In his Monday political editorial, broadcast on Radio Tiémeni Siantou (90.5 FM in Yaoundé and Bafang), commentator Eric Boniface Tchouakeu questions whether President Paul Biya’s extended private visit to Europe raises concerns about a potential power vacuum in Cameroon.

The President of the Republic left Cameroon on June 7, 2026, officially for a “short private stay” in Europe, according to a statement from his Cabinet Director, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo.

Multiple reports from the pan-African publication Jeune Afrique have confirmed that the Cameroonian Head of State has been in Geneva, Switzerland—where he has maintained a residence since assuming power on November 6, 1982—for what was initially described as a brief visit but has since extended indefinitely.

This prolonged absence has fueled widespread speculation, particularly regarding the 93-year-old President’s health, despite repeated reassurances from authorities. Some observers have gone so far as to suggest the possibility of a power vacuum in Cameroon.

However, it is important to clarify that Cameroon’s constitution does not define a power vacuum based on the number of days a President spends abroad. The legal framework does not impose any time limit on presidential absences from national territory.

A power vacuum in Cameroon can only be established under three narrowly defined circumstances outlined in the constitution: death, resignation, or definitive incapacity of the sitting President. Notably, the constitution provides no further clarification on what constitutes “definitive incapacity,” leaving this critical definition open to interpretation.

Therefore, the prolonged foreign stay of a sitting President cannot, in itself, justify claims of a power vacuum in Cameroon.

In fact, the President could legally reside in Geneva and govern Cameroon remotely throughout his entire term without violating any legal provisions. The primary concern here is not legality but rather political ethics and public perception.

The delayed formation of the government following the October 12, 2025 presidential election, as well as the prolonged absence of a Vice President—despite the swift reinstatement of this position—may explain why some are now meticulously tracking the number of days President Biya has spent abroad since June 7, 2026.

Over his 43 years in uninterrupted power, the President has never signed or issued any major decree from abroad.