In a landmark moment in Cameroonian political history, Bello Bouba Maigari, one of the country’s most enduring political figures, has officially resigned from his ministerial post, drawing the curtain on a government career that has spanned nearly five decades.
The announcement came on Wednesday August 6, 2025, through a brief statement issued by Maigari’s office, confirming his immediate departure from public service and signaling his full withdrawal from governmental affairs.
“This is a personal decision made in full conscience and with deep reflection,” the statement read. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have served the Republic for so many years, and I leave with pride in what has been accomplished.”
A Political Giant Steps Down
Maigari, 77, has been a fixture in Cameroon’s political landscape since the 1970s. A former Prime Minister under President Ahmadou Ahidjo from 1982 to 1983, he remained a key political player even after a change in regime. Under President Paul Biya, he served in several high-profile cabinet positions, most recently as Minister of State in charge of Transport.
His resignation marks the end of an era, not only for his political party, the National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), but also for a generation of Cameroonian politics that he helped shape during some of the country’s most turbulent and transformative years.
The Last of the Old Guard
Often described as pragmatic, resilient, and tactically discreet, Maigari weathered multiple shifts in political tides. Despite stepping down as Prime Minister in the early 1980s, he later reconciled with the Biya administration, joining the government once again in the late 1990s in a move that surprised many political observers.
Resignation Letter Announced by Prime Minister's Office.His presence in successive governments was seen by some as a stabilizing force, while critics often accused him of compromising political opposition for personal or party gain. Nevertheless, his longevity in public office remains unparalleled in modern Cameroonian politics.
Legacy and Unanswered Questions
Though he did not offer specific reasons for his departure, political analysts speculate that Maigari’s resignation could be linked to growing calls for generational renewal in Cameroonian politics. Others point to increasing pressure from within the UNDP for a leadership transition.
In recent years, Maigari had taken a noticeably lower profile in national debates, prompting speculation about his health and political future. Today’s resignation confirms what many had quietly anticipated: the end of a political era.
As tributes pour in from allies and former rivals alike, one question looms large: what will become of the UNDP without its longtime figurehead, and who will rise to fill the vacuum left by a man who spent nearly 50 years navigating and surviving the complex landscape of Cameroonian governance?
Whatever the future holds, Bello Bouba Maigari’s departure is a moment of rare finality in a system where political exits are often ambiguous. This time, the door appears firmly shut.
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