During a press conference held in Yaoundé this weekend, the Citizen Movement of Franckists for Peace and Unity in Cameroon castigates the birth of several tendencies in the name of their champion and mobilizes its troops for a democratic generational transition in Cameroon.
Two years before the next presidential election in the country of Paul Biya, the movements of support for certain personalities are active to position their champions in order to conquer the electorate when the time comes. This is the case of Franck Emmanuel Biya, son of the current President of the Republic, who has been receiving support for nearly two years now from the Citizen Movement of Franckists for Peace and Unity in Cameroon (MCFP). An association created in his name to present it as the best alternative in 2025. The latter, by dint of meetings, meetings, seminars, continues to gain ground.
However, this strategy is not the prerogative of the MCFP alone. Indeed, several groups claim Franckism. Some denying any legitimacy to others. Faced with the rise of competition, the MCFP still castigates the recovery. “Our objective is to enlighten the public on the confusion linked to the Franckist movement. We have too many tendencies and fractions that are born on a daily basis. There is only one recognized legal movement in the form of an association. All the other dismemberments that are born are lazy people who take advantage of the work of others to carry out their hidden agendas. We are not the ones who, instead of working, go off to insult on social networks and ask President Biya to leave, ”explains the coordinator of the MCFP South region.
In reaction to this thrust of the MCFP, another Franckist branch called the Citizen Movement for Peace and Unity (MCPU) preferred to avoid the battle of the ragpickers and kick into touch. “We opt for silence, we don’t have the same objectives. We only talk about our actions, ”answers an executive. However, the person himself has never expressed himself publicly on a possible desire for a political future, but his supporters lend him this ambition. Even if he does not say a word, Franck Biya gives the impression of consenting to it through his multiple appearances alongside his father, whether at the palace or abroad. Cameroonians still remember his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Yaoundé in July 2022, or his presence in the presidential delegation to the recent Africa – Russia Summit.
At 89 and soon 42 years in power, President Paul Biya also seems to reinforce the idea of an initiation of his son. Anything that reinforces the Franckists in their momentum to initiate a generational and democratic transition from father to son. “We are young and aware of the future of our country. The man who can embody our aspirations and our ideologies is called Mr. Franck Emmanuel Biya. We see these abilities in him. He is a man of integrity and intelligence. Our ambition is to take matters into our own hands, to bring young people together around this movement, whatever their political party, and to participate actively in the political life of the nation,” said Jeanne Zengue Moko’o, President of the National Executive. It is spontaneously, they say, that they defend “a political offer” resulting from an observation: their generation will most likely witness a transition. For them, Franck Emmanuel Biya, by his “discretion”, his “self-control” and his knowledge of the mysteries of power, brings together “the qualities of a leader” to “be the future candidate” of the youth to “a future election”. It could, still according to the Franckists, overcome all divisions and ensure the stability of Cameroon.
However, the Franckists claim to have never sought to meet their model Franck Emmanuel Biya, whom they say they do not see as “his father’s son, but as an exemplary personality”. The main interested party has neither officially mandated nor disavowed them. At the end of the conference, the Franckists anticipated the celebration of the 52nd birthday of their champion which should be held next October.
