President Biya’s trip to Russia, a deliberate attempt to avoid Ni John Fru Ndi’s funeral?

After attending the just-concluded Russia-Africa Summit, Cameroon’s President Paul Biya and his wife Shantal Biya have returned to the country.

On the evening of June 30 (Sunday, 11 pm Cameroonian time), President Biya arrived at the Nsimalen airport in Yaounde, after the two-day meeting which focused on strengthening military, commercial, and humanitarian ties with Russia.

“Cameroon and Russia have shared diplomatic relations for decades… and we came with the hope that this meeting will strengthen the bond of friendship and economic ties between the Russian Federation and Cameroon,” President Paul Biya told Vladimir Putin.

The funeral of Ni John Fru Ndi, who had served as Chairman of the SDF, took place at the same time that President Biya was participating in the conference.

But Biya decided to travel to St Petersburg for the summit. “Under normal circumstances, President Biya would be represented at the Russia Summit. He chose to go, which makes me wonder whether he was trying to avoid Fru Ndi’s funeral at all cost,” said Cosmos Sam, a Facebook user and political observer.

Cosmos’ thoughts are shared by many who hold that Biya ought to have attended the funeral which started in Yaounde on Friday, July 28th, 2023.

“Many Cameroonians were upset by President Biya’s decision not to attend the Chairman’s funeral,” Yvonne wrote on Twitter.

Did President Paul Biya use the summit to flee from the funeral of his longtime rival, even after according to him a state burial? That is the question on the lips of many Cameroonians.

Fru Ndi who died aged 81, was buried at his native Baba II village on July 29th, 2023. His funeral was attended by thousands.