GENEVA, Switzerland – A public spat on social media has pulled back the curtain on the opulent lifestyle of Cameroon’s ruling Biya family, revealing their deep ties to Switzerland and raising fresh questions about their wealth in a country plagued by poverty. The controversy, centered around Brenda Biya, daughter of Cameroon’s long-serving President Paul Biya, has sparked outrage and scrutiny both at home and abroad.
According to a recent report by Swissinfo, Brenda Biya, 27, was convicted in Geneva for “usurpation of title” after falsely claiming to be a lawyer during an online dispute with a Cameroonian singer living in Belgium. The singer retaliated by exposing details of Brenda’s luxurious life in Switzerland, including her residence in a high-end Geneva neighborhood and ownership of multiple properties across the city. Court documents revealed that Brenda, who has lived in Switzerland for over a decade, owns at least two apartments, with monthly rents for similar properties in the area exceeding CHF 10,000 (approximately $10,000 USD).
The online quarrel also shed light on the Biya family’s extensive Swiss connections. President Paul Biya, who has ruled Cameroon for 42 years, is a frequent visitor to Geneva, often staying at the lavish InterContinental Hotel. Sources estimate that his entourage’s hotel bills during these visits have cost millions of Swiss francs over the years, funded by Cameroon’s public coffers. The family’s wealth is further evidenced by their real estate holdings, with properties linked to the Biyas scattered across Switzerland’s most exclusive locales.
Cameroonians, many of whom live on less than $2 a day, have expressed fury over the revelations. “While our people struggle for basic necessities, the Biya family lives like royalty in Europe,” said a Yaoundé-based activist, who requested anonymity for safety reasons. The scandal has reignited calls for transparency and accountability, with critics pointing to Cameroon’s entrenched corruption and mismanagement under Biya’s regime.
Switzerland’s role as a haven for the Biya family’s wealth has also drawn criticism. Despite international pressure to crack down on illicit financial flows, Swiss authorities have faced accusations of turning a blind eye to questionable funds parked in their banks and real estate markets. “Switzerland must stop enabling the plunder of Africa’s resources,” said a spokesperson for a Swiss anti-corruption NGO.
The conviction of Brenda Biya, though a minor legal matter, has become a flashpoint for broader discontent. In Cameroon, where dissent is often met with repression. The controversy has also fuelled discussions about the need for systemic change in a country grappling with economic hardship and a protracted conflict in Southern Cameroons.
As the Biya family continues to enjoy their Swiss retreat, the Cameroonian people are left demanding answers: How can a nation so rich in resources leave its citizens so poor, while its leaders live in splendour abroad? For now, the online feud has done more than expose a family’s extravagance—it has ignited a renewed push for justice and reform.
Source: Swissinfo.ch
