For 49 consecutive days, President Paul Biya has remained outside Cameroon, matching the longest absence recorded in 2024. Departing on June 7 for what was initially described as a private trip to Europe, the 93-year-old leader has not made a single public appearance since. In newsrooms across Yaoundé, the silence surrounding his whereabouts is fueling both curiosity and concern.
Echoes of a familiar pattern
Reports suggest the Cameroonian president is currently staying at a hotel in Geneva, much like his previous visit last year. The government moved swiftly to dismiss speculation, with Communications Minister René Emmanuel Sadi categorically denying on June 18 that Paul Biya was hospitalized in a Geneva clinic.
Yet, without any recent images or official footage to confirm his presence, public skepticism persists. During a Sunday broadcast on Droit de Réponse on Equinoxe TV, an RDPC party activist, Lucien Bidima, claimed to have visited the InterContinental Geneva and personally observed the president in good health. However, no visual evidence—photos or videos—was provided to support his account, leaving many unconvinced it was anything more than a calculated PR move.
Chantal Biya’s rising influence and constitutional gaps
This time, the First Lady, Chantal Biya, appears to be playing a more central role. Multiple reports indicate her growing involvement in state affairs, with her name even surfacing in discussions about key government appointments. Her consistent presence alongside the president during his Swiss stays has sparked speculation that access to the head of state may now be mediated through her.
Adding to the unease is the fact that Cameroon still lacks a vice president. Should the presidency fall vacant, the constitution dictates that the Senate President, Aboubakary Abdoulaye, would assume interim leadership—a scenario that has never been tested under these circumstances. The political class is divided over whether this prolonged absence signals a potential shift or merely another fleeting chapter in Paul Biya’s extended tenure. One thing is clear: the already fragile political climate shows no signs of calming.
