As Cameroon grapples with the aftermath of its controversial 2025 presidential election, one voice has emerged as a symbol of reflection and resilience, Egbe Ethel Etah, popularly known as King Ethel.
The Land Registrar for Manyu Division, a respected Senior Guidance Counsellor, and an accomplished entrepreneur, is using her influence to urge Cameroonians toward unity, justice, and dialogue in the face of deep political and social divisions.
In her recent essay, “A Path Forward for Cameroon: Unity and Resilience,” King Ethel paints a candid yet hopeful picture of a country standing at a crossroads. While acknowledging the pain and disillusionment many feel after the disputed October 12 polls, she insists that the path to peace lies not in confrontation, but in collective resolve.
“Cameroon’s future cannot be built on bitterness or division,” she writes. “We must embrace dialogue, rebuild trust, and work together to heal the wounds of this election.”
The 2025 presidential election, which officially returned President Paul Biya to power with 53.66 percent of the vote and a reported turnout of 57.76 percent, has been widely criticized as a “carefully engineered” process rather than a true democratic contest.
Analysts point to what they describe as “manufactured landslides” in ruling party strongholds, “contained competition” in politically diverse regions, and “weaponized crisis zones” in conflict areas such as the Northwest and Southwest, where insecurity curtailed voter oversight.
For the prolific guidance counsellor and refined social critic, these patterns reveal not only a political crisis but also a moral and civic one, a crisis of trust between citizens and their institutions. Yet she refuses to let disillusionment give way to despair.
“Our democracy is a wounded patient,” she notes. “But it can recover if we commit to honesty, justice, and accountability. True peace will only come through truth.”
Her essay lays out a clear framework for national renewal, centred on five core priorities: dialogue and inclusivity, strong democratic institutions, economic revitalization, social cohesion, and justice.
The respectable entrepreneur argues that the government must foster genuine dialogue through national and community platforms that include all voices, especially marginalized groups, and that independent electoral reforms must be implemented to restore credibility to future elections.
On the economy, King Ethel calls for a renewed focus on entrepreneurship and local investment, urging support for small and medium-sized enterprises as engines of job creation. “Economic empowerment is the foundation of stability,” she explains. “When citizens can earn a living with dignity, peace becomes possible.”
She also champions social cohesion, stressing that cultural diversity should be seen not as a source of division but as a source of strength. “We must celebrate who we are,” she writes, “because unity is not uniformity—it is harmony in diversity.”
Beyond her civic engagement, King Ethel is a leading figure in business and community development. As CEO of King Ethel Talia Guesthouse and the King Ethel Fashion Brand, she blends entrepreneurship with mentorship, offering young Cameroonians opportunities for growth and self-reliance. Her dual identity, as a public official and a private-sector innovator has made her a respected voice for pragmatic leadership.
In a political landscape often dominated by partisan rhetoric, King Ethel’s appeal is strikingly nonpartisan. She does not call for rebellion but for renewal; not for vengeance but for vigilance. Her tone is maternal, firm, and forward-looking, a call to conscience rather than confrontation.
“True peace cannot be built on oppression and silence,” she asserts. “It must emerge from justice and dialogue. Cameroon will rise again when we remember that we belong to each other.”
As protests simmer in cities like Douala and Far North, and as the nation debates the legitimacy of the election results, King Ethel’s message offers a stabilizing moral compass. Her call for civic education, economic fairness, and inclusive governance resonates beyond politics, it is a roadmap for rebuilding trust in the nation’s democratic future.
Egbe Ethel Etah embodies the new face of Cameroonian leadership which is intelligent, courageous, and compassionate. Whether as a Land Registrar serving the people of Manyu, a counsellor guiding the youth, or a businesswoman empowering communities, her consistent message remains the same: Cameroon’s destiny lies in the hands of its united citizens.
“The journey ahead may be challenging,” she concludes, “but with unity and determination, we can overcome any obstacle. Long live Cameroon.”
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