When Washington chooses to remain silent on matters of democracy, a vacuum is created that authoritarians and their supporters are quick to fill, particularly evident in Africa where democracy is increasingly scarce yet a constant subject of debate. The perception that the U.S. has opted out of this critical discourse, as under the Trump administration, is actively challenged by recent developments across the continent.

A prime example unfolds in Cameroon, where Paul Biya has presided as President since 1982. Last year, at the age of 92, Biya was controversially declared the winner of deeply flawed elections, securing a mandate for an unprecedented eighth term. For decades, both Cameroonians and international observers have expressed profound frustration with Biya's unwavering commitment to retaining power at all costs, coupled with deep anxieties about the nature of any eventual leadership transition. Despite holding regular elections, these polls are widely considered neither free nor fair, leaving most citizens without any living memory of a rule-governed transfer of power. Ambitious hopefuls have patiently waited for decades for an opportunity to assume the top position in a nation where power and economic access are highly centralized, raising concerns that a future power struggle could easily devolve into violence.

Despite his infrequent public appearances, President Biya and his inner circle recently demonstrated a renewed resolve to maintain control. Last weekend, both houses of Cameroon's parliament swiftly passed legislation to establish the post of deputy president, a position that has not existed since 1972. This new deputy is to be appointed directly by Biya, rather than elected, and would serve out the remainder of Biya's seven-year term if the President becomes incapacitated. This arrangement significantly departs from previous constitutional provisions, which mandated that the president of the Senate would briefly assume the presidency in the event of a vacancy, solely to organize new elections. Now, instead of allowing voters to determine the post-Biya era, measures are firmly in place to ensure that Biya's preferences continue to dictate the country's leadership even after his departure.

Cameroonian citizens, long accustomed to their leadership's autocratic tactics, were largely unsurprised by a widely circulated online hoax claiming the president's son had been named to the deputy position. Among the most vocal online commentators were prolific social media users who consistently attribute Africa's challenges to shadowy 'western' forces and dismiss the very concept of democracy as a discredited sham. As one commentator put it, “this is the kind of democracy that the West approves for Africa.” This particular subset of commentators frequently lionizes figures such as Burkina Faso's Russian-backed junta leader, Ibrahim Traore.

Ibrahim Traore, who recently told journalists that “democracy is slavery,” embodies an authoritarian approach not dissimilar to Biya's, albeit presented in a more youthful and media-friendly persona. Traore, known for his red beret, has disbanded political parties and abandoned any mention of future elections. Despite his ostensible reason for seizing power being to combat radical extremists, he has neither succeeded in driving them out nor protected civilians from atrocities committed by these extremists or his own forces. Nevertheless, the unfolding authoritarian spectacle in Cameroon is conveniently used by some to bolster support for the autocratic regime in Burkina Faso.

The instruction by Secretary of State Marco Rubio for U.S. diplomats to refrain from commenting on the integrity of elections abroad signified a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy, framing disinterest in democracy and governance as a virtue. This particular interpretation of realism demands not only collaboration with whoever holds power, regardless of how they obtained it, but also a deliberate omission of any comment on manipulation, intimidation, and electoral fraud. However, the recent events in Cameroon and Burkina Faso clearly demonstrate how readily such silence is interpreted as approval. This policy choice inadvertently empowers others to assign motives and preferences to the United States that serve their own authoritarian agendas, fundamentally undermining democratic principles across the region.