By Nfor Hanson Nchanji
Bamenda, Cameroon – May 26, 2025 – Thirty-five years ago today, at Ntarinkon Motor Park in Bamenda, the late Ni John Fru Ndi, then National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) party, delivered a historic speech marking the official launch of the opposition party. His address, made in a period of intense calls for multiparty democracy, laid out the foundational principles and urgent demands of the SDF.
This was the first time another party existed in Cameroon since 1966 when former President Ahmadou Ahidjo dissolved all political parties under the Cameroon National Union, CNU; then his successor, Paul Biya, changed the name to Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement, CPDM, in 1985.
Till 1990, the lone party enjoyed hegemony without an opposition voice. Fru Ndi’s bravery was met with strong opposition from the Biya regime, which sent troops to Ntarikon to disrupt the launch.
Deaths and injuries were recorded, but the party had been launched, marking a significant step in the democratisation process in Cameroon.
Fru Ndi’s speech was a powerful call to action, emphasizing that “Democracy has never been handed over to a people on a platter of gold!” He articulated the SDF’s vision for a truly democratic Cameroon, highlighting:
Demand for Democracy
The speech’s core message was a fervent call for genuine democracy in Cameroon, defining it as “about people and the laws that they enact to govern themselves,” and asserting that the struggle would continue until “all the people participate in their own government.”
Fru Ndi explicitly stated that dictatorship leads to “oppression, servility, cruelty, and more abominable is the fact that it breeds stupidity,” referencing Jorge Luis Borges. The SDF’s goal was to rid Cameroonian society of such a system.
Condemnation of Tyranny and Oppression
Fru Ndi directly challenged African leaders who “cultivated the tendency of using the vocabulary of democracy to conceal modern forms of dictatorship.” He cited Archbishop Abel Muzorewa, questioning why Africans fear criticizing their governments while being free to do so abroad.
Emphasis on Fundamental Freedoms
He stressed the absolute necessity of respecting basic human rights, including “freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.” He argued that denying these rights deprives people of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Empowerment and Citizen Participation
He called upon Cameroonians to “yell for DEMOCRACY” and to “stand up and be counted,” asserting that the essence of democracy is “about local people controlling their day-to-day affairs.” Fru Ndi linked the democratic process directly to justice and development, arguing that where people are not free, they cannot “exhibit their skills and talents.”
Securing the Future Generation
He declared the party’s aim to “secure the future for the generation that will follow us,” emphasizing a long-term commitment to democratic ideals.
Fru Ndi concluded with a rallying cry, urging citizens to shed the “straight jacket” they had been cast into, ending with “Long live the SDF! Long live Cameroon!” His 1990 address remains a defining moment in Cameroon’s political history, symbolizing the enduring struggle for democratic ideals.
