In Cameroon, the secretary general of the ruling party, the RDPC, Jean Nkuété, recently began a tour to mobilize activists across the country. This series of consultations, which takes place in the run-up to the 2025 elections, aims to remobilize the troops and assess the motivation of activists towards President Paul Biya, at the head of the country for 41 years.
The main objective of this tour is to relaunch the commitment of members of the ruling party, CPDM, who had been little mobilized since the 2022 senatorial elections. It is therefore crucial to reactivate the base and strengthen the connection between the top of the party and its activists.
But beyond remobilization, this tour also allows Jean Nkuété to measure the popularity of President Paul Biya among the members of the CPDM. At 90 years old, and after more than four decades at the head of the country, the question of his succession begins to arise. According to the statutes of the CPDM, the national president is automatically the candidate chosen by the party for the presidential election.
Some observers believe that these consultations could pave the way for a next congress, the first in twelve years. The congress, which is an exclusive prerogative of President Paul Biya, could address the question of his succession, which is increasingly discussed within the party.
Ahead of the 2025 elections, where Cameroonians will have to elect their president, mayors and deputies, the RDPC is seeking to get ahead of its main opposition rivals. While the main opposition party, the SDF, has not yet appointed a successor to its former leader, and the MRC boycotted the last elections, the RDPC sees this as an opportunity to consolidate its position.
As part of this tour, Jean Nkuété will meet CPDM activists in the ten regions of Cameroon, in order to ensure their support and strengthen their commitment to the ruling party.
In conclusion, Jean Nkuété’s mobilization tour in Cameroon marks an important step in the preparation of the next elections. It aims to remobilize the base and strengthen the commitment of activists to President Paul Biya and the CPDM. This tour could also lay the foundations for a future congress, where the question of Biya’s succession could be addressed.