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23-866: The Menchum River and its tributaries drains a large area of the Northwest Region of Cameroon . It in turn is a tributary of the Benue River in Nigeria . The Menchum, Donga and Katsina Ala rivers all flow west from the Northeast Region to join the Benue in Nigeria. The Menchum drains the Oku-Kom highlands, which have an elevation of 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) around Lake Oku , falling to about 800 metres (2,600 ft) at Mbonkissu to

46-627: A 70-member House of Divisional Representatives nominated by municipal councils. The Regional Assembly appoints a Regional Executive Council. Additional powers over health and education were also granted to municipalities. The Regional Executive Council is led by the President of the Regional Assembly and includes a vice president, three commissioners, two secretaries and a questor. The Northwest Region has many ethnic groups, including immigrants from other regions and countries. Nigeria

69-716: Is a region with special status in Cameroon . Its capital is Bamenda . The Northwest Region was part of the Southern Cameroons , found in the western highlands of Cameroon. It is bordered to the southwest by the Southwest Region , to the south by the West Region , to the east by the Adamawa Region , and to the north by Nigeria . Various Ambazonian nationalist and separatist factions regard

92-579: Is higher than the national average of 22.6. The provincial urban growth rate is 7.95%, higher than the national average of 5.6%, while the rural growth rate, at 1.16%, is equal to the national rate. In 2001, according to the Statistical Provincial Services of the North-West Province, the population of the province is young, with over 62% of its residents being less than 20 years old. Therefore, the dependency rate in

115-481: Is low-lying, and used to be covered in equatorial forests. These have mostly been cleared for their timber, leaving open grassland that is used for grazing, and is subject to erosion on the slopes. Efforts are being made to reforest the valley. 6°15′53″N 10°02′23″E  /  6.264793°N 10.039787°E  / 6.264793; 10.039787 Northwest Region (Cameroon) The Northwest Region , or North-West Region (French: Région du Nord-Ouest )

138-683: Is well represented, as it borders the region to both the north and the northwest. The native population comprises a variety of ethnic and linguistic groups. The main ethnic groups are of Tikar origin: Tikari , Widikum , Fulani , and Moghamo . The most widely spoken languages in the province include Mungaka , Limbum , Yamba, spoken by the Yamba people also of the Donga Mantung Division; Bafmen, Oku , Lamnso , Ngemba, Pidgin English , Balikumbat , Papiakum, Moghamo , and Nkom . During

161-491: The 1961 British Cameroons referendum . At the end of 2017, an Ambazonian separatist movement in the two English-speaking regions of North West and South West began a wave of violence affecting soldiers, police, business leaders and workers. Separatist activists are trying in particular to prevent children from returning to school. Between 2016 and 2019, sepretists reportedly ransacked, destroyed or burned down more than 174 schools. The Northwest Region (known before 2008 as

184-669: The Bamoun Kingdom , in the 1700s. In 1884, the region was colonized by Germany under the regime of the protectorate until 1916 when it became a condominium administered jointly by the United Kingdom and the France . In 1919, the administration of the North West region, as part of Southern Cameroons became solely British. In 1961, the region joined Cameroon as part of the federated state of West Cameroon , under

207-578: The Federal Republic of Cameroon . West Cameroon was to enjoy autonomy within the federation, with its own legislature and regional government. Following a referendum held on 20 May 1972 , a new constitution came to effect on 2 June 1972, which reconstituted Cameroon as a unitary state . West Cameroon was abolished and replaced by two regions, the Northwest Region and Southwest region . A nationalist movement, which seeks to establish an independent state, to be known as Ambazonia , exists in

230-577: The southern region of British administered Cameroon . As part of the process of decolonization, voters were asked in a referendum held in 1961 whether they wished to join either Nigeria or Cameroon. With a majority opting to join Cameroon, the British administered Southern Cameroons were integrated into the Republic of Cameroon, which had gained independence from France in the previous year, to form

253-595: The Mezam division. Each division is further subdivided, with thirty-one total subdivisions in the Northwest Province. The basic unit of local government is the council, and there are thirty-two councils in the region. The Northwest is a stronghold of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) which is one of the main opposition parties of Cameroon. Some Northwesterners feel completely marginalized by

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276-485: The Northwest Province) is the third most populated province in Cameroon. It has one major metropolitan city, Bamenda , with several other smaller towns such as Wum , Kumbo , Mbengwi , Ndop , Nkambé , Batibo , Bambui , Bafut and Oshie . The province saw an increase in its population from approximately 1.2 million in 1987 to 1.8 million in 2010. The population density of 99.12 people per square kilometer

299-898: The Northwest Region is the Kilum-Ijim Forest . Menchum Falls , and Abbi Falls in the Mbengwi Division , are also located here. West Cameroon The German Empire established the Kamerun protectorate in August 1884. At the conclusion of the First World War , the Treaty of Versailles divided German Kamerun between France and the United Kingdom, with what would become West Cameroon becoming

322-538: The Northwest Region. As part of the Major National Dialogue , the region was given a "special status" in December 2019, granting additional rights and responsibilities in relation to economic, health, social, educational, sports and cultural development. Under the special status the region has a bicameral Regional Assembly, made up of a 20-member House of Chiefs composed of traditional leaders and

345-460: The colonial period, administrative boundaries were created which cut across ethnic groups and cultures. As a result, parts of some ethnic groups now lie in different divisions and provinces, which is believed to have led to several land conflicts. In the provinces, the social organization recognizes a chief as its head, also called the Fon . The Fons, who in their tribal area may be more influential than

368-616: The government. There is also a secessionist movement, the SCNC ( Southern Cameroons National Council ) whose goal is to secede from Cameroon and form a republic consisting of the English-speaking regions. Much of the SCNC's influence exists in the Northwest. In 2008, the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya , signed decrees abolishing "Provinces" and replacing them with "Regions". The Northwest Province subsequently became

391-550: The official administrative authorities, are considered the living representative of the tribal ancestors. The Northwest region has unique attractions, including the second highest mountain in West Africa , Mount Oku . It is home to birds such as the Bannerman's turaco , which is unique to this region. There are also many crater lakes such as Lake Oku , Lake Awing , and Lake Nyos . The largest remaining mountain forest in

414-476: The ongoing Anglophone Crisis . Ambazonian separatist movements plan on damming the Menchum Falls after independence to not only gain electricity self-sufficiency for their new country, but also to export to Cameroon and Nigeria. The rich volcanic soils in the highlands have attracted farmers and grazers, and the resulting land clearances have made the area vulnerable to soil erosion. The Menchum Valley

437-486: The province is high, particularly in the rural areas. Like other regions in Cameroon, the Northwest Region is made up of administrative divisions. The province was created in 1972 with five divisions or departments : Bui , Donga-Mantung , Menchum , Mezam , and Momo . Today, it has seven divisions, the additions being Boyo , which was carved out of the Menchum division, and Ngo-Ketunjia or Ngoketunjia, split off from

460-491: The rainy season. On 7 September 2009, Agreenergy and the Government of Cameroon signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a project to build a dam and 90MW hydroelectric power plant on the river. Apart from bringing electricity and jobs, the project would involve surfacing the road. On 8 December 2010 President Paul Biya announced plans to construct a dam on the Menchum Falls. The Menchum Falls have political significance in

483-531: The region as being distinct as a polity from Cameroon. In 1919, the Northwest Region became solely administered by the United Kingdom . In 1961, the region joined the Cameroon . Ambazonian separatists regard both the North-West and South-West regions as being constituent components of their envisaged breakaway state. The origins of the region are linked to the settlement of the Tikar people who joined

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506-408: The region resulting in an armed conflict breaking out in 2017. The constitution of West Cameroon gave the region its own legislature, regional government led by a prime minister, civil service and police force. The federal constitution gave the institutions of West Cameroon executive and legislative competence in all areas not specifically reserved for the federal government. Executive authority

529-421: The west of Fundong . The highlands, formed by volcanic action, have been dissected by steep valleys carved out by fast-flowing streams. The Menchum Falls, about 20 km south of Wum and 30 km north of Bafut , are impressive and a potential tourist attraction. However, the access road is very rough, and the viewing site is not well maintained. A 2003 guide stated that the road was virtually impassable in

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