French ambassador addresses macron’s silence on Cameroon’s 2025 presidential election
French Ambassador to Cameroon, Sylvain Riquier, recently appeared on the program La Vérité en face on Equinoxe Tv, a private media outlet broadcasting from Douala, to discuss the diplomatic nuances surrounding the 2025 presidential election.
In previous electoral cycles, such as the 2018 presidential election, France typically extended congratulatory letters within days of the Constitutional Council’s official results announcement. However, following the October 2025 presidential election in Cameroon, this established practice saw a notable deviation. The Élysée adopted a more reserved stance, refraining from immediately endorsing the official figures.
This diplomatic silence from Paris became a central topic during the July 19, 2026 broadcast of La Vérité en face. French Ambassador Sylvain Riquier, who had only arrived in Cameroon shortly before the October 12, 2025 election, addressed the matter with a cautious and understated approach.
Yaoundé and Paris: a strong diplomatic bond
“I don’t believe I’ve seen any public letter. You would have seen it too,” the French Ambassador responded to journalist Duval Fangwa during the program. When questioned whether President Emmanuel Macron’s silence indicated any strain in the relationship between Paris and Yaoundé, the diplomat offered a measured perspective.
“There was no public letter at that time. That’s it,” Riquier stated succinctly, before quickly affirming the robust nature of the relationship between Yaoundé and Paris. “We noted that the election took place. I believe this does not hinder our ongoing relations with the authorities, particularly our continuous cooperation. I am here, and I have a Cameroonian counterpart in Paris.”
Exchanges for national celebrations underscore enduring ties
“Cooperation between our two states persists. There is no room for doubt regarding this. The absence of a public letter does not preclude normal relations between our two states, our two governments, and our two presidents. I believe the President of the French Republic did not deem it necessary to issue a public letter. Cooperation continues, and there have been exchanges of letters on the occasions of our respective national holidays,” Sylvain Riquier further elaborated, emphasizing the enduring strength of France-Cameroon diplomatic ties.