Cameroon politics: is the presidency vacant?
In his Monday political editorial, broadcast on Radio Tiémeni Siantou’s frequencies, commentator Eric Boniface Tchouakeu examines the implications of President Paul Biya’s prolonged private visit to Europe.
In his Monday political editorial, broadcast on Radio Tiémeni Siantou (90.5 FM in Yaoundé and Bafang), commentator Eric Boniface Tchouakeu questions the implications of President Paul Biya’s extended private stay in Europe.
President Paul Biya left Cameroon on June 7, 2026, officially for a “short private stay” in Europe, according to a statement released by his Cabinet Director, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo.
The panafrican news outlet Jeune Afrique has since confirmed through multiple reports that the Cameroonian Head of State is indeed in Geneva, Switzerland—a location he has frequented since assuming power on November 6, 1982.
What began as a “short” visit has stretched indefinitely, fueling widespread speculation about the 93-year-old president’s health. Despite repeated reassurances from authorities, rumors persist, with some even suggesting a power vacuum in Cameroon.
At this juncture, it is essential to clarify a common misconception: the absence of the president from national territory does not equate to a power vacuum in Cameroon. The constitution imposes no time limit on presidential stays abroad, meaning the president may legally reside and govern remotely for the entirety of his term without violating any legal provisions.
A power vacuum in Cameroon can only be declared under three strictly defined constitutional circumstances: death, resignation, or permanent inability of the sitting president to discharge duties. Notably, the constitution provides no precise definition of “permanent inability,” leaving room for interpretation.
Therefore, concerns about a power vacuum cannot be justified solely by the president’s prolonged stay abroad.
While legally permissible, such extended absences raise legitimate questions about political ethics and governance. The delayed formation of the government following the October 12, 2025 presidential election—and the swift reinstatement of the Vice-President position—may explain why citizens are closely tracking the number of days President Biya has spent outside Cameroon since June 7, 2026.
In over 43 uninterrupted years in power, the president has never issued a major decree from abroad, underscoring the symbolic importance of his physical presence in the country.
