Even as Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis continues, some of the separatists who once fought for independence for the country’s English-speaking regions have put down their weapons in the hope of reintegrating into civilian life. The government’s 2018 offer of amnesty for those agreed to stop fighting was not widely taken up, but those who did accept have been attending special DDR (disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration) camps. Our correspondents were able to follow the daily routine of some former fighters at one of these camps.
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In This Story: Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa and West Africa.
Cameroon is home to over 250 native languages spoken by nearly 25 million people. Cameroon became a German colony in 1884 known as Kamerun. In 1960, the French-administered part of Cameroon became independent. The southern part of British Cameroons federated with it in 1961 to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. The federation was abandoned in 1972. The country was renamed the United Republic of Cameroon in 1972 and the Republic of Cameroon in 1984.
The official languages of Cameroon are French and English. Its religious population consists of 70.7% Christians and 24.4% Muslims. It is governed as a Unitary presidential republic and has good relations with the major powers of France, the United Kingdom and China.
The largest cities in population-terms are Douala on the Wouri River, its economic capital and main seaport, Yaoundé, its political capital, and Garoua.
The country is well known for its successful national football team.