Old German government headquarters in Douala, Colonial administrative building in Douala, Cameroon.

The Old German government headquarters is a colonial-era administrative building with symmetrical facades and carefully worked materials. Its structure combines European architectural forms with practical adjustments made for Cameroon's tropical climate.

Built in 1891, the building housed the first German administrative headquarters in Cameroon until 1901, when the seat moved to Buea; it returned to Douala in 1908 after the eruption of Mount Cameroon. Under the French Mandate, a decree of 1 March 1921 moved the capital to Yaoundé and the High Commissioner's delegate occupied the building. It now houses the sous-préfecture of Douala's 1st district.

The building's name in local use is tied to its current role: since the French mandate it has housed the sous-préfecture of Douala's 1st district, and the balcony above the entrance carries the inscription SOUS-PREFECTURE DOUALA IER. Since 2006 an information panel made by Doual'art and designed by Sandrine Dole has presented a historical image of the building and its history to passers-by.

The building is located in central Douala and is reachable on foot from the city's main streets. Visitors should take time to look closely at the details of the facade and interior spaces, as careful exploration reveals the construction techniques better.

The original flat concrete-and-wood roof carried a 30 cm layer of sand, but it could not withstand Douala's heavy rains and was replaced in 1900 by a four-slope roof. The two-storey building has a central risalit and facades divided by five loggias each; the loggia balustrade above the entrance reads SOUS-PREFECTURE DOUALA IER.