Sema Fonkem 17 July 2026

While Cameroon’s government continues to strengthen internal security measures to combat crime and establish economic growth initiatives amidst the ongoing Anglophone crisis and public castigations of the Biya regime, one person’s future remains uncertain throughout the public scrutiny.

It is no longer news that Cameron’s president, Paul Biya, is 93 years old and has become dependent owing to the limitations of aging. It is not news that journalists have been prohibited from discussing Biya’s health in order to prevent inciting panic, but the subject, as well as the first lady’s future, cannot be avoided while discussing the country.

Chantal Biya, Cameroon’s First Lady, has remained a potent political broker due to the president’s absences from the country, and her future is dependent on the ongoing frigid succession war.

Since the restoration of the Vice President’s office, there have been suggestions that President Biya may select his son Franck Biya to the role, raising questions if Franck will favour the First Lady, who replaced his mother, Jeanne-Irène Biya, in the presidential palace, following her tragic death.

Some media sites have suggested that Chantal Biya is using her influence to have her cronies, such as Secretary-General of the Presidency Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, installed as Vice President, to allow her to maintain control and authority. The First Lady faces serious push back from Franck’s faction who want Ngoh Ngoh gone as soon as possible.

The vice president’s role is critical because if the president is no longer available to serve, the vice president takes over as the country’s leader until elections are held.

Paul Biya was Cameroon’s Prime Minister from June 30, 1975, until becoming the presidency on November 6, 1982, and he has since been a man of few words and public appearances. The majority of his public pronouncements have been issued by either his wife, Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji or Oswald Baboke who serves as Deputy Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic.

If is true that Chantal Biya, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, and Owald Baboke are collaborating against Franck Biya, the First Lady may be exiled when Franck becomes the country’s next president. Conspirators have traditionally been sentenced to prison or exile as part of the state cleansing procedure.

The majority of Cameroonians who hate the first lady’s luxurious lifestyle support Franck Biya as the country’s next leader. Despite his continued lack of interest in the nation’s political affairs, his impartiality has garnered him public trust.