Cameroon–Central African Republic border
A line of rivers and straight segments from the Sangha to the Mbéré, set by France and Germany in 1908. For a few years before World War I, German corridors along the Sangha and Lobaye rivers cut French Equatorial Africa into three pieces.
Written from cited sourcesLast checked 29 September 2026Suggest a correction
See it on the globe:Cameroon →Central African Republic →
From 1894 to 1908
A Franco-German protocol of 4 February 1894, confirmed by a convention on 15 March, drew the first line between German Kamerun and French Congo north to Lake Chad, running up the Sangha and then in straight lines and along the 15th meridian. A new convention of 18 April 1908 replaced it; its line between the Sangha and Mbéré rivers is today’s Cameroon–Central African Republic border.[1]
“…thence extending northward, it shall follow the Sangha River for a distance of 30 kilometers…”[1]
The 1911 corridors
A Franco-German convention of November 1911 redrew almost the whole border. France gave Germany a corridor along both banks of the Sangha to the Congo river and a second along the Lobaye to the Ubangi, just south of Bangui, splitting French Equatorial Africa into three separate pieces. In return Germany gave France land between the Logone and Chari rivers south of Fort-Lamy.[1]
After World War I the land France had ceded went back to French Equatorial Africa, but the land Germany had ceded stayed French and was not returned to Cameroon. The 1908 line was restored between the Sangha and the Mbéré.[1]
Timeline
189415 March 1894
First convention
Kamerun and French Congo are divided north to Lake Chad.[1]
190818 April 1908
New convention
Today’s line is set.[1]
1911November 1911
German corridors
Germany gains strips to the Congo and Ubangi rivers.[1]
1919
Corridors returned
After World War I the 1908 line returns.[1]
192222 July 1922
Mandates
France gets most of former German Cameroon.[1]
More borders
Cameroon
Sources
- [1]International Boundary Study No. 107: Cameroon – Central African Republic Boundary · US Department of State, Office of the Geographer · 1 December 1970
Map geometry from Natural Earth via world-atlas. See credits.