The signature of Head of State Paul Biya affixed at the bottom of the various decrees made public on July 22 has sparked reactions from internet users. They immediately compared it with his previous signatures, noting a debatable difference.
The President of the Republic made public decrees on July 22, 2026, including two appointing members of the board of directors of the National Hydrocarbons Company. The first appoints Abdoulaye Yerima Bakari and the second appoints Guy Emmanuel Sabikanda, members of the said board as personalities designated by the President of the Republic. They replace two deceased members of the said board.
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Another decree from the Head of State authorizes the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development to sign with Deutsche Bank Spain, a combination of loans in the form of Buyer Credit, for a total amount of 5,426,540.29 euros, or 3.560 billion CFA francs, and in the form of commercial credit for an amount of 857,132.55 euros, or approximately 562.279 million CFA francs. The funds are intended for the realization of the Yaoundé Municipal Lake Tourist and Economic Development Project (phase 1).
The fourth decree authorizes the same minister to sign with the International Development Association (IDA), a credit agreement for an amount of 33 million euros, corresponding to 38.6 million US dollars, or approximately 21.6 billion CFA francs. The envelope will finance the Adaptive Social Safety Nets and Economic Inclusion Project (PFS-AIE).
These decrees by President Paul Biya prompt internet users to react on three levels. Some question the authenticity of the signature affixed at the bottom of the documents published online. Internet users focus on this, going so far as to question its authenticity on the grounds that the signatures are different from each other and also different from the previous signature found on old decrees. Along the same lines of reaction, other internet users believe that the decrees bear an “imitated signature” of the president. And thus, attempt to cast doubt on the credibility of the texts. But another group rather thinks of the signatory’s condition which would not allow him to sign with accuracy as before.
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Furthermore, on another level, reactions concern the signing in Switzerland of texts that impact Yaoundé, while public opinion is already embroiled in controversy over the president’s prolonged absence abroad. On this point, the decrees made public on July 22, instead of reassuring, continue to fuel the controversy over the remote governance of the State of Cameroon.
Finally, the last group of interveners is more interested in the different sums of money to be borrowed. These will further increase Cameroon’s total debt to international financial institutions.
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