Cameroon president returns after months-long absence
Paul Biya, Cameroon’s president since 1982 and the world’s longest-serving head of state, returned to Yaoundé on August 20 after more than two months abroad, sparking fresh debate over his ability to govern the Central African nation.
The 93-year-old leader left Cameroon on June 7, described by the presidency as a short private stay in Europe. Reports suggested he had traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, with family and close aides.
After 73 days away, Biya arrived at Yaoundé’s airport, waving to a small crowd through an open car window as he headed toward the Etoudi Palace, the country’s official presidential residence. His wife, Chantal Biya, accompanied him. Supporters of the ruling party, some donning attire bearing the president’s image, gathered at the airport to greet him in a festive atmosphere.
Biya’s frequent trips to Geneva have long fueled speculation about his health, with the government repeatedly dismissing rumors of hospitalization. On June 18, Communications Minister René Emmanuel Sadi denied claims that Biya was admitted to a Geneva clinic, responding to media reports at the time.
His prolonged absence reignited criticism from opposition figures, who warned of a governance vacuum and accused the administration of operating on autopilot. Demands for a new government and vice president have gone unanswered for months.
Defenders of the presidency downplay concerns
“In a democracy like ours, a president’s extended absence naturally raises questions. But life in the country continued as usual,” said Gilles Owono, a 30-year-old teacher among those welcoming Biya at the airport.
James Fame Ndongo, a ruling party official and Higher Education Minister, dismissed allegations of a power void in late July, stating that “wherever he is, the head of state meticulously oversees the files his team submits to him.”
Frustration lingers among critics
Despite Biya’s return, persistent absences over the past two decades have deepened public frustration. “It makes no difference whether he’s here or not,” said Prosper Nkou Mvondo, a leader of the opposition party Univers. “When he is present, he does nothing. So why bother with this performance?”
His re-election to an eighth term in October 2025 was met with deadly crackdowns on protests—authorities acknowledged “several dozen” deaths but provided no full accounting. The disputed results drew skepticism from Western diplomats.
The president’s absence has also intensified speculation about what comes next. A vice president has yet to be appointed, leaving Senate President Aboubakary Abdoulaye next in line should power become vacant until an emergency election can be held.
