The Cameroon's' coastline lies on the Bight of Bonny which is part of Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. Because of Geological and Cultural diversity Cameroon is also called “Africa in Miniature”. Natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas. Over 200 different linguistic and ethnic groups lives here together. The country is famous for National Football Team and music particularly bikutsi and makossa.
In 1884, Cameroon turned into a German Colony and after World War I divided between Britain and France. The Union des Populations du Cameroun political party advocated independence but was outlawed in the 1950s. It waged war on French and Cameroonian forces until 1971.
In 1960, French Cameroun became independent as the Republic of Cameroun under President Ahmadou Ahidjo. The southern part of British Cameroons merged with it in 1961 and the Federal Republic of Cameroon was born. In 1972, the country was renamed the United Republic of Cameroon. Again in 1984 country was renamed the Republic of Cameroon.
Cameroon is more politically and socially stabilized country when compared to other South African nations. That's why Cameroon has good agriculture, roads, and petroleum and timber industries. The power lies solely in the hands of President of Cameroon.
Humans first inhabited the geography of present day Cameroon during Neolithic period. Pygmys and Bakas were main inhabitants. Sao culture developed during AD 500 near Chad Lake, this further lead to rise of Kanem–Bornu Empire.
In 1472, Portuguese approached here, they noticed great wealth in the Prawns and Crayfish in the Wouri River. In the early 19th century, Modibo Adama led Fulani soldiers on a jihad in the north against non-Muslim and partially Muslim peoples and established the Adamawa Emirate.
Cameroon has seen several invasions and wars including World War I and rise of German colony. In fact Cameroon was divided between two powerful nations France and United Kingdom; in 1960, Cameroon freed from France and in 1961 from United Kingdom.
The President of Cameroon is the supreme authority of the government. The president has full power to make work government organizations, command armed forces, and ratify treaties. President also has power to declare emergency if require.
Geographically, Cameroon is divided into 5 major zones; each zone is different from others in terms of physical, climatic and vegetative features. An irregular chain of mountains, hills, and plateaus known as the Cameroon range extends from Mount Cameroon on the coast.
Cameroon has Ntem, Nyong, Sanaga, and Wouri rivers in the south. These flow southwestward or westward directly into the Gulf of Guinea. The Dja and Kadéï drain southeastward into the Congo River. In the north, the Bénoué River runs north and west and empties into the Niger. The Logone flows northward into Lake Chad.
In 2005, Cameroon's per capita GDP was recorded as USD 2421, high for an African nation. Cameroon's major export market includes France, Italy, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Cameroon is part of the Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa (UDEAC) and the Bank of Central African States. Its currency is the CFA franc.
The unemployment rate and poverty is high in Cameroon; according to one estimate there were more than 48% people living below poverty line in 2000. Cameroon is working closely with IMF to reduce poverty and elevate the living status of people. Agriculture accounts for approximately 45% of GDP. The farming of bananas, cocoa, oil palms, rubber, coffee, sugar, cotton, groundnuts, rice, tobacco and tea is done on large-scale basis. Coffee is the main cash crop of Cameroon.
