Message to youth: Biya, make a difference for once!.

But again, what does the fiesta mean to the Cameroonian youth, in a genealogy that is in government?

For President Paul Biya, 93, the “Youth are at the heart of great hopes for a united, stable and prosperous Cameroon,” the theme of this year's celebration taken from his speech on November 6, 2025, when he took the eight mandate.

Keeping the historical dimension of February 11 being the day people of the then Southern Cameroons voted in a controversial United Nations-supervised plebiscite to have their independence by “joining” La Republique du Cameroun, without an option for their right of self-determination, Cameroonian youth are today at the centre of a political game.

Statistics indicate that Cameroon has a very young and fast-growing population, with over 60% of inhabitants under the age of 25 and a median age of approximately 18-22 years. 

As of 2025, about 41% of the population was aged 0-14, and 56% was aged 15-64.

The youth bulge presents a major demographic potential but faces a high youth unemployment estimated at 36.9%, which has been termed by articulate commentators as a "ticking time bomb".

Ironically, government’s spin machinery projected them contributing millions to support the Presidential candidate of a regime that even disenfranchises youth, aged 18 and 19, from deciding who governs them!

President Biya, however, recognised the force of the young people and anchored his new seven-year term as one of renewed hope, pledging to place young people "at the centre of national priorities at a time when expectations and frustrations run high", to quote from the CPDM propaganda newspaper, L'Action.

Truth be told; the frustration among the youth is high and dangerous and should not be attributed to political manipulation. What will President Biya tell them later today, as he begins his 44th year in office, that they have not heard before?

What new thing will he tell the youth in the North West and South West Regions, who have been caught in the blood spilling conflict for over eight years and running?

Will he promise to review the electoral law so youth from 18 years can also perform their civic responsibility by voting in the coming municipal and legislative elections?

Will he give disclose the number of youth who have been employed by the Second-Generation agriculture he promised them and an Agricultural Bank that remains a pipe dream?

Will he use the occasion to reshuffle the government he promised since last December, to include youth in their thirties and forties, as proof that they are truly the country’s much-trumpeted “leaders of tomorrow?”.

In his February 10, 2025 message to the youth, he urged them to embrace civic values, entrepreneurship, and agriculture. He highlighted digital technology, moral rearmament, and the "National Directory of Jobs," as key empowerment tools.  What has been the achievement?

Young people were encouraged to pursue self-employment, particularly in agriculture and livestock. How has that helped them, when overnight billionaires are grabbing all the land as parts of moves to hide their illicit wealth?

He warned against moral decay, drug abuse, and violence, urging youth to participate in the "moral, civic, and entrepreneurial rearmament programme".

He also acknowledged the youth as a technology-savvy generation and encouraged utilising digital tools for development. 

Unfortunately, government is doing little or nothing about the sad development that is it being used more for scamming than for development.

His February 10, 2025 speech reiterated government's commitment to youth employment, through special plans. He also encouraged the youth to be proactive in the nation-building process, while avoiding "siren calls" of manipulation during an election year”.       

Again, the Head of State has failed to arm the youth with financial means, especially given that fulfilling such political narratives is dependent on money and jobs. 

According to the IMF's evaluation of Cameroon's economy, it faces significant challenges, "including slow bureaucratic processes, high corruption, poor infrastructure (especially in energy and transport), and a heavy reliance on commodity exports".

Structural weaknesses include "a struggling manufacturing sector, high youth unemployment, and security instability in certain Regions hinder growth, despite a resilient economy". 

President acknowledged the gravity of the moment, declaring: “I fully fathom the seriousness of the situation our country is going through… the depth of frustrations, the scale of expectations…”         

As in the past, the content and context of his Youth Day speeches have been predictable, deja vu, no scoop. This year will he needs to make a difference, with action; providing amnesty for hundreds of youth implicated in a post electoral violence and protests.

Will the President, in the spirit of national reconciliation, use the diamond anniversary of Youth Day to give those involved in the Anglophone conflict amnesty?

Will he make a difference by reshuffling the government, to include youth and a review of the Electoral Code? 

The nation and the world cannot wait to listen to a changed Biya today evening. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3700 of Tuesday February 10, 2026