The Coalition of Cameroon Federalist Groups and Activists, CCFGA, is deeply saddened by the death on 15th January 2025, of former Governor David Abouem a Tchoyi, an experienced civil administrator from former French Cameroon who demonstrated a sound understanding of the plight of the people of former Southern Cameroons. Strategically removed from the higher levels of government at the young age of 42 in 1986, he continued to bear witness to the systemic marginalization, subjugation, domination, and assimilation, of the people of former Southern Cameroons. He continued to propose what he viewed as pragmatic solutions, even though he didn’t turn down the call to serve on the cosmetic commission created by the regime to deflect attention from the real grievances that remain unaddressed.
Born on 15th January 1944, Mr. Abouem a Tchoyi pursued secondary education at the Collège Évangélique de Libamba, a secondary school established by American Presbyterian Missionaries. He then studied law at the Federal University of Yaoundé from 1964 to 1967 and went on to study civil administration at the National School of Administration and Magistracy, graduating in 1969. He also studied at the French Institut international d’administrationpublique (IIAP).
Mr. Abouem a Tchoyi’s educational background prepared him to serve Cameroon in many roles. Before his appointment as the governor the Northwest Province in September 1976, he had served as a senior level staff member in the ministries of territorial administration, Secretary General at the Ministry of Planning and Regional Development and Ministry of the Economy and Planning, and as Secretary General at the Prime Minister’s Office. From the then Northwest Province, Mr. Abouem a Tchoyi was called to serve as the governor of the then Southwest Province. Following Mr. Biya’s unopposed election as president on 14th January 1984, Mr. Abouem a Tchoyi was appointed as the Secretary General at the Presidency on 4th February 1984. He served for just over a year in that capacity, before his appointment in August 1985 as the minister of higher education and scientific research, a position he held for just over another year, leaving the higher circles of power in November 1986.
Mr. Abouem a Tchoyi is more publicly known for his advocacy for a lasting solution to the justified grievances of the people of former Southern Cameroons; he is not widely known to have questioned how his bright star in civil administration fell out of favor with the regime in Yaoundé. Among the many grievances of the people of former Southern Cameroons that he has identified as justified, is the change of the country’s name from the United Republic of Cameroon to the Republic of Cameroon. This change took place in March 1984, just about one month into his new job as the Secretary General at the Presidency. We can discern from his positive working experience in the two provinces, his latter advocacy, and his identification of the change to the new name as problematic, that he must have registered cautious objection to the government’s program of systematic discrimination, marginalization, and subjugation of the people of former Southern Cameroon. If the new president saw Mr. Abouem a Tchoyi’s time in former Southern Cameroons as a resource in the final project of assimilation and domination of former Southern Cameroons, it is reasonable to surmise that they were deeply disappointed by his sympathy with the grievances of his compatriots in former Southern Cameroons. The ministerial position to which he was appointed a year later appears to have been a step out of the door of Biya’s Cameroon, where the fate of the people of former Southern Cameroons was to be sealed.
The uprising in former Southern Cameroons in 2016 demonstrated that the government of Mr. Biya is mistaken in judging the marginalization, assimilation, and domination of former Southern Cameroons as a mission that has been accomplished. The people are willing to resist and demand for a lasting and just solution. Mr. Abouem a Tchoyi seized the opportunity presented by the uprising to provide a historical perspective, as a person of former French Cameroon with knowledge of the subject matter. His essay on this conflict will remain an indictment against the French annexationist mindset that has plunged this country into chaos. The essay is also one of the guiding posts for a lasting and just solution.
The Cameroon Federation that was born on 1st October 1961 can only enjoy political stability and resilient economic development, if the political system ceases to destroy the many talents that can help develop the country. Mr. Abouem a Tchoyi was not only a talented civil administrator, but he was also a visionary Cameroonian who saw that respecting the terms of our reunification and the different core value systems can only serve Cameroon well. At the time he enrolled in secondary school, the principal of that school was an American Presbyterian pastor, Mr. Robert Pierce. Mr. Abouem a Tchoyi’s early embrace of bilingualism and respect for the unjustly suppressed institutions of former Southern Cameroons may be said to reflect the diversity of his own personal experience as a person of French Cameroon, educated in an American missionary school, and beloved by the people of former Southern Cameroons, whom he tried to serve to the best of his ability. A better Cameroon is possible, where the memory of such compatriots will be preserved and cherished. That Cameroon can only come when those who hatched mischievous plans for the marginalization, assimilation, and domination of one part of the country, are no longer at the helm of the state of Cameroon. They pursued their schemes by frustrating many visionary and talented compatriots, while bringing the nation to a precipice.
The CCFGA Executive Committee, on behalf of all its members, extend our heartfelt condolences to the Abouem a Tchoyi family. May his soul rest in peace. We will continue to draw inspiration from the work of Mr. David Abouem a Tchoyi as continue the fight for a return to a federal system of government and justice for the former Southern Cameroons.
Michael Takie
CCFGA Chairperson
2 Comments
He was a good man with a good heart and much love for his country. I was a young man in my teenage years when he served as governor of the then South West and North West provinces. Those were memorable and good times 💖 ✨️
Unfortunately, we can only dream of those times now.
Indeed Mr Neba. thank you for your comment