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Where is Cameroon’s president Paul Biya after two months abroad?

By nigerreport / August 5, 2026

The whereabouts of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya remain shrouded in mystery, sparking widespread speculation. Civil society groups and opposition parties are openly questioning whether the 93-year-old leader, recently re-elected in a disputed vote, is still alive. As the world’s oldest serving head of state, his prolonged absence from the capital, Yaoundé, has fueled growing concerns.

Since departing for a supposedly “private stay” in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 7, Biya has spent more than fifty consecutive days abroad. This marks an unprecedented departure from his decades-long presidency, where extended trips outside the country have been rare. Observers point out the irony of a nation led by a president who spends more time in foreign lands than in his own presidential palace. “Cameroon operates in a reality where normalcy has been turned on its head,” noted one political commentator.

Despite Biya’s absence, official state business continues unabated. On August 3, a series of presidential decrees—allegedly signed in Geneva—announced a major military reshuffle, appointing key figures to critical positions. The move raises troubling questions not only about the symbolism of such decisions but also about who is truly pulling the strings behind the scenes.

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