Biya Re-shuffles Cameroon Government, Marafa dropped, Ahidjo appointed

 

Philemon Yang has been maintained as Cameroon's Prime Minister. President Paul Biya re-shuffled the government which was announced on state radio (CRTV) late on Friday.

Biya was expected to re-shuffle his cabinet after he was declared winner of an October Presidential poll in the Central African nation. The government remains very big with more than 50 members including 37 full ministers. There are about a dozen new faces but several ministers maintain their portfolio or simply switch departments. 

The most noteworthy incoming member is the Finance Minister, Alamine Ousmane Mey, who comes from the private sector. He was head of Afriland First Bank. His predecessor Essimi Menye is now in-charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Biya also appointed Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh as the new Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic.  Ngoh Ngoh was permanent secretary at the Ministry of External Relations.

Biya maintained his trust in the coalition that backed him during the elections and did not give government positions to other opposition parties as was widely rumoured. As such, Bello Bouba Maigari (UNDP party), Issa Tchiroma (FSN party) and Amadou Moustapha (ANDP) are maintained in government. 

A symbolic newcomer from the allied UNDP party is Mohamadou Ahidjo who becomes a roving ambassador. Ahidjo was a mayor of the major northern city of Garoua. He is one of the children of former President Ahmadou Ahidjo.

Apart fropm the Prime Minister no Anglophone commands a top ministry. Anglophone ministers include Philip Ngolle Ngwese who is in-charge of Forests and Wildlife (he replaces Elvis Ngolle Ngolle) and Ama Tutu Muna who stays in government as Minister of Arts and Culture. 

Other Anglophones include Peter Agbor Tabi, the deputy secretary general at the Presidency; Victor Mengot and Paul Atanga Nji - both are ministers without portfolio at the Presidency; Dion Ngute is minister delegate in-charge of relations with the Commonwealth; and Fuh Calistus Gentry is Secretary of State (junior minister) in the Ministry of Mines. 

Amadou Ali, who was the powerful vice-Prime Minister and minister of Justice, has now been made Minister in-charge of Relations with the National Assembly but maintains his status as vice-PM. He is replaced as Minister of Justice by Laurent Esso who was formerly Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic. Meanwhile Jean Pierre Fogui has been named Minister delegate at the Ministry of Justice where he replaces Maurice Kamto who resigned last week. 

Marafa Hamidou Yaya, the long-serving Minister of Territorial Administration (Interior), has been dropped. He is replaced by Emmanuel Sadi, who until his current appointment was the General Secretary of the ruling Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM).  

The Minister of Sport, Michel Zoa who was at a ceremony to supervise rehearsals ahead of the Cup of Cameroon this morning, has also been sacked. He has been replaced by Adoum Garoua who will start in his new role at the Cup of Cameroon final on Sunday. 

 As it's often the case with Biya's governments, several people who had been dropped return from the doldrums. These include Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, a former Minister of Communication who becomes Minister of External Relations; and Bidoun Mkpatt, a former Minister of Youth and Sports who returns as Minister of Youth and Civic Education. 

 Here's a satirical look at the whole idea of appointments in Cameroon by the artiste Donny Elwood.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[adang jackai]

l persident is bringing his friends back toachive his goal of 2035 like minister of external relation who head the communication ministery sone time and minister of youth.

[The Hunter]

Old wines in new bottles!The same faces for the past 30 years!Where are the youths in all these foolery?Shall we execute Biya's 'grand realisations' with these plethora of ministries?So you think Biya and these hoodlums will break the rule,by becoming left-handed at old age?

[p s j]

Its a pity that the economic meltdown is around the corner where we expect every country to make changes that will bring lasting progress to stop the meltdown ,president biya is bring people to frustrate the country further.so God help cameroon

[Bokwoango]

It's very sad to see nothing has changed from the old ways of this government dating back to my days as an elementary school pupil. Where are the Anglophones? I thought this government was going to be an inclusive one? I love my country, I was hoping to see a mixture of all segments of the society represented fairly. I guess the governors will be next, why can't they be free fair elections for the people to choose who they like in this individual regions?

[Melvin Mbuh]

The same different faces appear in the government again. I wonder how the 2035 goal would be achieved. Perhaps, as they say things could change, let's wait and see if they really could turn things around.I still believe in change though! I expected the president to introduce new and young people to drive the development machine in this new era. We just need a country that is competitive, more business and transparency.

[Yosouf]

only bokoharam will safe cameroonian from biyaqaeda

[ABANDA JONAS]

CAMEROON HAS AMOST A HUNDRED MINISTRIAL POSITIONS THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD WITH CABINET POSITIONS.THIS ONLY HELP TO FOSTER CORRUPTION AND EMBLEZLEMENT IN THE COUNTRY .CAMEROON NEED BUT PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS NOT GOVERNMENT JOBS THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN CAMEROON OVER CROWDS THE PRIVATE THOUS OUR ECONOMY IS DWINDLING INSTEAD OF GROWING

[Michel Makouta]

It is true many are surprised by Marafa’s absence in the new cabinet team, nut no one is eternal.

[Michel kuaté]

Some people have been thinking President Paul Biya hates the Ahidjo family, but he has proven it all wrong by appointing a member of the Ahidjo family as minister.