The Republic of Cameroon, until the First World War winners will divide it into two (the present francophone and Anglophone), was the colony of Germany. The division was not an even one, the largest section of the present territory of the country (78%) is francophone and the rest (22%) is Anglophone. The French-speaking part obtained its independence in the year 1960 and the British part in 1961. The reunification of the two parts was not an easy one. Many fractures, factions and separatist political movements followed. Only in 1972 came an end to the apparent endless and visceral disputes and negotiations going back and forth. In that year, 1972, the unity of the country was announced and its official name was: THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF CAMEROUN. The first president was Ahmadou Ahidjo. The second and, until this date, it is Mr. Paul BIYA, in power for the last 36 years. Cameroon, covers a surface of 475,442 km2 with a population circa 23.2 million inhabitants. The dominant religion is Christianity (53%); Catholics & Protestants together. Muslims 22% and the rest Animists 15%.
The Presence of the Congregation of the Mission in Cameroun: our presence in Cameroun dates back to the beginning of the 1980. The first French missionaries to be sent to the Cameroun Mission were: Fr. Paul LIMOUSIN(previously a missionary in Ethiopia, but his mission in Cameroun did not last longer); P. Dulucq, P. François Brillet, P. Hubert Lignée, P. Marc Thieffry and, of course, Fr. Elie Delplace. Many of the Cameroonian confreres joined the CM while studying at the university of Yaoundé or soon after their graduation from it. While at the university, a number of them contacted Fr. Hubert, who himself was a philosophy professor in the same university. Fr. Hubert left a beautiful memory in these confreres. Fr. Hubert, say a number of them, was an exceptional person, very open, humble, generous and prejudice-free confrere but not necessarily a good formator for he was too good. A well-organized, systematic and perhaps even a little demanding formation will begin with the arrival of Fr Elie Delplace. When he arrived to this mission Elie Delplace was very young. Only thirty-seven years old. He will be elected Visitor of the former Paris-Province while he was director of our students in Yaoundé. It is quite normal that Elie Delplace’s heart would remain in Cameroun. Thanks to all the hard work being done by the former Paris Province, Cameroun became a Region in 2004 and Vince Province on February the 7th, 2016. The first appointed Regional Superior was Emmanuel Typamm while the first Visitor of the Vice-Province is Fr. Clement ONDOUA.
This young vice Province of the CM has a bright future.Where is its future? The human resource:the average age is only 42.9 and it has 49 students at all levels of formation; international character: it embraces six francophone African countries in its womb; an admirable courage to be with and work for the poor: a number of confreres work in the inaccessible forests or in a very poor parishes and missions like Belita II (Batuori), Nyamfendé-Kribi and Bognangone. This gives hope and energy for the future of this vice province. In addition to this there is a very strongly growing awareness of the Vincentian Identity and the sense of belonging to the CM. In Cameroun our Vincentian Charism seems to be at home. Thanks to God, we are blessed with some young confreres, who speak fluently French and English, very intelligent, dynamic, deep down, and at the same time simple and hard workers. All these factors make the future of this young vice province a bright one not only for Cameroun but for the entire Congregation of the Mission.
Zeracristos Yosief, C.M. – Assistant General
