Cameroon–Gabon border
A short line along the Kyé, Ntem, Kom and Ayina rivers, fixed by France and Germany in 1908. In 1911 Germany pushed Cameroon’s border far to the south, but after World War I the line went back to where it was.
Written from cited sourcesLast checked 29 September 2026Suggest a correction
See it on the globe:Cameroon →Gabon →
German Kamerun, French Congo
Germany proclaimed a protectorate over Kamerun in July 1884, and a Franco-German protocol of 24 December 1885 ran the line inland along the Campo river and then a parallel, later fixed at 2°10′20″ north. A Franco-German convention of 1908 redrew the whole Kamerun–French Congo border; its line along the Kyé, Ntem, Kom and Ayina rivers is today’s Cameroon–Gabon border.[1]
Just before World War I, a convention of 4 November 1911 moved the border with Gabon considerably south, as part of a deal that gave Germany land from French Equatorial Africa. After the war that land was returned to French Equatorial Africa, and the 1908 line came back.[1]
Independence
The League of Nations gave France and Britain mandates over Cameroon in 1922. French Cameroun became independent on 1 January 1960 and joined the former British Southern Cameroons on 1 October 1961. Gabon proclaimed independence on 17 August 1960.[1]
Timeline
1884July 1884
German protectorate
Germany claims Kamerun.[1]
188524 December 1885
First Franco-German line
The Campo river and a parallel are agreed.[1]
1908
Franco-German convention
Today’s Cameroon–Gabon line is set.[1]
19114 November 1911
Line moved south
Germany gains land from French Equatorial Africa.[1]
1919
Land restored
After World War I the 1908 line returns.[1]
1960
Independence
Cameroon (1 January) and Gabon (17 August) become independent.[1]
More borders
Sources
- [1]International Boundary Study No. 115: Cameroon – Gabon Boundary · US Department of State, Office of the Geographer · 24 September 1971
Map geometry from Natural Earth via world-atlas. See credits.