Cameroon’s National Assembly Inauguration: A Celebration of Stagnation?

As the new headquarters of Cameroon's National Assembly is being inaugurated today in Yaoundé's Ngoa Ekelle district, the event is steeped in pomp and ceremony.

Lavish speeches and symbolic gestures dominate the day, with the Right Honourable Cavayé Yeguié Djibril, aged 83, presiding over the occasion as President of the National Assembly. Government officials, Members of Parliament, and loyalists of President Paul Biya’s regime fill the room, many of whom are well into their 70s and 80s.

But beneath the surface of this grand event lies a bitter truth: the structure may be new, but the system it houses remains old, unresponsive, and stagnant.

A Gift from China or a Testament to Dependency?

This gleaming edifice, hailed as an "architectural jewel," is a gift from the People’s Republic of China. While it stands as a testament to Sino-Cameroonian relations, it also highlights Cameroon’s enduring dependency on external powers to achieve even the most basic infrastructural milestones.

Why, 64 years after independence, does a country rich in natural resources and talent still rely on foreign nations for fundamental projects? This dependence raises uncomfortable questions about the governance of President Paul Biya, who has been in power for over 40 years. Under his leadership, Cameroon has failed to develop sustainable systems that would empower its people to drive such projects independently.

A Stage for the Old, While the Young Wait in the Shadows

Today’s ceremony offers a stark reminder of the generational gap in Cameroon’s leadership. Among the aging political elite are figures who have held onto power for decades, clinging to positions without offering meaningful progress. The country’s youth, comprising over 60% of the population, remain sidelined—left to watch from the margins as decisions about their future are made by those long past their prime.

Samuel Eto'o Fils, President of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), is one of the few younger attendees at today’s event. His presence underscores what could be: a leadership that reflects the energy, dynamism, and ambition of Cameroon’s younger generation. Yet, Eto'o is the exception, not the rule.

Cameroon’s Underdevelopment: A Legacy of Neglect

This ceremony unfolds against a backdrop of stark underdevelopment. Cameroon’s healthcare system is in crisis, as whistleblowers recently revealed that mothers and newborns are being detained in hospitals over unpaid bills. Infrastructure in rural areas is crumbling, schools are underfunded, and unemployment remains alarmingly high.

Despite boasting abundant resources—oil, timber, and fertile agricultural land—Cameroon lags far behind its potential. Corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of accountability have stifled progress for decades. While today’s event celebrates a new building, it does little to address the systemic issues that keep the country from moving forward.

Is This Progress, or a Distraction?

The Biya regime and its aging political class may see this inauguration as a triumph, but for many Cameroonians, it feels like a hollow victory. What good is a state-of-the-art National Assembly building when the voices of the people—particularly the youth—are excluded from the debates within?

The youth of Cameroon deserve more than symbolic gestures and grandiose ceremonies. They deserve jobs, opportunities, and a seat at the table. They deserve a government that prioritizes their future over maintaining the status quo.

A Call for Change

As the speeches echo through the halls of the new National Assembly, one cannot help but question the purpose of this event. Is it a celebration of progress, or a distraction from the glaring failures of a regime that has clung to power for far too long?

If Cameroon is to move forward, it must break free from the shackles of an aging leadership and embrace the energy and vision of its youth. Otherwise, ceremonies like today’s will continue to ring hollow, reminders of potential squandered and a nation left waiting for its time to truly shine.