Cameroon’s governance: the symbolism of president biya’s returning hand

President Paul Biya’s recent return to Cameroon, following an extended 74-day stay in Switzerland, captivated the nation. On Thursday, August 20, onlookers eagerly awaited his arrival, catching a glimpse of his hand through the presidential limousine’s partially lowered window. This brief visual sparked considerable discussion among the populace, highlighting the profound political symbolism often attached to such gestures.

Citizens had anticipated the customary sight of the patriarch at the foot of the aircraft gangway, shaking hands with the prominent figures of the Etoudi palace. Instead, they were met with merely a hand—a detail far from insignificant in the realm of politics. The political significance of a hand can be interpreted in four distinct ways: the hand that kills, the hand that cheats, the hand that blesses, and ultimately, the hand that governs.

The hand that kills

In the ancient Roman arena, the vast crowd would fall silent, their gaze fixed solely on Caesar’s hand. A raised thumb meant life for the gladiator; a lowered thumb signaled death. On Thursday, August 20, in Yaoundé, the dynamic was reversed. It was no longer the emperor’s hand dictating the gladiator’s fate. Instead, it was the gladiator’s hand that had to reassure the ‘Empire’ of its continued existence. Cameroonians witnessed President Biya’s hand waving in greeting, a gesture intended as proof of his safe return.

The hand that cheats

When physical capabilities wane, one might resort to trickery with the hand. In 1986, Argentine legend Diego Maradona famously scored against England using his hand, dubbing it the ‘Hand of God.’ Despite widespread recognition of the deception, the referee validated the goal. Similarly, on Thursday, everyone observed only a single hand. Yet, CRTV, Cameroon’s national television, with its extensive crew of 200 agents filming the presidential convoy, chose to validate this ‘miracle’ as a full presidential appearance.

The hand that blesses

Within liturgical traditions, power often emanates from the hand. Priests lay on hands, the Pope bestows blessings Urbi et orbi, and monarchs are consecrated through anointing. Once anointed, the hand itself becomes a relic. Thursday presented an inverted liturgy: a relic-like hand emerging from behind a tinted window, much like a reliquary paraded on religious holidays, intended to sustain the faith of the loyal.

The hand that governs

This leads to the ultimate interpretation: the hand that signs. For 74 days, during President Biya’s brief stay in Switzerland, the narrative maintained that the state continued to function seamlessly. Why? Because the hand was still signing—decrees, appointments, laws. The hand remained active, even if the body was absent. This is the oldest legal definition of power: the manus, the hand. In Latin, manus signifies power or authority. Gone are the public speeches, the physical presence, the walks on the tarmac. All that remains is the signature and the wave. The hand that signs, and the hand that greets.

In Rome, the hand decreed life or death. In the church, it bestowed blessings. In Yaoundé, it primarily signifies that its wielder remains in power. After forty-three years of rule, Cameroonians must, for an indeterminate period—likely shorter than longer—grow accustomed to being governed by a hand. Cameroonian journalist Marie Roger Biloa candidly stated: « Cameroon must prepare to confront the definitive disappearance of a president who is already de facto absent. »