Forty-nine days. That’s how long Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has spent away from his country, matching his longest absence of 2024. Departing on June 7 for what was initially described as a private trip to Europe, the 93-year-old leader has yet to make a public appearance. In newsrooms across Yaoundé, the ticking clock has only heightened concerns.
Echoes of 2024’s longest absence
The president is reportedly staying at a Geneva hotel, mirroring last year’s pattern. The government has attempted to quash speculation, with Communications Minister René Emmanuel Sadi denying on June 18 that Biya was hospitalized in a Geneva clinic.
Yet, no recent images or videos have surfaced to support this denial. The absence of visual proof only deepens the mystery.
Over the weekend, on the Droit de Réponse show aired on Equinoxe TV, an Rdpc party activist named Lucien Bidima claimed to have visited the InterContinental Geneva, where he allegedly saw a “very fit” and active president. However, no photographs or videos accompanied his statement, leaving room for skepticism about its credibility.
Chantal Biya’s growing influence and constitutional concerns
What sets this absence apart is the heightened role of First Lady Chantal Biya. Multiple reports suggest she is increasingly involved in state affairs, with her name even circulating in discussions about key appointments. Her consistent presence alongside the president during Swiss trips fuels speculation that access to the head of state now passes through her.
Adding to the unease is the fact that Cameroon still lacks a vice president.
Under the constitution, Senate President Aboubakary Abdoulaye would step in during a power vacuum. However, this contingency has never been tested in such a scenario, leaving much of the political class uneasy. Whether this absence signals a turning point or merely another fleeting chapter in Biya’s tenure remains unclear. Yet, the already tense climate offers little reassurance.
