Abstract:

This paper questions the “calls” and “counter-calls” for Paul Biya’s candidature as a means to participate in political life. The calls for the candidature of the incumbent President show the construction of political allegiances that underlie various clientelist negotiations initiated by political leaders to maintain their hegemonic positions. However, the counter-calls highlight how, through various strategies, their rivals strive to erode the symbolism which, for more than three decades, showcase Paul Biya as the natural candidate to the presidential duty. By focusing on these electoral mobilisation technologies, this article stresses the procedural dimension of elections. Thus, by giving importance to the pre-electoral period rather than to the short electoral operations, the article proposes an original entry point for the study of the conflictual and contradictory dynamics of Cameroon’s polity

Jean-Marcellin Manga Lebongo holds a doctorate in political and social sciences from the University of Liege. He teaches at the Department of Political Science of the Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences of the University of Yaoundé II – (Cameroon).

Press Releases

• "MIASA Public Lecture Explores Political Dynamics in Cameroon", University of Ghana article, 15th June 2023
• "‘Strong political dynamics and strategies in Cameroon are key to Paul Biya’s stay in power’- MIASA Fellow", Radio Univers, 17th June 2023