Bafoussam is the capital of the West Region of Cameroon, in the Bamboutos Mountains. It is the prefecture of the Mifi department, one of three arrondissements in the department. The city had a population of 239,287 inhabitants (at the 2005 Census). The city is the region's center of trade. People are farming coffee, tobacco and tea. The city has also a coffee processing facility and brewery. It is the main city of the Bamiléké people and is home to a chief's palace. The city of Bafoussam has grown to now include the three traditional "chefferies" of Baleng, Fusap and Bamougoum.