Joe la Conscience warns of dynastic succession plan by Paul Biya in Cameroon

In a strongly worded opinion piece published on 26 June 2026, political activist Joe La Conscience directly challenges President Paul Biya. He paints a picture of 43 years of chaotic governance, shrinking public freedoms, and an alleged plan to hand power to a family member. Accusing Biya of preparing a family succession is one thing, but coining the term “dynastocracy” brings a fresh twist to the debate.

43 years in power and a shattered record

Joe La Conscience starts at the beginning. According to him, Paul Biya’s rise to power in 1982 was a historic mistake by his predecessor Ahmadou Ahidjo. What was meant to be a transitional term turned into a personal reign lasting more than four decades, he argues.

The opinion piece paints a bleak economic picture, describes governance as tribal, and notes a steady erosion of public liberties. These are serious accusations, presented without official sources — something worth noting. These are the author’s interpretations, not findings from an investigative report. But the tone is that of a prosecutor.

The vice-presidency and the spectre of a family succession

This is where the article sharpens its focus — and becomes more controversial. Joe La Conscience points to recent constitutional reforms, especially the creation of the vice-president position, as a possible mechanism for a top-down succession. He forges the term “dynastocracy” to describe what he sees as an intention to transfer power within the presidential family circle.

He also touches on alleged rivalries among figures close to the president, and various succession scenarios. None of these elements are backed by official confirmation, and the author himself presents them as hypotheses. That does not make them any less revealing of a growing debate, even among circles that do not identify with the radical opposition.

The question of the president’s health, uncertainty about the post-Biya era, tensions around a potential transition — Joe La Conscience does not invent them. He puts them into words, drawing his own conclusions.

It is a turn that the political debate in Cameroon is taking, whether the institutions acknowledge it or not.