Riddle of who will take over from Biya the Sphinx

Business leaders divided over plan to merge employers' bodies 

Private sector chiefs don't see eye to eye about the merging of two organisations representing their interests. Both camps are trying to rally support, right up to the highest echelons of state.

Historian Karine Ramondy and singer Blick Bassy to head remembrance commission 

The Cameroonian singer and the French academic are to co-chair a commission announced by Emmanuel Macron in Yaoundé in July. The group will start work a little behind schedule, without waiting for the opening of Cameroon's archives.

• CAR - Touadéra dispatches advisers for support in France

• FRANCE/MOROCCO - Moroccan ambassador to France in no hurry to leave

• IVORY COAST - Foreign ministry sees spies everywhere

• CAMEROON - André-Magnus Ekoumou still has one foot in each port

Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh brings economy and finance ministries under his thumb 

Cameroon's economy and finance ministers must now obtain the approval of the all-powerful presidency's secretary-general Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh for expenses exceeding €150,000. At first glance innocuous, the move is in fact revealing of a power tussle at the head of government.

2021 a bumper year for Yaoundé's Covid spending 

There was no tailing off of Cameroon's spending on anti-Covid-19 measures in 2021.

RDPC looks to post-Biya future ahead of party conference 

Elections to the local institutions of the ruling RDPC have now come to an end. The stakes are high, since those appointed to senior positions will be able to take part in the next party conference (the first since 2011), which could very well be decisive in terms of who succeeds Paul Biya.

Is top Biya aide Ngoh Ngoh losing his influence? 

The position of the chief of staff of the president's office, who enjoys the support of first lady Chantal Biya, seems to be under threat. Until now, he has always managed to save his skin.

Jean-Claude Ayem Moger, Yaoundé's favourite troubleshooter 

Jean-Claude Ayem Moger, Paul Biya's technical advisor, was just named to two key roles.

Ministers ruled offside over FIFA boss's route to African Nations opening match 

Government ministers clashed with the president's office over the route to be taken by the official convoy bringing FIFA chairman Gianni Infantino and his entourage to the opening match of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) between Cameroon and Zimbabwe in Yaounde on 16 January.

Ambassador sent packing from Paris after falling out with long-serving bursar 

Replaced by André-Magnus Ekoumou, Cameroon's ambassador to France Alfred Nguini only lasted 17 months in the job before falling foul of in-house politics.

Amid Covid-19 pandemic, revenue vs safety debate divides Cameroon government 

The pandemic has led to the further isolation of the Cameroonian president, who now addresses the population only via social media, and has aggravated the war between government factions, who have to choose between closing bars and keeping alcohol tax revenue flowing.

Maurice Kamto nurtures his ties with Washington 

Present in Paris since early January, the Cameroonian opposition politician [...]

Dalami Mahaman launches All Must Go citizens' platform 

On 1 December, Akéré Muna's political advisor, the Paris-based Cameroonian opposition figure Dalami Mahaman, launched the citizens' movement All Must [...]

Switzerland abandons mediation in anglophone west 

Involved since June in mediating between the Cameroonian government and most of the separatist groups active in the anglophone west [...]

Jean-Marie Abouna causes ructions in RDPC 

Officially scheduled for 9 February 2020, the parliamentary and local elections are causing a commotion within Paul Biya's Rassemblement démocratique [...]

Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh governs by correspondence 

Addressed to ministers and heads of civil service departments alike, the letters from the president's secretary-general, Ferdinand Ngoh, which invariably [...]

Paul Biya's diplomatic inertia 

Though surrounded by career diplomats, the president has been slow to appoint ambassadors to represent his country abroad.

Paul Biya resilient 

In power since 1982, Paul Biya has in speech after [...]

Lawyers flock to defend Maurice Kamto 

Arrested on 26 January and charged two weeks later on eight counts, including ‘rebellion', ‘insurrection' and ‘hostility towards the nation', [...]

Chantal Biya stamps her influence 

The first lady is exploiting her power to secure appointments for her husband's ministers and collaborators. An investigation.

Biya snubs the electorate 

In power since 1982, 85-year-old Paul Biya seems so assured [...]

Who can stop Paul Biya? 

Though numerous, the challengers to the incumbent 85-year-old president are political novices.

Akere Muna, the future thorn in Biya's side 

The leader of the NOW movement and former president of the bar could upstage the president in October's election. An exclusive investigation.

Philemon Yang’s new team members 

Laurent Marie Esso and Alamine Ousmane Mey are two surprises amoing the new members of Prime Minister Philemon Yunji Yang’s government, announced on December 9.