Ngolle Ngolle Says National Unity Remains Cameroon’s Strongest Asset

Speaking to Dr Ashu Nyenty on CRTV’s magazine programme, “Inside the Presidency,” on Monday, June 15, 2026, Professor Elvis Ngolle Ngolle reaffirmed the importance of national unity, describing it as Cameroon’s greatest asset and the foundation for its future development.

Reflecting on lessons drawn from this year’s National Day celebrations, the renowned political scientist said Cameroon remains a unique example of diversity and coexistence, bringing together more than 250 ethnic communities and languages under a common national identity.

“Cameroon is unique as an African miniature,” Prof Ngolle Ngolle said, tracing the country’s historical evolution from the German protectorate era in 1884 to the gradual emergence of a shared national consciousness among its people.

According to him, despite disruptions caused by colonial rule and the two World Wars, Cameroonians preserved a common aspiration for unity and a shared future. He noted that this spirit eventually culminated in the reunification of the former French Cameroon and Southern Cameroons in 1961.

The former Minister of Forestry and Wildlife recalled that after more than a decade under a federal system, Cameroonians voted overwhelmingly in favour of a unitary state during the May 20, 1972 referendum, believing it would strengthen national integration, accelerate development and improve governance.

Drawing from political science, Prof Ngolle Ngolle explained that nations often unite to guarantee security, promote economic growth and enhance their collective competitiveness.

He further observed that messages displayed during this year’s National Day celebrations, particularly by schoolchildren, university students and youth groups, focused on peace, dialogue and living together, reflecting the aspirations of the younger generation.

The senior CPDM official argued that national unity is evident not only through government policies but also in the daily interactions of citizens across ethnic, linguistic, religious and regional boundaries.

“Unity is not something imposed by decree; it lives in the hearts of the people,” he stated.

While acknowledging the existence of individuals who promote division, hatred and violence, he stressed that such actors remain a minority and do not represent the values of the broader Cameroonian society.

“Those who seek to divide the country are on the wrong side of history,” he said, maintaining that Cameroon’s unity has become deeply rooted and resilient over generations.

Prof Ngolle Ngolle concluded that despite existing challenges, Cameroonians continue to believe in a common destiny and shared future.

“There is no better alternative to national unity,” he affirmed.

Profile: Professor Elvis Ngolle Ngolle

Professor Elvis Ngolle Ngolle is a prominent Cameroonian academic, political scientist and politician. Widely regarded as one of the leading intellectual voices within the ruling Cameroon People\'s Democratic Movement (CPDM), he has played significant roles in academia, government and party politics over several decades.

A Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Ngolle Ngolle taught political science at the University of Denver in the United States from 1983 to 1985 before returning to Cameroon, where he became a longtime lecturer at the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC), a constituent institution of the University of Yaoundé II.

His public service career spans more than a decade. In 1997, he was appointed Minister of Special Duties at the Presidency of the Republic and later served as Minister of Forestry and Wildlife from 2006 to 2011.

Within the CPDM, he is a member of the party’s Central Committee and currently serves as Director of the CPDM Party Academy, where he contributes to political education and strategic orientation. During the early 1990s, he also participated as a resource person in key tripartite discussions and political dialogues involving the ruling party and opposition actors.

Born on April 14, 1953, in Kack, Kupe-Muanenguba Division of the South West Region, Prof Ngolle Ngolle is of Bakossi origin. He remains an influential political analyst and frequent commentator on national affairs, often contributing to debates on governance, decentralisation, elections and constitutional issues.

Over the years, he has consistently defended the ideals of national unity, integration and peaceful coexistence, themes that continue to feature prominently in his public interventions.