Southwest Province

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Divisions of Southwest Cameroon

Southwest Province
Capital	Buea
Divisions	Fako Koupe-et-Manengouba Lebialem Manyu Meme Ndian
Area	24,571 km²
Inhabitants	838,042 (1987)
Pop. density	34 inh./km² (ranked 5th)
Governor	Louis Eyeya Zanga

For the region of Burkina Faso, see Sud-Ouest Region.

The Southwest Province is a province of Cameroon. Its capital is Buea. As of 1987, its population was 838,042. Along with the Northwest Province, it is one of the two anglophone (english-speaking) provinces of Cameroon, and has long been a hotbed of separatist resentment against the perceived Francophone domination of the country.

The province is divided into six divisions or préfectures: Fako, Kupe-Manenguba, Lebialem, Manyu, Meme, and Ndian. These are in turn broken down into subdivisions. Presidentially appointed senior divisional officers (prefets) and subdivisional officers sous-prefets) govern each respectively.

The province was notable for having the first english-speaking university in Cameroon (the University of Buea), the first vice-chancellor being Professor Tanyi Mbuagbaw. Akin to the Northwest Province, the Southwest enjoys a considerably better infrastructure than its francophone neighbours.

Lobe Falls, near Limbe.

Important towns include the capital Buea, Limbe, Tiko, and Kumba. Limbe in particular is a popular tourist resort notable for its fine beaches. Korup National Park is also a major attraction. Buea itself, meanwhile, sits at the foot of Mount Cameroon, and possesses an almost temperate climate markedly different from the rest of the province.