Cameroon’s paul biya returns to Yaoundé after extended absence

Paul Biya, Cameroon’s president since 1982 and the world’s longest-serving head of state, arrived back in Yaoundé on Thursday, August 20, following an absence exceeding two months. His prolonged departure reignited intense debate nationwide concerning his ongoing capacity to govern the country.

The 93-year-old Cameroonian leader had departed Yaoundé on June 7 for what the presidency described as a «short private stay in Europe». According to reports from the Cameroonian press, he was residing in Geneva, Switzerland, accompanied by his family and a select group of close collaborators.

After 73 days away from the nation, Paul Biya exited the Yaoundé airport, offering a wave through the slightly open window of his vehicle as it transported him towards his official residence, the Etoudi Palace. He was accompanied by his wife, Chantal Biya. Several dozen activists from the presidential party, some adorned in fabric bearing the president’s likeness, had gathered at the airport for his festive reception.

The health of Paul Biya, who frequently visits Geneva, is a constant subject of speculation, often met with official government denials. On June 18, Minister of Communication René Emmanuel Sadi specifically refuted media reports claiming the Cameroonian leader had been hospitalized in a Geneva clinic.

This unusually long absence intensified discussions about the perceived inertia within the Cameroonian government and drew sharp criticism from the opposition. Opponents denounced an «institutional vacuum» and a nation operating on «autopilot,» particularly as the appointment of a new government and a vice-president had been anticipated for several months.

«Spectacle»

«For a democracy like ours, it’s natural for a president’s prolonged absence to raise questions. However, this has not altered the country’s operations; it has continued to function,» stated Gilles Owono, a 30-year-old teacher present at the airport to greet the head of state.

James Fame Ndongo, a senior figure within the presidential party and Minister of Higher Education, dismissed accusations of a power vacuum in late July. He asserted that «wherever he is, the head of state meticulously reviews the files submitted to him (…) by his collaborators.»

Nevertheless, these repeated absences, spanning over two decades, continue to fuel frustration among many Cameroonians. «It makes no difference whether he is here or not. When he is present, he accomplishes nothing. Therefore, I don’t believe it’s necessary to participate in this spectacle,» criticized Prosper Nkou Mvondo, leader of the opposition Univers party.

Paul Biya’s re-election to an eighth term in October 2025 had previously led to protests that were violently suppressed, with the government acknowledging «several dozens» of deaths without providing an exact toll. The election results, contested by the opposition, were met with some reservations from Western diplomatic missions.

This extended stay outside Cameroon has also fueled speculation about the post-Biya era, accelerating the race for succession, which remains shrouded in uncertainty. Until a vice-president is appointed, the Senate President, Aboubakary Abdoulaye, would constitutionally assume leadership in the event of a power vacancy, pending the organization of a presidential election.