By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. John G. Robinson has said Freedom 250 is not simply a celebration of the American past but a commitment to an even stronger future.
Robinson made the remarks June 2 at the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde during celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. The Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in Charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, Félix Mbayu, other government dignitaries and traditional authorities attended the event.
“Two hundred and fifty years after my country’s founding, the American story is still being written,” Robinson said. “Freedom 250 is not simply a celebration of our past, but a commitment to an even stronger future.”
He further stated that he is confident the partnership between the United States and Cameroon will continue to be an important part of that future for many years to come.
Robinson indicated that in August, the United States and Cameroon will launch a bilateral economic and trade dialogue, with the aim of increasing bilateral trade, attracting investment, including in the mining sector, and improving the business climate.
“Just as the United States has stood by Cameroon since the first day of its independence, we are ready, through our private companies, to support Cameroon’s digital modernization in a way that strengthens its sovereignty,” he said.
Stating that Freedom 250 evokes milestones in the relationship between the two countries, Robinson recalled that on Jan. 1, 1960, at the advice of Secretary of State Christian Herter, President Dwight Eisenhower wrote to Ahmadou Ahidjo, prime minister of Cameroon. More than six decades later, Robinson said, this commitment remains intact.
“In the Lake Chad Basin, Cameroon has demonstrated unwavering resolve in the face of the threats posed by Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa, and the United States has provided consistent support for regional security and stability, a commitment demonstrated by recent visits by senior U.S. military officials to Cameroon,” Robinson said.
He added: “We are determined to protect our borders and uphold our laws. This is why the U.S. justice system has prosecuted individuals in the United States for supporting violence in Cameroon, including in the Northwest and Southwest regions.”
In the health sector, he said the two countries have signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding worth $850 million (486 billion FCFA), concretely demonstrating America’s shared commitment to improving the health conditions of the populations.
Recalling his early days in Cameroon as a Peace Corps volunteer, Robinson noted that for over 60 years, thousands of Peace Corps volunteers have lived and worked alongside Cameroonians, building bridges between communities and countries.
“The strongest partnerships are not measured solely by agreements or programs,” he said, “but above all through people: the friendships formed, the skills shared and the links that unite our two countries across generations.”
During the Independent celebartions, Robinson officially presented the Government of Cameroon with a Taylor guitar—made in the United States using Cameroonian ebony wood harvested from sustainable sources.
Describing the guitar as a symbol of bilateral cooperation, Robinson noted that it “reminds us that when Americans and Cameroonians pool their talents, resources, and mutual dedication, we produce outcomes that surpass what either nation could accomplish on its own.”
Throughout the year, a series of events marking the milestone, called “Freedom 250,” have taken place including some sports diplomacy initiatives. At the Yaounde Embassy, the Founder’s Museum was unveiled, which showcases the people, ideas and legal milestones that shaped America’s independence.
The museum will remain open at the Embassy through January 2027 and is expected to draw visitors eager to explore the exhibit and learn about the history and principles that guided the founding of the United States.
