The chairman of Cameroon’s main opposition party, the Social Democratic Front, has called on citizens to unite behind what he described as a new vision for national renewal as the party marked its 36th anniversary.
Addressing supporters in Cameroon and beyond on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Hon. Joshua Osih said Cameroon was facing a defining moment marked by unemployment, poverty, social inequality, and growing political frustration.
The anniversary ceremony commemorated the creation of the SDF on May 26, 1990, when the party emerged as one of the first major opposition movements to challenge Cameroon’s one-party political order.
In a speech mixing tribute, criticism, and political mobilization, he praised the “courage and sacrifice” of those who founded the party during a period of political tension and repression. “Cameroon belongs to all its people, not to a privileged few,” he told supporters.
According to him, the SDF had remained committed to democracy and peaceful political engagement despite decades of challenges. Referring to the disputed 1992 presidential election, he said the party had chosen “peace over bloodshed” after what many supporters believed was a stolen victory.
He argued that corruption, inequality, and divisions based on tribe, religion, and region had weakened national unity, leaving many Cameroonians disillusioned. “Our youth are talented, yet too many remain unemployed and without opportunity,” he said. “Millions work hard every day, yet remain trapped in poverty and uncertainty.”
The SDF chairman also called for greater inclusion of women and young people in political leadership, saying the country could not progress while large sections of society remained excluded from decision-making. “To the youth of Cameroon: your future cannot continue to be decided by others while you remain absent from political life,” he said.
Hon. Joshua Osih used the occasion to rally supporters ahead of future municipal and legislative elections, urging citizens to register to vote and take part in public life.
He announced that the party would unveil a new nationwide mobilization initiative, known as the “Campaign Locomotive for Electoral Success," during an SDF National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for June 13, 2026, in Bamenda. According to him, the strategy is intended to strengthen grassroots organization and prepare the party for future electoral contests.
The speech also paid tribute to the late former party chairman and vision bearer, Ni John Fru Ndi, who died three years ago after leading the SDF for decades and becoming one of Cameroon’s most prominent opposition figures.
Hon. Joshua Osih said the best way to honour the former leader’s legacy was not through words alone, but through “victory” and continued democratic struggle. “Our nation is looking onto us. Africa is watching. The world is watching,” he declared.
@Laarry Times
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