Cameroon Government Denies Power Vacuum Amid Paul Biya Absence

The government of Cameroon is facing increasing pressure to clarify the status of 93-year-old President Paul Biya, who has not appeared in public for approximately 54 days. Biya was last seen during National Day celebrations on May 20, 2026, and reportedly left for a private visit to Geneva, Switzerland, on June 7. His prolonged absence has sparked widespread speculation regarding his health and whether he remains capable of governing.

Minister of Communication René Emmanuel Sadi dismissed claims that the president is hospitalized and rejected suggestions of a power vacuum. Sadi stated that Biya is alive, has not resigned, and will soon return to Cameroon. He emphasized that a vacancy in the office of the Head of State can only be formally established by the Constitutional Council based on death, resignation, or permanent incapacity.

Opposition forces, including the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, have criticized the government's lack of transparency and demanded that the public be informed of the president's actual health condition. While the administration maintains that Biya continues to govern the country remotely, the opposition continues to question the legitimacy of this arrangement given the length of his disappearance from the public eye.