As the morning sun rose over Douala’s skyline, its golden rays glistened across the Wouri River, bathing the city in a calm glow that belied the tense anticipation of the days ahead. Cameroon was inching closer to its October 12 presidential election, and in the bustling streets of Bonassama, the air was thick with both hope and uncertainty.
At the heart of this city, home to thousands displaced by the Anglophone crisis, one man’s voice rose above the noise — a call not for division or doubt, but for unity and peace. Hon. Ngala Gerard, Member of Parliament for Nkambe and a respected community mobiliser, stood before an audience of determined faces — men and women who had fled instability in the North West and South West Regions, now striving to rebuild their lives in Douala.
“Let us not be deceived by false promises,” he urged, his tone firm yet fatherly. “Peace is the foundation upon which our dreams rest. We must choose wisely — and choose peace.”
For Hon. Ngala, this was more than politics; it was a mission rooted in memory. He recalled the events of 2016, when chaos and confusion had swept through the Anglophone Regions, scattering families and sending countless citizens seeking safety across Cameroon. Douala had become a refuge — a new home for many. But he feared that history, if ignored, could repeat itself.
At his side stood Dr. Roger Mbassa Ndine, City Mayor of Douala — a man equally devoted to the ideals of peace and progress. Together, they painted a vision of a city where everyone, regardless of origin, could thrive in harmony. “Douala is not just a city,” the Mayor reminded the crowd, “it is a home — your home. Let us protect it as such.”
Traditional songs and dances
Their message echoed beyond the esplanade, carried by songs, traditional drums, and the warm rhythms of the Ngondo Caravan for Peace, an event that had drawn both Anglophone and Sawa communities together in a symbolic pact of unity. The air vibrated with chants of reconciliation — a celebration of shared destiny.
Fon Ju Wilson of Koshing
On that day, Fon Ju Wilson of Koshing village in Menchum Division also took the stage. Dressed in the regalia of his people, he reminded the crowd that peace and development are inseparable. “A divided nation cannot prosper,” he said, his voice deep with conviction. “And no leader has done more to safeguard our unity than President Paul Biya.”
For Hon. Ngala Gerard, these moments were personal milestones in a lifelong crusade. Just weeks earlier, on September 14, 2025, he had led thousands of Northwesterners in Douala to sign what became known as the Historic Peace Pact with the Ngondo community — a symbolic gesture of gratitude and partnership. It was a reaffirmation that peace was not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of understanding and solidarity.
“We are all custodians of this great land,” he told the crowd, his voice rising above the drums. “Cameroon and Douala in particular are our collective heritage. Preserving them is our collective responsibility.”
As the sun dipped behind the city’s skyline, casting long shadows across the Wouri Bridge, the message of peace lingered in the hearts of those who listened. Hon. Ngala’s words — earnest, passionate, and deeply rooted in patriotism — reminded them that the path to progress begins not with anger, but with understanding.
And as Douala’s lights flickered to life, illuminating the night, the people left the esplanade with renewed hope — united under a single promise: to safeguard peace, before, during, and after the October 12 elections
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