French Cameroon

**French Cameroon**, dem sanso know am as de **French Cameroons** (French: *Cameroun*), na e be a French mandate territory insyd Central Africa. E now dey form part of de independent country of Cameroon.

Eastern part of de former German colony of Cameroon (German: *Deutsche Kolonie Kamerun*). Na ein status, from 1919, be dat of a ‘mandated territory’ of de League of Nations (LON), later e cam be a ‘trust territory’ under de United Nations (UN). Na e sanso be a member of de French Union as an associated territory, then a trust state of Cameroon, den finally a member state of de French Community.

## History

### Beginnings
Na de area of present-day Cameroon cam under German sovereignty during de "Scramble for Africa" at de end of de 19th century. Na de German protectorate commence insyd 1884 plus a treaty plus local chiefs insyd de Douala area, in particular Ndumbe Lobe Bell, then gradually na e extended to de interior. Insyd 1911, na France cede parts of ein territory to German Cameroon, as a result of de Agadir Crisis, na de new territory henceforth be known as *Neukamerun* ("New Cameroon"). During World War I, na de German protectorate be occupied by British den French troops, den later e be mandated to each country by de League of Nations insyd 1922. Na de British mandate be known as British Cameroons wey de French mandate as French Cameroon (French: *Cameroun*). Dey follow World War II na dem make each of de mandate territories a United Nations Trust Territory. An insurrection wey Ruben Um Nyobé head den de Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) erupt insyd 1955, e be strongly repressed by de French Fourth Republic. Na French Cameroon cam be independent as de *Republic of Cameroon* insyd January 1960 den insyd October 1961 na de southern part of British Cameroons join am make dem form de *Federal Republic of Cameroon*. Na de Muslim northern part of British Cameroons opt for union plus Nigeria insyd May de same year. Na de conflict plus de UPC last til de 1970s.

### Interwar period
After World War I, na dem no integrate French Cameroon to French Equatorial Africa (AEF) buh na dem make a "*Commissariat de la République autonome*" under French mandate. Na France enact an assimilationist policy plus de aim of having make dem forget German presence, by teaching French on all of de territory den dey impose French law, while dem dey pursue de "indigenous politics", wich na consist of keeping control of de judiciary system dem of de police, while dem dey tolerate traditional law issues. Na de colonial administration sanso follow public health policies (na Eugène Jamot do sam research on sleeping sickness) as well as dem dey encourage Francophony. Na dem invite Charles Atangana, designated paramount chief by de Germans, den oda local chiefs to France, den Paul Soppo Priso dem name presido of de JEUCAFRA (Cameroon French Youth). Na Charles Atangana go visit de 1931 Paris Colonial Exhibition den attend de 1935 French Colonial Conference. Na France take care to make disappear all remains of German presence wey na dem aim at eradicating any trace of Germanophilia.  French racism cam be prevalent thru out de colony rather quickly, wey na anti-French sentiment follow wey go be strengthened insyd de late 1940s.

### World War II

Insyd 1940, na French Cameroon rally to Free France. Na troops under General Philippe Leclerc land at Douala, wey dem capture am on 27 August, wey na dem then move go Yaounde, wer pro-Vichy France governor Richard Brunot surrender de civil administration.

### Post-war
After World War II, na dem make French Cameroon a United Nations Trust Territory wey na dem unify am into de French Union. From de beginning of de 1940s, na colonial authorities encourage a policy of agricultural diversification into monocultural crops: coffee insyd de west, cotton insyd de North den cocoa insyd de south. Na dem allow construction of roads for greater exploitation of wood. Of a total of three million inhabitants, na de French Cameroon territory count 10% settlers, chaw wey be resident for decades, den approximatively 15,000 people dem link to de colonial administration (civil servants, private agents, missionaries etc.) 

### Self rule insyd 1956 den continuation of de war
Insyd 1957–58, na Pierre Messmer, a Gaullist den head of de *haut-commissaire* of Cameroon (executive branch of de French government) start a decolonisation process wich na e go further dan de 1956 loi-Defferre (Defferre Act). At de same time, na de Fourth Republic be stranded insyd de Algerian War (1954–62). Na e manage to obtain support of Britain insyd Cameroon.

### Colony den mandate
Na de area of present-day Cameroon be claimed by Germany as a protectorate during de "Scramble for Africa" at de end of de 19th century. During World War I, na e be occupied by French den Belgian troops.

### Independence
French Cameroon cam be independent as de Republic of Cameroon on 1 January 1960, wey na dem schedule Nigeria for independence later dat same year, wich na e raise question of wat to do plus de British territory. After sam discussion (wich na dey go on since 1959), na dem agree to a plebiscite (British Cameroons referendum) wey na dem hold am on 11 February 1961. Na de Muslim-majority Northern Cameroons area opt for union plus Nigeria, wey na de Southern Cameroons area vote make dem join Cameroon.

Northern Cameroons cam be a region of Nigeria on 31 May 1961, while Southern Cameroons cam be part of de Federal Republic of Cameroon on 1 October.

## References


## External links

* Cameroons under French Administration Trusteeship Documents – UN Documentation: Trusteeship Council