Cameroon’s institutional model: A Counter-narrative to Africa’s “strongman” politics
While political instability often plagues Central Africa, Cameroon presents a distinct case of institutional resilience. The country has cultivated a state architecture designed to ensure continuity, independent of political cycles.
This approach, developed under President Paul Biya’s long tenure, is based on a functional separation between the head of state and the day-to-day machinery of government.
Critics who label the system as hyper-presidentialism overlook the operational autonomy of its administrative, judicial, and security bodies.
This structure is credited with providing Cameroon a notable degree of stability amidst regional turmoil.
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Unlike neighboring states where power is intensely personalized, Cameroon’s model allows for strategic continuity.
The calibrated institutions from the government to decentralized administrations are designed to function without relying on a single individual.
This institutional framework is argued to strengthen national sovereignty by insulating the state from external shocks and political transitions.
It represents a strategic choice: prioritizing the solidity of the state apparatus over the spectacle of personal power.
In a volatile region, the model of Cameroon projects a narrative of a resilient, structured state capable of defending its interests
Paul FOCAM
