french ambassador explains macron’s non-congratulations to paul biya after Cameroon’s 2025 election
French Ambassador Sylvain Riquier recently appeared on Equinoxe Tv to shed light on a notable diplomatic shift concerning France Cameroon relations.
Sylvain Riquier’s diplomatic insights on Equinoxe Tv
During past electoral cycles, such as in 2018, France typically extended congratulatory letters within days of the Constitutional Council’s official results. However, following the presidential election in October 2025, this established diplomatic protocol saw a significant departure. Instead of promptly endorsing the official figures, the Élysée adopted a notably reserved position, prompting questions about France Cameroon relations.
This diplomatic reticence from Paris became a central point of discussion on the program La Vérité en face, broadcast on Sunday, July 19, 2026, by Equinoxe Tv, a private media outlet based in Douala, Cameroun. French Ambassador to Cameroun, Sylvain Riquier, who had only recently taken up his post just before the October 12, 2025 presidential election, was a guest on the show. He approached the sensitive topic with a cautious and modest demeanor.
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“I don’t believe I saw a public letter. You would have seen it too,” Ambassador Riquier responded to journalist Duval Fangwa during the broadcast of La Vérité en face. When questioned by the journalist about whether the French President’s silence indicated any strain or