thumb|Buea city with a view of Mt Cameroon

thumb|Empty street in Buea On Monday

thumb|How houses are constructed in Buea

Buea is the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. The city is located in Fako Division, on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon, and has a population of about 47,300 inhabitants as of 2025. In late-June 2018, the Ambazonia Defence Forces began approaching Buea, and on 29 June they invaded the Mile 16 neighborhood. On 1 July, separatists invaded the Muea neighborhood and battled Cameroonian troops.

Notable institutions

Buea hosts the University of Buea, Cameroon's first anglophone university. It is the site of several other higher institutes of learning, including St Francis Schools of Nursing and Midwifery presently known as Biaka University Institute of Buea (BUIB) and one of Cameroon's three Catholic universities.

thumb|UB Junction

A handful of colonial era buildings are surviving, notably the palatial former residence of the German governor Jesko von Puttkamer. Other German colonial buildings are still standing, but some of them suffer from lack of maintenance and old age.

The Nigerian Consulate in anglophone Cameroon and the main operational hub of the Naigahelp medical aid organisation are in Buea.

Buea hosts an annex of the National Archives of Cameroon, whose main location is Yaoundé. Next door to the annex is the Cameroon Press Photo Archive, which has been permanently closed since 2001.

Economy

The economy of Buea is heavily influenced by its status as a technology hub. Many young people come to the town to study at the University of Buea, and this has created a thriving environment for experimentation, innovation and risk-taking. As a result, the town has become a hotspot for startups, particularly in the technology sector.

The University of Buea's influence has also attracted investors to the town, leading to the establishment of various tech incubators and hubs. For instance, LimbeLabs, which was founded around 2006–2008, was a precursor to ActivSpaces, one of the leading tech hubs in the country. ActivSpaces was launched in 2009 by Ebot Tabi, Bill Zimmerman, Valery Colong, Otto Akama, and Fua Tse. The hub currently has Rebecca Enonchong as Chairman.

Buea's status as a technology hub has also had a positive impact on the town's tourism industry. Mount Cameroon is a popular attraction for tourists, and the town's proximity to the mountain has made it a preferred destination for visitors who want to explore the mountain and its surroundings.

In addition, the town's small size makes it easy to meet and connect with people. It also has considerably light traffic congestion, which makes it easy to move around the town quickly. The proximity of Buea to Douala, which has the largest seaport and the international airport, has also made it an attractive location for businesses.

Transport

Transportation to Buea is possible by land with the use of transport buses or private cars. Within Buea, the primary means of transportation are taxis. The closest airport is the Tiko Airport, however due to its lack of activity and proper infrastructure management, the Douala International Airport (DLA), is the most accessible.

Limbe was served by a gauge plantation railway to Limbe, of the West African Planting Society Victoria.

Geography

About 300,000 people live in Buea (including the villages of Bokwaongo, Muea; Bomaka; Tole; Mile 16 (Bolifamba); Mile 17; Mile 15; Mile 14 (Dibanda); Bova; Bonjongo; Likombe; Buasa; Great Soppo; Molyko; Small Soppo; Bwitingi; Mile 18 (Wonyamavio); Lower farms; Bokwai; Bonduma; Sandpit, Wonyamongo, Bulu; Bokova and surrounding villages).

Climate

thumb|right|Tourists climbing [[Mount Fako in Buea]]

Buea has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cfb) closely bordering on a tropical rainforest climate (Af). The average high temperature is about and the average low around , with the hottest month being February and the coldest August. It has an average monthly rainfall of .

Because of its location at the foot of Mount Fako, the climate in Buea tends to be humid, with neighbourhoods at higher elevations enjoying cooler temperatures while lower neighbourhoods experience a hotter climate. Extended periods of rainfall, characterized by incessant drizzle, which can last for weeks, are common during the rainy season as are damp fogs, rolling off the mountain into the town below.

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File:Bismarck Fountain, Buea.jpg|Bismarck Fountain

File:Reunification monument in Buea.jpg|Buea Reunification Monument

File:Our Lady of Grace Grotto, Sasse-Buea.jpg|Our Lady of Grace Gretto, Sasse-Buea

File:Old German Tombs, Buea.jpg|Old German Tombs in Buea

File:Post office, Buea.jpg|Old German Post Office

File:Holy Spirit Fountain.jpg|Holy Spirit Fountain, Sasse-Buea

File:Holy Family Chapel, Sasse-Buea.jpg|Holy Family Chapel, Sasse-Buea

</gallery>

Notable people

  • Victor Anomah Ngu (born 1926, died 2011), Professor of Surgery, Minister of Public Health
  • Martin Zachary Njeuma (born 1940, died 2010), historian
  • Kurt Raaflaub (born 1941, died 2023), historian
  • Dorothy L. Njeuma (born 1943), professor of Genetics and Embryology, politician
  • Marie Etengeneng Kwamu-Nana Abunaw (born 1953, died 2024), first female Administrator General of Prisons in Cameroon
  • Sarah Etonge (born 1967), fell runner
  • Julius Akosah (born 1982), professional footballer
  • Daphne (born 1989), singer
  • Onyama Laura (born 1992), actress
  • Clinton N'Jie (born 1993), professional footballer
  • Nsang Dilong (born 1994), actress, model and social worker
  • Robert Ndip Tambe (born 1994), professional footballer
  • Nelvie Tiafack (born 1999), professional boxer
  • Ewome Eko John, chief of Bwasa village.

See also

  • Roman Catholic Diocese of Buéa

References

  • Mount Cameroon Inter-communal Ecotourism Board - formerly known as Mount Cameroon Ecotourism Organisation, abbreviated as Mount CEO