Cameroon’s 93-Year-Old President Paul Biya Absent for Two Months Amid Leadership Questions

Cameroonian President Paul Biya, re-elected in 2025, has been outside the country for nearly two months following his departure from Yaoundé on 7 June for what was described as a “short private stay” in Geneva, Switzerland. At 93 years old, Biya is the world’s oldest sitting head of state, and this marks the first time in his 44-year presidency that he has spent more than 60 days abroad on a private trip.

Presidential Decrees Signed from Abroad

Despite his absence, official documents continue to be published under Biya’s name. On 3 August — one day after Communications Minister René Emmanuel Sadi affirmed on Radio France Internationale that “President Paul Biya is alive” and that the Constitutional Council had not examined the possibility of a vacancy in office — a series of presidential decrees signed in Geneva entered into force. These decrees modified military leadership and appointed officials to key positions.

Civil society groups and opposition parties have raised concerns about the implications of such actions, both symbolically and operationally. Mamadou Mota, Deputy Leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, denounced what he called an “obvious presidential vacuum,” stating: “Executive power is exercised at the heart of the nation — not through telepathy from hotel suites on the other side of the world.”

Biya’s Record Overseas Travel

According to political analyst Aristide Mono, cited by the newspaper Journal du Cameroun, Biya holds the absolute record among African heads of state for the number of private overseas trips. Over his 44 years in office, he has spent approximately 2,600 days abroad — roughly seven years, or between 15 and 16 percent of his total tenure.

The Burkina Faso-based newspaper Le Pays remarked satirically: “It is indisputable that Cameroon is a country where the balance has tipped. It is indeed the state governed by the world’s oldest president — one who spends more time abroad than in his palace.”

Uncertainty Over Succession and Institutional Gaps

No formal succession mechanism exists should the president die in office. During his controversial 2025 re-election campaign, Biya pledged to form a new government but did not fulfill that promise. In April, he announced the creation of a vice-presidency post; four months later, the position remains vacant — deepening political instability.

Such leadership adjustments are not unprecedented under Biya’s administration, particularly during periods of heightened public pressure. Three years ago, following the military coup that ended the Bongo dynasty in Gabon, Biya swiftly reshuffled military command. Last year, ahead of his bid for an eighth term, he replaced senior army officers. In June, he promoted several members of the defence and security forces — a move that, according to observers, automatically fuels coup-related speculation.

Although Biya’s repeated absences and the stagnation characterising his rule persist, no high-ranking official has spoken publicly about the matter. Attention instead turns toward potential successors — notably his son, Frank.