Opinion: Are Cameroonian Politicians Ashamed of their Wives in Public?

Unlike in the western countries where spouses play a vital role in the political lives of their partners who are politicians, the contrary seems to prevail in Cameroon.

Politicians in the Central African nation often run for public offices all alone, as they keep their marital lives a secret.

This has always been the notion for almost politicians in Cameroon, except for President Paul Biya, whose wife, first lady Chantal Biya is always by his side.

Let’s take, for instance, the 2018 presidential election.

Prof Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) party campaigned all through, but his wife or children were never seen by his side, even during political gatherings.

The same holds for Cabral Libii of the PCRN, Joshua Osih of the SDF, and Akere Muna of the Now Movement.

Some of them are married and have grownup children but choose to make their families irrelevant to their political aspirations. While they campaign for the masses to trust and vote for them, people are left to speculated whether their immediate family (wife and children) believe and follow their political vision.

For some of these politicians, the electorate does not even know whether they are married or not, and whether they have been able to exemplify good leadership in their families.

However, it is not as if it is a syndrome with male politicians; it is also the same with female politicians.

Take, for instance, someone like Kah Walla of the Cameroon People’s Party.

She has contested for the presidential elections in 2011, but the public and even voters supporting her don’t know whether she is married, talk less of having a husband.

These issues of politicians in Cameroon trying to keep their marital lives a secret have left many asking if they are ashamed of bringing their spouses to the public.

Or could it be that their marriages are nothing to be proud about?

Role of Spouses in Politics

Though spouses of politicians in Cameroon are being relegated to the background, research shows that they can play a vital role.

In an article titled, “The New Role of Modern Political Spouses” by Carrie Giddins, she said spouses play many roles, arguing that “they’re cheerleaders-in-chief. The candidate’s biggest fans and greatest moral supporters”.

However, politicians in Cameroon tend to neglect that by not presenting the family in public.

The conduct of such a family can either mar or make them achieve their political aspirations.

Africans cherish family moral values a lot, and if a politicians are able to project their families, that could play a lot on convincing the voters.

Carrie says a political spouse often doesn’t get to select his or her lot in life.

“But they’re along for the ride, through the ups and the downs, and sometimes they even play a role in creating those memorable moments on the campaign.”

Take, for instance, the swearing in of JD Vance as US Vice President in January this year.

The video of his wife, smiling and looking at him with countenance of love and pride left a memorable moment of that event.

Some might not like JD Vance, but for the fact that he seems to treat his wife and children well and they are proud of him, Vance is already got a soft spot among voters.

In Cameroon, that’s largely absent. Some spouses are hardly seen even when their partners take public office.

Aside from the politicians aspiring for the presidency, let’s take a look at some top politicians in the country.

Marcel Niat Njifenji is the Senate President in Cameroon and Cavaye Yeguie Djibril is the National Assembly Speaker. Joseph Dion Ngute is the prime Minister.

Of these people highlighted, the public knows little about their spouses. They are never seen in public with them.

2025 Presidential Election

Now, Cameroonians are preparing to head to the polls in October to elect a new president for another seven years.

Many politicians have declared their candidatures and are already campaigning. They are only seen with members of the party making promises here and there.

However, they are neglecting one thing—their spouses who can push over the top or undermine their candidatures.

Prior to the US presidential elections in 2020, late American radio host Neal Conan, hosting his “Talk of the Nation” program on the National Public Radio, said whether political spouses play a vital role or not, “there is undeniable public interest” there.