Communication Minister sets record straight on Biya’s short visit to Switzerland

In a programme aired on Radio France Internationale (RFI) on May 21, Jean – Baptiste Placcard, an editor, said that Biya had traveled for personal reasons leaving behind a cryptic message Cameroonians could not understand and had made allusions to the idea that the hostility of Cameroonians in Switzerland made it impossible for him to stay longer as he had previously been known for doing.

Communication boss Rene Emmanuel Sadi said this was simply disgraceful to the noble journalism profession. He explained that it was in no way unusual for President Paul Biya to stay for a few days in Switzerland. He also declared that the official message sent out by the civil cabinet was clear and concise. In addition, he explained that the president could travel to create or solidify diplomatic ties with countries or solve personal problems and that is in no way contrary to the law. Sadi went on to say that no form of hostility has been experienced by the presidential couple and that their visits to Europe in no way show their lack of love for Cameroon and its people.

The communication boss concludes by saying that the allegations made by Placcard are preposterous and disrespectful to the state because they are untrue. He also reminds the journalist of his training at the present day Advanced School of Mass Communication of the university of Yaounde 1 underlining he should have liaised with his colleagues in Cameroon and not those in Switzerland to know more about the President’s trip.

Paul Biya and wife Chantal raised eyebrow when they left Cameroon for Switzerland a few days to the celebration of the national unity of the country.