Paul Biya Returns to Cameroon After 73-Day Absence

Paul Biya, Cameroon’s 93-year-old President, returned to Yaoundé on August 20, 2023, after spending 73 days abroad, marking the longest absence of his presidency. He arrived at Nsimalen International Airport aboard a chartered flight from Geneva, Switzerland, where he had been since June 7.

His return followed a period of speculation regarding his health and the governance of Cameroon, as his absence raised questions about leadership, particularly since there is currently no vice president exercising executive authority. Biya was accompanied by his wife, First Lady Chantal Biya, and was welcomed by supporters of his ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), who celebrated his return with banners and party colors.

Despite government officials, including Communication Minister René Emmanuel Sadi, asserting that Biya remained in control of state affairs, opposition figures criticized the prolonged absence, suggesting it created an institutional vacuum. Sadi had previously dismissed claims of Biya being seriously ill or hospitalized, insisting that there was no constitutional vacancy in the presidency.