The Cameroonian diaspora and the question of dual nationality

Par malumiereetmonsalut Le 05/09/2023 à 15:04 0

Dossier

Cameroon diaspora and the question of double nationalityDeveloppement 2 source celcom minjustice

Article 12 of Law No. 1968-LF-3 of June 11, 1968, establishing the Cameroonian nationality code is clear: “Cameroonian nationality is also acquired automatically, by the sole fact of birth on the Cameroonian territory, to any person who cannot claim any other nationality of origin.” In other words, choosing to have dual nationality in a State which grants this privilege means rejecting the first which obeys the law of a State which does not yet grant this type of privilege.

The question of dual nationality in Cameroon is a debate which has always aroused emotion in the minds of Cameroonians. Indeed, between those for whom a Cameroonian is someone who refrains from resorting to a foreign nationality whatever the reasons, and those for whom this restrictive law constitutes a brake on the country's development process, there is a third category whose indifference leads us to ask ourselves the question of whether the fact of being Cameroonian or not, after having chosen an additional nationality, takes something away from the fact that we are in reality?

Political strategy or legal standards of a State?

Some believe that the issue of dual nationality is a pretext that politicians use to stay in power, thus preventing potential rivals from running in any election. This point of view presents several ambiguities: First, it seems not to take into account the fact that each State is governed by laws which, beyond any conspiracy, are binding on everyone. And in a second sense, it seems to highlight the hypocrisy of a system for which: a Cameroonian is someone who manages to distinguish himself abroad and who is ready to invest in his native country on condition of not having the intention to present himself as a candidate in an election, unless obviously he (the person) benefits from the favours of one or more individuals. If on the one hand, the country does not recognize dual nationality, on the other hand it does not hesitate to praise the merits of expatriates of Cameroonian origin who have made a name for themselves abroad in the fields of economy, politics, sport etc. this approach means that you are being granted the freedom to resort to dual nationality in a State where the law allows it, but your membership of the Cameroonian Nation is being conditioned by a law which in fact is a strategic means used to thwart the political ambitions of certain serious contenders.

Several personalities both in the political and cultural fields were declared ineligible because they had dual nationality while others commonly called "binationaux" can play in the national team. Isn’t the reason for dual nationality really a pretext that we only use when we feel that our interests are in danger? Aren’t there senior officials who have foreign passports? Would it not be better to revise this law which implicitly denies certain Cameroonians, or which is considered by others as a means of dissuasion or exclusion which does not allow all those who are of Cameroonian origin to enjoy the same rights as others?

The diaspora in the development process

If we agree on the fact that development is first individual before being collective, we will certainly understand those who choose to achieve their goals outside their country. Without however denigrating the level of development of several African countries in general and Cameroon in particular, we believe that there is more attractiveness outside than in Africa and this is justified by the massive exoduses, both legal and illegal. If the management of local resources really responded to the problems of Africans, the results would be predictable in terms of the rate of migration from Africa to the outside world. When a young Cameroonian, for example, benefits from a scholarship, or manages to study abroad with their own funds (family), and following the attractive promotion of a university, and when at the end of her academic or professional course, he is offered a more advantageous job offer than what she could be offered in her country of origin, why would she not accept it. And if this grace also allows him to enjoy the same privilege as Europeans and Americans for example, why would he deprive himself of it?

African countries are losing more and more of their brains because there is more attractiveness from outside despite the fact that Africa is very rich in natural resources. The host country benefits because it has the best educational and professional integration programs. If in Africa and in Cameroon in particular we have the habit of saying through abuse of language that we train more unemployed people than workers, outside we only produce qualifications.

Men is like a migratory bird. He is always looking for more favourable terrain. The migrant is always in search of an ideal that he cannot obtain in his country. Whether he arrived abroad by the normal route or not, changing the living conditions of those he left behind is also part of his projects. It is therefore not normal to limit the consideration we have for our compatriots to the money transfers they make and the investments that some of them make in Cameroon without being officially recognized as full-fledged Cameroonians because that they have dual nationality. What do we really mean by Cameroonian in the diaspora? Is it a development partner or a brother? How should a brother who claims to be such, and who is known as such, shouldn't it be officially recognized as such? Wouldn't it be time to change this law which limits the rights of those we commonly call Cameroonians in the diaspora?

The great national dialogue: a concrete act of consideration

From September 30, 2019 to October 4, 2019, a major national dialogue convened by the President of the Republic and chaired by the Prime Minister Head of Government was held in Cameroon. One of the recommendations was the adoption of dual nationality. This same proposal was already one of the amendments of the English-speaking delegates of the Foumban conference in 1961, with a view to establishing the federal constitution. It (the proposal) is therefore still relevant and is, we hope, the subject of particular interest for the highest hierarchy. What will be decided? Only time will tell. But we hope that it is the interests of Cameroonians that will motivate these decisions.

Even if dialogue does not automatically mean that our proposals will be validated, we believe at least that the fact of having allowed Cameroonians to come together to talk about their problem and to make proposals that we hope will be implemented, is concrete proof of a State which has taken a further step towards its unity. Having consideration for one's fellow human beings means being able to bring them together at the same table to discuss and subsequently propose recommendations which certainly cannot all be implemented, but will have been the fruit of a commendable communication effort. The quality of the dialogue or the way it was organized is another thing. Any effort undertaken with the aim of contributing to the return of peace must always be welcomed. This is one of the reasons why reintegration centres have been created to accommodate all those who choose to lay down their weapons. It is an act of consideration which denotes an effort of understanding and a concern to provide a satisfactory solution to the problems of those who have expressed their dissatisfaction with a system which according to them is the reason for the precariousness in which they find themselves.

The violent movements in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, motivated by a feeling of exclusion, are bringing to the surface the problem of insufficient employment opportunities and greater support for young entrepreneurship which cannot be resolved solely by the government without a contribution from every Cameroonian and in particular those in the diaspora. They also have a very big role to play in changing the face of a divided country.

If, as the great national dialogue seems to have demonstrated, all Cameroonians, whoever they are and wherever they are, are all members of the same nation, it would be better to concretize this thought by a revision of this article which has no consideration for Cameroonians who have dual nationality.

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