Cameroon: growing concerns over Paul Biya’s extended absence
Forty-five days after President Paul Biya left for a private trip to Europe, the Rassemblement démocratique du peuple camerounais (RDPC) convened an urgent meeting of its top officials. No official statement has clarified whether the Head of State will return soon. While the ruling party insists government functions remain unaffected, opposition leaders are demanding transparency regarding presidential powers and contingency measures for prolonged absences.
The RDPC’s central committee secretary-general, Jean Nkuete, organized the closed-door session on Wednesday, though no details about the agenda or rationale were disclosed. Paul Biya, now 93, departed Cameroon on June 7, with the Civil Cabinet citing a “brief private stay in Europe.” Since then, no official announcement has provided a return date.
Uncertainty over the President’s whereabouts has fueled speculation for weeks. In response, the RDPC has taken steps to quell concerns. A July 15 editorial in L’Action by party propaganda chief Christophe Mien Zok emphasized that “authority is not vacant” and “the Lion has not left,” dismissing claims of a country operating on “autopilot.” Meanwhile, official presidential channels have continued circulating messages attributed to Biya, including greetings to French President Emmanuel Macron on Bastille Day and the President of Montenegro. No public activities have been reported since his departure.
Opposition pushes for accountability
The prolonged absence has reignited calls for clarity from political figures. Lawmaker Jean-Michel Nintcheu urged the Constitutional Council to declare a presidential vacancy. The Union démocratique du Cameroun (UDC), however, avoids speculating on Biya’s personal situation while stressing that state continuity cannot hinge on silence or assumptions. In an July 18 statement, the party acknowledged that extended foreign travel alone does not constitute a power vacuum but insisted the situation warrants scrutiny over the effective exercise of presidential duties and appropriate protocols for temporary incapacitation.
Legal gaps in presidential absence remain unresolved
Cameroon’s legal framework does not specify a maximum duration for the President’s absence from national territory. Analysts argue this gap warrants institutional review, yet no statute mandates when the Constitutional Council should intervene. The UDC also highlighted another unresolved issue: the vice-presidential position, reintroduced during April’s constitutional revision, remains unfilled. The party advocates for legal reforms to clarify procedures during prolonged presidential absences. Paul Biya, in power since 1982, frequently travels to Europe, but his current trip—now the longest since taking office—lacks any official indication of a return timeline.
