British Cameroon

British Cameroons was a territory in West Africa that existed from 1916 to 1961. Following World War I, it became a League of Nations mandate, later a United Nations trust, administered by Britain. This territory was a strip of land along Nigeria's eastern border, bisected by the Benue River. British rule was characterized by neglect, leading to resentment among the local population and a significant influx of Nigerians. The economy was largely based on plantations managed by the Cameroon Development Corporation, with growing production of cacao, coffee, and bananas. In contrast, French Cameroun, administered separately, saw greater agricultural, industrial, and infrastructural development. Upon independence, French Cameroun had a higher gross national product per capita, better education, healthcare, and infrastructure than British Cameroons.1

After World War II, both territories moved toward independence. French Cameroun became the Republic of Cameroon in 1960. In a 1961 plebiscite, the southern part of British Cameroons voted to unite with the Republic of Cameroon, forming the Federal Republic of Cameroon, while the northern part joined Nigeria.23