Cameroon

Yaoundé is the capital of Cameroon. Although Douala is the country’s largest city and commercial hub, the seat of government, presidency, and national assembly are in Yaoundé. Founded by German explorers in 1888, it became the capital of French Cameroon in 1922 and remained the national capital at independence. Located inland on high hills, Yaoundé’s cooler climate made it attractive to colonial administrators; Douala, on the coast, grew as the main port. Memory tip: D for Douala = Docks and Dollars (economic capital); Y for Yaoundé = Yes to government (political capital) up-country on the Y-axis. Knowing this split—economic vs. political—helps avoid the common mix-up.