Edéa, Cameroon

Capital City

The population of Edéa is just 25,398, a far cry from the 122,300 reported in 2001. This small city on the Sanaga River is powered by a hydroelectric plant, but its economy remains primarily agricultural, with palm oil as the main product. In 2015, the local government invested 612 million CFA francs to build processing plants, but residents have protested the operations of the major palm oil company Socapalm, leading to clashes with police.

Bureaucracy appears to be a persistent headache - the company's lease was supposed to end in 2000, yet it continues operating today. The city does serve as a stop on the Douala-Yaoundé-Ngaoundéré railway line, and there are plans to expand the network, but overall Edéa seems best suited for those looking to immerse themselves in a small, agricultural Cameroonian community rather than seek out urban amenities or a booming economy.