Bertoua, town located in southeastern Cameroon in the transition zone between the southern forest and the northern savanna. It has been a traditional regional administrative and commercial centre but was isolated until the construction of the railroad to nearby Bélabo and the opening of an airport in 1976 improved communications with the rest of the country. Other development projects of the late 20th century included the construction of an improved road from Bertoua to Bélabo, the creation of a cassava (manioc) processing complex, and the construction of a peanut (groundnut) oil factory. Pop. (2004 est.) 252,866.