Paul biya returning soon after extended absence

Cameroon — After nearly two months out of the public eye, government officials have broken their silence. Authorities confirm President Paul Biya is alive and set to return soon, as speculation about his health intensifies.

For the first time since his prolonged absence began on June 7, the Cameroonian government addressed concerns about the whereabouts and condition of the head of state. The statement came from René Emmanuel Sadi, Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, who addressed the nation on August 2 to dispel rumors of a power vacuum.

The government official firmly dismissed claims of a constitutional crisis, emphasizing that only the Constitutional Council can legally declare such a situation. « The Constitutional Council has not ruled to declare a vacancy in state leadership. President Paul Biya is alive and has not resigned, » he stated.

The announcement also responds to repeated demands from opposition figures who have called for recognition of a power vacuum due to the president’s extended absence. While Sadi refrained from disclosing Biya’s exact location or return date, he hinted at an imminent return. « I cannot specify when President Paul Biya will return, nor is it my place to announce it here. However, I can confirm he will be back very soon, » he told reporters.

Now 93, Biya has led Cameroon since 1982, making him the world’s longest-serving active head of state. His absence began when he left Yaoundé for what was officially described as a « brief private stay in Europe » alongside his wife, Chantal Biya. Since then, no public appearances have been recorded, an unprecedented gap in his decades-long tenure.

Despite the uncertainty, official decrees bearing Yaoundé as the signing location have continued to circulate, including several published on July 22. This has sparked online debates, with some questioning the authenticity of these documents and fueling further speculation about the president’s health and whereabouts.