ANGLOPHONE UNITY IS NO LONGER A CHOICE—IT IS A NECESSITY
We are not begging to belong, because our existence is already firmly established.
We are not begging to belong, because we helped lay the foundation upon which Cameroon stands.
We are not begging for a seat at the table, because we are part of the very foundation upon which that table rests.
And let me make another important declaration to my brothers, sisters and friends in this unity drive: even if we ultimately decide to stand alone as a people, we must first fix, repair and reinforce our house from within so that it can withstand the pressure, storms and heat from outside.
A divided house cannot negotiate effectively, defend itself successfully or build a prosperous future.
For too long, the people of the North West and South West have remained politically fragmented, economically weakened and institutionally underrepresented within a system in which they frequently feel marginalized, discriminated against and overlooked.
Our educated youth remain unemployed or underemployed. Our roads, schools, hospitals and industries remain underdeveloped. Our entrepreneurs struggle to access financing and national opportunities. Meanwhile, the distribution of strategic political, administrative, military, judicial and economic positions too often fails to reflect our population, competence and contribution to the nation.
We must understand one fundamental truth: divided communities can be ignored, but an organized people must be negotiated with.
Anglophone unity can give us the collective strength to:
- Build powerful financial institutions, investment networks and development funds.
- Create businesses and employment opportunities for our youth.
- Defend our educational, legal, cultural and linguistic heritage.
- Demand equitable infrastructure and a fair share of national resources.
- Promote competent Anglophones for strategic national responsibilities.
- Establish a common political and economic agenda that no government or political party can disregard.
- Negotiate from a position of collective strength rather than individual vulnerability.
This unity must rise above tribalism, regional rivalry, partisan politics and the artificial division between the North West and South West. We may have different traditions, interests and political opinions, but we share a common history, similar grievances and an inseparable destiny.
Anglophone unity is not hostility toward Francophones, nor is it hatred against Cameroon. It is the legitimate determination of a people to protect their dignity, preserve their identity, develop their communities and participate meaningfully in determining their future.
Let our cultural associations become engines of development. Let our professionals build networks of influence. Let our businesspeople invest together. Let our traditional leaders defend the collective interest. Let our youth organize around opportunity, innovation and service—not tribalism, bitterness or violence.
No political system voluntarily surrenders privilege to a divided and disorganized community. If we want representation, development, economic power and political influence, we must build the unity capable of securing and sustaining them.
One people. Two regions. One powerful voice.
Whether our future is negotiated within a reformed Cameroon or determined through another legitimate political arrangement, our first responsibility remains the same: we must put our own house in order.
We must heal our internal divisions, rebuild trust between the North West and South West, strengthen our institutions and unite around a common economic and political vision.
Only then can we face the outside world—not as scattered individuals begging for recognition, but as an organized, confident and self-respecting people who know their history, understand their value and are prepared to determine their destiny.
Dr. David Makongo
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