WHY PAUL BIYA’S 8TH TERM IS A FRENCH PROJECT, NOT A CAMEROONIAN CHOICE Introduction Cameroon stands at a historic crossroads. After more than four decades in power, President Paul Biya’s pursuit of an eighth term has provoked outrage, skepticism, and despair among many Cameroonians. Yet, beneath the surface, this longevity in office is not simply the result of domestic politics or popular will. It is, above all, a French project—engineered, sustained, and imposed by France to maintain its neo-colonial grip on Cameroon. The Weight of French Interests in Cameroon France has never hidden its deep economic, political, and military interests in Cameroon. From oil and gas in the Bakassi Peninsula to timber, cocoa, and infrastructure contracts, French companies dominate key sectors of the economy. To safeguard these interests, Paris has consistently backed regimes that guarantee continuity rather than change. Paul Biya’s government has offered France exactly that—predictability and compliance...