Cameroonians’ complacency and systemic corruption are the real obstacles to progress, argues teacher and political observer Armand Noutack II

In a recent commentary, high school teacher Armand Noutack II challenges Cameroonians to confront their own role in the nation’s stagnation. He argues that citizens’ acceptance of corruption and their pursuit of personal gain over national development have created a culture of stagnation that persists regardless of leadership changes.

The educator points to widespread practices such as tax evasion, falsification of expiration dates on products, and the prioritization of personal business over professional duties as evidence of a deeper societal malaise. « Cameroonians claim to want change, but only when their fraudulent interests remain untouched, » he asserts.

Noutack highlights the hypocrisy of those who publicly condemn government corruption while engaging in similar practices themselves. « Some present themselves as fierce opponents by day, but by midnight, they’re negotiating public contracts with ministers to execute poorly and reap massive profits, » he writes.

He also criticizes the educational system, where teachers exploit students through extortion and sexual harassment, and the healthcare sector, where doctors abandon public hospitals for private clinics while still demanding change. « The corruption isn’t superficial—it’s ingrained in our mentality, » Noutack argues. « We’re all complicit. »

His commentary comes amid ongoing debates about government accountability and the need for systemic reform. Noutack calls for the minister in charge of state financial oversight to investigate and sanction corrupt officials across all sectors, warning that meaningful progress will require dismantling the « mental web of corruption » that has trapped Cameroonians for decades.

« If you can’t be the change you want to see in your country, then stay silent, » he concludes. « True change begins with accountability—starting with ourselves. »

Armand Noutack II is a high school teacher and political observer whose commentaries challenge Cameroonians to examine their own contributions to national challenges.