Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free
Cameroon President Paul Biya is alive and in “excellent” health, as confirmed by the central African country’s government. Speculation had been rife about the wellbeing and whereabouts of the world’s oldest leader, who had not been seen in public for over a month. The 91-year-old, who has been in power since 1982, was last seen attending a China-Africa summit in Beijing at the beginning of September. His absence at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York and the International Organisation of La Francophonie summit in Paris raised concerns and fueled rumors about his health.
Biya’s government sought to address the speculation by stating that the president was in Geneva, a city in Switzerland where he frequently spends time. Despite his regular visits to Geneva, his failure to attend the Paris summit intensified concerns in Cameroon, leading to widespread uncertainty about his condition. The Guardian Post, a reputable newspaper in Yaoundé, highlighted the public’s unease with a front-page headline questioning Biya’s whereabouts.
The lack of communication from Biya’s government regarding his absence only added to the uncertainty surrounding his health. The government was compelled to release a statement addressing the situation, reassuring the public that Biya was on a “brief private stay in Europe” and would return to Cameroon shortly. The statement also emphasized the president’s “excellent state of health” and dismissed rumors circulating on social media about his well-being.
Despite the government’s attempts to quell fears, concerns persist in Cameroon, where President Biya has become increasingly isolated, with only a select group of advisors and family members having direct access to him. The country is grappling with internal conflicts, including a secessionist war in the English-speaking regions and political instability plaguing neighboring African nations.
In the event of Biya’s incapacitation or demise, the constitution dictates that the president of the senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji, would assume the role of head of state. However, the prolonged tenure of President Biya has centralized power around him, leaving a void in leadership succession. The government’s recent statement affirming Biya’s well-being reflects concerns about the stability of the political landscape in Cameroon in the absence of a clear successor.
As the uncertainty surrounding President Biya’s health persists, the Cameroonian people and the international community remain vigilant, awaiting his return to the country. The situation underscores the challenges of leadership transition in longstanding regimes and highlights the need for clarity and transparency in governance.
