Cameroun: the filmmaker Jean-Pierre Bekolo foresees a nation in turmoil without President Paul Biya

The Cameroonian filmmaker Jean-Pierre Bekolo has issued a chilling forecast for his nation. In a recent opinion piece, he argues that Cameroon is already experiencing the early stages of chaos that would follow the departure of President Paul Biya.

«The country is mired in a permanent state of dissent, playing out across media platforms, social networks, and behind-the-scenes power struggles,» Bekolo writes. «The factions now jockeying for influence will soon escalate their battles beyond rhetoric and into uncharted territory.»

Symbolic authority in decline

Even as critics call for Biya’s departure, one undeniable truth persists: despite his age, illness, or absence, he has maintained a level of symbolic authority that no other figure in his government possesses. Perhaps this was by design.

Daily, Cameroonians witness a widening gap between the lofty titles of state officials and the lack of respect or confidence they command. Questions swirl around the roles of presidential families, inner circles, and business networks that appear to operate above the law, treating public resources as private assets.

The public is increasingly skeptical of institutions they view as compromised. From a minister of Mines downplaying the value of national gold reserves to a Constitutional Council accused of legitimizing political deception, trust in governance is eroding rapidly. Ministries seem paralyzed, unable to address citizens’ daily struggles while their leaders cling to privileges.

Bekolo highlights anomalies such as extended mandates for public enterprise leaders, the creation of a vice-presidential role through a constitutional amendment by expired deputies, and the normalization of delegated decision-making—blurring the lines between presidential authority and behind-the-scenes control.

A nation on the brink

Taken individually, these issues might spark debate. Collectively, they paint a single, damning picture: without Paul Biya, Cameroon risks total collapse.

Rivalries once contained through power-sharing arrangements or backroom deals now threaten to explode into open conflict. Assassinations, institutional paralysis, and internal rebellions within the government could soon become reality.

«Every decision will be contested. Every appointment will be scrutinized. Every succession will be challenged.» Bekolo warns. «This is the definition of chaos—and it stems not from opposition forces or foreign interference, but from a system exhausted by its inability to function without Biya.»

The recent decision to grant a new seven-year mandate to a 93-year-old president has only accelerated these trends. The signs of disorder are already visible.

A call for responsible departure

The filmmaker urges those who have served Cameroon to acknowledge the moment. «Those who believe they have given enough, those who recognize they can no longer provide the leadership the nation deserves—it is time to leave.»

But departure must be more than symbolic. Bekolo advocates for a structured transition led by a provisional government tasked with rebuilding trust, reforming institutions, and establishing fair electoral rules. Without such measures, he warns, all attempts to prolong the current system will only deepen the crisis.

«Every secret meeting, every backroom deal, every maneuver to delay the inevitable risks pushing the nation closer to the chaos we all fear.» History, he insists, will hold accountable those responsible for prolonging a system that has reached its end.