People parade during the national day celebration in Yaounde, Cameroon, on May 20, 2024. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)
YAOUNDE, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon marked on Monday the 52nd anniversary of its National Day with military and civilian parades nationwide.
In the capital Yaounde, Cameroonian President Paul Biya presided over the celebration that saw hundreds of soldiers and civilians march past in front of national and international dignitaries.
Marches took place in all the 10 regions of the country including war-torn Anglophone regions, where separatist fighters had imposed a lockdown to disrupt the celebrations.
May 20 is one of the most important days on the Cameroonian calendar. On this day in 1972, Cameroonians voted in a national referendum for a unitary state as opposed to a federal state which existed at the time. ■
Defense forces parade during the national day celebration in Yaounde, Cameroon, on May 20, 2024. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)
Defense forces parade during the national day celebration in Yaounde, Cameroon, on May 20, 2024. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)
Students parade during the national day celebration in Yaounde, Cameroon, on May 20, 2024. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)
Cameroonian President Paul Biya watches a civil parade during the national day celebration in Yaounde, Cameroon, on May 20, 2024. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)
