Deadly quest for a better life: when will cameroonians stop the perilous exodus?

The tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea, where about 40 Cameroonians lost their lives in search of a better future, is a chilling reminder of the deadly gamble many Africans are willing to take.

Despite the risks, hundreds more continue to embark on the same treacherous journey, driven by the belief that life only holds promise beyond the shores of Africa. But how long will this exodus continue? And why is it that so many Cameroonians, despite the dangers, still choose to flee? The truth is, this migration is not merely a result of economic hardship. It’s a crisis rooted in a deep sense of hopelessness, compounded by the failure of leadership, lack of opportunity, and the overwhelming perception that success cannot be found at home.

The landscape in Cameroon is filled with challenges — poor infrastructure, rampant corruption, and a system that fails to deliver for the people. But while these challenges are real, they are not insurmountable. What is truly deadly is the mindset that Africa, and more specifically Cameroon, cannot offer the opportunities its youth seek. The continent is rich in resources, both natural and human. Yet, while many are dying in deserts and seas to escape the conditions at home, foreigners are flocking to Africa, capitalizing on the same resources.

The Chinese, Russians, and Europeans have set up shop across the continent, building wealth off the very land and people that Cameroonians seem to think they must leave behind to survive. How is it that others see opportunity in Africa while its own people are willing to risk everything for a future in foreign lands? If young Cameroonians can muster the courage to cross treacherous borders in search of hope, that same energy can be redirected to transform their own country.

The same daring spirit that fuels the dangerous trek through the Sahara Desert could be channeled into the innovation, entrepreneurship, and activism needed to rebuild Cameroon. Instead of focusing on the hopelessness that so many seem to accept, young people could focus on the opportunities lying within their country — opportunities in agriculture, technology, infrastructure, and tourism.

Yes, the challenges are overwhelming, but they are also opportunities for those who are willing to fight for change. And this fight isn’t just for the young entrepreneurs and innovators. It’s a fight for all Cameroonians, especially those who continue to accept the status quo. Why is it that so many Cameroonians are willing to pay thousands to make a perilous journey across the Mediterranean, but refuse to hold their government accountable for its failings? We criticize foreign leaders like Donald Trump, but many remain silent when it comes to confronting the leadership at home — a government that has failed to deliver on basic needs for its people.

President Biya, now 92, continues to hold power, offering little in terms of tangible improvements for the country’s youth. He remains out of touch with the realities of life in Cameroon, leaving a vacuum that allows the country’s problems to fester. The streets of Yaoundé, for example, are littered with waste, and yet, no one seems to be asking where the government is in addressing this issue.

The truth is, it’s a symptom of a broader problem: failed leadership and a lack of accountability. The mass exodus of Cameroonians seeking a better life abroad is not just a problem for those who risk their lives in search of greener pastures. It’s a problem that needs to be addressed at its root — the failure to provide hope and opportunity within Cameroon.

If young people are willing to risk everything for a life abroad, why are they not channeling that energy into fighting for the changes they desperately need in their own country? Cameroon, like the rest of Africa, has vast potential. It’s time for Cameroonians to look inward, to stop seeing the future as something that lies outside their borders, and to focus on creating the opportunities that have always been here. The future of Cameroon is in the hands of its youth, and it’s time to stop running away from the problems and start facing them head-on.