East Cameroon () was a federated state within the Federal Republic of Cameroon that existed between 1961 and 1972. It was formed on 1 October 1961 when the independent Republic of Cameroon was federated with the formerly British-administered Southern Cameroons to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon and abolished on 2 June 1972 when Cameroon became a unitary state.
History
The German Empire established the Kamerun protectorate in August 1884. At the conclusion of the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles divided German Kamerun between France and the United Kingdom, with what would become East Cameroon becoming French Cameroon.
French Cameroon became independent as the Republic of Cameroon on 1 January 1960. Voters in neighbouring British administered Southern Cameroons were asked in a referendum held in 1961 whether they wished to join either Nigeria or Cameroon. With a majority opting to join Cameroon, the British administered Southern Cameroons was federated with the Republic of Cameroon, to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon on 1 October 1961.Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich, & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p. 177
Following a referendum held on 20 May 1972, a new constitution came to effect on 2 June 1972, which reconstituted Cameroon as a unitary state with the federated state of East Cameroon being abolished.
Governance The constitution of East Cameroon gave the region its own legislature and regional government led by a prime minister. The federal constitution gave the institutions of East Cameroon executive and legislative competence in all areas not specifically reserved for the federal government. Executive Executive authority was vested in an Executive Council made up of the Prime Minister and other Secretaries of State. Prime ministers PortraitNameElectionTerm of officePolitical partyPresidentTook officeLeft officeTime in officePrime Minister of East Cameroon Charles Assalé 1964 1961 1965 UCAhmadou Ahidjo Vincent de Paul Ahanda — 1965 1965 UC Simon Pierre Tchoungui— 1965 1972 UC UNC
Legislature East Cameroon had a 100-member unicameral Legislative Assembly. President of the Legislative Assembly of East Cameroon Name Entered office Left officeLouis Kemayou19611970Sanda Oumarou19701972
See also West Cameroon
References
External links Constitution of East Cameroon