Portal:Cameroon

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The Cameroon Portal

Flag of Cameroon Coat of arms of Cameroon

Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Its coastline lies on the Bight of Biafra, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its strategic position at the crossroads between West Africa and Central Africa, it has been categorized as being in both camps. Cameroon's population of nearly 27 million people speak 250 native languages, in addition to the national tongues of English and French, or both. Early inhabitants of the territory included the Sao civilisation around Lake Chad and the Baka hunter-gatherers in the southeastern rainforest. Portuguese explorers reached the coast in the 15th century and named the area Rio dos Camarões (Shrimp River), which became Cameroon in English. Fulani soldiers founded the Adamawa Emirate in the north in the 19th century, and various ethnic groups of the west and northwest established powerful chiefdoms and fondoms.

The official languages of Cameroon are French and English, the official languages of former French Cameroons and British Cameroons. Christianity is the majority religion in Cameroon, with significant minorities practising Islam and traditional faiths. It has experienced tensions from the English-speaking territories, where politicians have advocated for greater decentralisation and even complete separation or independence (as in the Southern Cameroons National Council). In 2017, tensions over the creation of an Ambazonian state in the English-speaking territories escalated into open warfare. Large numbers of Cameroonians live as subsistence farmers. The country is often referred to as "Africa in miniature" for its geological, linguistic and cultural diversity. Its natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas. Cameroon's highest point, at almost 4,100 metres (13,500 ft), is Mount Cameroon in the Southwest Region.

Cameroon's most populous cities are Douala on the Wouri River, its economic capital and main seaport; Yaoundé, its political capital; and Garoua. Limbé in the southwest has a natural seaport. Cameroon is well known for its native music styles, particularly Makossa, Njang and Bikutsi, and its successful national football team. It is a member state of the African Union, the United Nations, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the Commonwealth of Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. (Full article...)

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From 2018, the Anglophone Crisis drew increasing international attention, and became a challenge to Cameroon's foreign relations. Triggered by a violent crackdown on the 2016–2017 Cameroonian protests, the conflict escalated from a low-scale insurgency to a civil war-like situation. While Cameroon enjoys support from African countries, no country has openly supported the Ambazonian independence movements. However, many countries have put pressure on Cameroon to talk to the separatists. In addition, the separatists enjoy support from officers in the Nigerian Army, who have helped arrange arms deals for them.

While African countries have been largely silent on the issue and opposed any non-African interference, many Western countries have put pressure on Cameroon to open a dialogue with the separatists. In May 2019, an informal discussion was held at the United Nations Security Council, a milestone after nearly two years of little international involvement. (Full article...)

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...that the Bahá'í Faith is one of only a few non-Christian religions recognised by the government of Cameroon?

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The following are images from various Cameroon-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Dancers greet visitors to the East Region. (from Cameroon)
Image 2Paul Biya has ruled the country since 1982. (from Cameroon)
Image 3Dutch bulls and cows at Wallya community during the rainy season in Cameroon (from Cameroon)
Image 4A musician plays traditional African music during the closing ceremony of French RECAMP-concept (reinforcement of African peacekeeping capacities) in Douala, November 23, 2006 (from Culture of Cameroon)
Image 5Cameroonian women on Women's Day Celebration (from Cameroon)
Image 6Plantains and "Bobolo" (made from cassava) served with Ndolè (meat and shrimp) (from Cameroon)
Image 7Former president Ahmadou Ahidjo ruled from 1960 until 1982. (from Cameroon)
Image 8National Museum, Yaounde (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 9Cameroon is divided into 10 regions. (from Cameroon)
Image 10A statue of a chief in Bana, West Region (from Cameroon)
Image 11Our Lady of Victories Cathedral, catholic church in Yaoundé (from Cameroon)
Image 12Life expectancy in Cameroon (from Cameroon)
Image 13Reunification Monument, Yaounde (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 14Elephants in Waza National Park (from Cameroon)
Image 15Leaders of the pro-independence UPC (from Cameroon)
Image 16Unity Palace – Cameroon Presidency (from Cameroon)
Image 17Cameroon faces Germany at Zentralstadion in Leipzig, 17 November 2004 (from Cameroon)
Image 18Military vehicles during a parade (from Cameroon)
Image 19Limbe Beach with people engaging in various activities (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 20A woman weaves a basket near Lake Ossa, Littoral Region. Cameroonians practise such handicrafts throughout the country. (from Cameroon)
Image 21Hippopotamus at the Benoue National Park (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 22Volcanic plugs dot the landscape near Rhumsiki, Far North Region. (from Cameroon)
Image 23The homes of the Musgum, in the Far North Region, are made of earth and grass. (from Cameroon)
Image 24Kribi Beach (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 25Cameroonian fashion is varied and often mixes modern and traditional elements. Note the wearing of sun glasses, monk shoes, sandals, and a Smartwatch. (from Cameroon)
Image 26Cameroonian fashion is varied and often mixes modern and traditional elements. Note the wearing of sun glasses, Monk shoes, sandals, and a Smartwatch. (from Culture of Cameroon)
Image 27Gorilla at Mefou primate sanctuary (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 28School children in Cameroon (from Cameroon)
Image 29Douala seaport (from Cameroon)
Image 30Bamum script is a writing system developed by King Njoya in the late 19th century. (from Cameroon)
Image 31Map of the region's indigenous languages (from Cameroon)
Image 32Giraffes in Waza National Park (from Tourism in Cameroon)
Image 33President Paul Biya with U.S. President Barack Obama in 2014 (from Cameroon)
Image 34Chimpanzee at Mefou primate sanctuary (from Tourism in Cameroon)