Where Is Paul Biya? Cameroon’s Presidency Hijacked Ahead of 2025 Elections

While President Paul Biya has yet to speak publicly, Ngoh Ngoh has quietly taken the reins of an informal yet powerful committee — raising fresh questions about Biya’s health, presence, and leadership.

An Unofficial Campaign Structure

On July 1st, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh unveiled a new political entity: the Strategic Committee for Paul Biya’s Campaign. Though absent from any official government or party documents, the committee began operating shortly after two government ministers — Issa Tchiroma Bakary and Bello Bouba Maïgari — announced their candidacies, effectively breaking their long-standing alliance with the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM).

The timing was not coincidental. In response, Ngoh Ngoh began a whirlwind consultation tour with senior CPDM figures and local leaders from all 10 regions of the country. The goal? Reassure the party base, reassert Biya’s candidacy, and remobilize the political machine — all while navigating internal dissent and growing public skepticism.

Ngoh Ngoh’s Mixed Messaging

To each region, Ngoh Ngoh tailored his pitch. In the North, he downplayed the influence of the breakaway candidates and reminded party loyalists that their political clout was only made possible by their alignment with the CPDM-led majority. According to him, neither Tchiroma's FSNC nor Bello Bouba’s UNDP can rival the ruling party.

In meetings with officials from the Adamawa region, the focus shifted to concrete demands: more roads, better infrastructure, and government visibility. With opposition voices growing louder, local leaders insisted on delivering results before October. Ngoh Ngoh promised their concerns would be reflected in Biya’s campaign platform.

Where is Paul Biya?

Despite the flurry of activity, one major question remains unanswered: Where is the president? Since the March 25 reshuffling of CPDM leadership — a rare political move — Biya has kept a low profile. He has not publicly confirmed his candidacy, and all campaign activities are now being handled through Ngoh Ngoh’s office.

Sources close to the presidency claim Biya will soon break his silence through a letter to the nation, which will double as an official announcement of his candidacy. Notably, this would bypass the CPDM's political bureau, which many expected to convene and approve the nomination. According to party insiders, Biya doesn’t need that validation — as the CPDM’s founding statutes automatically designate him as the party’s standard-bearer.

Internal Dissent and Legal Challenges

Not everyone within the CPDM agrees with this view. Léon Theiller Onana, a local elected official, has long demanded that a party congress be held to select a candidate — something the CPDM hasn't done since 2011. After being ignored, he filed a legal challenge and later announced his own presidential run under the CPDM banner.

So far, his attempt to force internal primaries has failed, but it has added pressure on a party struggling with generational fatigue and a lack of transparency.

Power Struggles Inside the CPDM

Ngoh Ngoh’s growing prominence has sparked friction. Some party insiders have openly questioned his authority to lead campaign efforts. Others have criticized the choice to hold strategic meetings at the Unity Palace, the official residence of the President, rather than party headquarters. This, they say, reflects an ongoing power shift from party institutions to the presidency's inner circle.

As Biya remains out of sight, speculation is growing that Ngoh Ngoh is acting as de facto leader, managing not only the president’s campaign but also key national strategies. This perception, long fueled by the opposition, is now gaining traction among the ruling elite as well.