Cameroon on edge as president biya’s 49-day absence sparks speculation

For 49 consecutive days, President Paul Biya has remained outside Cameroon, matching his longest absence recorded in 2024. The 93-year-old leader departed on June 7 for what was initially described as a private trip to Europe, yet he has not made any public appearances since. In Yaoundé newsrooms, where the countdown continues, unease is growing by the hour.

Echoes of 2024: A familiar yet unsettling pattern

Reports suggest that President Biya is currently staying at a Geneva hotel, much like last year. The government moved swiftly to dismiss rumors, with Communications Minister René Emmanuel Sadi denying on June 18 that the president was hospitalized in a Geneva clinic.

Yet, no recent images or footage have emerged to substantiate this denial. The absence of visual proof only deepens the mystery surrounding his whereabouts and condition.

On Sunday, during an appearance on Droit de Réponse on Equinoxe TV, an RDPC activist, Lucien Bidima, claimed to have visited the InterContinental Geneva hotel personally. He described the president as “in excellent shape” and fully engaged. However, his statement lacked any accompanying visual evidence—no photographs, no videos. Many interpret this as yet another attempt at damage control.

Chantal Biya’s rising influence and constitutional concerns

What sets this absence apart is the increasingly prominent role of First Lady Chantal Biya. Multiple sources indicate her growing involvement in state affairs, with her name even surfacing in connection with key government appointments. Her consistent presence beside the president during his Swiss stays fuels speculation that access to the head of state now depends on her.

The absence of a vice president further complicates the situation. Should power become vacant, the Senate President, Aboubakary Abdoulaye, is constitutionally mandated to step in. This provision, however, has never been tested in such a scenario, leaving many in the political sphere deeply concerned. Whether this prolonged absence signals a turning point or merely another fleeting chapter in Paul Biya’s tenure remains uncertain. Yet, with tensions already high in recent months, the atmosphere offers little reassurance.