Cameroon president Paul Biya reshuffles military leadership amid absence
Cameroon’s president Paul Biya, who has been abroad for nearly two months, has authorized a sweeping overhaul of the country’s military leadership through a series of decrees. The changes include the appointment of five new brigade generals, the naming of a new army chief of staff, and the reassignment of multiple territorial and strategic unit commands, including the Presidential Guard.
One of the most notable moves is the promotion of Raymond Jean Charles Beko’o Abondo to brigade general while retaining his role as head of the Presidential Guard, a position he has held for over a decade. Security analysts point out that this marks the first time in the elite unit’s history—established in 1985—that its commander holds this rank, a decision widely seen as a clear signal of President Biya’s continued trust in his leadership.
Additionally, Army Division General Ebaka Hippolyte has been appointed as the new army chief of staff, replacing his predecessor who has been placed in the second section. Six new territorial commanders have also taken charge across four of the five inter-service military regions, with deployments focused on areas facing the most pressing security challenges—from the Far North battling Boko Haram to the restive Anglophone regions in the Southwest.
Beyond their military implications, these reshuffles carry significant political weight. They underscore efforts to reinforce the command structure and emphasize that President Biya remains fully in control despite his prolonged absence. Opposition figures, particularly the Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC) led by Maurice Kamto, argue that these changes fall short of addressing concerns about the transparency of power and have reiterated calls for the formation of the government the president pledged to establish in December 2025.
