The Cameroonian diaspora in the United States has been urged to move from sending remittances to driving investment, innovation, and national development. The call came from Judith Yah Sunday Achidi, General Manager of Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL) and Head of the CPDM Campaign Delegation for America, as she led a major mobilisation meeting with party militants and sympathisers in Washington D.C.
Representing the Central Committee of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), Yah Sunday Achidi delivered what observers described as one of the most detailed campaign messages to the diaspora in recent years. This is a message that blended realism, gratitude, and a strong appeal for unity around President Paul Biya, the party’s candidate for the 12 October 2025 presidential election.
Speaking to a hall filled with CPDM activists, community leaders and invited guests, the CAMTEL boss reminded the diaspora of its strategic importance to the country’s development.
“The Cameroonian diaspora is very close to the heart of President Paul Biya. He sees you as key actors of progress and partners in the country’s emergence,” she told the crowd, reaffirming that her mission was to bring the Head of State’s “message of truth, realism, experience and hope.”
Judith Yah Sunday recalled how President Biya had long recognised the need for Cameroonians abroad to vote and invest at home, citing the 2011 law enabling diaspora participation in presidential elections as proof that the Head of State “acts with conviction and wisdom.”
But she lamented that while other nationalities were actively investing in Cameroon, many Cameroonians abroad particularly in the United States were missing the opportunities created for them.
“Foreigners come to build and take profit of the prosperity of Cameroon. Will the Cameroonian diaspora stay behind?” she asked, urging: “Come and, with President Paul Biya, let us build our country.”
Yah Sunday Achidi dedicated part of her message to addressing what she described as “erroneous information and constant denigration” of the country by some groups abroad. She argued that beyond the noise of online misinformation, the reality on the ground tells a story of resilience and tangible progress from the Babadjou–Bamenda highway, to major hospital renovations, new universities, and digital transformation led by young Cameroonians.
Drawing from her professional background, she pointed to the telecommunications sector as an example of how national infrastructure is powering the digital economy and creating “Cameroon’s own Silicon Valleys.”
“Despite the challenges, our country is moving forward every month, new factories are inaugurated. The diaspora must see beyond disinformation and join this effort,” she said firmly.
The head of the U.S. campaign delegation revisited the Anglophone crisis, calling it a painful reminder of how noble aspirations can be derailed by misinformation and violence. She urged the diaspora to be part of peacebuilding rather than propaganda.
“Some of our compatriots have deviated from the path of dialogue and peace. President Biya has not ignored the problems but has continued working to rebuild and secure affected regions.” she said
Her remarks struck a chord among attendees who applauded her emphasis on facts, empathy, and inclusion which is a tone that many described as both maternal and mobilising.
In a detailed section of her speech, Yah Sunday Achidi outlined government initiatives designed to attract and integrate diaspora expertise, including:
- PARIJEDI, the Programme for the Return and Integration of Young People from the Diaspora, which supports voluntary return and start-ups.
- Dias’Invest 237, promoting joint ventures between diaspora and local entrepreneurs.
- The Investment Promotion Agency’s (API) 2025 ordinance offering tax and customs incentives to private investors, including Cameroonians abroad.
- The iCUD-Diaspora Platform launched by the Douala City Council, linking expatriates to urban development projects online.
These, she said, show that “the State is doing its part to open doors.” The missing piece, she noted, is the diaspora’s response.
Beyond politics, Judith Yah Sunday’s tone was that of a national servant appealing to compatriots to rise above division and mistrust. She encouraged Cameroonians abroad to emulate the civic maturity seen in the United States where, as she put it, “elders continue to lead for the progress of all.”
“Cameroon still needs the wisdom of its elders. When the time for transition comes, it must happen peacefully, in understanding, without insults or violence.” she added
The CAMTEL General Manager urged all Cameroonians in the U.S. to vote for the white ballot bearing President Paul Biya’s image and the burning flame of the CPDM, describing it as “a vote for peace, unity, and continuity.”
Why this message matters
At a time when misinformation and political cynicism cloud diaspora engagement, Yah Sunday Achidi’s message reframes the narrative clarifying that Cameroon is not a hopeless story but an unfinished one. Her speech situates the diaspora not as spectators or critics, but as builders and co-owners of national progress.
By linking investment, digital innovation and peace to the upcoming vote, she extends the campaign beyond ballots into the broader conversation about trust, identity, and belonging.
Campaign Pulse Insight
Judith Yah Sunday’s U.S. mission reflects a larger CPDM strategy to mobilise the diaspora as both voters and validators of Cameroon’s development trajectory. The party’s approach is evolving from pairing traditional loyalty appeals with economic arguments rooted in policy, not rhetoric.
Her speech, deeply grounded in data and diplomacy, reinforces the image of a government official who understands both technology and trust. As the election nears, it positions the diaspora not as distant observers, but as partners in shaping Cameroon’s next chapter through online, at the ballot box, and beyond.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Online with reports
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