Corruption Scandal Rocks Cameroon's Judiciary: Is Paul Biya's Authority at Stake?

The ongoing conflict between Laurent Esso and Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh is weakening Paul Biya's administration, while the Higher Judicial Council (CSM) is facing significant turmoil.

In Cameroon, a corruption scandal involving a prosecutor has brought the shortcomings of the CSM to light. The Council, which has not convened for four years, is at the center of a power struggle surrounding Paul Biya.

A leaked recording, shared on social networks, revealed negotiations between a man named Hamidou and Jean Simplice Eboko, the interim Prosecutor of the Republic near the Court of First Instance of Douala, aimed at securing favorable treatment. Following the broadcast of this recording, Jean Simplice Eboko was suspended by the Attorney General of Douala, Jean Claude Robert Foe, and summoned to the Ministry of Justice to be questioned by the Minister of Justice, Laurent Esso.

However, any decision to dismiss Jean Simplice Eboko would require approval from the Higher Judicial Council (CSM), chaired by Paul Biya. Despite the increasing number of corruption accusations involving magistrates, the Council has not convened for nearly four years. This inaction is primarily due to a conflict between Laurent Esso, who has the authority to set the Council's agenda, and Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the Secretary General of the Presidency responsible for transmitting decisions to the Head of State.

The absence of action by the CSM has raised concerns about the deterioration of the judiciary, particularly regarding corruption. Cameroonian opposition parties, including the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC) led by Maurice Kamto and the Social Democratic Front (SDF) led by Joshua Osih, have repeatedly called on the President to convene the CSM to ensure the proper functioning of the judicial system.

While the Jean Simplice Eboko case has sparked significant attention, it remains to be seen whether it will lead to a meeting of the CSM and help resolve the current situation. However, it is evident that combating corruption within the Cameroonian judiciary is a critical issue for the country.