By Sylvie Ngassa Qwasinwi Bello*
As the political winds shift in Washington, Cameroonians, Africans, and Black immigrants in the United States and beyond welcome President Trump’s appointment of Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State with renewed hope.
The Cameroon American Council (CAC), the nation’s premier advocacy organization for African and Black immigrants, proudly joins Democratic leader Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois in supporting Rubio’s nomination.
This endorsement transcends partisan lines, rooted in Rubio’s proven record of advocating for human rights, championing immigration reform, and addressing the complex challenges faced by nations like Cameroon. His leadership offers a renewed hope for a community frustrated by the Biden administration’s repeated failures to act on addressing anti-African and anti-Black biases within immigration and human rights policies affecting African migrants.
A History of Advocacy for Cameroon
Senator Rubio’s work on Cameroon is not theoretical—it is tangible, impactful, and rooted in collaboration. The Cameroon American Council has worked with Rubio’s office both in Florida and on Capitol Hill to address Cameroon’s five armed crises: religious freedom, armed secession, political repression, electoral suppression, and humanitarian concerns.
Rubio’s public statements and actions on Cameroon reflect his understanding of the nation’s complex challenges.
In 2020, Rubio told The Floridian that while Cameroon “is a strategic U.S. security partner,” its human rights record “continues to be a major concern for the relationship” between the U.S. and Cameroon. He further stated:
“It is critical that the U.S. remain engaged in Cameroon and the region to combat terrorist organizations like Boko Haram and counter outside malign actors like China and Russia, while also pressing Cameroon to respect human rights and the rule of law.”
Rubio’s leadership extended to supporting key resolutions in Congress, including:
- Senate Resolution 684 (116th Congress): Condemning the violence in Cameroon and calling for a ceasefire in the Anglophone regions.
The Cameroon American Council worked closely with Rubio’s office to amplify various legislative efforts. Rubio’s team demonstrated a deep understanding of Cameroon’s challenges and engaged meaningfully with diaspora leaders, hosting roundtable discussions and briefing sessions that gave voice to Cameroonian concerns.
A Shift in the African Diaspora
Support for Rubio’s nomination reflects a growing trend in the African diaspora: a pivot toward leaders who listen, engage, and act. This shift is underscored by the doubling of Black voter support for Republicans during the 2024 election cycle.
Republican lawmakers have consistently outpaced their Democratic counterparts in addressing African issues. Leaders such as the late Rep. Jackie Walorski (Indiana), Rep. Steve Russell (Oklahoma), and Rep. Lee Zeldin (New York) have demonstrated genuine engagement with African communities through congressional delegations to Cameroon, culturally informed advocacy, and UN briefings. Rubio continues this legacy, standing out as a natural ally for Cameroonians and African immigrants.
A Voice for Political Prisoners
Cameroon’s political landscape is marred by repression, particularly in the Anglophone regions, where activists like Mr. Nfor Ngala Nfor have been imprisoned since 2018 under harrowing conditions. These injustices symbolize a broader pattern of government crackdowns on dissent.
Rubio’s unwavering support for political prisoners worldwide—from Cuba to China to Cameroon—underscores his commitment to justice. Families like the Nfor family of Wisconsin, torn apart by political oppression, look to Rubio as a leader willing to hold authoritarian regimes accountable. His history of amplifying the voices of the oppressed is a lifeline for those seeking freedom and fairness in Cameroon and the diaspora.
A Commitment to Electoral Integrity
With Cameroon’s 2025 presidential elections looming, fears of fraud and suppression cast a long shadow. Rubio’s advocacy for free and fair elections as a cornerstone of democracy resonates deeply with Cameroonians who demand accountability and transparency from their government.
Rubio’s support for international election monitoring and his calls for electoral reforms offer hope that upcoming elections in Cameroon might genuinely reflect the will of the people. His track record of championing democratic governance could help strengthen Cameroon’s fragile institutions.
A Champion for Black Migrants and Immigration Reform
The Biden administration’s exclusion of Cameroonians from recent Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extensions has left the community reeling. While nations like El Salvador, Ukraine, and Venezuela received TPS extensions, Cameroon was glaringly overlooked.
This selective inaction highlights systemic disparities:
- TPS Deadlines: TPS for Venezuela extends well into September 2025, yet the designation for TPS Cameroon and South Sudan expires in June 2025, with no extension or redesignation by Biden.
- Humanitarian Parole: Afghan, Haitian, Ukrainian, and Venezuelan migrants benefit from dual protections of TPS and humanitarian parole, while Cameroonians are excluded despite enduring similar and worsening crises.
Rubio has consistently advocated for equitable immigration relief policies, including humanitarian parole and TPS. His understanding of these disparities and his commitment to addressing them could mark a turning point for Cameroonians and African migrants, who often face systemic neglect.
Understanding Cameroon’s Complex Crises
Cameroon’s challenges are multifaceted, from the ongoing Anglophone crisis in the west to the fight against Boko Haram in the north. Rubio’s nuanced approach to foreign policy acknowledges these complexities, emphasizing a balance between security cooperation and human rights advocacy.
- Security Cooperation: Rubio has supported U.S. engagement in combating Boko Haram, countering Russian and Chinese influence, and fostering regional stability.
- Human Rights Advocacy: Rubio’s insistence on accountability ensures that security partnerships do not come at the expense of human dignity.
What sets Rubio apart is his ability to engage diverse Cameroonian constituencies, from Ambazonian secessionists to advocates for a unified, equitable nation. His diplomatic acumen offers a path toward sustainable solutions for Cameroon’s deep-seated issues.
Disappointment in the Biden Administration
Cameroonians have grown disillusioned with the Biden administration’s selective approach to immigration and humanitarian aid. Despite calls from congressional leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Adriano Espaillat, the administration has failed to extend TPS for Cameroon or establish humanitarian parole.
This neglect is starkly hypocritical. While the administration touts investments in African infrastructure projects, such as the Lobito railway in Angola, it ignores the plight of migrants fleeing violence in the same regions. Cameroonians, along with migrants from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, remain among the most vulnerable yet consistently deprioritized.
Vision for U.S.-Cameroon Relations
Rubio’s leadership represents a clear vision for what U.S. diplomacy could achieve in Cameroon:
- Political Repression: Advocating for the release of political prisoners like Nfor Ngala Nfor and pressing for accountability in human rights violations.
- Electoral Integrity: Supporting transparent elections to strengthen Cameroon’s democratic institutions.
- Immigration Reform: Addressing systemic inequities by extending TPS for Cameroon and establishing humanitarian parole.
- Strategic Engagement: Balancing security partnerships with a commitment to human rights and sustainable development.
Conclusion
The Cameroon American Council and its allies endorse Senator Marco Rubio’s nomination as Secretary of State in the Trump administration because Rubio has consistently demonstrated the leadership, expertise, and moral clarity needed to address the challenges facing Cameroonians and Africans worldwide.
For families torn apart by political repression, migrants vulnerable to systemic bias, and communities striving for democratic reforms, Rubio represents not just hope but action. His ability to unite diverse voices and advocate for justice makes him the ideal leader to shape a more equitable U.S. foreign policy.
As the U.S. charts its path forward on the global stage, Cameroonians, Africans, Black migrants, and their allies are watching—and believing—that under Rubio’s leadership, their voices will finally be heard.
*Sylvie Ngassa Qwasinwi Bello is a multilingual, multidisciplinary award-winning activist, artist, athlete, and aspiring author.
Founder of the *Cameroon American Council*, she has served Cameroon, African, Black, and migrant communities for over 20 years.
Sylvie is currently writing “The Liberator’s Liberator,” a book about Anna Murray Douglass.
