By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, PAV – Professor Olivier Bile, president of the political party Les Libérateurs, has formally referred the Constitutional Council of Cameroon with a request seeking the removal of President Paul Biya from office.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary-General of the Constitutional Council, Mr. Mounder Gabriel Bile, and officially filed at the registry of the institution, Professor Bile invokes the provisions of Article 55, paragraph 3, of Law No. 2004/004 of 21 April 2004 on the organization and functioning of the Constitutional Council, as amended by Law No. 2013/015 of 21 December 2013.
According to the document, the petition calls for the registration of proceedings aimed at declaring the removal of the Head of State on the grounds of what the petitioner describes as an alleged inability to normally continue exercising presidential duties. Professor Bile argues that the Constitution and related legal texts provide mechanisms to address situations where the President of the Republic is deemed unable to effectively carry out the functions of office.
In his submission, the leader of Les Libérateurs cites examples from other countries where sitting presidents have been removed following popular or institutional processes, often on the basis of physical or intellectual incapacity to govern. He presents his action as part of a broader effort to promote constitutionalism, accountability and respect for democratic norms in Cameroon.
The Constitutional Council, for its part, has acknowledged receipt of the request. In a response contained in the same file, the institution informed the applicant that his petition had been taken into consideration and registered. The Council further assured Professor Bile that the relevant legal provisions cited in his request would be examined in accordance with the law.
While the acknowledgement does not prejudge the outcome of the petition, it confirms that the matter has entered the formal review process of the Constitutional Council, which is constitutionally mandated to rule on issues relating to the interpretation of the Constitution and the functioning of state institutions.
The move by Professor Bile comes amid ongoing political debate in Cameroon over governance, leadership and constitutional reforms, as the country continues to grapple with economic challenges, security concerns and calls for greater political renewal. However, no official reaction has yet been issued by the Presidency or government authorities regarding the petition.
Legal analysts note that the procedure for declaring a presidential inability is tightly regulated and subject to strict constitutional requirements. Any decision by the Constitutional Council would therefore depend on its interpretation of the law and the evidence presented.
