Thousands of Yaounde city dwellers thronged the streets on May 14, 2016 for the Unity and National Integration walk as part of activities to mark May 20 celebration.

They came from all walks of life, all social strata and from all the seven sub divisions of the nation’s capital on Saturday May 14, 2016, to take part in the Unity and National Integration walk ahead of the 44^th National Day on May 20, 2016. The marchers from different parts of the city converged at the Year 2000 Avenue (Place “An 2000 in front of the Prime Minister’s Office) where they were received by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang, in the presence of cabinet ministers and the clergy.

On arrival at the Prime Minister’s Office roundabout, the spirit of patriotism, unity and national integration resonated as groups from different parts of Yaounde merged into one mammoth crowd as a show of national integration. The marchers carried along national colours (flag) and effigies of the Head of State, Paul Biya amidst music from the Mega Choir with the song “We are one, we are together” on the air. The scintillating singing of the National Anthem by the Mega Choir (comprising of students of some higher institutions of learning in Yaounde) sent waves across thousands of participants who thronged the venue and set the stage for an ecumenical prayer.

Men of God from the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, Roman Catholic, the 7^th Day Adventist Church, Orthodox Church, Cameroon Baptist Convention and Islam beseeched the Almighty God for peace and brotherhood to reign in Cameroon and prayed for the Head of State as he continues to pilot the affairs of the nation. They also committed the government and the Defence Forces into the hands of God as they continue to wage the barbaric attacks from the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Other highlights of the occasion included drama/poem display with the theme “National integration and the fight against terrorism”, and a presentation of a song titled “Je suis patriot” (I am a patriot) by a budding Cameroonian artist, Steve Fah. Minister Mounouna Foutsou of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, which organised the event, underlined the importance of celebrating unity and national integration as well as showing support to the Head of State and the Defence Forces in the fight against terrorism.