Cameroonian President Paul Biya, a long-standing political figure who has been out of the public eye for nearly two months, has initiated a significant shake-up within the nation’s military. This move comes amidst mounting concerns regarding his extended stay abroad.

The 93-year-old head of state appointed new officials to critical positions within the armed forces and elevated five colonels to the rank of brigadier general.

Such military reshuffles are not uncommon under President Biya’s administration, particularly during periods of intense public scrutiny or when the government perceives a vulnerability.

For instance, following an unexpected coup three years ago in neighboring Gabon, which saw the overthrow of the Bongo dynasty and sent shockwaves across the continent, Cameroon swiftly reorganized its military command structure.

Subsequently, as he pursued a contentious eighth term during last year’s presidential election, Biya again made changes among the military’s senior ranks.

Just last June, he once more promoted several members of the defense and security forces to higher grades.

The specific circumstances surrounding these latest changes have ignited considerable debate, particularly across social media platforms.

President Biya issued these distinct decrees on Monday from Geneva, Switzerland, where he has been residing since his departure from Cameroon on June 7th for what his team described as a “brief private stay.”

Within Cameroon, many have voiced criticism regarding the scarcity of information about his activities and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the duration of his overseas trip.

After last year’s elections, he pledged to appoint a new government, a promise that remains unfulfilled. Furthermore, the position of vice-president, established last April, continues to be vacant.

During his nearly 60-day absence abroad, he has signed several other decrees, including some authorizing his government to enter into loan agreements with international financial institutions.

His prolonged absence has fueled renewed speculation about his health, though the government has consistently refuted reports suggesting the head of state had been hospitalized.

Two years ago, press freedom organizations expressed outrage when it was announced that Cameroonian media were prohibited from reporting on President Biya’s health status.

Cameroon’s Minister of Communication, René Emmanuel Sadi, stated in an interview that the president was alive and would soon return to the country.

He also dismissed opposition allegations that the nonagenarian leader’s absence constituted a vacancy at the head of state, asserting that Biya continues to work from Geneva.

However, the extended absence of President Biya signifies a “flagrant institutional vacuum” for Cameroon, according to Mamadou Mota, Vice-President of the opposition CRM party.

“Executive power is exercised at the heart of the nation, not through smoke signals or telepathy from hotel suites on the other side of the world,” he declared last month.