Prolonged absence abroad raises questions about presidential authority

The Head of State left Cameroon on June 7, 2026, for what authorities described as a brief private stay in Europe, according to a statement from his Cabinet Director Samuel Mvondo Ayolo.

Government communications have since confirmed the President remains in Geneva, Switzerland, where he has maintained a residence since first taking office on November 6, 1982. While described as temporary initially, this extended absence has fueled widespread speculation about the President’s health, particularly given his age of 93.

Despite repeated reassurances from authorities, rumors persist—some even suggesting a power vacuum in Cameroon. However, constitutional provisions clarify that presidential absence abroad does not constitute grounds for declaring a power vacuum.

The Cameroonian Constitution specifies that a power vacuum can only be declared in three narrowly defined scenarios: the President’s death, resignation, or permanent inability to perform duties. Notably, the Constitution does not define what constitutes an irreversible inability that would trigger such a declaration.

Therefore, the mere fact of an extended foreign stay cannot legally justify claims of a power vacuum. The President could, in theory, continue governing remotely throughout his term without violating any legal provisions—though questions of political ethics would naturally arise.

The prolonged delay in forming a new government following the October 12, 2025 presidential election, coupled with the rushed reintroduction of the Vice-President position, may explain why some observers are now obsessively tracking the number of days President Biya has spent abroad since June 7, 2026.

Over his 43-year tenure, the President has never signed or issued any major decree from abroad. This unprecedented situation raises legitimate concerns about transparency and governance continuity.