Cameroon's President Paul Biya has been outside the country for two months, an extended absence that has drawn criticism and raised concerns about his health and a potential power vacuum in the Central African nation.
Biya, 93, who has led Cameroon since 1982, began his eighth term in office after winning a disputed election in November. He left the country on June 7 for what his office described as a "brief private stay in Europe." This trip has become one of his longest sojourns abroad.
Speculation about the president's health has been ongoing, as he frequently spends considerable time in Europe, particularly France and Switzerland, while governance is handled by key party officials and family members.
Cameroon's constitution does not explicitly forbid a president from leaving the country for extended periods. However, without an appointed vice president, an oversight Biya controls, the opposition contends the country is operating on "auto pilot."
Opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who was a presidential runner-up in the November election and a former ally of Biya, stated that a perception of "all is not well" with Biya is widespread in Cameroon, and his absence has fueled opposition anger. Tchiroma suggested that Biya's prolonged stay in Switzerland exacerbates concerns about his legitimacy and his efforts to retain power.
Governance and Challenges
Biya's nearly half-century in power has seen mixed results. The country faces armed insurgencies from Boko Haram in the north and separatists in the west, alongside a stagnant economy, contributing to disillusionment among the youth.
Wilson Tamfuh, a professor of Public and International Law at the University of Dschang, likened Cameroon's situation to a "seriously sick" human body. Tamfuh noted that even if Biya remains physically capable, his health issues appear to be impacting his leadership, evidenced by consistent reshuffles that largely recirculate the same individuals within ministries.
Biya's re-election in 2025 prompted widespread protests, resulting in at least four deaths and highlighting tensions between the predominantly young population and its aging leader.
On Monday, Biya initiated a reshuffle of the top military leadership, replacing commanders in four of the country's five joint military regions and promoting several senior officers. While no official reason was provided, the changes followed the death of one commander and the retirement of another.
President Biya assumed power following the resignation of Cameroon's first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo, who served from 1960 to 1982. A constitutional amendment in 2008 removed term limits. Biya has now governed for longer than a significant portion of the population has been alive; over 70% of Cameroon's nearly 30 million people are under the age of 35. If he completes his current term, Biya would be nearly 100 years old upon leaving office.