Two months without a public appearance, eight months into his eighth consecutive term, remains an unprecedented situation.

Unprecedented but not illegal, counters Benoit Ndong Soumeth, minister charged with presidential missions. « A population may, out of concern, feel the need to know what is happening with its leader. The director of the civil cabinet has confirmed everything is fine. His statement is the most reliable to reassure everyone. There is no issue. We are neither in a state of emergency nor crisis, » he asserts.

Yet Roger Justin Noah, first deputy secretary-general and interim communications secretary for Maurice Kamto’s opposition party MRC, views the lack of transparency about the president’s European trip as disrespectful to Cameroonians.

« the Cameroonian people deserve clarity »

« Why manipulate the electoral process only to spend weeks abroad? If health concerns are involved, the Cameroonian people have the right to know. There is no justification for obscuring the president’s health status» he argues.

Cabral Libii, who placed third in October’s presidential election, dismisses the controversy as unnecessary. For him, the real focus should be the first quarter of 2027. « I believe there is no meaningful difference between his time abroad and his time in Cameroon. Whether viewed legally or otherwise, Cameroon currently operates within a legal gray area. I urge everyone to participate massively in the upcoming legislative and municipal elections to vote against this regime, » the opposition figure declares.

The PCRN deputy expresses hope for a potential change in majority that could lead to revisions in the laws governing presidential stays abroad.