Midday on Thursday, August 20, President Paul Biya, accompanied by First Lady Chantal Biya and their delegation, was airborne aboard a private Boeing jet, registered P4 – CLA. Their journey commenced in Geneva, with an anticipated late afternoon landing in Yaoundé, marking a significant moment for African current affairs.

Sources indicate that supporters of the ruling RDPC party have been extensively mobilized, preparing to extend an exceptionally enthusiastic welcome to the head of state upon his return to Cameroon.

The Cameroonian authorities are orchestrating this presidential return with a notable sense of pageantry. A prime example is the extraordinary deployment by CRTV, the national public media group, which has assigned 200 of its staff members to provide live radio and television coverage of this event. The landing of the presidential plane and the subsequent 22-kilometer motorcade route from the airport to the palace will be broadcast and commentated across these public channels, highlighting its importance in continent news.

Over 70 days away from the nation

This return flight, about which neither the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon nor the government issued any official communication, concludes an exact 74-day absence of the Cameroonian head of state from his country. This record duration away sparked a flurry of rumors concerning his condition, particularly his health. Some speculated about severe illness and hospitalization following knee surgery, while others suggested routine medical consultations.

The people of Cameroon are eagerly awaiting to see if their head of state has utilized this extended period to advance some of his unfulfilled promises. Among these are the formation of a new government, which was announced eight months ago but remains pending, and the designation of an individual to the newly created vice-president position, established last April. These are key aspects of African governance that citizens hope to see addressed.