Why did southern British Cameroons join the Republic of Cameroon in 1961?

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Following the end of World War II, the future of the British-administered territory of British Cameroons became a central political question. The region faced a choice between remaining with the Federation of Nigeria or uniting with the newly independent Republic of Cameroon, which had gained its independence from France on January 1, 1960.123

This decision was resolved through a United Nations-supervised plebiscite held in February 1961. In this vote, the southern portion of British Cameroons chose to unite with the former French Cameroun, leading to the creation of the Federal Republic of Cameroon. Conversely, the northern portion of the territory voted to join Nigeria.123