February 11: A Day of Betrayal, Not a Celebration for Cameroon’s Youth

Behind the parades, music, and speeches lies a history of separation, betrayal, and lost opportunities, especially for the youth and the English-speaking regions of the country.

The 1961 Plebiscite: A Day of Division, Not Celebration

The real history of February 11 has nothing to do with youth. On this day in 1961, the United Nations organized a plebiscite forcing the British-administered Northern and Southern Cameroons to choose between joining Nigeria or the already independent French Cameroon.

• Northern Cameroons voted to join Nigeria.
• Southern Cameroons reluctantly voted to unite with French Cameroon, with the understanding that it would retain its autonomy in a federal system.

There was no third option for independence. Southern Cameroons was denied the right to self-determination, despite having its own government, legislature, and judiciary at the time.

Instead of honoring the agreement, Ahidjo dissolved the federation in 1972, merging the two Cameroons into a unitary state and beginning decades of Francophone domination, marginalization of Anglophones, and broken promises.

The current Anglophone crisis—which has resulted in thousands of deaths, burned villages, and a humanitarian catastrophe—is a direct result of this historical betrayal.

Ahidjo’s Political Manipulation: Turning a Tragedy into a Celebration

Knowing that February 11 was a painful memory for the country, Ahmadou Ahidjo cleverly renamed it "Youth Day" in 1967, turning it into a day of parades and distractions instead of allowing Cameroonians to reflect on the political deception that had occurred.

• He erased the real meaning of February 11, making it a tool of state propaganda.
• He used youth parades and celebrations to divert attention from the betrayal of Southern Cameroons.
• He made February 11 a national spectacle while continuing to centralize power and weaken democracy.

Since then, Paul Biya has carried on this deception, using the Youth Day speech every year to make false promises while keeping young people jobless, powerless, and voiceless in the country’s political future.

The Youth of Cameroon: A Generation Without a Future

Looking at today’s Cameroon, it is hard to say that the country has a real youth presence in power, business, or leadership.

In the past, Cameroon had:

• Presidents at 36 years old
• Generals at 40
• Business leaders in their mid-20s

But today? The so-called "youth" extends into old age.

• You are still considered a child at 40.
• You are told you cannot lead anything until you are 55.
• You are discouraged from political participation, distracted with beer, music, and football, and made to believe that the future of Cameroon belongs to the elderly ruling class.

The truth is, Cameroon’s youth have been systematically sidelined, with the state keeping them passive while recycling the same old men in power for decades.

Youth Day Is Not a Celebration—It’s a Distraction

A true Youth Day should not be about marching, singing, and partying. It should be a day of reflection, empowerment, and serious discussions about the role of young people in shaping the country’s future. Instead, what does the Cameroonian government give us?

• A political parade, where students and youth groups march to glorify the ruling CPDM party.
• A distraction, where concerts and parties replace real conversations about jobs, governance, and youth leadership.
• A propaganda tool, where the government pretends to value young people while excluding them from decision-making.

Young people need opportunities, not speeches. We need jobs, not empty slogans. We need policies that empower us, not beer promotions and concerts to keep us numb and disengaged.

Paul Biya’s Hollow Speeches: 42 Years of the Same Lies

For 42 years, Paul Biya has been reading the same tired speech every February 11, telling young Cameroonians that they are the “spearhead of the nation” while systematically blocking their rise to power.

• He tells young people to be patient, while his old friends hold onto power forever.
• He tells youth to start small businesses, while corruption, bad policies, and bureaucracy crush any entrepreneurial spirit.
• He tells young people to go into agriculture, but provides zero support, no land, no financing, and no access to markets.

And every year, he repeats his fake promises about “Emergence 2035”, a dream that even he knows will never happen.

February 11: A Day of False Promises

For 59 years, Cameroonian youth have been lied to, ignored, and used for political gains.

• There are no young people in power—Cameroon is run by a gerontocracy, where the average age of government officials is over 70.
• 85% of top government positions are held by people who have been in power since the 1970s and 1980s.
• The youth unemployment rate is over 60%, yet Biya tells young people to be "resilient" and fend for themselves.

A Call to Action: Time to Take Back Cameroon

February 11 should not be a day of empty parades and meaningless speeches. It should be a day when Cameroonian youth:

1. Reflect on their history and recognize how they have been manipulated and sidelined.
2. Register massively to vote—because change will only happen if the youth take action.
3. Reject false promises and demand real leadership, real policies, and real opportunities.

The future of Cameroon will not be decided by the same old men who have been in power for decades. It will be decided by a new generation that refuses to be fooled any longer.

The real "Youth Day" will be the day Cameroonian youth rise up and reclaim their country.

Final Thought: Who Really Owns February 11?

The government wants young Cameroonians to believe that February 11 is a day of celebration and national pride.

But in reality, February 11 is a day of betrayal, lost opportunities, and continued oppression.

• It marks the forced division of the Cameroons.
• It marks the beginning of Anglophone marginalization.
• It marks the start of a political trick that keeps young people blind and powerless.

Until Cameroonian youth wake up and take back their destiny, February 11 will remain a tool of deception, not a day of hope.