President Paul Biya finally returned to Cameroon on Thursday, August 20, concluding a “brief” visit to Switzerland that extended for an remarkable 74 days. Anticipating his arrival, citizens of Cameroon were met with merely a glimpse of his hand, visible through the partially lowered window of his presidential limousine.
Citizens across Cameroon had expected to witness their long-serving leader descend the aircraft’s gangway, a customary sight where he would greet the powerful figures of the Etoudi Palace. Instead, they were presented with a singular hand. In the realm of African politics, such a gesture is far from insignificant. The hand, in this context, embodies four distinct levels of influence: the hand that takes life, the hand that deceives, the hand that bestows blessings, and ultimately, the hand that governs.
Degree 1: The hand that kills
In ancient Rome’s coliseum, the vast crowds would fall silent, their gaze fixed solely on Caesar’s hand. A raised thumb meant life for the gladiatorial combatant; a lowered thumb signaled death. On Thursday, August 20, in Yaoundé, the dynamic was inverted. The emperor’s hand no longer dictated the gladiators’ fate. Rather, it was the “gladiator’s” hand that needed to affirm its vitality to the nation. Cameroonians observed President Biya’s hand waving in salutation, a clear indication of his living return.
Degree 2: The hand that cheats
When physical capabilities wane, deception often finds its tool in the hand. Recall 1986, when Argentine legend Diego Maradona famously scored against England using his hand, dubbing it the “Hand of God.” Despite widespread recognition of the foul, the referee allowed the goal. Similarly, on that Thursday, while everyone noted only a solitary hand, CRTV, Cameroon’s national television, with its extensive crew of 200 personnel tasked with covering the presidential motorcade, effectively endorsed this perceived miracle.
Degree 3: The hand that blesses
Within religious liturgy, authority frequently emanates from the hand. Priests lay on hands, the Pope delivers his Urbi et Orbi blessing, and monarchs are consecrated through anointing. Once blessed, the hand transforms into a sacred relic. That Thursday, an inverted liturgy unfolded. A relic-like hand emerged from behind a tinted window, reminiscent of a reliquary paraded during religious festivals, intended to reinforce the faith of the populace.
Degree 4: The hand that governs
This brings us to the ultimate level: the hand that governs. For the entire 74-day duration of his “short” stay in Switzerland, the narrative maintained that the state’s operations proceeded uninterrupted. The reason given? The hand was signing. Decrees were issued, appointments made, and laws ratified. The hand remained active, even in the physical absence of the body. This aligns with the most ancient legal definition of power: the manus, the hand. In Latin, manus signifies authority and might. There are no longer public addresses, no physical presence, no walks across the tarmac. Only the signature and the wave remain. The hand that signs, and the hand that salutes.
In ancient Rome, the hand determined life or death. In religious institutions, it conveyed blessings. In Yaoundé, however, this visible hand primarily asserts that its wielder remains firmly in power. Following an astounding forty-three years of continuous rule, the people of Cameroon must now accustom themselves, for an indefinite period likely to be shorter than longer, to governance by a mere hand. Cameroonian journalist Marie Roger Biloa offered a more direct assessment: “Cameroon,” she stated, “must prepare for the definitive disappearance of a president who is already de facto absent.” This situation highlights the unique challenges in African politics and governance in West Africa.
