Cameroon: Frank Biya speaks out, cast doubts on presidential aspirations

The eldest son of the President of the Republic made a statement in Nice, France, on November 6th during a meeting of the Democratic Rally of the Cameroonian People.

For the first time, Franck Emmanuel Biya, seen by many as the heir to President Paul Biya, made a public declaration. The eldest son of the 90-year-old head of state, who has been in power for 41 years, clarified his position regarding those who believe he might succeed his father in 2025. His response to such considerations is negative.

However, Franck Emmanuel did not express this directly. "I do not wish to intervene from a political point of view because politically I have a duty of reserve that you undoubtedly understand very well. It is clear that I will just try in a certain way to support certain things and orientations that go in the same direction, but beyond that, I will not express myself on political positions," he declared.

Using political expressions, the one who is considered a potential candidate for the presidential election reaffirmed his loyalty to the RDPC's statutes, the party he has joined. "Anyway, I believe that things are clear and must remain clear. This means that we have in the party statutes things that are well defined. We have what we call the natural leader of the party, which remains the same. And it is important not to blur the message at all. We must stay in his wake and try to accompany him. And even if we do not express ourselves from a political point of view, we try to support initiatives that go in the same direction."

What hides behind Franck Biya's multiple appearances?

It is now known that the son supports the father, at least until the national president of the RDPC officially announces his candidacy for the 2025 presidential election. Franck Emmanuel Biya's public appearances in recent times have caught the public's attention. Gradually, he reveals himself to the public first physically, and then verbally. Often, he is seen alongside the closest collaborators of the head of state, including the Minister of State, Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic, and the Minister Director of the Civil Cabinet.

But he is also increasingly seen in the field. On October 9th, the president's son made a visit to Mbankolo after the landslide that occurred on the evening of October 8th, killing 27 people. During the visit of French-Cameroonian footballer Kylian Mbappe to Cameroon last July, Franck Emmanuel, when receiving the footballer at his private residence, appeared in public photos with the PSG striker and the MMA world champion, Francis Ngannou.

On November 6, 2022, Franck Biya visited the Lamido of Garoua and the Lamido of Rey Bouba, influential monarchs in the Northern region. This was in conjunction with the celebration of his father's 40 years in power. Many analysts saw this visit as a rapprochement with the people of the Grand North.

On November 6, 2021, Franck Biya went to the royal palace of the Bamoun. He visited the new Sultan King of the Bamoun, Nabil Mbombo Njoya, some time after the death of his father Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya, a friend of President Paul Biya and another influential leader in the Grassland. This was still in the wake of the celebration of the 39th anniversary of the head of state Paul Biya's accession to power.

During these years and those before, the 53-year-old man did not make any public statements. In the progression, the time for public speaking has now come. The next steps will be known in the coming months, if not the next few years.