History of Cameroon in Timeline

Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a Central African country bordering several nations, including Nigeria, Chad, and the Republic of the Congo. It has a coastline on the Bight of Biafra. Its strategic location places it at the crossroads of West and Central Africa. The population is around 31 million, with over 250 native languages spoken alongside English and French, the national languages. Yaoundé is the capital city.

1913: Anglo-German Agreement

In 1913, the Anglo-German Agreement was referenced by the ICJ in 2002, which gave sovereignty of the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon.

1919: Division of Kamerun

In 1919, after the defeat of Germany in World War I, Kamerun became a League of Nations mandate territory and was split into French Cameroon (French: Cameroun) and British Cameroon.

1932: Creation of protected reserves

In 1932, the first protected areas in Cameroon were created in the northern region under the colonial administration, which were the Mozogo Gokoro Reserve and the Bénoué Reserve.

March 1934: Establishment of Waza Reserve

On 24 March 1934, the Waza Reserve was established in Cameroon.

1946: United Nations Trusteeships

In 1946, the League of Nations mandates were converted into United Nations Trusteeships, making the question of independence a pressing issue in French Cameroon.

1950: Cameroon's Population

In 1950 the population of Cameroon was 4,466,000.

July 1955: Outlawing of the UPC

On 13 July 1955, France outlawed the pro-independence political party, the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC), prompting a long guerrilla war.

January 1960: Independence of French Cameroun

On 1 January 1960, French Cameroun gained independence from France under President Ahmadou Ahidjo as the Republic of Cameroon.

1960: Independence of the Republic of Cameroun

In 1960, the French-administered part of Cameroon became independent as the Republic of Cameroun, under President Ahmadou Ahidjo.

1960: Military support for Cameroon's government since independence

Since independence in 1960, the military has been crucial in supporting Cameroon's authoritarian government.

October 1961: Independence and Merger of Southern Cameroons

On 1 October 1961, the formerly British Southern Cameroons gained independence from the United Kingdom and merged into the Republic of Cameroon to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon.

1961: Federation of Southern British Cameroons

In 1961, the southern part of British Cameroons federated with the Republic of Cameroun to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon.

September 1966: CNU Becomes Sole Legal Party

On 1 September 1966, Ahidjo's political party, the Cameroon National Union (CNU), became the sole legal political party.

January 1971: End of National Liberation Insurgency

In January 1971, the national liberation insurgency between French Armed Forces and the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) came to an end.

1971: Suppression of the UPC

In 1971, Ahidjo continued to concentrate power in the presidency even after the suppression of the UPC.

May 1972: Referendum to Abolish Federal System

On 20 May 1972, a referendum was passed to abolish the federal system of government in favor of a United Republic of Cameroon.

1972: Abandonment of Federation

In 1972, the federation was abandoned, and the country was renamed the United Republic of Cameroon.

May 1975: National Flag Changed

On 20 May 1975, the national flag was changed with the two stars removed and replaced with a large central star as a symbol of national unity.

1975: Biya becomes Prime Minister

In 1975, Paul Biya held office as prime minister.

November 1982: Ahidjo Steps Down

On 4 November 1982, Ahidjo stepped down and left power to his constitutional successor, Paul Biya.

1982: FIFA World Cup showing

In 1982, Cameroon's national team had a strong showing in the FIFA World Cup.

1982: Biya Becomes President

In 1982, Paul Biya became the president of Cameroon following Ahidjo's resignation.

1984: Name Changed Back to Republic of Cameroon

In 1984, the country's name was changed back to the Republic of Cameroon by a presidential decree by President Paul Biya.

August 1986: Lake Nyos disaster

On 21 August 1986, Lake Nyos belched carbon dioxide, killing between 1,700 and 2,000 people.

1986: Decline in petroleum exploitation

Petroleum exploitation in Cameroon has fallen since 1986, but the sector remains substantial.

1987: Dja Faunal Reserve Inscribed by UNESCO

In 1987, Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon's first World Heritage Site, was inscribed on the list by UNESCO.

December 1990: Reintroduction of Multi-Party Politics

In December 1990, with the reintroduction of multi-party politics, former British Southern Cameroons pressure groups called for greater autonomy.

December 1990: Formation of Regional Political Groups

Until December 1990, President Biya's Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) was the only legal political party. Numerous regional political groups have since formed.

1990: FIFA World Cup showing

In 1990, Cameroon's national team had a strong showing in the FIFA World Cup.

1990: Forest cover in Cameroon

In 1990, forest cover in Cameroon was around 22,500,000 hectares (ha).

1992: Labour Code of Cameroon Enacted

In 1992, the Labour Code of Cameroon gave workers the freedom to belong to a trade union or not.

1994: Cameroon petitions the International Court of Justice

In 1994, Cameroon petitioned the International Court of Justice to resolve its border dispute with Nigeria over the Bakassi peninsula.

1996: Attempted cease-fire between Cameroon and Nigeria

In 1996, Cameroon and Nigeria attempted to establish a cease-fire in their dispute over the Bakassi peninsula; however, fighting continued.

1996: Establishment of Senate

The 1996 constitution establishes a second house of parliament, the 100-seat Senate.

1997: Establishment of Anti-Corruption Bureaus

In 1997, Cameroon established anti-corruption bureaus in 29 ministries, but only 25% became operational.

1998: Government revenue from logging

As of 1998, logging provided the government of Cameroon US$60 million a year in taxes.

2000: Olympics gold medal

In 2000, Cameroon won the gold medal at the Olympics.

2002: ICJ ruling on Bakassi peninsula

In 2002, the International Court of Justice ruled that the Anglo-German Agreement of 1913 gave sovereignty of the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon, denying Cameroon's request for compensation.

2004: Nigeria fails to meet deadline to hand over Bakassi peninsula

By 2004, Nigeria had failed to meet the deadline to hand over the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon, as per the ICJ ruling.

2004: Public debt reduction begins

During the 2004–2008 period, public debt in Cameroon began to be reduced from over 60% of GDP to 10%.

2004: Initiation of Fairtrade cotton production

In 2004, production of Fairtrade cotton was initiated in Cameroon.

2005: Increase in kidnappings by Central African bandits

Since 2005, kidnappings of Cameroonian citizens by Central African bandits have increased.

2005: Intensification of road banditry

Since 2005, road banditry has intensified in eastern Cameroon as the Central African Republic has further destabilised.

January 2006: Anti-Corruption Drive Initiated

On 18 January 2006, Biya initiated an anti-corruption drive under the direction of the National Anti-Corruption Observatory.

June 2006: UN-mediated summit facilitates Greentree Agreement

In June 2006, a UN-mediated summit facilitated an agreement for Nigeria to withdraw from the Bakassi region, resulting in the signing of the Greentree Agreement between both countries.

June 2006: Resolution of Bakassi Peninsula Dispute

In June 2006, talks concerning a territorial dispute over the Bakassi peninsula were resolved, resulting in Cameroonian control of the oil-rich peninsula.

August 2006: Completion of withdrawal and handover of Bakassi peninsula

By August 2006, the withdrawal and handover of control of the Bakassi peninsula from Nigeria to Cameroon was completed.

August 2006: Formal Handover of Northern Bakassi

In August 2006, the northern portion of the Bakassi peninsula was formally handed over to the Cameroonian government.

2007: Refugees and asylum seekers in Cameroon

In 2007, Cameroon hosted approximately 97,400 refugees and asylum seekers, with 49,300 from the Central African Republic, 41,600 from Chad, and 2,900 from Nigeria.

February 2008: Violent Protests in Cameroon

In February 2008, Cameroon experienced its worst violence in 15 years when a transport union strike in Douala escalated into violent protests in 31 municipal areas.

2008: Significant increase in official reserves

During the 2004–2008 period, official reserves in Cameroon quadrupled to over US$3 billion.

2008: Remainder of Bakassi Handed Over

In 2008, the remainder of the Bakassi peninsula was left to Cameroon.

November 2009: Militants Lay Down Arms in Bakassi

In November 2009, most militants laid down their arms in Bakassi, though some carried on fighting for years.

2012: Transparency International Ranking

In 2012, Transparency International placed Cameroon at number 144 on a list of 176 countries ranked from least to most corrupt.

2012: Top three deadly diseases

In 2012, the three most deadly diseases in Cameroon were HIV/AIDS, lower respiratory tract infection, and diarrheal diseases.

2012: Life expectancy in Cameroon

Life expectancy at birth was estimated to be 56 years in Cameroon in 2012, with 48 healthy life years expected.

2013: UNICEF report on FGM

According to a 2013 UNICEF report, 1% of women in Cameroon have undergone Female genital mutilation (FGM).

2013: Fertility rate in Cameroon

According to the WHO, the fertility rate in Cameroon was 4.8 in 2013 with a population growth rate of 2.56%.

2013: Primary school enrollment rate

In 2013, the primary school enrollment rate in Cameroon was 93.5%.

May 2014: Cameroon and Chad Wage War on Boko Haram

In May 2014, presidents Paul Biya of Cameroon and Idriss Déby of Chad announced they were waging war on Boko Haram and deployed troops to the Nigerian border.

June 2014: AlertNet report

On 4 June 2014, AlertNet reported:

December 2014: Boko Haram Attacks in Cameroon

In December 2014, Boko Haram launched several attacks into Cameroon, killing 84 civilians in a raid.

December 2014: Cameroon listed for child labor in cocoa production

In December 2014, a List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor issued by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs mentioned Cameroon among the countries that resorted to child labor in the production of cocoa.

2014: Population living below the poverty line

In 2014, 23.8% of the population in Cameroon was living below the international poverty threshold of US$1.90 a day.

2014: Healthcare expenditure as percentage of GDP

In 2014, just 4.1% of total GDP expenditure in Cameroon was allocated to healthcare.

2014: Contraceptive prevalence rate

In 2014, the contraceptive prevalence rate in Cameroon was estimated to be just 34.4%.

2014: Arrival of refugees from Central African Republic

In the first months of 2014, thousands of refugees fleeing the violence in the Central African Republic arrived in Cameroon.

2014: Start of operations at Kribi Deepwater Port

Kribi Deepwater Port in Cameroon started operations in 2014.

2014: Military combating Boko Haram

Since 2014, the military has been involved in combating Boko Haram.

January 2015: Defeat of Boko Haram

In January 2015, Boko Haram suffered a heavy defeat in a raid in Cameroon.

2015: Forest area under public ownership

In 2015, 100% of the forest area was reported to be under public ownership in Cameroon.

November 2016: Protests in Anglophone Regions

Since November 2016, protesters from the predominantly English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon have been campaigning for continued use of the English language in schools and courts.

December 2016: Women Africa Cup of Nations

In November–December 2016, Cameroon was the host country of the Women Africa Cup of Nations.

2016: HIV/AIDS prevalence and impact

In 2016, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Cameroon was estimated at 3.8% for those aged 15–49. It was also estimated that 46,000 children under age 14 were living with HIV in 2016. 29,000 deaths due to AIDS occurred in both adults and children in 2016.

2017: Internet Shutdown and Guerilla War

In 2017, Biya's government blocked the regions' access to the Internet for three months. Separatists started a guerilla war for the independence of the Anglophone region.

2017: Internet Shutdown in Anglophone Region

In 2017, President Biya shut down the Internet in the English-speaking region for 94 days, at the cost of hampering five million people.

2017: Agriculture's contribution to GDP

In 2017, agriculture comprised an estimated 16.7% of GDP in Cameroon, with an estimated 70% of the population involved in farming.

2017: Factory-based industry contribution to GDP

In 2017, factory-based industry accounted for an estimated 26.5% of GDP in Cameroon.

2017: Anglophone protests and declaration of Ambazonia

In 2017, language protests by the Anglophone population against perceived oppression by francophone speakers occurred and the military was deployed. This led to the declaration of an independent Republic of Ambazonia, evolving into the Anglophone Crisis.

2017: Escalation of Ambazonian Conflict

In 2017, tensions over the creation of an Ambazonian state in the English-speaking territories of Cameroon escalated into open warfare.

2017: Military handling Anglophone separatist movement

Since 2017, the military has been handling the Anglophone separatist movement.

July 2018: UN expresses concern about human rights violations in Cameroon

On 25 July 2018, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein expressed deep concern about reports of violations and abuses in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon.

September 2018: Cameroon Declares Victory Over Boko Haram

In September 2018, Cameroon declared victory over Boko Haram on Cameroonian territory.

2018: Transparency International Ranking

In 2018, Transparency International ranked Cameroon 152 on a list of 180 countries.

July 2019: Cameroon defends China's treatment of Uyghurs

In July 2019, Cameroon was among 37 countries that signed a joint letter to the UNHRC defending China's treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region.

2019: Continued Fighting Between Separatists and Government

As of 2019, fighting between separatist guerillas and government forces continues in Cameroon.

2019: Unemployment rate in Cameroon

Unemployment in Cameroon was estimated at 3.38% in 2019.

February 2020: Last Parliamentary Elections

The last parliamentary elections were held on 9 February 2020.

June 2020: Internal displacement due to Anglophone Crisis

It is estimated that by June 2020, 740,000 people had been internally displaced as a result of the Anglophone Crisis.

December 2020: Boko Haram increases attacks in Cameroon

Since December 2020, Human Rights Watch claimed that Boko Haram has stepped up attacks and killed at least 80 civilians in towns and villages in the Far North region of Cameroon.

2020: Terrorist Attacks and Government Reprisals

During 2020, numerous terrorist attacks and government reprisals have led to bloodshed throughout Cameroon.

2020: African Nations Championship

In 2020, Cameroon hosted the African Nations Championship.

2020: Forest cover statistics

In 2020, forest cover in Cameroon was around 43% of the total land area, equivalent to 20,340,480 hectares (ha) of forest, with 20,279,380 hectares (ha) being naturally regenerating forests and 61,100 hectares (ha) being planted forests.

December 2021: Ethnic Clashes in Northern Cameroon

In December 2021, more than 30,000 people in northern Cameroon fled to Chad after ethnic clashes over access to water.

2021: Africa Cup of Nations

In 2021, Cameroon hosted the Africa Cup of Nations.

2021: Population of Cameroon in 2021

The population of Cameroon was 27,198,628 in 2021.

2024: Global Hunger Index Rank

In the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Cameroon ranks 79th out of 127 countries with sufficient data, with a GHI score of 18.3, considered moderate.

2025: Global Innovation Index Ranking

Cameroon was ranked 116th in the Global Innovation Index in 2025.

2025: Estimated per capita GDP

Cameroon's per capita GDP (Purchasing power parity) was estimated at US$5.760 in 2025.

2025: Post-Election Protests

In the aftermath of the 2025 Cameroonian presidential election, a series of protests broke out after allegations of electoral fraud were made by the opposition.