President Paul Biya finally returned to Cameroon on Thursday, August 20, after an extended stay in Switzerland that lasted 74 days. Citizens eagerly awaiting his arrival were met with a fleeting glimpse of his hand, visible through the partially lowered window of the presidential limousine. This brief appearance sparked widespread discussion about the deeper meaning behind such a gesture in the realm of politics.
Cameroonians had anticipated seeing their long-serving leader at the foot of the aircraft gangway, as is customary, shaking hands with the prominent figures of the Etoudi Palace. Instead, they were shown only a hand. In political discourse, this is far from trivial. The symbolism of the hand in politics can be understood through four distinct levels: the hand that kills, the hand that cheats, the hand that blesses, and the hand that governs.
Degree 1: The hand that kills
In ancient Rome, the gladiatorial arena fell silent, awaiting a single gesture: Caesar’s hand. A raised thumb meant life; a lowered thumb, death. On Thursday, August 20, in Yaoundé, the dynamic was reversed. It was no longer the Emperor’s hand dictating the gladiators’ fate, but the gladiator’s hand that needed to demonstrate to the Empire that he was still alive. Cameroonians witnessed President Biya’s hand offering a salute, serving as proof of his safe return.
Degree 2: The hand that cheats
When physical agility wanes, one might resort to trickery with the hand. In 1986, Argentine football legend Diego Maradona famously scored against England with his hand, dubbing it the
