The government insists the Head of State is still to make his position known on whether he will run for the 2025 polls.
The government has described recent debates claiming that the Head of State, Paul Biya used his 2024 end-of-year address to the nation to indirectly declare his intensions of running for reelection during the forthcoming 2025 Presidential Election as false and misleading.
Since the message to the nation during which the president said he is fully available to serve the country, there have been multiple debates both online and offline, with most actors stating that the president will seek reelection during the October 2025 polls going by his statement on the December 31 address.
The reactions on the president’s speech also saw the intervention of some prelates of the Catholic Church in Cameroon, with a couple of them notably frowning at the possibility of the Head of State considering to be on the starting line up during the elections.
But in a statement made public last Tuesday January 7, the government through its spokesperson, the Minister of Communication, Rene Emmanuel Sadi described the conclusions made by many as misleading and an inaccurate interpretation of the Head of State’s words.
“During the past few days, more specifically following the Head of State’s end-of year message to the nation, we have been witnesses to various reactions on mainstream and social media from our fellow citizens, including those of some prelates of the Catholic Church, in relation to this year’s presidential election,” the minister said in the statement.
“While recognizing the right of all too freely express their opinions, within the ambit of the laws of the Republic, the Government deeply deplores the vehemence of some declarations focused solely on the presidential stakes and based on a misleading and inaccurate interpretation of the words of the President of the Republic,” he detailed.
The government spokesperson said the Head of State in message declared no intentions of seeking reelection. He said the statement was part of his reassurance to the public about his unflinching commitment to serve the nation during the rest of his current seven-year mandate at the helm of the state.
“In this regard, it should be recalled that the President of the Republic has been invested with a seven-year mandate, which will run out in a few months. As such, it is entirely up to him to reassure his fellow citizens of his determination to fully assume it with the same enthusiasm and commitment,” Minister Sadi emphasized.
The member of government in the statement also stated that the state is in no way in any fight with religious bodies. He specifically watered-down rumors that some of the declarations made by prelates on the president’s reelection bid had thrown the government into a cold war with the Catholic Church.
“Moreover, the Government wishes to point out that Cameroon is a secular State where religions co-exist in harmony and maintain peaceful relations with public authorities. This therefore implies that there is no conflict between the Government and religious denominations, in this case the Catholic Church,” he said.
Minister Sadi insisted that Cameroon remains “a democratic State that respects the rule of law where citizens, whoever they may be, can freely express themselves and make known their points of view on major issues of the nation.”
“As a matter of fact, the Government considers that the clear-cut declarations made by some religious authorities on the upcoming presidential election, which smack of pure speculation, are the sole responsibility of those authorities and can in no way call into question the relationship between the State and religious denominations, nor influence the free choice of Cameroonians, who will, when the time comes, make up their minds in all sovereignty and responsibility,” he added.
Despite the clarifications, the government spokesperson failed to come out clear on whether the Head of State will run for the 2025 polls or not. He referenced statements that Biya has made in the past stating that Cameroonians will be informed he will be in line for reelection for the Unity Palace plum job this year or not.
“By the way, with regard to his possible candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic, President Paul BIYA has clearly stated before, that, at the appropriate time, he will disclose whether or not he will be seeking re-election. As of now, any controversy on this issue is unnecessary,” Minister Sadi added.
“The Government therefore invites everyone to stick to this answer, while urging all those who aspire to the presidential office to prepare themselves, in the best possible way, to take part in this election,” he added, further pointing out that the “the Government is closely working with competent structures to ensure that this election is organized in a serene, transparent and peaceful atmosphere,”
