The Camerounian head of state, Paul Biya, has now spent 49 days away from Yaoundé, matching his longest absence this year. Departing on June 7 for what was initially described as a private trip to Europe, the 93-year-old president has not made a single public appearance since. In newsrooms across the capital, the ticking clock and rising unease are impossible to ignore.
Geneva hotel stay sparks fresh comparisons to 2024
Reports place the president currently at a Geneva hotel, mirroring the situation last year. The government moved quickly to dismiss concerns. On June 18, Communications Minister René Emmanuel Sadi categorically denied any hospitalization in a Swiss clinic, yet no recent visual evidence has surfaced to support this denial.
During a televised appearance on Droit de Réponse, a pro-government activist, Lucien Bidima, claimed to have personally visited the InterContinental Geneva and observed a “very fit” president actively engaged in work. However, without accompanying photographs or videos, his statement risks being dismissed as yet another attempt at damage control.
Chantal Biya’s growing influence and a constitutional void
The current absence highlights a shift in power dynamics. Multiple reports indicate that First Lady Chantal Biya is playing an increasingly central role in state affairs, with her name even surfacing in discussions around key appointments. Her consistent presence alongside the president during Swiss visits fuels speculation that access to the head of state now passes through her.
A major concern remains the absence of a vice-president. In the event of a power vacuum, the Senate President, Aboubakary Abdoulaye, would assume interim leadership—a constitutional mechanism never before tested in these circumstances. With political tensions already high, the uncertainty surrounding this prolonged absence does little to calm fears.
The question lingers: Is this a definitive turning point in Paul Biya’s presidency, or merely another chapter in an extended stay abroad? One thing is clear—the atmosphere in Yaoundé is far from reassuring.
