Cameroon has defended the prolonged absence of long-time President Paul Biya as criticism and concerns over his health continue to dominate headlines in the Central African nation.
Professor Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, a member of the central committee of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, maintained that the president’s extended stay in Geneva, Switzerland, is in line with the country’s existing legal framework.
“Biya is exercising his normal constitutional, legal prerogatives. Geneva is a well-known address in the world, we have no reason to doubt that,” he said in an interview on Rise and Shine, as quoted by Channel Africa.
He also insisted that Biya remains fully in charge of state affairs and that the country remains politically stable despite the president’s absence, denying any secret succession plan.
Govt dismisses health concerns
Meanwhile, Communications Minister and government spokesperson Rene Emmanuel Sadi also assured the public that Biya is alive and healthy following reports that the 93-year-old was ill and hospitalised at a Geneva clinic.
Sadi added that Biya would return to Cameroon “soon” and dismissed allegations of a “power vacuum,” although he did not provide a specific date.
“President Paul Biya is alive. President Paul Biya has not resigned – that must be stated clearly. President Paul Biya will soon return to Cameroon; therefore at this stage, there are no grounds to speak of a vacancy in the leadership of the state,” he said.
Their remarks came after Biya left Cameroon on June 7 for what authorities described as a brief private vacation to Europe but has yet to return, marking one of his longest absences from the country.
Opposition voices concerns, criticises Biya’s absence
Despite those assurances, opposition figures continue to express concern as the country officially marked two months without its president.
Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former ally of the president and now an opposition leader, claimed there is a widespread belief across the country that “all is not well” with Biya following his prolonged absence.
He added that the president’s continued stay in Switzerland has fuelled perceptions that the veteran leader intends to cling to power.
“Biya’s very long stay in Switzerland only aggravates that lack of legitimacy and his desperate attempts to hold on to power by force,” he said, as quoted by Africa Business Insider.
Similarly, Wilson Tamfuh, a professor of Public and International Law at the University of Dschang, believes Biya’s health challenges are affecting his leadership, despite repeated assurances from his allies that he remains fit to govern.
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Biya’s absence leaves nation on ‘autopilot’
The concerns come as Biya’s prolonged absence has left the country on “autopilot” after he opted not to appoint a vice president, who would normally assume leadership during his absence.
As a result, day-to-day government affairs are largely being managed by close aides while the state continues to function through routine administrative processes.
The prolonged uncertainty has also unsettled investors, weighing on Cameroon’s dollar bonds as markets seek clarity over whether a political transition is under way, Bloomberg reported.
In addition, Cameroon’s dollar bonds have recorded their weakest performance on the continent since early June, underscoring the impact of the prolonged uncertainty.
Govt reshuffles military
Despite the ongoing scrutiny and challenges, Biya recently reshuffled the country’s military as his administration continues to face mounting public pressure over his prolonged absence.
The veteran leader appointed officials to key positions within the army and promoted five colonels to brigadier general, including Raymond Jean Charles Beko’o Abondo, who was reappointed as commander of the elite presidential guard, BBC reported.
While military shake-ups are not unusual under Biya’s leadership, the latest changes are widely viewed as an effort to project authority and reinforce his administration amid growing public scrutiny.
Biya secured an unprecedented eighth presidential term in the October 2025 election, which was heavily criticised by opposition parties over allegations of electoral fraud.
He has led Cameroon since November 1982, making him one of the world’s oldest-serving heads of state and one of the longest-serving non-royal presidents.
However, his more than four decades in power have been marked by allegations of human rights abuses and political repression.
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Ciara Mina 
Angelica N. Hall