OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF ACTIVITIES TO COMMEMORATE COMMONWEALTH DAY 2025

On Monday, 03 March 2025, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in Charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth chaired the traditional Flag Hoisting Ceremony marking the official launch of activities to celebrate Commonwealth Day in Cameroon. As it appears, Commonwealth Day is celebrated on the second Monday of March across the 56 Member Countries of the Commonwealth. This Flag Hoisting Ceremony will therefore give room to a series of week-long activities which will culminate on Monday, 10 March 2025 in the official commemorative ceremony.

To the Commonwealth, the Flag Hoisting ceremony is a symbolic gesture that underscores commitment to the values and principles of the organisation. It brings greater understanding and appreciation of these values and principles, to which the governments of all Commonwealth member countries subscribe, and to which each individual Commonwealth citizen can recommit on Commonwealth Day.

Other than the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in Charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, this year’s Flag Hoisting Ceremony was also attended by heads of diplomatic and consular missions of Commonwealth member countries represented in Cameroon and a plethora of national dignitaries. Particularly remarkable among guests was the presence of ‘High Commissioners for a Day.’

“High Commissioner for a Day” is the first activity, following the Flag Hoisting Ceremony, to be organised within the context of Commonwealth Week 2025. It is organised thanks to partner High Commissions of Commonwealth member countries present in Yaounde. This activity offers the unique opportunity for selected young Cameroonians to “head” the diplomatic missions of the four participating high commissions (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Gabon and South Africa), lead meetings, and get involved in a wide range of diplomatic engagements. Thus, the ‘High Commissioners for a Day’ had the possibility to also take part in the audience between MINDELCOM and heads of Commonwealth diplomatic missions after the Flag Hoisting Ceremony.

This year’s celebration is taking place under the theme “Together We Thrive”. This theme celebrates the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth Family – 56 independent member countries united by shared values and principles enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter. This theme is deeply rooted in the principles of family, unity and peace, and highlights the importance of fostering strong and connected communities that support and empower their members, enabling meaningful progress.