On May 20, Cameroon held a public referendum and established a new constitution to formalize a return to unitary government. The 1972 Constitution redirected power to the President, and the country was renamed the United Republic of Cameroon.
While over 95 percent of the electorate voted for the 1972 Constitution, Anglophone leaders point to this event as a total reversal of promises made to British Southern Cameroon during constitutional talks.