The question of who will follow Paul Biya is dividing Cameroon’s political class once again. On Tuesday, Cabral Libii, leader of the Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN), called for the appointment of a vice president. He argues that the head of state’s advanced age and tensions at the top of government make such a step essential to avoid an institutional crisis. He accuses some people close to the regime of blocking the appointment and pushing the country toward chaos.
The response came quickly. On Wednesday, Christian Ntimbane Bomo, executive president of the Héritage party, publicly challenged that view. He sees a contradiction in it: in his opinion, one cannot claim to defend democracy while wanting Paul Biya’s successor to be chosen by presidential decree. He also criticizes the PCRN leader for branding those who want an early presidential election before 2032 as agents of chaos, when their option, he says, goes through the ballot box.
The exchange highlights a growing divide. On one side are those who want a clear constitutional succession mechanism set in advance. On the other are those who believe that an heir chosen by the head of state alone would take the decision away from Cameroonians. At 93, Paul Biya remains at the centre of a debate his inner circle often prefers to avoid.