History of Cameroon

Adamawa Emirate, 1809–1903 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Adamawa Emirate is a traditional state located in Fombina, an area which now roughly corresponds to areas of Adamawa State and Taraba state in Nigeria, and previously also in the three northern regions of Cameroon. Modibo Adama was a commander of Sheikh Usman dan Fodio, the man who began the Fulani jihad in 1809. At the time of the death of Adama his realm encompassed parts of modern Nigeria and much of north Cameroon. Much like the other emirates in the Sokoto Caliphate, Adamawa enjoyed considerable autonomy but it had to pay a tribute to the Sultan in Sokoto.

Seat of power: Yola

Kamerun, 1884–1919 Draft, not yet reviewed

Kamerun was a Central African colony of the German Empire from 1884 to 1916, in the region of what is now the Republic of Cameroon. The official beginning of the German Protectorate of Cameroon was on 17 August 1884. At the outbreak of World War I, French, Belgian and British troops invaded the German colony in 1914 and fully occupied it during the Kamerun campaign. Following Germany's defeat, the Treaty of Versailles divided the territory into two League of Nations mandates under the administration of the United Kingdom and France.

Seat of power: Buea

French Cameroons, 1919–1960 Draft, not yet reviewed

French Cameroon, also known as the French Cameroons, was a French mandate territory in Central Africa. French Cameroon was created from the eastern part of the former German colony of Cameroon. Its status, from 1919, was that of a mandated territory of the League of Nations, later becoming a trust territory under the United Nations. French Cameroon became independent as the Republic of Cameroon in January 1960, and in October 1961 the southern part of British Cameroons joined it to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon.

Seat of power: Yaoundé

Federal Republic of Cameroon, 1961–1972 Draft, not yet reviewed

On 1 October 1961, the British Southern Cameroons gained independence from the United Kingdom by vote of the UN General Assembly and merged into the Republic of Cameroon to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. The federal republic was composed of two federated states, East Cameroon and West Cameroon, each with its own legislature, government, and prime minister. The political party of Ahidjo, the Cameroon National Union, became the sole legal political party on 1 September 1966. On 20 May 1972, a referendum was passed to abolish the federal system of government in favour of a United Republic of Cameroon, headed from Yaoundé.

Seat of power: Yaoundé

Rulers

• Ahmadou Ahidjo, President of Cameroon, 1960–1982

Republic of Cameroon, 1972 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. The country was renamed the United Republic of Cameroon in 1972 and back to the Republic of Cameroon in 1984 by a presidential decree by President Paul Biya. Biya, the incumbent president, has led the country since 1982 following the resignation of Ahidjo; he previously held office as prime minister from 1975 onward. The official languages of Cameroon are French and English.

Seat of power: Yaoundé

Rulers

• Ahmadou Ahidjo, President of Cameroon, 1960–1982
• Paul Biya, President of Cameroon, 1982 to today