« A Time To Heal, A Time To Rebuild Together »

Dear brothers and sisters of Cameroon, As we celebrate National Unity Day, we are invited, once again, to reflect on the meaning of our common destiny as one people, one nation and one Republic. National Unity Day is not merely a date on the calendar. It is a reminder of the promise we made to one another : that despite our differences of language, culture, region, religion, or political opinion, Cameroon remains our shared inheritance. This year, more than ever, our country needs a spirit of healing, responsability, and renewed trust. We must have the courage to speak honestly about our wounds, but also the wisdom not to allow those wounds to define our future. We are equally called to acknowledge, with gratitude and respect, the unwavering commitment of His Excellency Paul Biya, President of the Republic, Head of State, who has consistently placed peace at the very heart of his governance. Through sustained Statesmanship and deliberate acts of leadership, he has demonstrated time and again that dialogue and reconciliation are not merely aspirations, they are the foundations upon which Cameroon’s future must be built. National Unity Day is therefore also a moment to honour that vision and to commit ourselves, as citizens, to walking faithfully in that same direction. For too long, many families, especially in the North West, South West and Far North Regions, have carried the pain of conflict, displacement, fear and uncertainty. Too many children have grown up under the shadow of division. Too many communities have waited for the return of peace. But National Unity Day reminds us that not part of Cameroon should feel forgotten, abandoned or left behind. Unity cannot be reduced to slogans or ceremonies. It must be lived through justice, dialogue, inclusion, development and respect for the dignity of every citizen. To our sons and daugthers who feel distant from the Nation, I say : Cameroon still has room for you. The door to reconciliation must remain open. The path to peace may be difficult, but it is still possible when courage meets humility. To our mothers, fathers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, teachers, youths and community bui...