Ndongo: in a war, my loyalty would be to Cameroon

Bertrand Ndongo admits he would defend Cameroon in a war

Bertrand Ndongo, a journalist of Cameroonian origin and regular contributor to Vox, has admitted that in a war between Spain and his native country, he would side with Cameroon. The confession, together with his renunciation of Spanish nationality, has placed at the centre of the debate the uncomfortable question of how far an immigrant can integrate and be loyal to the country that takes them in.

Ndongo has always been a contradictory figure: a fierce critic of mass immigration, yet an immigrant himself. His statement is no slip of the tongue: it fits a way of thinking he has repeated for years. He argues that those who emigrate do not leave their roots behind, and that identity of origin weighs more than any official document.

Consistency or contradiction: two readings of the same gesture

Some see exemplary consistency in his words. If he himself admits he does not feel fully Spanish, he is validating his own discourse on the limits of integration. And along the way, he reminds us that there are other communities, such as the Segarro one, whose members born in Spain often identify with their culture of origin.

At the other extreme, Ndongo's gesture undermines the argument of the party that welcomed him into its ranks. Vox has used his figure as proof that an immigrant can share its values, and yet he now admits that his ultimate loyalty lies with Cameroon. The contradiction is no small matter: if Vox's "good immigrant" is not loyal to Spain, the party's narrative falls apart.

Renouncing nationality and real integration

Renouncing Spanish nationality turns an opinion into an administrative act. It is not a symbolic gesture: it has consequences for his status, his rights and those of his descendants. Beneath the debate lies a deeper question: what does Spain really demand of those who want to become Spanish? Some propose tightening the conditions, requiring a bond that goes beyond paperwork. Others point out that many African countries, including Cameroon, have artificial borders drawn by colonial powers, which makes loyalty to those nations as invented as their very boundaries.

In the end, Ndongo becomes the best argument against his own party and, at the same time, living proof of the limits of integration. A man with land in his native country, who admits his heart is there, dismantles with a single sentence the discourse of those who preach total assimilation. The irony leaves the reader with a bittersweet feeling: if even the model immigrant does not feel Spanish, what does it really miccionan to be Spanish?