Cameroon vice presidency: are Paul Biya’s two sons in the race?

After Franck Biya, another man with family ties to President Paul Biya has been quietly positioning himself for succession — Louis Paul Motaze, the president’s cousin, is making strategic moves that could reshape Cameroon’s political future.

Louis Paul Motaze, cousin of Franck Biya, the president’s adopted son, is emerging as a key contender. According to political observers, Motaze is capitalising on a shift among elites from the South region, who have allegedly communicated their reluctance to back Franck Biya’s candidacy. The influence of southern elites within Cameroon’s public administration is widely acknowledged, and their stance could tilt the balance. Motaze has held powerful posts: director general of the CNPS, minister of economy, planning and regional development, secretary general of the presidency, and minister of finance. Many analysts consider him the most powerful figure after Paul Biya in terms of network and reach.

Batoufam

Motaze’s influence extends across multiple sectors. He is said to control the press — few media outlets dare to criticise him — and maintains strong ties with the business community, particularly in the West region. His relationships with traditional chiefs in the West are strategic, notably with Nayang Toukam Innocent, a charismatic leader who helped host a gathering of African traditional chiefs in Batoufam. Motaze personally visited the royal palace of Batoufam five years ago, accompanied by a delegation that included the owner of Biopharma. That chief has since turned Batoufam into the 20th ecotourism destination in the world, according to the International Organisation of Social Tourism.

A shrewd strategist, Motaze has distanced himself from businessman Amougou Belinga following the Martinez Zogo assassination scandal. He is praised for not being tribalistic, even in his close circle. The key question remains his track record since 2007, when he entered Cameroon’s top echelons through the ministry of planning. Motaze now faces his cousin Franck Biya, who is reportedly backed by the first lady and Oswald Baboke, as well as Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, who despite his merits is seen as less generous than Motaze’s camp suggests. Franck Biya, meanwhile, is perceived as somewhat aloof by the youth in the South, according to insiders.