Jean Claude Mbede: «in Cameroon, there are really only two ethnic groups»

The Cameroonian journalist exiled in Italy lifts the veil on the country’s deep social divide, far removed from regional rivalries.

The tribalism debate in Cameroon often focuses on regional origins, but a recent reflection by journalist Jean Claude Mbede exposes a far more insidious reality: the country’s true division lies not between ethnic groups, but between those who control the system and those who fight against it.

Privilege disguised as merit

In his latest column, Mbede recalls a conversation with an acquaintance from the Far North region—highly educated, daughter of a customs official, and holder of prestigious diplomas from ESSTIC and IRIC. Despite her average academic performance, she secured admission through connections inaccessible to most Cameroonians.

During their discussion, she bluntly stated, «The country is tough, unless you’re a Béti. They control everything and only succeed among themselves.» The conversation took a shocking turn when she suggested that Mbede’s 20-year exile was due to «pride» and could have been avoided by «apologizing to his Béti brothers.»

Mbede responded with a question that cuts to the heart of the issue: «Apologize for what crime? What wrongdoing?» He contrasts her privileged position with the brutal murder of journalist Martinez Zogo, whose killers—financed by elites of all backgrounds—showed no ethnic mercy. «Crime and corruption have no tribe,» he writes.

The real ethnic divide in Cameroon

Mbede dismantles the myth of regional tribalism by exposing the system’s true beneficiaries. He identifies two distinct groups:

The gatekeepers: Those who place their children in top institutions like IRIC, ESSTIC, ENAM, or EMIA through elite connections.
The excluded: Children of hardworking mothers, farmers, and street vendors who survive by selling water or petty goods.

The journalist argues that the real gap is social, not regional. He warns against being distracted by those who benefit from the system while complaining about marginalization.

«I blocked her,» Mbede concludes. «I have no tolerance for tribalists, especially the privileged ones.» His message is clear: Cameroon’s most dangerous form of tribalism is the one that wears the mask of intellectualism while perpetuating inequality.

Jean Claude Mbede Fouda