Southwest Region (Cameroon)
| Southwest Region | |
| Region | |
 The capital Buea from the foot of Mount Cameroon | |
| Country | Cameroon |
|---|---|
| Departments | Fako, Koupé-Manengouba, Lebialem, Manyu, Meme, Ndian |
| Capital | Buea |
| Area | 25,410 km2 (9,811 sq mi) |
| Population | 1,481,433 (2013) |
| Density | 58/km2 (150/sq mi) (5th) |
| Governor | Bernard Okalia B. |
 Location of Southwest Region within Cameroon | |
The Southwest Region or South-West Region (French: Région du Sud-Ouest) is a province of Cameroon that constitutes part of the territory of Southern Cameroons. Its capital is Buea.[1] As of 1987, its population was 838,042. Along with the Northwest Region, it is one of the two anglophone (English-speaking) regions of Cameroon, and has long been a hotbed of separatist resentment against the perceived Francophone domination of the country.[2]
The region is divided into six divisions or departments: Fako, Koupé-Manengouba, Lebialem, Manyu, Meme, and Ndian. These are in turn broken down into subdivisions.[3] Presidentially appointed senior divisional officers (prefets) and subdivisional officers (sous-prefets) govern each respectively.
The region 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 Region, the Southwest enjoys a considerably better infrastructure than its francophone neighbours.
Towns include the capital Buea, Limbe, Tiko, Kumba and Mamfe. 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.
Coordinates: 4°10′N 9°14′E / 4.167°N 9.233°E
- ↑ User, Super. "BUEA". cvuc.cm (in French). Retrieved 2017-08-07.
- ↑ "Au Cameroun, dans les régions anglophones, la crise se durcit". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2017-01-18. ISSN 1950-6244. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
- ↑ "Région du Sud-Ouest". cvuc.cm (in French). Retrieved 2017-08-07.