Cameroon's progressive march towards its unity took place in several stages which corresponded to the vision of a leader for whom the federal system was not a final destination but a decisive step in a long march towards an ideal synonymous with today joy of living together on one and the same Territory despite cultural differences and other socio-political problems.
After the plebiscites of 1959 and 1961 organized by the United Nations Organization, the southern part of British Cameroon chose to join the Republic of Cameroon. Given that to better pursue a project while respecting the freedom of others it is better to be content with what we have failing to have what we would like, the regime of President Ahidjo had to demonstrate patience strategic. Thus, by mutual agreement with the leader of the majority party of the Southern part who opted for joining the Republic of Cameroon, the integration of this portion of the Cameroonian Territory took place smoothly and was part of a project in the long term of unity which will initially take the form of a federal system question of reuniting brothers who for reasons not depending on their wishes were separated to find themselves in a complex situation which requires not to rush but to act prudently or strategically for the good of the people and the Cameroonian Territory.
From the Republic of Cameroon to the Federal Republic
The Cameroonian State or the Republic of Cameroon from January 1, 1960 under a presidentialist regime, particularly after the election of Ahmadou Ahidjo as president of the republic by the legislative assembly of 1957 on May 5, 1960, took the form of a federal State in 1961 thanks in particular to the concerted efforts of the late President Ahidjo and Dr John Ngu Foncha to regret memory.
It should be remembered that Southern Cameroon under British mandate and guardianship had just emerged from a system which seemed to grant certain powers to those under administration. Indeed, certain political and tribal leaders who were relay points between the populations and the administration enjoyed a certain power strongly influenced by the British administration.
It should also be noted that after Germany had renounced its rights over Kamerun following the Treaty of Versailles on August 28, 1919 which validated the limits of the provisional sharing of the Territory initiated on March 6, 1916 by the French and the British, the Territory was placed under mandate then under trusteeship at the end of the Second World War.
Also read : Cameroon : October 1st,Commemoration of the beginning of a long march towards Nation-State
Four-fifths of the territory (4/5) which varied between 425,000 km2 and 431,000 km2 in terms of surface area was administered by France. The 1/5, namely 85,000km2 or 43,700km2 for Southern Cameroon and 41,300km2 for Northern Cameroon, were administered by Great Britain. The Southern Cameroon administered by the British was therefore in terms of surface area very much smaller than the Territory of the Republic of Cameroon. This essential point in itself already raises a question. How can a Territory larger in terms of surface area and additionally administered by France accept becoming a federal regime without a second thought?
From the federal republic to the united republic of Cameroon
The choice of federalism initially by the leader of a larger Territory and under a presidential regime, was only a phase of transition towards a more centralized State and driven by a leader who could not pursue his project of unity without however going through a stage of reunification necessary to build a One and indivisible Cameroon, embodied by a Men who had another concept of unity.
This is the reason why, going beyond certain conclusions of the Foumban conference of 1961, notably the refusal of the constitutional revision of 1961 and especially the adoption of this proposal by a simple majority of the members of the general assembly on condition that this majority includes a majority of the representatives of each federated State. Instead of taking the agreed means to achieve his goal, he instead proposed what suited him best, namely the referendum route. It was in fact the best way for him to achieve a change in the form of the State, always with the aim of a federation or a unity, but without federated States. It was in reality a return to the name Republic of Cameroon through another denomination which does not reject the idea of a federation but which clearly displays a preference for a direct administration similar to that adopted by French administration. And since the one who has the power can afford to have all the rights obviously in particular contexts, he proposed the referendum route to achieve his objective and his proposal was approved on May 20, 1972. The Yes won by 99, 94%.
This favourable Yes following this proposal facilitated the Yes in favour of the establishment of a new constitution which insists on the fact that the Cameroonian people, keen to perfect their unity, proclaim the existence of one and the same Nation. It is clear that we were not in a logic of completion but rather of improvement. The first article of this 1972 constitution specifies that Cameroon is one and indivisible. Perhaps the old system, namely federalism, did not really embody this unity? It was perhaps too complex and perhaps we should return to what we know well and understand better, that is to say, a centralized unitary State, that is to say, a single country, a single Nation, a Head of State who embodies national unity and not a federal power and federated States?
Since this change in the form of the State which dates from 1972, May 20 of each year has become a national holiday. This means that for Cameroonians the most important thing is not independence but the unity of the country threatened by several socio-political conflicts which we hope will not put an end to this long march towards unity which started on January 1, 1960 and which continued with the current successor of President Ahidjo from 1982, notably with the multiple constitutional revisions of 1984, 1996 and another later.
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