By midday on Thursday, August 20, President Paul Biya, accompanied by his wife Chantal and their delegation, was airborne. Their private Boeing jet, registered P4-CLA, had departed Geneva, with an anticipated late afternoon touchdown in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon.

Supporters of the ruling RDPC party have been extensively mobilized, orchestrating a notably enthusiastic reception for the head of state upon his return to Cameroon.

Indeed, Cameroonian authorities are meticulously staging this presidential return. A prime example is the public media group CRTV’s extraordinary deployment of 200 personnel, ensuring comprehensive live radio and television coverage of what has been elevated into a significant national event. Both the aircraft’s landing and the entire 22-kilometer journey of the presidential motorcade from the airport to the palace will be broadcast and analyzed across their channels.

Over 70 days of absence from the country

This return flight, for which neither the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon nor the government issued any official communication, marks the end of precisely 74 days of the Cameroonian head of state’s absence from the nation. This record period away fueled a surge of speculation regarding his condition, particularly his health. Some reports suggested severe illness and hospitalization following knee surgery, while others indicated routine medical consultations.

The people of Cameroon are now keenly anticipating whether their head of state has utilized this extended period to advance key commitments, such as the formation of a new government, which was announced eight months ago but remains pending. Furthermore, there is considerable expectation regarding the appointment to the newly established vice-presidential post, a position created last April.