Secrets to Etoudi: These 10 Things That Feed Biya and His Power

The Cameroonian president has for decades been inexplicable mysteries for Cameroonians. 

Mysteries that reinforce his power but there are also others known to all that allow the tenant of life Etoudi to govern Cameroon.

Paul Biya has never considered his retirement and does not say either if he wants to run for an election, he still gives weariness to those who call themselves opponents to compete with him to balance his power. 

When asked about his retirement, he replied with a joke: "do not last in power who wants, but who can". Understand who can. Listed, these state institutions and networks that keep him in power.

Secrets to Etoudi: These 10 Things That Feed Biya and His Power

Since 6 November 1982, the man who presides over the destiny of Cameroon has become one of the oldest heads of state still in office in Africa. Explanations about the longevity of one of the most taciturn heads of state in Africa too.

1 - The Paul Biya experience

or Paul Barthélemy Biya'a Bi Mvondo in the civil status, made his apprenticeship in the shadow of his mentor, the late former President Ahmadou Ahidjo, of which he becomes the Chargé de Mission from from 1962. 

He climbed in turn the Secretary-General's stairs to the Presidency and finally became Prime Minister in 1975. Aside from Paul Biya, no one really knows what happened between former President Ahmadou Ahidjo and himself. Still, it is Paul Biya who succeeds him after the announcement of his resignation on November 4, 1982.

2 - The army

Two years after his accession to the supreme magistracy, an attempted coup will shake Cameroon on April 6, 1984. Mutineers in the presidential guard oppose the loyalist army and this is ends with the victory of the loyalists. 

There too, between Paul Biya and Ahmadou Ahidjo many questions will remain unanswered as to the motives of this aborted coup d'etat and its sponsors. Both sides, it seems, are accused. So much so that doubt continues to hang over the content of what would be called "the hand-over between former President Ahmadou Ahidjo and new President Paul Biya" in his day.

One thing is certain, Paul Biya quickly understands that he must be bent on men of confidence in the Cameroonian army. He thus operates a good household, freeing many of those who were from the North as the former president Ahmadou Ahidjo of his immediate entourage and real levers of command. 

Since then, the army has been one of the pillars of the Biya system. And the leaders of the great dumb are among the privileged of the system.

3 - The traditional chiefdom

Cameroon is one of those few African countries where traditional chiefdoms throughout the country occupy and play a leading role in the life of local communities.

Also, President Paul Biya very early understood the political interest that it could draw by associating them either directly with the management of the political power, or by offering them advantages, liberalities and other prestige. It should be remembered that wages have been granted to them.

4 - The CPDM party

The former single party, the Democratic Rally of the Cameroonian People (CPDM), which has changed with the adoption of multiparty politics in the country, still has as its leader the President of the Republic, Paul Biya. This is a party that has more than thirty years of mobilization experience.

Born March 24, 1985 in Bamenda, it is a real machine that is prowled in different campaigns. Not to mention that it enjoys significant financial resources that no other Cameroonian party has. And that he is still in power.

5 - Nepotism

They are legion the compatriots of President Paul Biya to accuse him of governing by only bracing himself mainly on an oligarchy Beti-Bulu, peoples of the South of the country of which he is originally. The last report of the US State Department thus alludes for example to the allocation of positions of responsibility on regional and ethnic criteria in speaking of Cameroon.

And the report notes: "The 286 ethnic groups in Cameroon are not proportionally represented in the administration and other bodies in the country. The members of Beti / Bulu Group in the South of Paul Biya's home region hold the key positions and are disproportionately represented in the government, public enterprises, CPDM ".

6 - The Women's Network

The Democratic Rally of the Cameroonian People (CPDM) is perhaps one of the few African political parties that has always understood the importance of women. Organized throughout the national territory, CPDM women are an additional asset to the Biya system.

7 - The Anglophone-French Opposition

The opposition between Francophones and Anglophones is a political issue with which Paul Biya has always played. By appointing Prime Ministers from the English-speaking part of the country most often at difficult times. 

Just as he was able to play with during the disputed presidential election of 1992, during the first multi-party elections, and of which we really do not know between his opponent John Fru Ndi of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) and Paul Biya who was the real winner of the poll. France having obviously leaned on the side of Paul Biya on occasion.

8 - Corruption

Cameroon has already been at the head of the pack of the most corrupt countries, before being dethroned. Corruption is even recognized by some organizations and institutions as a peculiarity of the country. The latest report from the State Department states that it is institutionalized. And to write: "corruption is present at all levels of the Cameroonian government".

9 - The divisions of the opposition

If Cameroonians have shown at times of the socio-political life of their country a desire for change and Paul Biya's departure from power, they have never been able to form a sacred union of 'opposition. Coalitions have often been shattered by political leaders and much to the dismay of the activists.

10 - International networks

In one of his articles entitled "Freemasons: Africa on the Front Row", the French newspaper L'Express ranked Cameroonian President Paul Biya among those whom he called "the brothers in the shadows" . Namely, those who have been initiated, but have never confirmed their membership in the Order of Freemasons. 

The fact remains, however, that the former seminarian, who has barely missed becoming a priest, has also maintained excellent relations with the Roman Curia. To this must be added the networks that the years spent in power naturally endow any head of state. In particular, with businessmen, political parties from foreign countries, friends and obligated.