Cameroon Awaits Government Shake-up Following President Biya's Return Amidst Political Uncertainty

In Yaounde, Cameroon, citizens like Elvis Mbi eagerly monitor political developments, with many tuning into the state broadcaster's 5pm radio bulletin in hopes of an announcement from President Paul Biya regarding a potential change in the nation's political leadership. President Biya, aged 93, returned to Cameroon on August 20 after an approximately 10-week absence abroad, a period that fueled considerable speculation about his health and whereabouts, including unsubstantiated claims of his death. His return heightened expectations for a government reshuffle, but as of October 6, no new government had been appointed. The vice presidency, a position reinstated through a constitutional amendment in April, also remained unfilled.

"Every Cameroonian was expecting that upon his return home, he was going to change government, but nothing up to this moment," Mbi, 39, told Al Jazeera. This sentiment follows President Biya's promise in his December 31, 2025, address to the nation that a new government would be formed "in the coming days." However, more than nine months later, this promised change has yet to materialize.

The vacant vice presidency has garnered significant attention since politicians approved a constitutional amendment in April, restoring the position that was abolished in 1972. Law No. 2026/002, enacted on April 14, grants the president the authority to appoint and dismiss a vice president. This amendment stipulates that the vice president would assume the presidency on an interim basis should the office become vacant due to the president's death, resignation, or permanent incapacity, serving the remainder of the seven-year presidential term.

The reform establishes a formal succession mechanism, leaving the appointment of the vice president entirely to President Biya, with no specified deadline for filling the post. "We all know the president needs assistance in order to execute state duties and that’s why we are anxiously waiting for the appointment, but nothing has happened yet to our greatest dismay," Mbi stated.

Further fueling speculation was a disputed presidential decree that appeared to appoint a vice president. In June, an individual reportedly delivered a sealed envelope to Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) in Yaounde containing what seemed to be a presidential decree appointing a vice president, complete with official seals and a signature attributed to Biya, as reported by the state newspaper Cameroon Tribune on July 1. CRTV did not broadcast the contents of the document. The government subsequently stated that the decree was not issued through the proper official channels and confirmed the individual's detention and the initiation of an investigation.

Jude Mutah, a governance and democracy expert based in Washington and director of member relations at the Corporate Council on Africa, noted that the public's focus on the state broadcaster's evening bulletin reflects their anticipation of political change. He added that in the absence of clear information, rumors can easily spread.

Cabral Libii, leader of the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation and a participant in the 2025 presidential election, argues that appointing a vice president carries significance beyond merely filling a vacant role. "The vice presidency is not just another administrative post to be filled. Appointing your vice president means securing your leadership," Libii declared in a public appeal, adding, "A vice president of this calibre could help to mitigate the succession struggles that are currently paralysing collective action."

These leadership questions arise as Cameroon grapples with other significant challenges, including a separatist conflict in its English-speaking regions and an armed rebellion associated with Boko Haram near the Lake Chad Basin. Jason Healy, a sub-Saharan Africa country risk analyst at BMI, part of Fitch Solutions, suggested that the ongoing uncertainty surrounding political leadership could negatively impact investor confidence. Healy cautioned that prolonged uncertainty might deter investors from committing to large, long-term projects. He also posited that the delay in appointments could be a strategic political move by Biya, allowing him to control the timing and composition of any future changes.

Mbi Aziseh Azimboh, executive director of the Policy Lab for Civic Innovation and Community Solutions (POLITICOS), commented that prolonged uncertainty could impede government decision-making processes and delay essential reforms and public policies.

The government, however, has maintained President Biya's prerogative to determine the timing of appointments. In an August interview with RFI, Communication Minister and government spokesperson Rene Emmanuel Sadi affirmed the president's authority to form a new government and decide when to implement such changes. "It is surely quite normal for him to take his time when entrusting such a high office to one of his fellow citizens," Sadi remarked. Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, a former minister and coordinator of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement’s academy, acknowledged the legitimacy of citizens' concerns but reiterated the president's constitutional right to act at his discretion. The presidency did not provide a comment when approached by Al Jazeera.

For Elvis Mbi, his daily radio-listening ritual continues. "No one knows anything any more. It is so disheartening when I tune in each time but don’t get the big news," he shared with Al Jazeera.