Cameroonian president paul biya returns after extended absence

Paul Biya, Cameroon’s president since 1982 and the world’s longest-serving head of state, arrived back in Yaoundé on Thursday, August 20, following an absence of over two months. His prolonged departure reignited intense national debate concerning his capacity to effectively govern the nation.

The 93-year-old Cameroonian leader had departed Yaoundé on June 7 for what the presidency described as a « short private stay in Europe ». According to reports from the Cameroonian press, he was residing in Geneva, Switzerland, accompanied by his family and a select group of his closest collaborators.

After a 73-day period away from the country, Paul Biya was seen leaving Yaoundé airport, offering a wave through the partially open window of his vehicle as it transported him towards his residence, the Etoudi Palace. He was accompanied by his wife, Chantal Biya. Dozens of supporters from the presidential party, some adorned in fabric bearing the president’s image, had gathered at the airport to welcome him in a celebratory atmosphere.

President Biya’s health, particularly given his frequent stays in Geneva, has consistently been a subject of widespread speculation and rumors, some of which the government has officially denied. On June 18, Minister of Communication René Emmanuel Sadi publicly refuted claims, circulated by various media outlets, that the Cameroonian leader had been hospitalized in a Geneva clinic.

This unprecedentedly long absence revitalized discussions about perceived government inertia and drew sharp criticism from the opposition. Opponents denounced what they termed an « institutional vacuum » and described the country as being on « autopilot », especially as the appointments of a new government and a vice-president have been anticipated for several months.

«&Nbsp;Spectacle »

« For a democracy like ours, it is natural for a president’s prolonged absence to prompt questions. However, it did not alter the country’s operations; everything continued to function, » asserted Gilles Owono, a 30-year-old teacher who was present at the airport to greet the head of state.

James Fame Ndongo, a senior figure within the presidential party and Minister of Higher Education, dismissed accusations of a power vacuum in late July. He maintained that « wherever he is, the head of state meticulously reviews the files submitted to him (…) by his collaborators. »

Nevertheless, these recurring absences, a pattern observed for over two decades, continue to fuel frustration among many Cameroonians. « It makes no difference whether he is here or not. When he is present, he accomplishes nothing. Therefore, I see no need to participate in this spectacle, » stated Prosper Nkou Mvondo, leader of the opposition Univers party.

Paul Biya’s re-election to an eighth term in October 2025 had previously led to protests that were met with violent repression, with the government acknowledging « several dozen » fatalities without providing an exact count. The election results, disputed by the opposition, also elicited a degree of reservation from Western diplomatic missions.

This extended stay outside Cameroon has also intensified speculation regarding the post-Biya era, accelerating the race for his succession, which remains shrouded in uncertainty. In the absence of a named vice-president, the responsibility would fall to the President of the Senate, Aboubakary Abdoulaye, to assume an interim role should a power vacuum occur, pending the organization of a presidential election.