British Cameroon

British Cameroon or the British Cameroons was a British-controlled League of Nations mandate later United Nations trust territory. The territory was originally a German protectorate known as Kamerun. During World War I, it was occupied by British, French and Belgians troops. Following the defeat of Germany, the German protectorate was placed under a League of Nations mandate entrusted to the administration of France for its eastern part and the United Kingdom for its western part.

France controlled most of the former German protectorate (four fifths of it) and was named French Cameroon, while the United Kingdom controlled the rest to the west next to Nigeria, which was under British rule since 1901.

Following the independence of Cameroon and Nigeria in 1960, a referendum was held in the British Cameroons under the supervision of the United Nations. People were asked  whether they would like to achieve independence by joining Nigeria or by joining Cameroon.

The northern part of the British Cameroons (Northern Cameroons) decided to join Nigeria and the southern part of the British Cameroons (Southern Cameroons) decided to join Cameroon. 

Today the Northern Cameroons forms part of the Adamawa, Borno and Taraba states of Nigeria while the Southern Cameroons forms part of the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon.

 References 

Category:1916 establishments
Category:1910s establishments in Africa
Category:1961 disestablishments in Africa
Category:History of Cameroon
Category:History of Nigeria
Category:Former British colonies
Category:Former colonies in Africa