Cameroon finds itself at the center of growing speculation and concern as questions swirl about the whereabouts and well-being of President Paul Biya. Civic groups and opposition parties have openly raised doubts, not only about his current location but also about his ability to continue leading Africa’s oldest serving head of state.
At 93 years old, President Biya, who secured a controversial re-election in 2025, has become a symbol of enduring political leadership. Yet his prolonged absence—now approaching two months—has shifted public focus from governance to survival. He has not been seen in public since departing Yaoundé on June 7, reportedly traveling to Geneva, Switzerland, under the guise of a “private visit.” This marks an unprecedented milestone in his 44-year presidency: never before has he spent more than 50 consecutive days abroad for non-official reasons.
“It’s no exaggeration to say Cameroon operates upside down. We’re governed by the world’s oldest president—yet he spends more time in foreign hotels than in his own palace,” observed a leading local newspaper, capturing the collective frustration. The irony deepens as official presidential decrees continue to be issued in Biya’s name, including a major military reshuffle announced on August 3, signed from Geneva and appointing key defense officials.
The sequence of events raises critical questions: Who is truly steering Cameroon’s affairs in the president’s absence? What authority validates these decrees issued from abroad? And most importantly, how long can a nation function with its leader physically detached from daily governance?
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