| Southwest Region | |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Cameroon |
| Parts Type: | Divisions |
| Parts Style: | para |
| P1: | Fako |
| P2: | Koupé-Manengouba |
| P3: | Lebialem |
| P4: | Manyu |
| P5: | Meme |
| P6: | Ndian |
| Leader Title1: | Governor |
| Leader Name1: | Bernard Okalia B. |
| Seat: | Buea |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Area Total Km2: | 25410 |
| Population As Of: | 2015 |
| Population Total: | 1553320 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Blank Name Sec2: | HDI (2017) |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 0.599[1] · 6th of 10 |
The Southwest Region or South-West Region is a region in Cameroon. Its capital is Buea.[2], 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 Sud-Ouest region as being distinct as a polity from Cameroon.[3]
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 the France.[4] In 1919, the administration of the South West region became solely British.In 1961, the region joined Cameroon.[5]
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[6] Separatists from the Ambazonia administration regard both the Nord-Ouest (Northwest) and Sud-Ouest (Southwest) regions as being constituent components of their envisaged breakaway state.[7]
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.[8] Presidentially appointed senior divisional officers (French: prefets) and subdivisional officers (French: sous-prefets) govern each respectively.
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 BeachFile:Bota Beach, Limbe.jpg | View of Bota BeachFile:Semme beach - Flickr - EOS Cameroun.jpg | View of Semme Beach, LimbeFile:Limbe view with Bioko.jpg | View of Bioko Beach, LimbeFile:Mer plage Limbé.jpg | Tourist in Limbe BeachFile:Down Beach sur la rive.jpg | Fishing Canoes in Down Beach, LimbeFile:IMG-20190626-WA0017.jpg | Limbe Beach with beautiful sandy shoreFile:Korup National park.jpg | Waterfall in Korup ParkFile:University of Buea 01.jpg | University of Buea Parking SpaceFile:Mount Cameroon view from Buea (Soppo).jpg | View of Mount Cameroon from SopoFile:University Buea.JPG | Administration Building, UBFile:Silicon Mountain as seen in Buea, Cameroon on 26-06-2019.jpg | View of Buea CityFile:Reunification monument in Buea.jpg | Extensive view of a Reunification Monument in BueaFile:Buea-Reunification-Monument.jpeg | Closer view of the Buea Reunification Monument |
The province is largely Anglophone and Protestant Christian.[9]
| Eru and WaterfufuFile:Poisson braisé de Tayap.jpg | Fish barbecue and fried potatoFile:Poulet braisé, frites et bières..JPG | Chicken barbecue at "48 spices", BueaFile:Le riz jollof façon buea.jpg | Jollof riceFile:Le ndolè, plat mythique camerounais..jpg | Ndole and plantains with boboloFile:Le KOKI.gif | Koki mostly eaten by Barondo peopleFile:Riz blanc accompagné d'un bouillon d'escargots du village..JPG | Snails and rice |