Speculation surrounding President Paul Biya’s condition and political future has once again exposed a fundamental weakness in Cameroon’s governance: the absence of a clear and credible transition strategy. Whether the rumor proves true or false is ultimately secondary to the larger issue. A nation of millions cannot afford to have its future held hostage by uncertainty.

The responsibility now rests squarely with the Political Bureau of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM). As the governing party and the country’s dominant political force for decades, it has both the authority and the obligation to reassure citizens that the state remains stable, functional and prepared for every eventuality.

An emergency session of the Political Bureau should be convened without delay. Such a meeting would not be an admission of crisis; rather, it would demonstrate responsible leadership and institutional maturity. Every enduring political organization must be capable of managing succession in an orderly and transparent manner.

Cameroon stands at a defining moment. The country’s economic challenges, security concerns and aspirations of its youthful population demand leadership that is present, energetic and capable of engaging directly with the realities of the day. Prolonged ambiguity serves no one. It fuels speculation, unsettles investors, weakens public confidence and creates unnecessary political tension.

The CPDM Political Bureau should use an emergency session to chart a clear path forward by identifying and endorsing a new leader capable of uniting the party and presenting a compelling vision for the nation’s future. Such a decision should be guided by competence, integrity, experience and a commitment to national cohesion rather than factional interests.

This is not merely about preserving the fortunes of the CPDM. It is about protecting the stability of the Republic. History has shown that countries fare best when leadership transitions are managed through strong institutions rather than uncertainty and rumor.

Cameroonians deserve clarity. They deserve confidence that their institutions are prepared for tomorrow regardless of today’s speculation. The ruling party has an opportunity to demonstrate that it places the nation’s interests above political hesitation.

The time for silence has passed. The time for decisive, responsible leadership is now. The CPDM Political Bureau should convene an emergency session immediately and provide the country with a clear, credible roadmap for the future through the selection of a new national chairman.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

More than 50 days into President Paul Biya’s latest stay in Switzerland, Cameroon has once again found itself confronting familiar questions about presidential absence, succession and the future of governance. Yet if this prolonged absence has exposed the vulnerabilities of an aging political system, it has also revealed an equally uncomfortable truth: the Cameroonian opposition remains unable to transform political opportunity into a credible national movement.

For years, opposition leaders have argued that President Biya’s long rule has exhausted the country’s political institutions and that Cameroon urgently needs democratic renewal. If that diagnosis is correct, then the president’s extended stay abroad should have represented a defining political moment. Instead, Issa Tchiroma, Akere Muna, Maurice Kamto, Joshua Osih and others have largely settled for press conferences, social media statements and isolated criticisms that have failed to generate sustained national momentum.

The problem is not a lack of grievances. Cameroon faces persistent economic pressures, youth unemployment, insecurity in several regions and widespread public frustration over governance. These concerns are real and deeply felt. What has been missing is an opposition capable of organizing these frustrations into a coherent political project.

Too often, opposition parties such as the SDF, MRC, UNDP and of late Issa Tchiroma’s majority following appear more invested in competing with one another than in building a united front. Personal rivalries overshadow strategic cooperation. Leaders who speak passionately about change frequently struggle to agree on common priorities or a shared electoral strategy. The result is fragmentation at precisely the moment when unity would carry the greatest political weight.

The inability to capitalize on President Biya’s prolonged absence also raises questions about preparation. Effective opposition movements do not wait for political openings to develop policies, grassroots networks or leadership structures. They spend years building credibility so that when circumstances shift, they are ready to offer themselves as a convincing alternative. In Cameroon, that level of preparation has often been lacking.

Many Cameroonians seeking change are left asking a difficult question: if the opposition cannot organize effectively during one of the most politically symbolic periods in recent years, how can it persuade voters that it is prepared to govern a complex country?

Criticism of the government alone is no longer enough. Cameroonians increasingly want practical proposals on economic recovery, employment, national reconciliation, decentralization, security and institutional reform. An opposition that defines itself solely by opposition risks only reinforces the perception that it has no governing vision beyond replacing those currently in power.

This is not to ignore the genuine constraints facing opposition parties. Cameroon has long been criticized by domestic and international observers for restrictions on political competition, unequal access to state resources and legal and administrative obstacles confronting opposition actors. These realities make political mobilization considerably more difficult. However, structural disadvantages cannot explain every missed opportunity. Political leadership is ultimately measured not only by the obstacles it faces but also by its ability to adapt, innovate and inspire under difficult conditions.

President Biya’s extended stay abroad has once again highlighted the uncertainties surrounding Cameroon’s political future. Yet history may judge this period not only by the actions of those in power, but also by the inability of their challengers to present themselves as a disciplined, united and credible alternative.

Political opportunities are rarely permanent. They emerge unexpectedly and disappear just as quickly. Unless the Cameroonian opposition can overcome its divisions, articulate a compelling national vision, and build genuine grassroots momentum, it risks watching another historic opening pass by—leaving the country’s political landscape fundamentally unchanged. Kamto, Akere, Tchiroma-over to you people!

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

President Paul Biya’s prolonged absence from public view has once again exposed a structural weakness at the heart of Cameroon’s governance: the concentration of decision-making in a single office.

As speculation over his whereabouts and health continues, Yaoundé appears to be operating in slow motion, with reports and widespread perceptions suggesting that major political and administrative decisions have been delayed while officials await direction from the presidency.

Whether every government function has stalled is open to debate, but the perception of institutional paralysis is itself significant. Investors, civil servants, political actors and ordinary citizens increasingly question how a modern state can remain so dependent on the availability of one individual.

The uncertainty has also revived an old constitutional and political debate. Cameroon has no vice-president. Under the Constitution, if the presidency becomes vacant, the President of the Senate assumes interim responsibilities until an election is held. Yet the absence of a permanently designated deputy means there is no clearly visible second-in-command to reassure the public during periods when the president is unavailable. The result is a leadership vacuum in the public imagination, even if constitutional mechanisms exist on paper.

This arrangement has fueled renewed calls from some analysts and opposition figures for reforms that would create the office of vice-president or otherwise clarify executive succession. Supporters argue that such a position could provide continuity and reduce uncertainty during periods of presidential absence, while critics contend that introducing a vice-president could create competing centers of power within the executive.

More broadly, the current situation underscores concerns about the resilience of Cameroon’s political institutions. A system that depends heavily on a single leader inevitably raises questions about succession planning, institutional autonomy and the ability of government to function smoothly under extraordinary circumstances.

Suggestions that the country is on the verge of a political rupture should, however be treated with caution. While prolonged uncertainty can heighten political tensions and deepen divisions among competing elites, predicting a rupture goes beyond the available evidence. What is clear is that sustained ambiguity over leadership risks eroding public confidence, encouraging speculation and increasing pressure for constitutional and institutional reforms.

Cameroon stands at an important moment. The issue is no longer simply the president’s absence, but whether the country’s institutions are sufficiently robust to ensure continuity, transparency and public confidence regardless of who occupies the highest office.

A stronger framework for executive succession and clearer communication during periods of presidential absence would not eliminate political uncertainty, but they would strengthen the credibility of the state and reduce the risks that uncertainty poses to governance.

Biya has been stuck in Geneva, Switzerland, for a month – alternating between a private clinic and his favoured suite at the InterContinental Hotel. This follows multiple false alarms about the 93-year old president’s declining health but the arrival of so many of his family and political associates in Geneva suggests that the concerns of those closest to him are mounting – leaving an ominous power vacuum in Yaoundé.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai