14/08/2026
Wimbum Political Stakeholders Call for a New Political Culture Anchored on Unity and the Common Good
It was on Saturday August 8th, 2026 in YAOUNDÉ, that Political actors, civil society leaders and other stakeholders from the Wimbum community came together to call for a new political culture anchored on unity, accountability, reconciliation and the common good, as the community prepares to navigate the 2026 electoral cycle.
The call was made during the Wimbum Political Platforms Summit 2026, held on Saturday, August 8th, at the Ngueye Hotel in Yaoundé under the theme ‘From Kurah to Bong-abee: Politics for the Common Good.’ The Summit was convened by the Wimbum Political Platform (WPP) under the coordination of its Coordinator, Ta Tamfu NDZI Etienne NGAH.
The one-day gathering brought together political stakeholders, civil society representatives and community leaders for an honest reflection on the history of politics in Wimbumland, the challenges confronting the community today, and the need to build a political culture that promotes peace, development and shared prosperity.
The Summit provided a platform for participants to examine how political competition has evolved in Wimbumland, particularly from the return to multiparty politics in the 1990s, through the social fragmentation of subsequent years, to the devastating consequences of the Anglophone Crisis that has affected the North West Region since 2016.
The Summit's concept note observes that political competition in the 1990s contributed to divisions within families and communities, with political differences sometimes developing into suspicion, hostility and confrontation. It argues that the challenge today is to ensure that politics once again becomes an instrument for the common good rather than a source of division.
Diverse voices examine Wimbum's political journey
The Summit featured a panel discussion bringing together voices with experience and knowledge of the Wimbum community and its political landscape.
Among the panelists were Professor Fai Donaltus Tangem, Rev. Dr. Nfor Philemon, Dr. Ngwang Ernest, Ta Nformi Emmanuel Banter and Mr. Fred , Ta Nformi Abanda Alphonse, Ta Nformi Edison Ngeh, Ta Nformi John Ta Ngwarong amongst others who shared perspectives on the history, current political realities and possible pathways for the future of Wimbumland.
Their interventions contributed to a broader conversation on political participation, leadership, social cohesion, accountability and the responsibility of political actors to place the interests of the community above partisan considerations.
The discussions were framed around the Wimbum philosophical concepts of Kurah, Ngwi-ngabah, Ko-sah, Tah-falurr and Bong-abee, which the Summit sought to apply to contemporary political and social realities.
Central to the Summit was Bong-abee, presented as a philosophy of communal flourishing, solidarity and shared destiny. Rooted in the Wimbum principle “Abee yu-ngir — Unity is Strength,” Bong-abee calls for political competition that does not destroy the social fabric of the community.
From dialogue to concrete resolutions
Beyond reflection and dialogue, the Summit adopted a series of recommendations directed at traditional authorities, religious leaders, elected officials, political actors and other stakeholders.
For traditional authorities, the Summit called for the establishment of a Reconciliation Council, bringing together Fons, Chiefs and Councils of Elders to help mediate political and communal disputes. The traditional leadership was also encouraged to promote a process of “Naming Without Shaming”, through which past divisions and grievances can be acknowledged publicly without blame or humiliation.
Traditional authorities were further urged to facilitate at least one inclusive inter-factional dialogue before the end of 2026, creating space for political and community actors across different divides to engage constructively.
Religious leaders urged to promote peace and responsible communication
Religious leaders across denominations were also identified as important actors in the search for peace and reconciliation.
The Summit called upon religious institutions to facilitate reconciliation dialogues within their communities and to use their platforms to counter hate speech, misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric, particularly during the 2026 electoral season.
Faith-based institutions were additionally encouraged to strengthen humanitarian support to displaced and crisis-affected families in Donga Mantung, particularly communities whose social services and livelihoods have been disrupted by the ongoing crisis.
Political actors challenged on accountability
Elected officials and political actors across party lines were challenged to demonstrate a greater commitment to responsible political participation.
One of the major recommendations was the voluntary adoption of a common Code of Electoral Conduct rejecting hate speech, intimidation, misinformation and political violence.
The Summit also called for greater transparency and accountability in the management of development resources, urging elected officials to promote transparent, itemise and publicly accessible reporting on development expenditure within their constituencies.
Political parties and elite associations were further encouraged to voluntarily consider internal term limits and ethical codes for Wimbum-affiliated leadership structures.
The Summit also placed emphasis on women's participation in leadership, calling on political and traditional elites to establish and promote a measurable target for women's representation in leadership structures.
Joint action proposed for development and crisis response
Recognising that no single group can address the challenges facing Wimbumland alone, the Summit proposed joint action among traditional, religious and political authorities.
Among the recommendations is the establishment of a Wimbum Diaspora Investment Desk to harness the resources, expertise and networks of Wimbum people living outside the community.
The three spheres of authority were also encouraged to jointly sponsor an annual, publicly accessible Donga Mantung Development Scorecard to strengthen development accountability.
The Summit further called for coordinated institutional support to crisis-affected communities, particularly displaced families and communities facing disruptions to education and healthcare.
WPP commits to leading by example
While calling on other institutions and leaders to act, the Wimbum Political Platform also adopted commitments for itself.
The Platform committed to establishing an elder-youth mentorship programme aimed at promoting intergenerational learning and leadership development.
It also plans to develop a youth-led rapid-response mechanism to address misinformation and promote responsible political communication.
In a move aimed at strengthening youth participation within its own structures, the WPP committed to reserving a minimum of 30 percent of committee and delegate positions for members below the age of 35.
A politics beyond party lines
The Summit's recommendations come at a critical period as the Wimbum community approaches the 2026 municipal and legislative elections.
The WPP warns that electoral seasons can intensify political rivalry, misinformation and division, particularly within communities already weakened by years of insecurity and mistrust. It therefore advocates a deliberate movement “from diagnosis to renewal, from fear to hope, from fragmentation to solidarity, and from political rivalry to a politics genuinely oriented toward the common good.”
The Platform, however, recognises the limits of its mandate. Its guiding principle is that the WPP exists to convene, advocate, recommend and lead by example—not to exercise authority it does not legally possess.
This distinction places the responsibility for implementing many of the recommendations in the hands of the institutions and leaders to whom they are addressed.
Building a shared future
The Summit ultimately sought to move the Wimbum political conversation beyond electoral competition towards a broader question: What kind of political culture does Wimbumland need to build for present and future generations?
The answer emerging from the gathering is one centred on unity, responsible leadership, accountability, reconciliation and inclusive participation.
The Summit's expected outcomes include stronger dialogue and trust across political, generational, gender and geographic lines, as well as practical recommendations on peacebuilding, development, youth empowerment and governance.
As Wimbumland looks towards the 2026 elections and beyond, the Wimbum Political Platform is calling on political actors and community leaders to ensure that political differences do not become permanent divisions.
The challenge, therefore, is no longer simply to win political contests, but to build a political culture in which competition can coexist with community, leadership with accountability, and political ambition with service to the common good.
