Cameroon’s President Paul Biya is currently under the spotlight due to his long absence from public engagements. Despite officials claiming that the 91-year-old leader is in “excellent” health, speculation about his well-being continues to swirl. The last time he was seen in public was on September 8, when he participated in a China-Africa forum in Beijing. Since then, he has missed several key events, including the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, the director of Cameroon’s civil cabinet, recently addressed concerns during a statement, defending Biya’s activities by stating that the president is conducting his duties from Geneva and has not departed the city since his trip to Beijing. Ayolo criticized those spreading rumors about the president’s health and rumored passing, labeling them as “mischievous individuals.”
This reassurance from the government comes amid growing demands from opposition parties and civil society for transparency regarding Biya’s health status and whereabouts. Notably, this isn’t the first instance of public concern regarding his absences; Biya has often been dubbed the “absentee president” due to the significant amount of time he spends away, particularly in Switzerland. A 2018 investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) noted that since becoming president in 1982, Biya has reportedly spent about four and a half years traveling abroad, frequently choosing the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva as his base.
In addition, government spokesperson René Sadi assured the public that Biya would return to Cameroon “in the next few days,” dismissing health-related worries as “pure fantasy.” Having ruled for 42 years, Biya stands as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. His tenure has overseen a transition from a one-party system to a multi-party system, yet it has not been without significant issues, including rampant corruption and the reversal of democratic gains, notably the removal of presidential term limits in 2008. As the country faces a secessionist conflict that has resulted in over 6,000 deaths in the western regions, many are now left questioning what Biya’s future holds and how it will affect Cameroon’s political landscape.
