…Cameroon in Uncertainty as 93-Year-Old Paul Biya’s ‘Brief Europe Stay’ Enters Two Months
AWC FOREIGN DESK, AUGUST, 2026
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Political uncertainty is deepening in Cameroon as President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest sitting president at 93, remains away from the country more than two months after leaving for what his administration described as a “brief private stay in Europe.”
President Biya departed Yaoundé on June 7, 2026, but his prolonged absence has triggered widespread speculation about his health, the state of governance, and possible succession arrangements in the Central African nation he has ruled since 1982.
The Cameroonian government has provided limited details about the president’s condition and return plans. Officials have maintained that Biya is alive and expected back, but the lack of regular public communication from the presidency has intensified questions among citizens, opposition figures, and political observers.
The prolonged stay has revived longstanding debates over leadership transition in Cameroon, where Biya’s four-decade rule has made him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. Critics argue that his absence creates uncertainty in a system heavily centred around the president, while government supporters insist that state institutions remain functional.
Adding to the political attention, recent military leadership changes announced through presidential decrees have further fueled discussions about the direction of the country’s power structure during Biya’s absence.
For many Cameroonians, the question remains unanswered: when will President Biya return to Yaoundé, and what does his extended stay in Europe mean for the future of the nation?
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