They were to an extent, special guests. Delegates from three continents: Africa, North America and Europe came to the third congress of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) with bags full of ideas, ready for the challenge. The eight delegates from foreign-based sections like North and South France, the United States of America, Belgium, Germany, and South Africa, sounded optimistic about the future of the party in particular and the country in general.

“I came for the congress and I’m impressed already though it is beginning,” Patience Tamfu, a delegate from the women’s wing of the party in the USA, said. Seemingly elated to be part of the ceremony chaired by party head, President Paul Biya, she explained that members from the USA are armed for the wellbeing of the party as requested by its chairman. Tamfu hinted that she came with a bag full of suggestions that will be made when time comes.

The President of the CPDM Section for North France, David Mvondo Mvondo, said the congress had just begun but he could discern the statements of the Head of State with a lot of satisfaction. The message that was pregnant with meaning will serve as a springboard during upcoming campaigns. The innovations in the congress, especially with the external sections granted the right to vote, did not leave him indifferent. Most remarkable to him was the chairman’s wish to get the youth to be more involved in the development of the country. The CPDM Section in North France has proposals that if taken into consideration will be compiled into a book for the good of the party. The phrase of the Head of State which centred on transforming the country in 2012 into a construction site and moving the greater ambitions to greater achievements, sent them into ecstasy. As far as the upcoming presidential election is concerned, David Mvondo Mvondo said militants of the party in France were ready for the show as they wait for the lists from ELECAM to be published.

The same reaction was voiced by the delegate from South Africa, Shey Charles Umaru who doubles as a member of the CPDM section and that of the YCPDM Bureau at the Central Committee.“The message that the party leader delivered is a challenge to the diaspora to fight against misinformation and to make sure that Cameroonians in the diaspora are well informed,” said Umaru. The delegate joined others to say they will go back to preach the gospel of peace and stability that the country enjoys, adding that Cameroonians abroad will soon receive the message of the Chairman of the party, on giant projects that are geared at transforming the country. But for it to work, some of the delegates said “every Cameroonian youth should work to make their impact felt.” We are ready to consolidate the virtues of peace and stability the country is blessed with and ready for the upcoming challenge,” Umaru concluded.