The Francophone Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Relations with the Assemblies is reportedly dying of an illness that has kept him away from the public eye for several months. The so-called patriarch of the Far North region has not been seen at the National Assembly for over nine months. CIR gathered that for some time now, the Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reform, Ange Michel Angouing, has overseen the work of both the National Assembly and the Senate on behalf of the Biya Francophone government.

A well-placed source close to his entourage hinted that he is almost reclusive in his residence in the Bastos neighbourhood in Yaounde due to health problems. Information filtered recently that President Biya has agreed to relieve him from the painful duty of his presence to allow him to devote himself to medic care, sometimes in Cameroon and sometimes in Europe.

In addition to his deteriorating health, Minister Amadou Ali suffered another set back in July 27, 2017. On that day, a strong expedition of the Nigerian Islamic sect Boko Haram attacked his residence at Kolofata. A total of seven people were killed among them, many relatives of the Deputy Prime Minister, including his brother Alhadji Malloum burned to death after an explosion of a grenade, his cousin Mohamadou Djougoudoum, his henchman at Kolofata and in Maroua, Madi Talba and a sister of his wife.

Amadou Ali can only console himself now for being one of the few pillars of the regime to have never been sacked since the arrival of Paul Biya in power on November 6, 1982. He has practically occupied all top positions in Biya’s 35 years : Secretary of State for the Gendarmerie, Minister of Defense, Minister of Justice, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic .

By Chi Prudence Asong, CIR