The civil cabinet of the Cameroonian presidency committed a protocol error by sending a congratulatory telegram to the former Irish president, who has been out of office since 2025. The telegram, signed by Paul Biya, was intended to mark the Irish national holiday. However, it was sent to a former head of state, with Catherine Connolly being the current president of Ireland.
The blunder was initially broadcast on the official Facebook page of the civil cabinet before being quietly deleted once the error was noted. This deletion was done without any explanation or corrective statement, leaving Internet users to note the mistake thanks to screenshots that quickly circulated on social networks.
This incident highlights a potential lack of vigilance and updating of information within the services of the Cameroonian presidency. Indeed, presidential cabinets are generally equipped with updated databases concerning the heads of state in office. Sending an official congratulatory message requires prior verification of the identity of the serving leader.
Furthermore, this error raises questions about the procedures for reviewing and validating official documents emanating from the presidency. A telegram of this type commits the responsibility of the State and should normally be subject to several levels of control before its publication. The dissemination of an erroneous message therefore suggests a flaw in this process.
Beyond the simple error, this incident has implications for the image of rigor and professionalism of the Cameroonian civil cabinet. In a context where presidential communication is closely scrutinized, every misstep can harm institutional credibility. The question now is whether this isolated incident will lead to a reform of procedures or more cautious communication in the future. Sending congratulations to a former head of state can be seen as disrespectful to the current leader and could potentially affect diplomatic relations.
