On May 3, 2026, the inauguration of the Omar Bongo Congress Hall in Libreville was scheduled to be attended by the Cameroonian Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute, representing the Head of State, Paul Biya. However, this trip was canceled at the last minute, raising questions and speculation. While rumors pointed to a possible intervention by the Secretary-General of the Presidency (SGPR), Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the facts seem to indicate a simple, but embarrassing, coordination failure.
The confirmation of the mission came late, only around 2 p.m., when the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency contacted the Prime Minister. Joseph Dion Ngute's services then launched a race against time to find an available aircraft. Despite intensive efforts, no immediate solution was found. This difficulty forced the Civil Cabinet to take alternative measures, including asking the Cameroonian ambassador to Gabon to ensure the country's representation at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's teams persevered in their search for a solution. Late at night, an option was finally identified thanks to the national company Camair-Co, with a flight scheduled to depart from Yaoundé-Nsimalen at 6:30 a.m. the next morning. The Prime Minister and his delegation arrived at the airport, ready to board. Joseph Dion Ngute was even seated in the VIP lounge, awaiting imminent departure.
However, at 6:20 a.m., a few minutes before the scheduled departure time, the Prime Minister's services received a message from the Civil Cabinet announcing the definitive cancellation of the trip. The delegation then left the airport without being able to carry out the mission. This imbroglio fueled speculation, but the available information suggests that Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh was not involved in the organization of this trip, which was the sole responsibility of the Civil Cabinet.
The cancellation of Joseph Dion Ngute's trip to Libreville highlights a lack of fluidity in communication between the various State services. The message formalizing the cancellation seems to have been transmitted late to the Prime Minister's services, thus explaining the delegation's presence at the airport despite the cancellation decision already taken. This incident underscores the importance of effective coordination to avoid such setbacks, especially when it comes to representing Cameroon at international events.
