“We, the people of Cameroon, proud of our linguistic and cultural diversity—an enriching feature of our national identity—but profoundly aware of the imperative need to further consolidate our unity, solemnly declare that we constitute one and the same Nation, bound by the same destiny, and assert our firm determination to build the Cameroonian Fatherland on the basis of the ideals of fraternity, justice and progress […] The Republic of Cameroon shall be a decentralized unitary State. It shall be one and indivisible, secular, democratic and dedicated to social service. It shall recognize and protect traditional values that conform to democratic principles, human rights and the law.” — Preamble of the Constitution of Cameroon
I cannot read these opening lines of our Constitution without being moved. They remind me of the ultimate truth: that I belong to Cameroon. Whatever my linguistic or cultural identity, I belong.
A few months ago, I wrote about the political shift taking place in Cameroon as we prepared for the presidential elections. On October 12, 2025, Cameroonians went to the polls. Four days later, the nation still awaits the results. From different corners of the country, videos have surfaced showing acts of post-election violence, limited for now, but serious enough not to be ignored.
My aim here is not to discuss the violence or predict the proclaimed winner. Rather, I wish to return to one foundational truth from our Constitution:
We constitute one and the same Nation, bound by the same destiny, and assert our firm determination to build the Cameroonian Fatherland on the basis of the ideals of fraternity, justice and progress.
This sentence should serve as a compass, a moral barometer to guide and measure our actions as a Nation.
“We Constitute One and the Same Nation”
This powerful declaration calls us to recognize our interconnectedness and shared mission: To build a nation that is inclusive.
A nation that embraces everyone, regardless of cultural or linguistic identity.
A nation that recognizes the right of all Cameroonians to live where they choose.
A nation humble enough to look backward in order to move forward, because we must heal from our past to envision our future.
A nation anchored in the sacred principle of justice.
But can we truly claim to be “One and the Same” when we chose to host the African Cup of Nations while our brothers and sisters in the North West and South West regions were dying under bullets in a crisis born of legitimate grievances? Can we be “One and the Same” when those in the Far North and North still live in inhumane conditions?
Can we be “One and the Same” when, sixty years after independence, countless people—rural and urban alike—live without access to clean water?
Can we be “One and the Same” when we fail to unite around causes that benefit us all?
Can we be “One and the Same” when we dehumanize one another through nicknames rooted in ethnic or regional prejudice?
Can we be “One and the Same” when we deny others the right simply to exist? No, we are not yet One and the Same Nation.
Bound by the Same Destiny
We are bound by the same destiny, and assert our firm determination to build the Cameroonian Fatherland on the basis of the ideals of fraternity, justice and progress.
This sentence, rich in meaning, reminds us that our destiny is intertwined, and that the pillars holding it together are fraternity, justice, and progress. But are we truly living by these ideals?
Are we guided by justice when our sense of right and wrong depends on where someone comes from?
Are we promoting progress when access to public office depends more on ethnicity than on merit?
Are we living in fraternity when we deny the humanity of those from another village or region?
Are we defending justice when journalists are murdered for doing their work, when the political system blocks fair competition, when the law is used to oppress rather than protect, when political violence is the answer to calls for change? No, we are not yet living on the foundation of fraternity, justice, and progress.
The Dream We Must Build
The Republic of Cameroon shall be one and indivisible, secular, democratic and dedicated to social service.
The phrase “shall be” reminds us that this is not yet our reality, it is an aspirational dream.
A dream that will remain distant unless we pause to acknowledge our wounds and heal.
Unless we sacrifice personal interests for the common good.
Unless we retell the story of our nation with dignity.
Unless we ban the nicknames that divide and dehumanize.
Unless we defend social justice at all costs.
Unless we protect democracy and recognize everyone’s right to live freely wherever they choose.
Unless we commemorate every death—as one shared loss.
Becoming One, the Same, and Indivisible
This election and its aftermath have convinced me of one thing: we, Cameroonians, are awakening.
We are slowly becoming One, the Same and Indivisible Nation.
A growing number of us are aligned with a new energy, an energy of change, liberation, and freedom.
This energy is not only ours; it resonates across the African continent, where our brothers and sisters long to see Cameroon shine brighter than ever before.
To my people, from the North, South, East, and West, know this: the destiny we are meant to write together is already unfolding. Our founding fathers, who fought for Cameroon’s liberation, are standing beside us. The Majestic has blessed our path. We are destined—yes, condemned—to move toward fraternity, justice, and progress.
Our call is the call of freedom and prosperity.
Remember: none of us can be free until we are all free.
May the Almighty and Majestic bless us, and bless our motherland, Cameroon.
Cameroon Passport Diaries 