The Democratic Rally of the Cameroonian People (RDPC) called an urgent meeting of its top officials this week, more than six weeks after President Paul Biya left the country for what was described as a private visit to Europe. No official announcement has been made regarding his return, leaving the political landscape filled with questions and growing unease.
The ruling party insists that state institutions are functioning normally, yet opposition leaders are demanding transparency about the exercise of power and the protocols in place for prolonged presidential absences. The government has remained silent on the matter, fuelling speculation and debates across the nation.
The RDPC’s central committee secretary general, Jean Nkuete, convened the meeting, citing its importance, though the agenda and purpose were not disclosed in the official statement. President Biya, now 93 years old, departed Cameroon on June 7, with the civil cabinet initially framing his absence as a brief private trip. Since then, no schedule for his return has been announced.
The prolonged silence surrounding the president’s whereabouts has sparked widespread commentary. The RDPC has attempted to quell concerns, publishing an editorial on July 15 in L’Action by Christophe Mien Zok, the party’s director of propaganda. The piece emphasized that “authority remains intact” and dismissed claims of the country being run on “autopilot.” Official presidential channels have continued to release messages attributed to Biya, including greetings to French President Emmanuel Macron for Bastille Day and the Montenegrin head of state. No public engagements or appearances by the president have been reported since his departure.
opposition voices call for accountability
Political figures from the opposition have intensified calls for clarity. Deputy Jean-Michel Nintcheu has urged the Constitutional Council to declare a vacancy in the presidency. Meanwhile, the Democratic Union of Cameroon (UDC) has taken a more measured stance, refraining from speculation about Biya’s personal situation while stressing that national stability cannot hinge on silence or assumptions. In a statement released on July 18, the UDC acknowledged that a prolonged absence abroad does not automatically constitute a power vacuum but insisted that the effective exercise of presidential duties and applicable contingency measures require urgent attention.
constitutional gaps fuel uncertainty
Cameroon’s legal framework does not specify a maximum duration for presidential absences from the country. Analysts argue that this ambiguity warrants institutional review, yet no legal provision dictates when the Constitutional Council should intervene. The UDC also highlighted the unfilled position of vice president, reintroduced during the constitutional revision of April, which remains vacant. The party is pushing for reforms to clarify the legal procedures governing prolonged presidential absences. Since assuming office in 1982, President Biya has frequently traveled to Europe, but his current absence is the longest recorded during his tenure, with no official indication of his return.
