• Regional elites accuse Tchiroma of an opportunistic and weak ministerial record.
• Likiby Boubakar questions his legitimacy to run for president.
• The 2025 race exposes fractures between traditional elites and new leaders.
In Cameroon’s Grand-North, Issa Tchiroma, candidate in the October 12 presidential election, has triggered sharp reactions among regional elites. His statements on infrastructure and employment deficits have been met with criticism from political heavyweights.
Likiby Boubakar, director general of Mipromalo and member of the ruling RDPC party, addressed an open letter to Tchiroma, who heads the FSNC party. His response to Tchiroma’s September 2 letter to National Assembly Speaker Cavaye Yeguie Djibril revealed growing divisions between historic elites and new, ambitious leaders.
Boubakar scrutinized Tchiroma’s record as former minister of Communication and Employment. He wrote: “It is obvious that you had the opportunity to achieve great things. President Paul Biya, against all odds, gave you your chance. What did you do with it? You only cared about never being hungry again, as you like to say: ‘I am no longer hungry.’”
Contested Record and Questioned Legitimacy
Established elites argue that Tchiroma’s current denunciations hide a weak ministerial record. “At the time of accountability, your supposed ‘leadership’ showed no social or professional dynamic capable of addressing the challenges of training and employability in our regions,” Boubakar noted.
He added that Tchiroma’s credibility would have been stronger had he voiced these concerns earlier, when young people were waiting for concrete results.
This criticism highlights a structural division in the Grand-North. Traditional elites—former ministers, senior officials and influential entrepreneurs—seek political stability and continuity with the central government. By contrast, Tchiroma and other emerging leaders adopt a more confrontational and media-driven posture, openly denouncing regional marginalization to position themselves as the voice of local frustrations.
Presidential Ambition Under Scrutiny
Boubakar also questioned Tchiroma’s presidential bid: “How do you justify, given your ministerial record widely seen as unflattering by public opinion and observers, your current claim to providentially lead the destinies of the Septentrion and even the whole of Cameroon?”
The confrontation underscores a battle for legitimacy, where political credibility and concrete results weigh more heavily than rhetoric or media visibility. For the Grand-North elites, leadership rests on the ability to deliver tangible outcomes—jobs, infrastructure, social programs and economic dynamism.
The Grand-North Dilemma
Tchiroma’s case reflects a broader paradox: how to allow ambitious new leaders to emerge while preserving regional unity and the historic influence of elites. The split between Tchiroma and the traditional power brokers shows that in the Grand-North, the struggle for influence is as much internal as it is with Yaoundé.
Ultimately, the 2025 presidential election could prove less a confrontation with the central government and more an internal contest. Old and new leaders will compete to embody the legitimate voice of the region. Tchiroma’s fate will depend not only on his ability to mobilize voters but also on whether he can persuade or win over the historic elites, who remain decisive in the political landscape of the Septentrion.
This article was initially published in French by Thierry Christophe Yamp
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum