Cameroun
First Anniversary of the United Republic of Cameroun
One of two regular post and two airpost stamps commemorating the first anniversary of the United Republic of Cameroun
On May 20, 1973 Cameroun issued two regular postage stamps and two airpost stamps commemorating the first anniversary of the United Republic of Cameroun. The designs featured President Ahidjo, various Cameroun stamps, the flag and maps, the proclamation of independence or the national colours.
Cameroun (Kamerun) became a German colony in 1884. After World War I the colony was divided between France and Great Britain under a League of Nations mandate. In 1960 the French mandated territory became the independent Republic of Cameroun under President Ahidjo. The British mandated territory had been amalgamated with Nigeria but, after a plebiscite, the southern portion joined a new Federal Republic of Cameroon in which both French and English were recognized as offical languages. As is reflected on the stamp pictured above, the federal structure was abandoned in 1972 and the inscriptions on stamps changed from "Federal Republic of Cameroon" to "United Republic of Cameroon." In 1984 it became simply "Republic of Cameroon." In recent years there have been increasing calls for decentralization and even independence from separatists in the English-speaking south.
Bibliography
"Cameroon." 
