Cameroon’s leadership questioned as president biya stays away for two months

Where has President Paul Biya vanished to? This question is echoing across Cameroon, as civil society groups and opposition parties raise growing concerns—not only about his whereabouts but also about his very presence. At 93 years old, the veteran leader, re-elected in 2025 under disputed conditions, holds the unenviable title of the world’s oldest serving head of state.

Since departing Yaoundé on June 7, he has been conducting affairs of state from Geneva, Switzerland, in what official channels describe as a “brief private visit.” This marks an unprecedented milestone in his 44-year tenure: the first time he has spent over 50 consecutive days abroad on private grounds. “It’s no exaggeration to say that Cameroon operates upside down,” commented Le Pays wryly. “We boast the planet’s oldest leader, yet he spends more time jet-setting than governing from his own palace.”

Despite his prolonged absence, the Republic’s presidency continues to issue official decrees bearing his signature. On August 3, a fresh batch of presidential orders—signed remotely from Geneva—reshuffled the military high command, placing key officers in strategic roles. The move has sparked sharp debate: What does it reveal about the true power structure in Cameroon? And who, exactly, is pulling the strings in the president’s absence?