Cameroon’s President Paul Biya reached the two-month mark of being outside his country, drawing scrutiny over his extended absence and raising questions about leadership continuity in the Central African nation. The 93-year-old leader departed on June 7 for what his office initially described as a brief European visit but was later confirmed to be in Switzerland. This represents one of his longest overseas trips, continuing a pattern of extended stays abroad that have periodically occurred throughout his tenure.
Biya began his eighth term in November following a disputed election held in October, during which he secured victory but faced allegations of electoral irregularities from opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who garnered just over 35 percent of the vote. Tchiroma, now in exile in The Gambia, characterized the prolonged absence as compounding perceptions of weak legitimacy and suggested it reflected struggles to maintain power. The opposition has described the government as operating on “autopilot” during the president’s absence.
Cameroon’s constitutional framework does not explicitly restrict presidential travel abroad for extended periods, and the country has no vice president—a position that Biya controls exclusively. Legal scholars and observers have expressed concern that the extended absence, combined with persistent health questions, is affecting governance effectiveness. Wilson Tamfuh, a law professor, noted that the nation faces multiple institutional challenges including armed insurgencies in the north and separatist violence in the west, alongside economic stagnation that has left younger citizens disillusioned.
Biya, who has led Cameroon since 1982, has become the world’s oldest serving president. More than 70 percent of the country’s nearly 30 million population is below age 35, meaning most citizens have no memory of any other leader. Recent protests following his election resulted in at least four deaths. On Monday, Biya announced military leadership changes, replacing commanders in four of five military regions without providing an official explanation, though one commander had died and another had retired.
If Biya completes his current term, he will be nearly 100 years old upon leaving office. His extended absences to Europe, particularly France and Switzerland, have long been subjects of public speculation regarding his health and capacity to govern.
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