Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has returned to the country after an unexplained absence of about 10 weeks, following a private stay in Geneva that fuelled speculation about his health and raised questions over the continuity of government.
The 93-year-old Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, travelled to Geneva in June for what his office described as a “short private stay.”
However, his prolonged absence soon became a major subject of public debate, with newspaper reports raising concerns about the exercise of presidential powers and the country’s political stability.
Speculation intensified amid rumours about Biya’s health, prompting an opposition lawmaker to ask the Constitutional Council to declare the presidency vacant.
In an apparent attempt to reassure the public that the government remained functional, Biya signed several presidential decrees during his absence, while his official social media accounts continued to issue statements in his name.
Although his return is expected to ease immediate concerns, questions over succession and institutional continuity are likely to persist, particularly as Cameroon has no vice president.
Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
