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Southwest Region | |
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 Location of Southwest Region within Cameroon | |
| Country | Cameroon |
| Capital | Buea |
| Divisions | Fako,Koupé-Manengouba,Lebialem,Manyu,Meme,Ndian |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Bernard Okalia B. |
| • President of the Regional Assembly & Executive Council | Zacheus Bakoma[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 25,410 km2 (9,810 sq mi) |
| Population (2015) | |
• Total | 1,553,320 |
| • Density | 61.13/km2 (158.3/sq mi) |
| HDI (2022) | 0.676[2] medium ·2nd of 10 |
TheSouthwest Region orSouth-West Region (French:Région du Sud-Ouest) is aregion withspecial status inCameroon. Its capital isBuea.[3] As of 2015[update], its population was 1,553,320. Along with theNorthwest Region, it is one of the twoAnglophone (English-speaking) regions of Cameroon. VariousAmbazonian nationalist and separatist factions regard the South-West region as being distinct as a polity from Cameroon.[4]
In 1884, the region was colonized byGermany under theProtectorate regime until 1916 when it became acondominium administered jointly by theUnited Kingdom andFrance.[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 ofWest Cameroon.[6]
At the end of 2017, anAmbazonian separatist movement in the two English-speaking regions of theNorth-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 theAmbazonia administration regard both the Northwest and Southwest regions as being constituent components of their envisaged breakaway state.[8]
The region is divided into sixdivisions ordepartments:Fako,Koupé-Manengouba,Lebialem,Manyu,Meme andNdian. These are in turn broken down into subdivisions.[9] Presidentially appointed senior divisional officers (prefets) and subdivisional officers (sous-prefets) govern each respectively.
As part of theMajor 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]
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 |
The region was notable for having the first English-speaking university in Cameroon (the University of Buea).Towns include the capitalBuea,Limbe,Tiko,Kumba andMamfe. 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 ofMount Cameroon, and possesses an almost temperate climate markedly different from the rest of the province.
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The province is largelyAnglophone and Protestant Christian.[15]
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 620,515 | — |
| 1987 | 838,042 | +2.77% |
| 2005 | 1,316,079 | +2.54% |
| 2015 | 1,553,320 | +1.67% |
| source:[16] | ||
4°10′N9°14′E / 4.167°N 9.233°E /4.167; 9.233
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