The board of directors of Cameroon’s National Hydrocarbons Corporation (SNH), the country’s giant in gas and oil, convened in Yaoundé on Wednesday and decided to retain Adolphe Moudiki as the Managing Director. Despite being 85 years old and rumored to have fallen out of favor with President Paul Biya, Moudiki, who has led the corporation for thirty-one years, will continue in his role.
After three hours of deliberation at the presidential palace, the board members upheld Adolphe Moudiki’s position. This decision is seen as a victory for Moudiki, as many had predicted his downfall, believing he had lost influence and favor with President Biya, who is known to be his close ally.
Moudiki’s absence from the meeting did not go unnoticed. The very convening of the board meeting had its own drama. The previous week, when the meeting was initially scheduled to take place at the SNH headquarters, Moudiki ordered the gates of the corporation closed, preventing the administrators from entering.
Informed sources indicated that Moudiki’s retention is largely attributed to President Paul Biya. Before departing for Paris the same day, where he was a special guest at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, President Biya reportedly intervened to ensure Moudiki remained in his position.
Adolphe Moudiki’s continued leadership, despite his age and the swirling rumors, highlights the intricate dynamics of power within Cameroon’s political and corporate spheres. His retention signals strong presidential support and underscores the complexities of governance within the nation’s key industries.