Cameroon is facing renewed political debate as President Paul Biya remains outside the country 48 days after leaving for what officials described as a brief private trip to Europe.
Biya, 93, who has ruled the Central African nation for more than four decades, departed Cameroon on June 7 with First Lady Chantal Biya for Switzerland. His prolonged stay has sparked fresh questions about governance, with opposition figures arguing that the country is operating without active leadership.
The government has dismissed concerns over the president’s absence. Communication Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi previously rejected reports suggesting Biya had been admitted to a hospital in Geneva, while Higher Education Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo insisted that the president continues to oversee state affairs and review official documents submitted by his aides.
Despite those assurances, opposition parties say the situation reflects a lack of effective leadership. Mamadou Mota, vice-president of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, described the situation as an institutional vacuum, while the Social Democratic Front said the country is effectively functioning on “autopilot.”
Earlier this month, Patricia Tomaino Ndam Njoya, leader of the Cameroon Democratic Union, urged authorities to establish a transparent legal process for determining when a president is temporarily or permanently unable to perform official duties.
Biya’s extended trips abroad have repeatedly attracted public attention in recent years. A similar debate emerged in late 2024 after he spent about 50 days outside Cameroon.
Analysts say growing public frustration is linked not only to the president’s absence but also to delays in key political decisions. Despite promising during his New Year’s address to appoint a new government “in the coming days,” no cabinet reshuffle has taken place more than seven months later. Municipal and legislative elections have also been postponed several times, extending the tenure of current officeholders.
Political observers believe the uncertainty has intensified speculation over who could eventually succeed Biya. Although constitutional reforms approved in May created the office of vice-president, the position has not yet been filled.
The uncertainty was further heightened in June when forged documents claiming that a vice-president had been appointed circulated in the capital. Journalists at the state broadcaster verified that the documents were fake and did not report the claim as genuine.
Experts also point to reports of internal rivalry among influential figures within the presidency as discussions about a post-Biya era continue. Some analysts say First Lady Chantal Biya has become increasingly visible in government affairs, with her name frequently linked to discussions on appointments and key decisions.
Under Cameroon’s constitutional provisions, Senate President Aboubakary Abdoulaye would assume interim leadership if the presidency became vacant until a presidential election is conducted.
