Hon. Nourane Foster, a member of parliament of the opposition Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN), finds herself at the center of controversy following a Facebook post in which she heaped praise on Chantal Biya, wife of President Paul Biya.
In her post, Hon. Foster described the First Lady as “an exceptional person overflowing with positive energy and friendliness”.
She added that her “beauty, maternal instinct, and big heart” make her a role model in both social and marital life.
The comment came shortly after the parliamentarian was at the Unity Palace to offer traditional New Year wishes to the First Lady.
However, her comments sparked outrage among her party colleagues and the public.
Some of them view her words as an endorsement of the regime her party opposes.
Serge Olama, National Secretary General of the PCRN Youth Wing, publicly criticized Hon. Nourane Foster.
He accused her of undermining the sacrifices of party members.
“Hon. Nourane Foster, this is unacceptable. Immediately stop tarnishing the dynamic of our struggle. Your freedom ends where others’ begins. I’ve never spoken publicly about your deviations, but this must stop,” he stated.
PCRN leader and candidate for the 2025 elections, Cabral Libii, also expressed disapproval.
He posted a screenshot of Hon. Foster’s message with the caption, “Difficult to do better… or worse.”
Public Outcry Against Nourane Foster
The backlash extended to the public, with many taking to social media to voice their discontent.
“Does she even deserve to be a PCRN MP? Let her stick to selling wigs and beauty products. She discredits your party entirely,” commented Maryline Roberts, a Facebook user.
Willy Mba echoed the sentiment, sarcastically remarking, “Our share of the opposition, if we can call it that.”
Others questioned her political stance. “How do you fight the husband and admire the wife? Hypocrisy at its peak,” said one commenter, Ali Moustapha.
The backlashes highlight the growing tensions within the PCRN and raises questions about the unity of opposition parties in Cameroon.
Critics argue that Hon. Nourane Foster’s comments reflect a lack of discipline and political strategy, potentially harming the party’s credibility ahead of the 2025 presidential and 2026 Legislative and Municipal elections.
While Nourane Foster has not responded to the criticisms, the episode underscores the challenges politicians face in balancing personal views with party ideology in a politically polarized landscape.
