical paradigm of International Relations, prominently associated with Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye, argues that complex interdependence and international institutions can facilitate sustained interstate cooperation despite anarchy?
A.Neoliberal Institutionalism
B.Offensive Structural Realism
C.World-Systems Theory
D.Critical Security Studies
Explanation: Neoliberal institutionalism, formulated by Robert Keohane (notably in *After Hegemony*, 1984) and developed alongside Joseph Nye, argues that international regimes and institutions lower transaction costs, reduce information asymmetries, and mitigate cheating, thereby enabling enduring cooperation.
3Which foundational concept introduced by Alexander Wendt in his 1992 article *Anarchy is What States Make of It* forms the bedrock of Social Constructivism in International Relations?
A.State identities and interests are socially constructed through intersubjective interactions rather than given exogenously
B.Relative military gains dictate the inevitability of conflict across all historical epochs
C.Democratic states never go to war against one another due to institutional executive constraints
D.The international economic structure predetermines the diplomatic alignment of peripheral states
Explanation: Social constructivism argues that the international system is not defined solely by material structures (like polarity or arms), but by shared ideas, norms, and intersubjective understandings. Wendt demonstrated that anarchy can lead to Hobbesian (enemy), Lockean (rival), or Kantian (friend) cultures depending on social practices.
4The Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU), adopted in Lomé in 2000, introduced a radical departure from the OAU's strict non-interference principle under Article 4(h). What does Article 4(h) specifically authorize?
A.The right of the Union to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances: war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity
B.The automatic suspension of any Member State experiencing an economic recession
C.The unilateral deployment of peacekeepers by any neighbouring state without Assembly authorization
D.The permanent ceding of national airspace to the African Standby Force during peacetime
Explanation: Article 4(h) of the AU Constitutive Act enshrines the principle of 'non-indifference', giving the AU Assembly the legal authority to intervene in a Member State in cases of grave human rights catastrophes: war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. This fundamentally transformed African collective security.
5The African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) relies on five core pillars to prevent and resolve conflicts. Which organ serves as the standing decision-making body of the AU for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts?
A.Peace and Security Council (PSC / CPS)
B.Pan-African Parliament (PAP)
C.African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (AfCHPR)
D.Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC)
Explanation: The Peace and Security Council (PSC / Conseil de Paix et de Sécurité) was created by a Protocol adopted at Durban on 9 July 2002, which entered into force on 26 December 2003; the Council was formally launched in 2004. It is the 15-member standing collective security and early warning body of the AU, supported by the Continental Early Warning System, Panel of the Wise, African Standby Force, and Peace Fund.
6Which regional economic community (REC), established by the Treaty of Libreville in 1983, encompasses 11 Central African states (including Cameroon) and underwent institutional reform in 2019 to transform its General Secretariat into a Commission?
A.Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS / CEEAC)
B.Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)
C.Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS / CEDEAO)
D.Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Explanation: ECCAS (CEEAC) was founded in 1983 in Libreville. In December 2019 in Libreville, the Heads of State and Government adopted the revised ECCAS Treaty, which transformed the General Secretariat into a Commission with a President and Vice-President, aligning its structure with the AU and ECOWAS models.
7The Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC / CBLT), headquartered in N'Djamena, operationalised which multinational security mechanism to combat Boko Haram / ISWAP insurgencies across Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria?
A.Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF / FMM)
B.G5 Sahel Joint Force
C.African Standby Force Central Brigade (FOMAC)
D.ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF)
Explanation: The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF / Force Multinationale Mixte) was revitalized by the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and Benin in 2014–2015, with headquarters in N'Djamena, divided into four national operational sectors (including Sector 1 headquartered in Mora, Far North Region of Cameroon).
8In which year did the Republic of Cameroon officially join the Commonwealth of Nations as its 52nd member state, thereby formalising its dual diplomatic belonging to both the Francophonie and the Commonwealth?
A.1995
B.1960
C.1984
D.2002
Explanation: Cameroon was formally admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Auckland, New Zealand, on 1 November 1995 (effective 13 November 1995). This reinforced Cameroon's bilingual and bicultural international identity.
9Which enduring diplomatic principle has formed the cornerstone of Cameroonian foreign policy since 1960, characterized by refusing alignment with Cold War power blocs and maintaining diversified bilateral partnerships?
A.Non-alignment and active diplomacy of presence (Diplomatie de présence et de rayonnement)
B.Monroe Doctrine hemispheric isolationism
C.Exclusive bilateralism tied solely to the former colonial power
D.Offensive forward defense and cross-border unilateralism
Explanation: Cameroonian foreign policy is grounded in non-alignment (*non-alignement*), peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for sovereignty, good neighbourliness (*bon voisinage*), and open bilateral cooperation with all sovereign states, formulated as a diplomacy of presence and development.
10The concept of 'soft power', defined as the ability of a country to persuade others to do what it wants without force or coercion through culture, political values, and foreign policies, was coined by which international relations scholar?
A.Joseph Nye
B.Samuel Huntington
C.Francis Fukuyama
D.Hedley Bull
Explanation: Joseph S. Nye Jr. introduced the concept of 'soft power' in his 1990 book *Bound to Lead: The Changing Nature of American Power* and further developed it in *Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics* (2004), contrasting it with hard power (military and economic coercion).

About the Concours IRIC Cameroon Exam

Competitive national entrance examination for admission into the Master Professionnel programmes in International Relations at the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC), an institution of the University of Yaoundé II. Created by presidential decree of 24 April 1971, IRIC is the oldest school of diplomacy south of the Sahara and trains foreign service officers, international lawyers, and international civil servants for Cameroon and partner states.

Assessment

Each filière of the Master Professionnel is opened by its own MINESUP décision and sat at the single Yaoundé centre. Under Article 2, the competition comprises a written test on knowledge of International Relations combined with the subject of the chosen filière — International Law for Contentieux International, regional integration questions for IRMIC, international economic and financial relations for Banque-Monnaie-Finance Internationales, international business techniques for Marketing International, communication techniques for CAPI — together with a Language test (French for anglophone candidates, English for francophone candidates). Article 9 of the 2026/2027 décisions fixed the written papers at 09:00-12:00 for the International Relations and speciality paper and 14:00-16:00 for the language paper. Candidates declared admissible sit oral tests on a date announced later. Two further IRIC Master programmes — Coopération Internationale, Action Humanitaire et Développement Durable and Diversité Culturelle, Développement, Paix et Sécurité Internationales — are recruited through a selection test rather than this written concours.

Time Limit

3 hours (International Relations and speciality paper) plus 2 hours (language paper), then oral tests

Passing Score

Not published. Admission is in order of merit against the number of places fixed for each filière by the MINESUP décision (35 places per filière in the 2026/2027 session for Contentieux International, IRMIC and Banque-Monnaie-Finance Internationales); admissible candidates proceed to the oral stage

Exam Fee

20,000 FCFA (regular candidates) / 30,000 FCFA (working candidates) (Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur (MINESUP) & IRIC / Université de Yaoundé II)

Concours IRIC Cameroon Exam Content Outline

25%

International Relations & Contemporary International Affairs

The component common to every filière under Article 2 of the MINESUP décisions: theories of international relations, diplomatic history, African geopolitics, the African Union and its peace and security architecture, Central African security dynamics, and Cameroonian foreign policy.

25%

Public International Law & International Organizations

The speciality subject of the Contentieux International filière: sources of international law, the law of treaties, the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic (1961) and Consular (1963) Relations, the UN Charter and Security Council, ICJ jurisprudence including the 2002 Bakassi judgment, state responsibility, and international humanitarian law.

25%

International Economic & Financial Relations

The speciality subject of the Banque-Monnaie-Finance Internationales and Marketing International filières: international trade theory, WTO law, the Bretton Woods institutions, exchange-rate and monetary arrangements including the CFA franc zone, development financing, and international business techniques.

25%

Regional Integration, Multilateral Institutions & Diplomatic Practice

The speciality subject of the Intégration Régionale et Management des Institutions Communautaires and Communication et Action Publique Internationale filières, plus the diplomatic practice tested across the common paper: CEMAC and ECCAS, AfCFTA, EU-ACP frameworks, UN specialised agencies, diplomatic correspondence and ceremonial, and public diplomacy.

How to Pass the Concours IRIC Cameroon Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Not published. Admission is in order of merit against the number of places fixed for each filière by the MINESUP décision (35 places per filière in the 2026/2027 session for Contentieux International, IRMIC and Banque-Monnaie-Finance Internationales); admissible candidates proceed to the oral stage
  • Assessment: Each filière of the Master Professionnel is opened by its own MINESUP décision and sat at the single Yaoundé centre. Under Article 2, the competition comprises a written test on knowledge of International Relations combined with the subject of the chosen filière — International Law for Contentieux International, regional integration questions for IRMIC, international economic and financial relations for Banque-Monnaie-Finance Internationales, international business techniques for Marketing International, communication techniques for CAPI — together with a Language test (French for anglophone candidates, English for francophone candidates). Article 9 of the 2026/2027 décisions fixed the written papers at 09:00-12:00 for the International Relations and speciality paper and 14:00-16:00 for the language paper. Candidates declared admissible sit oral tests on a date announced later. Two further IRIC Master programmes — Coopération Internationale, Action Humanitaire et Développement Durable and Diversité Culturelle, Développement, Paix et Sécurité Internationales — are recruited through a selection test rather than this written concours.
  • Time limit: 3 hours (International Relations and speciality paper) plus 2 hours (language paper), then oral tests
  • Exam fee: 20,000 FCFA (regular candidates) / 30,000 FCFA (working candidates)

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Concours IRIC Cameroon Study Tips from Top Performers

1Work from the décision for your own filière: the diploma requirement, the speciality subject, the exam date and the number of places all differ between Contentieux International, IRMIC, BMFI, Marketing International and CAPI.
2Master the foundational treaties: the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the UN Charter (Chapters VI and VII), and the AU Constitutive Act, especially Article 4(h).
3Know Cameroon's own diplomatic record: non-alignment, peaceful settlement of disputes, the 2002 ICJ Bakassi judgment and the 2006 Greentree Agreement, and Central African integration through CEMAC and ECCAS.
4Track contemporary international affairs: AU summit communiqués, COP outcomes, AfCFTA implementation, and Gulf of Guinea maritime security under the Yaoundé Architecture.
5Do not neglect the language paper: it is a separate 2-hour written test in your second official language, and every candidate sits it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the official examination format of the Concours IRIC?

Article 2 of each MINESUP décision provides for one written test on knowledge of International Relations combined with the subject of the chosen filière, and one written Language test (French for anglophone candidates, English for francophone candidates). In the 2026/2027 session the first paper ran 09:00-12:00 and the language paper 14:00-16:00 at the single Yaoundé centre, with oral tests for admissible candidates announced later. MINESUP does not publish coefficients or a pass mark.

Which filières are opened and what degree do they require?

For 2026/2027, MINESUP opened Contentieux International (35 places, Licence in Law), Intégration Régionale et Management des Institutions Communautaires (35 places, Licence in Law, Political Science or Economics), Banque-Monnaie-Finance Internationales (35 places, Licence in Economics or Management), Marketing International, and Communication et Action Publique Internationale. The diploma requirement is set separately for each filière, so check the décision for the one you are targeting.

What are the fee and the age limit for Concours IRIC?

The registration fee is 20,000 FCFA for regular candidates and 30,000 FCFA for working candidates, payable to SCB Bank, Agence du 20 Mai, into the account entitled IRIC/CONCOURS. Candidates must be Cameroonian and aged 32 or under on 30 August of the examination year; workers and foreign candidates competing outside the quota face special age and financial conditions.

How does this practice question bank relate to the real Concours IRIC?

The official Concours IRIC is written in French or English as essay and problem papers and finishes with an oral before a jury; it contains no multiple-choice questions. This bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation, not an official translation or a simulation of the real format. It is built to help candidates consolidate the treaties, institutions, economic frameworks and regional integration knowledge that the official papers draw on.