National Day is a public holiday in Cameroon, and it is observed on May 20 each year. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the 1972 Cameroonian constitutional referendum which bring the Cameroon federal state into a unitary state.
Cameroon became a German protectorate in 1884 with the name of New Cameroon. During World War I, the British and French troops occupied New Cameroon. The British mandate was known as British Cameroon, and the French mandate was known as French Cameroon.
In January 1960, the French Cameroons gained their independence as the Republic of Cameroon. In October 1960, the southern part of British Cameroons joined the Republic of Cameroon and formed the Federal Republic of Cameroon.
On May 20, 1972, a constitutional referendum was held in Cameroon asking to make the federal country into a unitary state, which was supported by almost all voters. 99.99% of voters were in favor of a unitary country.
The following is the list of National Day in Cameroon from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| National Day | May 20, 2022 | Friday |
| National Day | May 20, 2023 | Saturday |
| National Day | May 20, 2024 | Monday |
| National Day | May 20, 2025 | Tuesday |
| National Day | May 20, 2026 | Wednesday |
Please check more public holidays in Cameroon: