Editorial: Presidential 2025; Biya's age on the scanner!.

Last week, Radio France Internationale, RFI, engaged the Minister of Communication and Government Spokesman, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, to the discourse with the question: "Is the age of the captain a parameter in future discussions within the CPDM party?"

His woolly response as expected was: "I think we need to put this question into perspective a little, which comes up all the time, age, age, age…experience also counts and experience comes with age".

Based on that "experience" which was the catchword of President Biya's campaign at the presidential poll in 2018, the Government Spokesman, explaining that the age of the Head of State, 91 years old, is not a problem, added that: "The President of the Republic has spoken out publicly, and this on several occasions, on the question of his possible candidacy at the end of the current mandate. And he has always said that at the end of this mandate, Cameroonians and the international community will be informed of the decision he will make: Whether to run again, or to withdraw. The President of the Republic will make his decision in agreement with the members of his party, the CPDM".  

In a statement, last Friday, without referring to the interview of President Biya's main challenger at the last election, Prof Maurice Kamto, said, age was a serious problem.

He warned that those who are calling for a new term for Paul Biya in 2025 should even be sanctioned. 

“The president, who is only a human being, can't take it [another mandate] anymore...after decades of exercising undivided power...those who still promote his candidacy for an election could be prosecuted for mistreatment of an elderly person, who deserves to be protected,” Prof Kamto, leader of MRC opposition political party had said.

But will the ruling CPDM allow their "natural candidate" to have a deserved retirement after more than four decades in office?

Sadi Rene parried the question, saying: “It is the Cameroonian people who will decide. With presidential elections coming in 2025, we will see if Cameroonians want to change in one direction or another.”

Prominent opposition voices have, however, been canvassing for change, through a transition, to be led by Titus Edzoa, an ex-convict and former Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic under Biya.

When posed the question, Minister Rene Sadi said: There is no reason to call for a political transition in Cameroon at this time. The institutions function and the President of the Republic fully exercises his functions. The question cannot be asked. It is absolutely inappropriate from our point of view".

But when reminded that it is not only Titus Edzoa who wants Biya to leave after seven mandates and has not kept his electoral promises  since 2018,  the minister  said: "...The President of the Republic organised a Major National Dialogue, and as you know, resulted in the creation of a Special Status in the two Regions of the North West and South West. On the economic level, major projects have been undertaken, notably dams, bridges, roads, to name but a few. Finally, on a socio-cultural and sporting level, as you know, our country hosted in 2022 one of the best organised African Nations Cups in history. Pretending that nothing has been done since 2018, according to Professor Titus Edzoa, seems to me to be bad faith".

Whether President Biya has kept his promises is another issue. 

Age is also a key electoral issue in the US presidential election, where incumbent, Joe Biden, 78, is being pressured not to run for another four-year term.

There have for sometimes now been a number of yawning gaps in the Biya regime, seen by some articulate commentators as displaying the nonchalance of old age and tiredness. 

The last Council of Minister's was held at the Presidency with the president on March 15, 2018, an event Heads of State hold monthly.

In a regime where the government is known to reshuffle after every election, the municipal, legislative, senatorial and regional polls have taken place with each triggering whirlwind speculation of a cabinet shakeup that ends as pipedreams.

The last government appointments were made in January 2019, and despite the passage of four members to glory, the yawning vacancies remain conspicuous, raising debate that it is because of the Head of State's age.

Though some CPDM bigwigs have publicly called for the president to take a record eighth term when three terms are seen in democracy as an aberration in dictatorship, many behind the scene are opposed and are in subterranean campaigns.

With a divided and infighting opposition also faced with obstacles from the administration and a flawed Electoral Code, the ruling CPDM looks likely to win the next presidential election.

But without a succession plan, age remains a risk factor, especially as Kamto has divulged that government plans to precipitate the presidential election.

If his prediction comes to pass, it would not only limit time for the cancerous debate over age but catch the splintered opposition and CPDM baron clandestinely seeking for Biya's succession in a sleep of death.