Cameroon’s president draws concern and criticism by staying abroad for 2 months

Cameroon's President Paul Biya, aged 93, has been abroad for two months, sparking concerns about his health and a potential power vacuum. Biya, who has led Cameroon since 1982, began his eighth term after a disputed election in November. His prolonged absence in Europe, a common occurrence, has led the opposition to describe the country as being run on "auto pilot" due to the lack of a vice president. Opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary stated that Biya's extended stay in Switzerland fuels perceptions that "all is not well" and highlights his "desperate attempts to hold on to power." The article also notes that Biya recently reshuffled the top military leadership.

Cameroon's President Paul Biya, who has been in Geneva, Switzerland, for nearly two months, has reshuffled the army through decrees issued from abroad. This absence has fueled public unease and speculation about his health, despite government assurances that he is well and will return soon. Biya's team stated his trip was a "brief private stay," but the lack of information and the prolonged duration have drawn criticism. He has signed several decrees during his time away, including those authorizing loan agreements. The article notes that a promised new cabinet and a newly created vice-president post remain unfilled.

Cameroon's 93-year-old President Paul Biya has been absent from public view for a record 53 days since departing for Switzerland on June 7 for a "brief private stay." This prolonged absence has fueled speculation about his health and whereabouts in Cameroon, despite a ban on discussing the president's health. Government officials have offered conflicting explanations, with some stating he is working remotely from Geneva and others claiming he is on annual leave. The opposition has raised concerns about an institutional vacuum and the lack of transparency regarding the president's condition and activities, particularly as the country faces economic challenges and awaits the naming of a new government.