For forty-three years, Cameroon has been led by a single captain - President Paul Biya. Since 1982, the Palais d’Etoudi, in Yaoundé, symbolizes both uninterrupted continuity and political stagnation. What began as a post-colonial era full of hope has become an endless season of silence, fear, and institutional paralysis.
The question that haunts millions of Cameroonians today is neither ideological nor ethnic — it is a moral and constitutional question: can a nation prosper when its leader no longer demonstrates the physical and mental presence required for governance?
An aging presidency and a worried nation:
President Biya, aged 92, has been largely absent from public life for several years. Reports from government circles and citizen testimonies indicate growing isolation, reduced visibility and moments of disorientation during official ceremonies. In a widely commented episode, he reportedly struggled to recognize some relatives and collaborators, prompting public speculation about a cognitive decline — what health professionals might call "dementia-related symptoms."
These concerns need to be addressed with compassion, not derision. But they also require transparency. As in medicine, leadership requires clarity of mind. When a head of state appears detached or disoriented, citizens lose confidence in their institutions, and even the most loyal officials doubt where to go.
The Ship, Captain and the Storm:
Cameroon today looks like a ship drifting in the open sea. The captain is still at the helm, but the ship has lost her compass. Sailors — our public servants, soldiers, teachers and nurses — continue to perform their duties with courage, but the building is drifting into dangerous waters.
If the Captain can no longer command, the ship will sink along with all those on board — civilian and military. The call for revival is not a rebellion, it is a reason. This is not betrayal, it is the noblest form of patriotism.
Our armed forces must remember that their loyalty goes to the Republic not to an individual. Their oath is to protect the Constitution and the people, not to defend power for power. The soldier's uniform is a national pact—not a personal shield for politicians.
Forty-three years of power and the weight of time:
In 43 years, Cameroon has profoundly changed: new generations, new technologies, new challenges. But politics stayed frozen in 1982. Youth unemployment exceeds 30%, corruption remains among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, and once-peaceful regions today call for justice and inclusion.
The English-speaking crisis, persistent insecurity and economic stagnation are not signs of a strong nation, but symptoms of an exhausted system—a power unable to reform and a leader unable to adapt.
The world is watching an aging president govern a young nation. The median age for Cameroonians is 18 years. The contrast is striking — and dangerous.
Constitutional compassion and duty:
If President Biya is actually suffering from age-related decline, the Constitution plans legal mechanisms to remedy it. Parliament and the Constitutional Council have a moral and legal duty to ensure the continuity of the state. An independent medical evaluation — conducted with dignity and transparency — would not be a humiliation, but a responsibility.
No democracy should fear the truth. Protecting the dignity of a former head of state must not mean sacrificing the well-being of 28 million citizens.
The way forward: peaceful, legal and just.
Cameroon can still rise again through a peaceful and constitutional process. The following steps could form the basis of a national revival:
(1). Independent medical evaluation: creation of a neutral panel of neurologists, geriatrists and jurists to assess the president's ability to govern.
(2). Transparent parliamentary oversight: allow MPs to apply constitutional succession provisions if incapability is proven.
(3). Neutrality of the armed forces: the army must remain apolitical and ensure the safety of citizens, not that of a regime.
(4). Inclusive national dialogue: bring together civil society, youth, religious leaders and the diaspora to define a common future.
(5). International support: The African Union and the United Nations should offer technical assistance and an observer role to ensure fairness and prevent violence.
When silence becomes complicity:
The silence of international actors has encouraged the demise. Nations that preach democracy cannot look away while Cameroonians suffer under a geriatric presidency devoid of responsibility. Silence has become complicity; neutrality, negligence.
The moral question is simple: if a leader can no longer perform his duties, who is really governing? And if no one governs, who speaks for the people?
The moral contract of the armed forces:
To our brothers and sisters in uniform: this is not a call to revolt but a call to consciousness. Your duty is to protect, not to oppress. The people you are defending are not your enemy: it is your family, your neighbors, your blood.
History will remember those who chose peace, not those who perpetuated fear. A soldier who refuses to harm his people honors his uniform more than one who obeys illegal orders.
A new dawn for Etoud:
Cameroon deserves clear, compassionate and responsible leadership. The Palais d’Etoudi must again become a beacon of vision, not a mausoleum of memories. The torch of power must be passed peacefully to new hands—capable of leading a 21st century nation with courage and clarity.
After 43 years, history calls for a dignified closure. President Biya should be remembered not for the chaos in his recent years, but for allowing his people to breathe again—in freedom, peace and unity.
Conclusion : l’avenir observe
The destiny of Cameroon cannot be indefinitely postponed. The young are eager, the soldiers are alert and the world is watching. Change is not betrayal, it's evolution. The path of renewal is not through violence, but through vision—through justice, compassion, and the courage to let go.
The ship is still floating. But time is running out for Cameroon to choose if it wants to sail towards renewal... or sink under the weight of silence.
Note for publication:
A version of this article was originally published on Transparency Media International. The views expressed are those of the author, health care professional and political observer based in Houston, Texas.
By Funtong Daniel, MSN, AGACNP
Pour The Guardian Africa / AllAfrica Opinion Column
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