Cameroon’s president Paul Biya’s extended european stay sparks concerns

What began as a brief private trip to Europe has stretched into an uncharacteristically long absence. Since departing Cameroon on June 7, 2026, alongside his wife, President Paul Biya has yet to return, marking over 40 days away from the country he has led for over four decades. With no official explanation provided to reassure citizens—despite his re-election in November 2025 for another seven-year term—the silence has fueled speculation and growing frustration.

This prolonged absence is hardly unprecedented for the 93-year-old leader, whose frequent trips abroad, particularly to Switzerland, have become a defining feature of his presidency. Reports suggest health concerns may be a factor, as Biya has long favored medical treatment in Europe over domestic facilities—a pattern not uncommon among some African leaders but one shrouded in secrecy in Cameroon. Without transparency on his condition, rumors proliferate, and public unease deepens.

Who really leads Cameroon?

With Biya spending more time abroad than in Yaoundé, questions about his capacity to govern intensify. Critics argue the country operates on autopilot, pointing to the lack of a new government since his November 2025 inauguration. Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute’s cabinet, in place since January 2019, has now served an entire presidential term without change—a hallmark of Biya’s leadership style. Even the creation of a vice-presidential role, revived via constitutional amendments in April 2026, has yet to see a nominee.

Political tensions rise as frustration grows

The silence has emboldened opposition voices. Deputy Jean Michel Nintcheu, for instance, has urged the Constitutional Council to declare a power vacuum, prompting quick rejections from the ruling party’s propaganda chief, who declared, “The Lion has not left.” Yet behind the defiant rhetoric, the message is clear: dissenters should move along, as business continues as usual in Cameroon under Biya’s rule.

This is a nation where records are set—not least for longevity. Cameroon holds the unenviable distinction of having both the oldest sitting president and, reportedly, the oldest national police chief, Martin Mbarga Nguélé, who turned 90 on July 1, 2026. Such milestones underscore a government that values stability over renewal, even as its citizens grow restless.

A presidency defined by absence

Whether due to health or strategy, Biya’s extended stays abroad have reshaped governance in Cameroon. With no vice-president appointed and key institutions unchanged, the country functions with a leadership vacuum that few dare to fill. As frustrations mount, the government’s response remains the same: ignore the noise. After all, in Cameroon, the message is always the same—“Move along. There’s nothing to see here.”