French Ambassador Sylvain Riquier on Cameroon’s 2025 Presidential Election
On Sunday, July 19, 2026, French Ambassador to Cameroon, Sylvain Riquier, appeared as a guest on Equinoxe TV’s program, La Vérité en face. Broadcasting from Douala, Cameroon, the private media outlet hosted the diplomat who addressed significant diplomatic questions following Cameroon’s October 2025 presidential election.
In previous electoral cycles, such as the 2018 presidential vote, France typically extended congratulatory messages shortly after the Constitutional Council announced the official results. However, a notable departure from this established pattern occurred after the October 2025 election. The Elysée adopted a noticeably reserved posture, refraining from immediately endorsing the official figures.
This diplomatic silence from Paris became a central topic during the *La Vérité en face* broadcast. Ambassador Riquier, who had only recently arrived in Cameroon just days before the October 12, 2025 presidential election, navigated the discussion with a clear emphasis on prudence and diplomatic discretion.
Yaoundé-Paris Relations: A Steady Course
When questioned by journalist Duval Fangwa about the absence of a public congratulatory letter from President Emmanuel Macron to President Paul Biya, Ambassador Riquier responded directly. “I do not believe I have seen a public letter,” he stated, adding, “You would have seen it as well.” Fangwa pressed further, inquiring if the Elysée’s silence indicated any strain or ‘clouds’ in the relationship between Paris and Yaoundé. The French diplomat maintained a measured tone in his reply.
“There was no public letter at that time. That’s it,” Riquier affirmed succinctly. He promptly assured the audience that the connection between Yaoundé and Paris remains robust. “We acknowledge that the election took place. I believe this does not hinder our continued cooperation with the authorities. I am here, and I have a Cameroonian counterpart in Paris,” he elaborated, underscoring the ongoing operational ties.
Sustained Diplomatic Engagement and National Day Exchanges
Ambassador Riquier further elaborated on the strong bilateral cooperation between France and Cameroon. He reiterated that the absence of a public congratulatory letter should not be interpreted as a disruption to the normal relations between the two nations, their respective governments, and their presidents. “I believe the President of the French Republic did not deem it necessary to issue a public letter,” Riquier continued. He emphasized that “cooperation continues,” citing regular exchanges of letters on the occasion of their respective national holidays as clear evidence of enduring diplomatic engagement.