On June 29, 2026, the Minister of Finance delivered a high-impact media statement regarding the rehabilitation of the Sonara refinery. This bold move followed an article that repositioned the Minister of Finance at the center of the succession race.

Michel Njilo, a political observer, argues that the minister’s intervention has thrust him back into the spotlight after what he describes as a sabotage campaign orchestrated by a pan-African publication against Franck Biya. He questions the motives behind such attacks: Why target Franck Biya?

According to Njilo, a scathing article accused the Bulu elite of rejecting Franck Biya’s potential candidacy, claiming southern youth opposition. Yet, in reality, Franck Biya’s rising influence is causing unease among other vice-presidential contenders. Insider reports from Geneva suggest that before his departure to Switzerland, President Paul Biya faced two vice-presidential proposals: one from the First Lady with the DCC Deputy, and another from the Presidency Secretariat with the SGPR. Not only did the President dismiss both, but he also bypassed standard travel protocols for his trip, where working sessions with Franck Biya were scheduled.

Does Franck Biya own shell gold companies?

Albin Njilo highlights recent whistleblower allegations by Boris Bertolt, accusing Franck Biya of involvement in a gold trafficking scandal. These accusations are part of a broader, deep-state battle. The unfolding scandals—including the Martinez Zogo assassination and gold trafficking cases under review by the Special Criminal Tribunal—are mechanisms the President is closely monitoring to dismantle the power ambitions of several regime figures vying for the vice-presidency.

Njilo warns that the prolonged delay in appointing a vice-president and reshuffling the cabinet poses risks to the President’s security. Following the Martinez Zogo affair, which exposed ties between the DSP and businessman Amougou Belinga, President Paul Biya reportedly turned to the BIR for protection. The Commander of the Presidential Guard relocated from Melen to a new office at Etoudi Palace. The BIR, an elite Cameroonian military unit, handles critical sovereignty defense tasks under the President’s direct oversight.

After a recent travel plan was aborted due to U.S. embassy intelligence, American security agencies—which are closely tracking Cameroon’s stability risks amid the succession uncertainty—advised the President to limit his movements for safety. Reports indicate Donald Trump’s administration is now involved in securing President Paul Biya’s safety. In a discreet operation, a private jet landed at Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport carrying William Joseph Burns, CIA Director and key U.S. security figure, who met with top Cameroonian intelligence officials. These events underscore President Paul Biya’s firm control over national affairs. In the face of clan-driven power struggles, his leadership remains essential to ensuring a peaceful transition for Cameroonians.