Paul Biya’s extended absence fuels growing frustrations in Cameroon

The initially announced “brief private stay in Europe” has stretched into an unprecedented absence. Since departing Cameroon on 7 June 2026 alongside his wife, President Paul Biya has yet to return. More than 40 days without a word from the head of state has left citizens in the dark, particularly as no official statement has clarified his prolonged absence—despite his re-election last November to a fresh seven-year term. Such behavior, though hardly surprising, only deepens public unease.

Frustration mounts among Cameroonians over the president’s long absences

For over four decades, President Biya has frequently traveled abroad, often spending extended periods in European luxury hotels rather than at the Etoudi Palace. These trips are widely believed to be tied to the aging leader’s health, as few details emerge from his medical visits in Switzerland. In a nation where state secrets cloak even the president’s well-being, speculation flourishes while official silence persists. When public queries arise, the machinery of repression typically steps in to silence dissent.

A recurring question haunts Cameroonian discourse: who truly governs the country? Critics argue the nation operates on autopilot, and their skepticism may not be unfounded. How can a president fulfill duties while spending more time abroad than at home, disconnected from citizens’ concerns? Now 93 and visibly frail, doubts persist about President Biya’s capacity to govern. His latest re-election, secured after sidelining credible rivals, may prove to be one term too many. Yet Biya remains unmoved, clinging to power as if destined to leave this world still seated on his throne, commanding a state funeral.

Frustration is reaching a boiling point. Opposition voices, including lawmaker Jean Michel Nintcheu, have openly called for the Constitutional Council to declare a power vacuum. The ruling party swiftly dismissed such claims, declaring, “Power is not vacant. The Lion has not left.” The message is unambiguous: those questioning the president’s prolonged absences should move along—there is nothing to see. All is well in the best of all possible worlds, to echo Voltaire’s irony.

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