While the doors of the presidential palace seem to be open to him, the dolphin dubbed does not seem optimistic about this idea to the point of being nicknamed "the man who does not want to be president". Is it to the extent that we must erase the political ambitions of the son who has a haloed surname? Here are some answers.
In 2018, Paul Biya, at the end of his term after his 32 years spent on the chair of the Palace of Etoudi will retire? "The Cameroonian presidential election of 2018 is certain, but still distant. We have time to think and, when the time comes, Cameroonians like everyone will know if I am a candidate or if I retire, "replied Paul Biya in July 2015 during the visit of François Hollande.
Away from the spotlight
Under the gilded paneling of the People's Palace, Paul Biya's 84-year-old presidential boot will be surrounded by speculations and theories that add suspense to the city. war of succession announced. In the corridors of the Palace of Unity, the walls rustle the echo of the name of Franck Biya as future "dolphin" of his father.
Almost a rule of succession in Central Africa, the idea of the replacement of the father by his son does not seem so absurd as that. Ali Bongo in Gabon, Joseph Kabila in the DRC, are all sons of presidents, who became chiefs in place of the father after having been closely associated with state management. Others are on the same path as Teodorin Obiang Nguema, bombarded Vice President of Equatorial Guinea with the rank of Head of State, Zacharia and Mahamat Deby in Chad, or Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso in Congo. All are more or less advanced on the way of perpetuation of this salic rule of devolution of the chair of the patriarch to his son.
Exception to the rule, at 47, Franck Emmanuel Olivier Biya, the eldest son of the Cameroonian president, does not seem seduced to succeed his father at the helm of the country. Where the sons of presidents use the paternal jack to climb the ladder in the management of affairs, the first son of Paul Biya does not seem tempted by power. He flees the political chessboard, his tricks, his low shots and his games of alliances. Moreover, it has no official ministerial function, no elective mandate and is not a recognized member of any section of the ruling Democratic People's Rally of Cameroon (CPDM).
Discretion to hide ambitions?
On the other hand, the father who cultivates phlegmatic silence in the face of rumors and an almost unhealthy discretion, had to rub off on his son. Where the son of heads of state like to dress up in the spotlight, Franck flees the microphones and cameras of journalists. So many clues that in Cameroon remove the succession of Paul Biya by his Franck.
"At one point, some of the regime's chiefs insisted on making Paul Biya think of this idea, as it was the rule among his peers in Central Africa," Magnus Biaga Chienku, a journalist, told La Tribune Afrique. writer.
The founder of the Cameroon daily Emergence is confirmed in his certainty. "If Franck Biya was interested in supreme power, he would not be living very far from power. He would be in the school of power, like other sons of heads of state, who occupy key positions, "adds this informed observer of the political scene in Cameroon. The indices for the moment do not support the hypothesis of the dolphinat intended for the son. But, we can not totally dismiss the fact that Franck Biya did not think about it at least once while shaving in the morning.
"For my part, I do not really think it is devoid of ambitions. Franck Biya has political ambitions but he knows how to hide them behind the shyness and discretion that one lends him, "assesses Mathias Owona Nguini, political analyst at the Paul Ango Ela Foundation for Geopolitics in Central Africa, based in Yaoundé.
But the young Franck, who spent part of his youth in Europe and the United States has returned novice in politics from which he prefers to pull the strings rather than being an actor at the risk of lending the flank to criticism. He leaves the occupation of public space to his cousins, nephews of the president whose most prominent is Bonaventure Mvondo Assam, the dark MPP RDPC but also the all-powerful Edgar Alain Mébé Ngo'o, current Minister of Transport and adopted son of Paul Biya (son of his brother), nicknamed "Vice President".
Business to cultivate networks
To play on two fronts, Franck Biya compensated for his political inexperience by his penchant for business since the interruption in the 1990s of his studies in the United States to embark on the country in logging . Outside the Cameroonian forests, Franck Biya is an economic promoter at the head of Afrione Cameroun and SFA Ingénierie. Difficult, however, to know "with exactness the various sectors in which Franck Biya invests, nor the extent of its network".
"His father relies on his advice, convinced that his son can not lie to him. One of the weaknesses of his father during his magisterium was the bad cast. He does not know many people because of the distance he has with his people, "blows off a well informed source.
"It is important to note that in business, he acts here with a lot of discretion. In this area, he has a significant strike force since he advises his father, has appointed ministers, general managers ... And in these positions, it derives a lot of benefits, in a legendary discretion, "says Magnus Biaga . These profits have been the bed of insider trading charges especially in the case of zero coupon Treasury bonds. This case had given rise to a judicial pass between the Cameroonian state summit and NGOs in the diaspora.
Franck, president, a not-impossible hypothesis In
addition to this dark point in the prodigal son's journey, Franck Biya was able to rub shoulders with the most powerful men and women of the Republic. To the point of constituting a powerful network that would easily open the doors of the Palace of Etoudi. However, if he takes the plunge, Franck Biya will have to go through the ballot box.
"Cameroon is not a monarchy, it is a republic. If Franck Biya wants to become president, it will be through the ballot box.At that moment, he has the right to present himself since he is a citizen of this country, "explains Mathias Owona Nguini before backing up" What we will have to observe is what political organizations, what supports, which networks he intends to rely on to achieve this".
Networks and support, Franck Biya, often presented as the unofficial whispering in the ear of the president, had to cultivate a lot in his business partners but also through the major projects for which he advises his father. In the corridors of the Palace of Unity, he also had to make enemies or declared in the shadows especially among the presidents who believed in their chance to become the replacement of Paul Biya.
In addition to his rivals, he should also inherit his father's enemies. A heavy legacy on the path of power that perhaps pushes Franck Emmanuel Olivier Biya to reinforce himself in the role of the man who does not want to be president instead of his father. But in politics, nothing is impossible!
Source: africa.latribune.fr