Southwest Region (Cameroon)
The Southwest Region or South-West Region (French: Région du Sud-Ouest) of Cameroon is a province of Cameroon and constitutes part of the territory of Southern Cameroons. Its capital is Buea. 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.
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. 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.