Could Biya be anticipating an eventual death of Marafa Yaya?

The State of health of the former Cameroonian Minister of territorial Administration sentenced to 25 years in prison for "intellectual complicity of embezzlement" and thus considered by the international community as a political prisoner has become a major concern to all. Information from trusted quarters has revealed that he requires for the first time urgent treatment thus the need to evacuate him to the West because of his medical situation.

According to the daily Le Messager in Douala, in response to a request made by a relative of the former close associate of President Paul Biya, the Cameroon Minister of Justice and keeper of the seals, Laurent Marie Esso, would have suggested that it would be "no problem" for him to be sent out of the territory for health reasons, if his local doctors 'are still not saying anything.

At the end of June, after he had already been admitted for a week, the local press had reported general fatigue to which stomatal and Visual disorders and cerebral malaria were added.

"I have knowledge of the diagnosis from a renowned cardiologist who revealed that Mr Marafa has a heart condition and should undergo examinations and treatment which are not available in Cameroon, and certainly not in prison" as already suggested late March by law professor Diva Kofélé Kalé, one of the lawyers of the prisoner.

Now, we know that Cameroonian hospitals have neither the expertise nor adequate facilities for effective treatment of kidney problems. Many patients, like Charles Ateba Eyéné writer who had been unable to raise money for his evacuation, died due to lack of dialysis.

Paul Biya cannot ignore the fragile health of Mr Marafa who knew him for nearly two decades and the harsh conditions of detention - in a blind and 3 m² wet cell which contribute today to increase the physical distress.