The German Embassy in Cameroon hosted a reception at the Friedrich Ebert-Stiftung in Yaounde on Friday, October 2, to mark the 2026 German Unity Day.
Officially commemorated on October 3, German Unity Day marks the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, bringing an end to more than 40 years of division.
Describing reunification as a moment of happiness for Germany, the German Ambassador to Cameroon, Christian Sedat, told guests at the reception that Cameroonian friends also shared in the joy of that historic moment.
He recalled that 1990 was also a memorable year for Cameroon, as the country’s national football team defeated Argentina in the opening match of the World Cup and went on to become the first African team to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.
“By recalling these events, we have every reason to celebrate together,” Ambassador Sedat said.
Germany ready to begin restitution of looted artefacts
However, this year’s German Unity Day celebration comes amid growing debate over Germany’s colonial past in Cameroon. Discussions surrounding the restitution of more than 40,000 Cameroonian artefacts held in German museums, including the revered Ngonnso statue, which was looted during the colonial period, have intensified in recent months.
The German envoy told guests that Germany’s colonial history in Cameroon and the resulting responsibility remain an important priority in relations between Berlin and Yaounde.
“It remains a priority for the German government to shed light—together with Cameroon—on this period of history and the consequences that persist to this day,” Ambassador Sedat said.
The head of Germany’s diplomatic mission in Cameroon said discussions on the restitution of Cameroonian heritage artefacts from German museums had advanced. He cited the inauguration earlier this year of the “Kamerun Haus”, a cultural centre, meeting space and local focal point for dialogue on Cameroon’s heritage and the return of colonial-era artefacts held abroad, particularly in Germany.
“And I want to state clearly: Germany is ready to begin a restitution process, and at the German Embassy, we are committed to promoting these consultations,” the German diplomat said.
Cameroon was a German protectorate from 1884 until 1914, when Germany lost control of the territory following its defeat in the First World War. Research indicates that the colonial period played a significant role in the acquisition and removal of many of the artefacts now held abroad.
Multilateral cooperation
Beyond the celebration of German unity and reflection on the country’s history, the reception provided an opportunity for Ambassador Sedat to highlight the longstanding cooperation between Berlin and Yaounde.
The German envoy stressed that relations between the two countries extend beyond government-to-government cooperation.
Germany and Cameroon are currently deepening their partnership, with a new €89.2 million (about FCFA 58.4 billion) package agreed for 2025–2026 to support strategic projects in Cameroon.
According to the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), the agreement followed intergovernmental negotiations held in Yaounde in April.
Ambassador Sedat said the projects cover five priority areas: health, good governance, economic development, agriculture and natural resource management, particularly forestry.
“Another high point of the cooperation was at the PROMOTE business fair in Yaounde last June, where 20 German enterprises participated and obtained information about investment opportunities in Cameroon,” the ambassador said.
Guests at the 36th German Unity Day celebration in Yaounde included members of government, the diplomatic corps, civil society, the media and prominent politicians.
Among the government officials present were the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu; Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey; Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicraft, Achille Bassilekin III; Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Jules Doret Ndongo; Minister of Labour and Social Security, Grégoire Owona; and Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele.
