Tic-tac: manoeuvres for a future transition in Cameroon?

Recent weeks have seen a series of revelations on highly sensitive topics in Cameroon, coming notably from two figures who previously held key strategic roles within the state’s security apparatus: Maxime Eko Eko, former director general of the DGRE, and Captain Effoudou, former head of intelligence at the president’s military staff.

According to statements attributed to these two individuals, an alleged coup attempt was being prepared in 2023 against President Paul Biya.

During a recent court hearing in the Martinez Zogo trial, Maxime Eko Eko reportedly stated that he was arrested shortly after submitting a report to the president regarding this alleged coup plot.

Three years after Martinez Zogo’s death and the events mentioned by the former DGRE chief, these details are now being made public.

A coincidence has caught the attention of some observers: these disclosures come at a time when the security and military apparatus is being gradually tightened, with new generals appointed and redeployed, movements within military justice, and changes in the armed forces’ logistics chain.

The Maxime Eko Eko case: victim or holder of sensitive information?

As former head of the DGRE, Maxime Eko Eko held one of the most strategic positions in Cameroon’s security establishment.

The circumstances of his arrest, as emerging from recent judicial proceedings, raise questions. He was reportedly taken into custody just after delivering a report to the authorities about an alleged plot to destabilise the government. A week later, a source close to the security apparatus allegedly claimed the former DGRE chief would soon be released.

Three years on, he remains behind bars.

Some observers believe this situation may reflect a deliberate effort to allow details about the Martinez Zogo case and the alleged coup attempt to surface gradually through legal proceedings. This is, of course, a political interpretation that has yet to be proven.

Captain Effoudou directly implicates the SGPR

Unlike the former DGRE chief, Captain Effoudou, in an interview with Morgan Palmer, allegedly named a specific individual as being involved in the coup attempt: the secretary general of the presidency (SGPR).

This is a particularly serious accusation that raises a key question: if the SGPR were truly implicated in an attempted coup and intelligence services had informed President Paul Biya, how could he later have been entrusted with such strategic responsibilities?

The SGPR notably oversaw consultations at the presidential palace in preparation for the presidential election. He is also said to have played a significant role in managing the post-election crisis.

More recently, his name has been linked to speculation about the possible creation of a vice-presidential post.

Guilty or victim?

This context may explain why some public opinion is surprised by the continued trust the head of state appears to place in him.

The recent reshuffles within the security and military apparatus have, in any case, fuelled speculation about a possible reconfiguration of power around President Paul Biya.

Some see these as the early signs of an institutional transition that could eventually lead to the creation of a vice-president position tasked with stepping in if the head of state becomes unable to serve—and possibly completing the presidential term.

For now, none of these hypotheses has been officially confirmed.

The only certainty is that Paul Biya remains the master of Cameroon’s political game, and future developments at the top of the state may help clarify the true meaning of these moves.

In recent days, social media has been flooded with photos of Franck Biya showing himself as a devoted family man with his children.