MAPPING OF BUILDING AND FLUCTUATION OF CAMEROON
FRONTIER FROM 1894 TO 1960
M.
Tchindjang1, S.A.
Abossolo1, A. Bopda2, F.V. Menga1, Z. Fogwe
Nji3
1 - The University
of Yaounde I, Department of Geography,
Yaounde, Cameroon
2 - Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, National
Institute of Cartography, Departement of Geographical Rsearch, Yaounde, Cameroon
3 - The University
of Douala, Department of Geography, Douala, Cameroon
mtchind@yahoo.fr
Cameroon border is a product of colonial
system conceived in Berlin Conference of 1884. Before this, colonial powers
justified it imperialism by juridical or moral principles. But Cameroon was more attractive due to its central
position at the heart of Africa continent.
Cameroon coast began to be recognized in the
15th century during the slave trade that attracted Portuguese, Dutch
and English for its commercial and geostrategic position. German came later and
penetrated the whole country northwards to Lake Chad
and eastwards to Sangha river border.
Since the Berlin Conference held on 15th
November 1884 that consecrated the splitting of Africa
continent, Cameron became a nation whose border due to hard negotiation and
interest between colonial powers changed many times. This mapping illustrated
the main steps of fluctuation of Cameroon frontiers. The cartography
shows that Cameroon is the
main nation of Central Africa that have being
splitting many times. This is explained by the necessity for colonial masters
to normalize and limit or avoid conflicts amongst them in order to ensure the
future. Thus we are far from this idea because till today, there are many
dispute borders and conflicts within Africa.
Our paper
shall carry the splitting in 19th and 20th Century,
aiming at helping us to take in account the colonial stability and to realise
the deep German penetration in Cameroon
hinterland. Mapping and GIS allowed us
to retrace definitely the major features of that historical period.