The Southwest Region or South-West Region (French: Région du Sud-Ouest) is a region with special status in Cameroon. Its capital is Buea.[3] As of 2015[update], its population was 1,553,320. Along with the Northwest Region, it is one of the two Anglophone (English-speaking) regions of Cameroon. Various Ambazonian nationalist and separatist factions regard the South-West region as being distinct as a polity from Cameroon.[4]
The capital Buea from the foot of Mount CameroonDivisions of Southwest province
History
In 1884, the region was colonized by Germany under the Protectorate regime until 1916 when it became a condominium administered jointly by the United Kingdom and France.[5] In 1919, the administration of the South West region became solely British.
In 1961, the region joined Cameroon as part of the federated state of West Cameroon.[6]
At the end of 2017, an Ambazonian separatist movement in the two English-speaking regions of the North-West and South-West initiated a wave of violence affecting the military, police, business leaders and workers. The separatist militiamen are trying in particular to prevent children from returning to school. Between 2016 and 2019, separatists reportedly ransacked, destroyed or burned more than 174 schools[7] Separatists from the Ambazonia administration regard both the Northwest and Southwest regions as being constituent components of their envisaged breakaway state.[8]
Administration
Map of Southwest
The region is divided into six divisions or departments: Fako, Koupé-Manengouba, Lebialem, Manyu, Meme and Ndian. These are in turn broken down into subdivisions.[9] Presidentially appointed senior divisional officers (prefets) and subdivisional officers (sous-prefets) govern each respectively.
Special status
As part of the Major National Dialogue, the region was given a "special status" in December 2019, granting additional rights and responsibilities in relation to economic, health, social, educational, sports and cultural development.[10][11] Under the special status the region has a bicameral Regional Assembly, made up of a 20-member House of Chiefs composed of traditional leaders and a 70-member House of Divisional Representatives nominated by municipal councils. The Regional Assembly appoints a Regional Executive Council.[12] Additional powers over health and education were also granted to municipalities.[13]
Regional Executive Council
The Regional Executive Council is led by the President of the Regional Assembly and includes a vice president, three commissioners, two secretaries and a questor.[12] The first committee, elected in December 2020, was as follows:[14]
Name
Portfolios
Bakoma Elango Zacheus
President of the Regional Assembly President of the House of Divisional Representatives President of the Regional Executive Council
Atem Ebako
Vice-President of the Regional Assembly President of the House Chiefs Vice-President of the Regional Executive Council
Mokoko Simon Gobina
Commissioner for Economic Development
Itoe Williams Elangwe
Commissioner for Security and Social Development
Taking Walters Ayuk
Commissioner for Education, Sports and Cultural Development
Limunga Becky Effoe
Secretary
Chief Foto Felix
Secretary
Tazie Andrew
Questor
Geography
The region was notable for having the first English-speaking university in Cameroon (the University of Buea).
Towns include the capital Buea, Limbe, Tiko, Kumba and Mamfe. Limbe in particular is a popular tourist resort notable for its fine beaches. Korup National Park is also a major attraction. Buea itself, meanwhile, sits at the foot of Mount Cameroon, and possesses an almost temperate climate markedly different from the rest of the province.
Thatched roof structures at the Limbe Beach
View of Bota Beach
View of Semme Beach, Limbe
View of Bioko Beach, Limbe
Tourist in Limbe Beach
Fishing Canoes in Down Beach, Limbe
Limbe Beach with beautiful sandy shore
Waterfall in Korup Park
University of Buea Parking Space
View of Mount Cameroon from Sopo
Administration Building, Buea University
View of Buea City
Extensive view of a Reunification Monument in Buea
Closer view of the Buea Reunification Monument
Culture
The province is largely Anglophone and Protestant Christian.[15]
^"BUEA". cvuc.cm (in French). Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
^Tatah-Mentan, I., and F. Achankeng. "Stopping war before it starts: testing preventive diplomacy in the selfdetermination case of British Southern Cameroons (aka Ambazonia)." British Southern Cameroons: Nationalism & Conflict in Postcolonial Africa (2014): 127-170.
^Emmanuel Mbah, Environment and Identity Politics in Colonial Africa: Fulani Migrations and Land Conflict, Taylor & Francis, UK, 2016, p. 20
^Emmanuel Mbah, Environment and Identity Politics in Colonial Africa: Fulani Migrations and Land Conflict, Taylor & Francis, UK, 2016, p. 21
^Philippe Karsenty, in Cameroon, causeur.fr, September 2, 2019
^Adepoju, Paul. "World Report Hospital attack in anglophone Cameroon kills four patients." (2019).
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