Lebialem
Department
Natural landscape, Lebialem
Department location in Cameroon
Lebialem Show map of Cameroon Lebialem Show map of Africa
Coordinates: 5°42′47″N 10°03′54″E / 5.71306°N 10.06500°E / 5.71306; 10.06500
Country	Cameroon  Ambazonia
Province	Southwest Province
Capital	Menji
Area
• Total	238 sq mi (617 km2)
Population  (2005)
• Total	113,736
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)

Lebialem is a department of Southwest Province in Cameroon. The department covers an area of 617 km² and as of 2005 had a total population of 113,736.^[1] The capital of the department lies at Menji. Lebialem got its name from the Lebialem Falls, a twin water fall, which means ' a hill from which water drops '. The county is dominated by two ethnic groups, the Mundani to the north and the Bangwa to the south (ba meaning people of), though other ethnic groups exists, the makeup a minority, example the Mbo, Banyangi and Bamiléké.

Since the outbreak of the Anglophone Crisis in 2017, much of Lebialem has come under the control of the Red Dragon militia, which were led by Lekeaka Oliver until he was shot dead on July 12, 2022.^[2][3] In October 2019, after forcing traditional rulers to flee, Oliver declared himself "Paramount Ruler of Lebialem".^[4] As of May 2020, much of Lebialem district is under the control of Oliver and his Red Dragon militia.^[5]

Subdivisions

The department is divided administratively into 3 districts and in turn into 17 villages or Fundons.

References