A recent report has cast a spotlight on Cameroon’s political future, hinting that two individuals with close ties to President Paul Biya are actively positioning themselves for key succession roles.

Louis Paul Motaze, cousin to Franck Biya—the president’s adopted son—appears to be capitalizing on shifting elite dynamics in the country’s southern regions. According to insider accounts, these elites have expressed reservations about Franck Biya’s potential candidacy, prompting President Biya to receive this feedback. “The influence of southern elites within Cameroon’s public administration is widely acknowledged,” noted one political observer.

Motaze’s career trajectory—from Director General of the National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS) to Minister of Economy, Planning, and Territorial Development, and later to roles in the Presidential Secretariat and Finance Ministry—has cemented his reputation as one of Cameroon’s most powerful figures. Observers describe him as second only to the president in terms of network and influence.

Batoufam

“He controls the media—name one outlet that criticizes him—television networks, and maintains strong business ties across all regions, especially in the West. His relationships with traditional leaders in the West are particularly strategic. One key ally is the charismatic Nayang Toukam Innocent, whose leadership helped organize pan-African traditional leader gatherings in the region. Motaze has met with him personally at the Batoufam royal palace five years ago, accompanied by a delegation that included a prominent businessman and Biopharma CEO. This traditional leader has even transformed Batoufam into the 20th most popular eco-tourism destination globally, according to the International Social Tourism Organization,” explained the observer.

As a master strategist, the report’s revelations come as little surprise. “He distanced himself from businessman Amougou Belinga following the Martinez Zogo assassination scandal. While praised for avoiding tribalism even in his inner circle, questions remain about his performance since 2007, when he took the helm of Cameroon’s economic steering through his role at the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Territorial Development (MINEPAT). Now facing off against his cousin Franck Biya—seen as the First Lady Oswald Baboke’s protégé—and Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, who, despite his merits, is perceived as less generous than Motaze’s camp, the stage is set for a high-stakes political showdown. Meanwhile, Franck Biya struggles to inspire the youth in southern Cameroon,” the observer concluded.