Yaounde-Paris ties: Biya reappears from unknown to review ties with outgoing French Ambassador .

The Head of State was again seen publicly on Friday, August 29, 2025, as he received the outgoing French Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E Thierry Marchand, at the Unity Palace.

This is after 44 days since he was last seen publicly on July 15, 2025, when he granted an audience to the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Archbishop José Avelino Bettencourt. 

Biya’s reappearance, political watchers say, is a subtly reply to scathing criticisms from renowned lawyer and October 12 presidential candidate, Akere Muna, that the Head of State no longer has the wherewithal to steer the statecraft.   

Akere had on August 22, after the Constitutional Council threw out his petition for Biya to be barred from running for the October poll, declared that the incumbent president only “reigns” but no longer “governs” the country.

He had claimed in his petition, among other things, that Biya has in recent times showed “…alarming behaviour, revealing profound physical and cognitive dependence”.

Since the audience with Thierry Marchand, adherents of the ruling CPDM have been mounting rooftops to celebrate. To some, the Head of State appeared stronger, healthier during the audience and showed perfect mastery of issues during discussions. 

This, they argued, lays to rest the rumours that the Head of State is no longer knowledgeable on issues that concern the nation. 

Regime songbirds further argued that the timing of the audience underscored President Biya’s commitment to his constitutional duty and readiness for the eight mandate he is seeking at the helm of the State. 

Yaounde-Paris ties reviewed 

President Biya, in a message on his official Facebook page shortly after the audience, said discussions with the departing French diplomat was “amicable and extensive”.

“Our countries are devoted to fostering a relationship built on trust,” President Biya added. 

Ambassador Marchand, it should be said, has during his three-year tenure, contributed in strengthening ties between Paris and Yaounde. 

The one-and-a-half-hour audience, therefore, presented both personalities an opportunity to review the state of existing ties and to explore ways to further strengthen trust. 

The departing French diplomat said he had an “interesting discussion” with president Biya. 

“It was a very important appointment for me because I am at the end of my mission in Cameroon and it was a good way for me to say goodbye to the president and to have a very deep discussion about our relationship,” Marchand told reporters after the audience. 

While acknowledging President Biya’s mastery of issues of common interest between both nations, the ambassador said he will not easily forget about the hospitality of Cameroon.

“I want to thank everybody, the Cameroonian people, and the president for this very interesting part of my life. Cameroon will stay in my heart for a very long time and maybe I could come back to see a lot of friends,” he said. 

In recognition of his efforts to consolidate the bond between Yaounde and Paris, President Biya gifted the ambassador a bronze artefact, symbolising Cameroon’s renewed hospitality and a significant token of friendship.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3552 of Tuesday September 02, 2025