Cameroonian President Paul Biya officially touched down on home soil this Thursday, August 20, 2026. His aircraft completed its landing at Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport in the late afternoon, concluding an extended 74-day stay in Europe.
The 93-year-old head of state had departed from Geneva, Switzerland, on June 7, 2026. His initial trip was described as a ‘brief private stay,’ yet it evolved into the lengthiest continuous period he has spent outside the country throughout his entire presidency.
In anticipation of his arrival, a significant number of activists from the ruling party, the RDPC, gathered along the thoroughfares leading to the presidential palace in Etoudi. From the confines of his vehicle, the president offered a brief wave to the assembled crowds as he exited the airport’s presidential pavilion.
The extended duration of his absence, marked by no public appearances, had inevitably fueled widespread rumors and intense speculation concerning his health. Opposition factions had consistently voiced concerns regarding a potential power vacuum. To allay public anxieties, state broadcasters, including CRTV, provided slightly delayed coverage of the atmosphere and the motorcade’s journey.
