The political editorial aired on Radio Tiémeni Siantou on July 20, 2026, questions the President’s extended absence from Cameroon. While the Head of State left the country on June 7, 2026, for what was announced as a brief private trip to Europe, the duration of his stay has sparked debate.

The Cameroonian presidency confirmed his departure through a statement from the Director of the Cabinet, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, describing the trip as a personal visit.

Reports by international outlets, including a well-known pan-African publication, have since revealed that President Paul Biya has been in Geneva, Switzerland—a city where he has maintained a residence since taking office in 1982.

What began as a short-term stay has stretched into weeks, fueling speculation about the 93-year-old leader’s health despite official reassurances. Some observers even suggest the possibility of a power vacuum in Cameroon.

However, constitutional experts clarify that Cameroon’s power vacancy can only be established under three strict conditions: the President’s death, resignation, or definitive incapacitation. Notably, the constitution does not impose any time limit on stays abroad for the Head of State.

Moreover, the term “definitive incapacitation” remains undefined in legal terms, leaving room for interpretation. This ambiguity means that a prolonged absence abroad does not, in itself, constitute grounds for declaring a power vacuum.

A president could, in theory, reside abroad for the entire duration of their term without violating the law, though this raises ethical and political concerns.

The delay in forming a new government following the October 12, 2025 presidential election—and the rushed reinstatement of the Vice-President position—may explain why some are closely tracking the number of days President Biya has spent outside the country since June 7.

In over 43 years of uninterrupted rule, the President has never signed or published a major decree from abroad, underscoring the unusual nature of his current absence.