Cameroon: Paul Biya’s 48-Day Absence Sparks Debate Over Government Inaction

The extended absence of Cameroon's long-serving President Paul Biya, who has been in Switzerland since early June, has intensified discussions about government inaction in a nation yearning for change. As of Saturday, the 93-year-old leader, the world's oldest head of state and in power for over four decades, had been away from Cameroon for 48 days.

Biya, accompanied by his wife Chantal Biya, departed Cameroon on June 7 for what an official statement described as a "short, private stay in Europe." His frequent trips to Geneva have often fueled speculation and rumors regarding his health, which the government has repeatedly denied. Communication Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi issued a statement on June 18 refuting claims that Biya was hospitalized in a Geneva clinic.

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Wherever he is, the head of state is meticulously following the files submitted to him… by his aides.

However, the opposition views Biya's prolonged absence as a sign of a "glaring institutional vacuum." Mamadou Mota, vice-president of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), voiced this concern on Facebook. Earlier in July, Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya, president of the Cameroon Democratic Union (UDC), called for an "impartial procedure for determining the temporary or permanent incapacity" of the head of state. These sentiments reflect a broader frustration among Cameroonians with perceived government stagnation.

Jacques Fame Ndongo, a senior official in the ruling party and minister of higher education, dismissed accusations of a power vacuum, asserting that Biya meticulously follows state affairs remotely. This situation echoes a similar period in late 2024 when Biya's 50-day absence abroad led to comparable concerns. The opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) party described the country as being "on autopilot," a sentiment echoed by many citizens weary of waiting for renewal, especially after an election with contentious results and a government that has been in place for eight years. The postponed municipal and legislative elections further extend the terms of current officials, contributing to the sense of a stalled political process.

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People are worn out from waiting. First of all because the current government has been in place for eight years, which is a record. Next, because we are coming out of an election with very mixed results. Many people consider after an election, it is time for renewal.