Cameroonian journalist Jean Claude Mbede, based in Italy, has ignited a national conversation about the deep-rooted inequalities perpetuated by tribalism in the country. In a powerful op-ed, he dismantles the myth that Cameroon’s challenges stem from ethnic divisions, arguing instead that the real fault line lies between the privileged elite and the marginalized majority.

Through a personal anecdote involving a highly educated northern Cameroonian acquaintance, Mbede exposes how systemic advantages—rather than merit—determine access to prestigious institutions like the ESSTIC and IRIC. Despite her elite background and connections, she attributed the success of her region’s youth to the dominance of the Beti ethnic group, dismissing the struggles of others as inevitable.

Her remarks struck a raw nerve: “The country is difficult, except for the Betis who control everything and only succeed among themselves.” The audacity reached its peak when she suggested Mbede’s 20-year exile was a result of “pride”, implying he could have secured his place in Cameroon by “apologizing to his Beti brothers.”

Mbede’s response was unequivocal. “Apologize for what crime? What fault?” He questioned the morality of a system where elite networks—regardless of ethnicity—protect their own while silencing dissent, as seen in the murder of journalist Martinez Zogo, whose killers represented no single tribe but a shared culture of impunity.

The op-ed’s most striking revelation is Mbede’s assertion that Cameroon is divided into two social castes, not ethnic groups:

• Those who hold the keys to the system: Elites who secure admissions to top schools (IRIC, ESSTIC, ENAM, EMIA) for their children through backroom deals and nepotism.
• Everyone else: Children of resourceful mothers, farmers, and street vendors who battle daily to survive, often excluded from these opportunities.

Mbede concludes with a call to action: “The true divide is not regional; it is social. Stop being distracted by those who lament marginalization while benefiting from the system.” He severed ties with his acquaintance, declaring that privileged tribalism is the most corrosive form of division in Cameroon today.

Jean Claude Mbede Fouda