Cameroon's President Biya returns after two-month absence in Switzerland

Cameroon's President Paul Biya has returned to the capital, Yaoundé, after a two-month stay in Switzerland, his longest absence from the country since taking power 40 years ago. The 93-year-old leader's prolonged trips abroad have consistently fueled concerns about his health and the stability of governance in the Central African nation.

Biya arrived Thursday via Geneva, a city where he has frequently spent extended periods. His office had initially described the trip as a "brief private stay," but the absence stretched to 10 weeks. During these periods, governance is typically handled by key party officials and family members, leading opposition leaders to describe the country as running on "autopilot."

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all is not well

Issa Bakary, a prominent opposition figure, stated that many Cameroonians believe "all is not well" with the president. He added that Biya's extended stay in Switzerland "only aggravates that lack of legitimacy and his desperate attempts to hold on to power by force." The president's return was not officially announced, though government officials and supporters gathered at the airport. He was seen waving to supporters from his car, according to the Associated Press.

Biya, the world's oldest president, has led Cameroon since 1982. He began his eighth term in November after winning a disputed presidential election. The election itself led to protests and the deaths of over 16 people after the main opposition candidate, Bakary, rejected the results and claimed victory. Cameroon has no term limits, following a 2008 constitutional amendment that removed the previous two-term limit.

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Biya’s very long stay in Switzerland only aggravates that lack of legitimacy and his desperate attempts to hold on to power by force