Cameroon Youths Reject Minister’s Attempt to Paint Biya as Their Father Figure

The Cameroon Minister of Youth Affairs, Mounouna Foutsou, has received insults following his publication of a new book presenting Biya and youths in a harmonious relationship.

The 400-page book is titled “Paul Biya and the Cameroonian Youths: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.”

The youth affairs minister in this book, dedicated to the president of the Republic himself, highlighted that Paul Biya has played a key role in the integration of young people in governments.

The book was launched on February 12 in Yaoundé, just a day after the celebration of the national youth day.

The launching was chaired by Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpatt.

Youths Insult Minister

Since announcing the launch, the youth minister has received severe bashing from Cameroon youths.

On Facebook, many descended on him for still believing that President Paul Biya, 92, still has something to offer the youths.

James Paul, while commenting, told the minister that a lot of educated young people are unemployed.

“You even try to operate a call box, and the council comes to tax all your capital. We are tired of this humiliation. Young people dying in the deserts. We don’t want to see CPDM,” he added.

Imramkisia Levi also questioned the minister on what President Paul Biya has done for the youths. 

For Fatou Fatou, every minister wants to become a writer in Cameroon instead of doing the work they are appointed to do.

“Are you sure Biya will read all these books?” she questioned Minister Mounouna Foutsou.

“It’s a shame for the Cameroonian people. All for you is Paul Biya, while your population is dying because of floods and high cost of living. You have not said or done anything. The population is abandoned to themselves. When is it going to stop?? Everyone will reap what he sows,” said another youth, Aloa David.

Not the first minister writing a book about Biya

Monouna Foutsou is the second minister from the North writing a book about President Paul Biya.

In 2023, Paul Biya Health Minister Dr. Manaouda Malachie wrote a book about quotes President Biya has made over the years.

These books about Biya have been interpreted as a way of massaging his ego to beg for political appointments rather than doing the work for the high they are supposed to.

Biya and Youths

Meanwhile, Biya is doing the contrary from what the youth minister is projecting.

Take, for instance, the recent address to the youths on February 10.

He spent time talking about football, congratulating the Lions for qualifying for AFCON. When it concerns youths unemployment, he shifted the blame, saying that it is a “global phenomenon”

His minister of youth affairs has outlived his youthfulness. Biya became president at 49. But as it stands, his successor is almost his age of 92.

No top-ranking member of his government is less than 50 years old.

Mimi Mefo Info