The Republic of Cameroon is a country in west Africa. Most recently noted for it's football team's performance in the world cup. It has a total area of 475,440 km2. The climate is varies with terrain from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north. The terrain is diverse with coastal plain in south-west, dissected plateau in centre, mountains in west, plains in north. Natural resources are crude oil, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower potential. The religion is 51% indigenous beliefs, 33% Christian and 16% Muslim. The language official language is French with English, Bantu and some twenty other diverse tribal languages also spoken. Cameroon was visited in 1472 by the Portugese who named the land Camaro-es. In 1884, Cameroon was known as Kamerun and Germany declared the country a protecterate. After the Great War a League of Nations mandate gave France control of 80% of the country and Britain 20%. In 1946 the two regions became United Nations trust territories and in 1959 French Cameroon gained internal self-government, and in 1960 full independence.
In 1961 northern parts of British Cameroon merged with Nigeria and southern parts federated with the former French Cameroon. In 1975 the country unified and became a republic. Research Cameroon
Abbreviations
Gazetteer
Research Cameroon