Cameroon: government addresses president biya’s prolonged absence

“The President is alive,” affirmed René Emmanuel Sadi, the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson. He also announced that President Paul Biya’s return to Cameroon is imminent, though he did not specify an exact date for his arrival.

This official statement marks the first direct response from Cameroonian authorities since President Biya’s prolonged absence began. It comes amidst growing calls from opposition figures for institutional clarity and inquiries into the president’s current capacity to fulfill his duties.

“There is no power vacuum,” Minister Sadi stressed. He unequivocally stated that Paul Biya has neither resigned nor ceased to hold his presidential office.

Government refutes claims of power vacuum

Minister Sadi criticized opposition figures for what he described as a “biased interpretation” of the nation’s Fundamental Law. He argued that constitutional provisions demand a “more rigorous and objective” application.

He specifically challenged the assertion that the Constitutional Council had determined a vacancy at the head of state. “The Constitutional Council has not issued any declaration of a power vacuum,” Sadi asserted.

When pressed for a definitive return date for the president, René Emmanuel Sadi admitted he could not provide a precise timetable. “I cannot tell you exactly when President Paul Biya will return,” he stated, but reassured that his arrival would be “very soon.”

President Paul Biya’s absence has fueled weeks of speculation across Cameroon, set against a political backdrop where the opposition continuously raises questions about the continuity of power. Authorities have yet to offer further details regarding the head of state’s current location or the rationale behind his extended stay abroad.