Kamerun

Kamerun is the German spelling of Cameroon, a country in Central Africa. It was a German colonial possession from 1884 to 1916 along the Gulf of Guinea. After World War I the territory was divided under the Treaty of Versailles into French Cameroun and British Cameroons. French Cameroun gained independence as the Republic of Cameroon on 1 January 1960. In 1961 the British Southern Cameroons joined Cameroon after a plebiscite, creating a larger federation; in 1972 the country became the United Republic of Cameroon, and in 1984 it was renamed the Republic of Cameroon.

Geography and population: Cameroon stretches from Atlantic coastlands through coastal plains and tropical forests to the highlands of the Adamawa Plateau and Mount Cameroon. It borders Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, the Republic of the Congo and Gabon to the south. The population is ethnically diverse, with dozens of languages spoken across numerous ethnic groups. French and English are the official languages, reflecting the country’s colonial history, while many indigenous languages are used in daily life.

Economy and society: Cameroon has a mixed economy with agriculture (including cocoa, coffee, bananas, and palm oil), oil and gas, timber, and minerals. Urban centers such as Douala and Yaoundé are major economic hubs, while rural areas remain important for agriculture. The country participates in regional organizations and maintains a developing infrastructure and services sector.

Governance: Cameroon is a unitary semi-presidential republic. Yaoundé is the capital; Douala is the largest city and major port. The country is a member of regional bodies such as the African Union and Francophonie.