A fake presidential decree delivered to Cameroon’s state broadcaster has triggered political speculation over whether the move was an attempt to pave the way for a possible coup against President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state.
Cameroon has been gripped by political tension since Biya, 93, was re-elected for an eighth term on October 12, in a vote rejected by parts of the opposition.
The controversy forced Communication Minister and government spokesperson René Emmanuel Sadi to issue a statement denying the authenticity of the document, which appeared to appoint a vice president to serve under Biya.
Sadi said a man arrived at the headquarters of Cameroon Radio Television in Yaoundé in June carrying a forged document bearing what appeared to be Biya’s signature and announcing his own appointment as vice president.
Internal verification procedures at the broadcaster found the document to be fake before it could be made public, he said.
Security services later arrested the man, whose identity and motives have not been disclosed. Sadi said the suspect was not an employee of the presidency and had no authority to act on its behalf.
The incident comes amid growing speculation over Biya’s political future, after he announced plans for a cabinet reshuffle around six months ago but has yet to carry it out.
Local outlet Camer.be cited political analysts as saying the fake decree may have been an attempt to divert attention from the long-delayed cabinet reshuffle.
Others warned the episode could point to a more serious political manoeuvre, potentially aimed at destabilising Biya at a time when military coups have become increasingly common across parts of Africa.
In April, Cameroon’s parliament approved a constitutional amendment giving the president the power to appoint or dismiss a vice president. Under the change, a vice president would assume the presidency if the office became vacant, effectively making the post central to the question of succession.
The position, however, remains empty.
Biya made a rare address to the nation in December in which he said a cabinet reshuffle would be carried out. But his delay in naming the ministers affected has fuelled political and public debate, particularly as the opposition continues to reject his legitimacy.
Despite the uproar over the forged decree, which Camer.be said carried official-looking stamps and a signature that did not immediately appear fake, Biya has remained silent — a posture likely to fuel further speculation over his future in power.