In a Monday editorial aired on Radio Tiémeni Siantou (90.5 FM in Yaoundé and Bafang), journalist Eric Boniface Tchouakeu questions the prolonged private stay of Cameroon’s head of state in Europe.

President Paul Biya left Cameroon on June 7, 2026, for what authorities described as a short private trip to Europe, according to a statement from his Cabinet Director, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo.

The panafrican magazine Jeune Afrique has since confirmed through multiple reports that the President is indeed in Geneva, Switzerland—a city he has frequented since assuming office on November 6, 1982.

Initially presented as a brief visit, this prolonged absence has fueled public speculation, particularly regarding Biya’s health at 93 years old. Despite reassurances from officials, rumors persist, including claims of a potential power vacuum in Cameroon.

Legally, however, the situation does not meet the criteria for a vacancy. According to the constitution, presidential absence alone does not constitute vacancy. Three specific conditions must be met: death, resignation, or definitive incapacitation of the sitting president.

Critically, the constitution provides no clear definition of definitive incapacitation, leaving interpretation open. Thus, prolonged foreign travel by the head of state cannot, by itself, justify claims of a power vacuum.

Even if Biya were to govern remotely from abroad throughout his term, it would not violate any legal provisions—though it raises questions of political ethics and governance standards.

The delayed formation of government following the October 12, 2025 presidential election, coupled with the rushed reintroduction of the Vice Presidency—a role not filled since Biya’s ascent—has only intensified public scrutiny. Over his 43-year tenure, Biya has never signed a major decree from abroad, yet the prolonged absence now invites daily speculation.