COMMENTARY: 20th May: “National Unity Day” in Cameroon is a Joke!

By Hans Ngala

For Cameroon to truly be what it ought to be, it would be imperative for Cameroonian authorities to speak the truth, and the truth is that talking of “National Unity” in Cameroon is purely because two Cameroons came together. The British Southern Cameroons opted to form a two-state federation with French Cameroun, and once that was done, French Cameroon became East Cameroon under the federation while the Southern Cameroons became West Cameroon.
What today is being commemorated as “National Day” in Cameroon is, in fact, the day many Anglophone Cameroonians see as the beginning of their pain. Anglophone scholars have argued over the years that the hasty Ahidjo-sanctioned referendum of 1972 was nothing but a scam because it came after the discovery of crude oil in West Cameroon and fearing the wealth and power that West Cameroon would have, Ahidjo called for the referendum to abolish the federal system that had existed for a little over a decade.
Several more decades later (in 2016 specifically), these actions would come back to haunt Cameroon as Anglophone grievances burst to the surface.
In a country purporting to be united, Ahidjo’s successor, Paul Biya, refused to either visit any of the Anglophone regions, refused to address them in English, and was categorical that the form of the state (which his predecessor had changed with his referendum), was not up for discussion. In other words, Biya did not give a damn about the country’s minority.
It is in the backdrop of these events that ‘National Unity Day’ comes across to Anglophones as a joke. And here are some reasons why the whole thing doesn’t look serious.

1) Sidelining Anglophones

The joke is not lost on any observer who can easily notice how Anglophones are sidelined in an event that is being celebrated because they chose to be part of Cameroon in the first place. Given the conflict going on in the country’s Anglophone regions, one would expect the authorities to have more inclusive programs for National Unity Day, such as showcasing the plight of Anglophone IDPs who have fled the conflict and are now living in many Francophone cities in their thousands. One would expect that this would be an occasion to create awareness, push for dialogue and resolution of the conflict, while showcasing some good examples of living together as a country. But no. Everything about this joke of a so-called ‘Unity Day’ is about one man – Paul Biya.

2) Biya’s Effigy

For an event that is supposed to be about national cohesion and a historical event, purporting to be about the unity of the country, life-size photos of Paul Biya being carried around makes one wonder if Biya owns Cameroon or if this is his birthday or if this is a commemoration of his rise to power. Turning a purported ‘National Unity Day’ into a show about Biya smacks of either ignorance or arrogance – or maybe both.

3) CPDM hijacking the event and CRTV alone has broadcasting rights

When a “National Unity Day” event becomes a partisan event as has consistently been demonstrated by the ruling CPDM party, it makes one question how “united” we really are in the first place. Is it simply an occasion for the CPDM to remind its militants that they are in charge and therefore, they can hijack the event as they do in virtually all regional capitals and other major towns across the country?
A good example of this took place yesterday in Douala during the celebrations at the Valley Bessengue where SDF members were shoved aside by the CPDM so they could march first. And one begins to even ask the question, who are the parties marching for? What is the significance of these marches?

4) Arrogant Francophone rulers bullying Anglophone traditional rulers to march hardly speaks of genuine unity

In a failed country where patriotism has been reduced to marching in front of government officials, signing a token envelope and having a measly meal for a day, these government-appointed rulers lord it over their traditional ruler counterparts, acting like they are ordained by divine instruction to push Anglophone traditional rulers around and insult their traditional authority and by extension, insulting the entire tribes or villages they represent. For SDOs or governors to tell Anglophone traditional rulers (as has been done by the SW Governor on numerous occasions), that they MUST march on these “National Unity Day” events sounds like coercion rather than freewill. In a country that is parading itself as a very “united” country, such a decision to march (or not) should definitely flow naturally from traditional rulers, not imposed by government appointees, be they governors, SDOs or Dos. Disrespecting Anglophone traditional rulers like this doesn’t speak of “National Unity”. It insults the dignity of those traditional rulers and the people they represent. Curiously enough, these government appointees don’t command their own Francophone traditional rulers to march at the barrel of a gun or risk imprisonment. Again, this is a clear demonstration of the disregard for Anglophone customs, values and authorities.

It makes the words of Dr. Peter Mbile (son to a Cameroonian hero, N.N. Mbile) very relevant when the younger Mbile writes:

“To borrow a line from Charlie Ndi Chia—and please indulge me a splash of irritating blood in my ink—we, the Anglophones, are the true champions of the conciliatory spirit behind the 20th of May National Day.

Let’s be honest: what did Yaoundé contribute, other than hastily deploying troops into West Cameroon after the Plebiscite?

Why the perpetual fear of us? Could it be… that some old bones still rattle in long-forgotten closets?

Don’t forget, the Plebiscite results were contested—in New York, no less. The Mokanya (Oroko), the Molongo (Bakweri), the Muane Ngo (Bakossi), and the Wimbum (Nkambe) all made compelling cases to step off the Unification train and follow their votes – another path.

And yet—they stayed. Our forefathers chose to return, not out of weakness, but with purpose and vision. That decision—by those very groups—is what gives real weight to the 20th of May.

Yes, they could have gone with Northern Cameroon. But they came back. They gathered in Buea and said:

“Let’s make Unification work.”

This is what gives May 20th its soul.
It’s not just a date. It’s a promise kept by those who chose reconciliation over rupture.

Why, then, should the proud custodians of such a legacy be shaken by the antics of a man in a khaki suit who clearly skipped his history lessons?

The right response—delivered with grace and clarity—was to register our displeasure, and then to rise above. To do the right thing. That’s what was done.

We gave meaning to the 20th of May. We made it possible.
No one—not even a bureaucrat on a power trip—can steal that thunder.

And let’s not forget: many in the South West grew weary of multiparty chaos after nearly two decades of thankless rough-and-tumble politics. For them too, May 20th carried—and still carries—deep symbolic weight. There is still so much more to realize.

But trust me—it won’t be unraveled by a young man in khaki, fumbling with the feathers of our history”.