Paul Biya: a prolonged absence which plunges the political class into worry

The Cameroonian No. 1 has been out of the country for more than a month, the government, the civil cabinet and the RDPC his party, are trying to reassure in the face of growing concern.

The absence of the Cameroonian president is in almost every conversation, both in televised debates and on social networks, with a question on repeat: “Where is Paul Biya?”

Paul Biya, 91, left the country on September 2 to take part in the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (Focac) organized from September 4 to 6, 2024.

It is since these dates that he has not made any public appearance. Announced at the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations, then at the summit of the Francophonie, the Cameroonian leader did not appear at these meetings which he nevertheless hardly misses.

He also missed the final of the Cameroon Cup, which marks the end of the sporting season in the country, played around ten days ago.

This absence without justification gives rise to a series of rumors, without ever giving rise to a response from either the government or the party in power.

But, on October 8, an online media broadcasting abroad announced the departure of the Cameroonian president. This gave rise to the almost simultaneous exits of two leaders of the RDPC, Paul Biya’s party.

Jacques Fame Ndongo, communications secretary and member of the party’s political bureau, “This is unfounded news. This phantasmagorical ploy must not shake the political maturity, lucidity and patriotism of Cameroonians and friends of our dear and beautiful country.”

At the same time, the party’s general secretary, Grégoire Owona, also reacted, calling for justice. “Those who try by various means to deceive public opinion by announcing the death of the Cameroonian Head of State must pay a high price following such a crude lie,” writes this official, who is also Minister of Labor in the current government. .

“Since they no longer have any human conscience, the appropriate institutions must crack down on these imposters wherever they come from and wherever they broadcast. We are in a democracy, but malice and hatred have a limit! » He continues.

Before this outing of officials of the ruling party, the former MP and current mayor of Foumban in the west of the country went out to express her concern.

She criticizes the fact that public opinion is “reduced to being subjected to various speculations and from various sources, including social networks, which are likely to dangerously influence the normal course of daily life of citizens and the Institutions of the Republic” .

The national president of the Democratic Union of Cameroon, 5th force in the National Assembly, “calls on the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency, the Government Spokesperson and any other competent institution where applicable, notably the Constitutional Council, to take their responsibilities in providing official information to the people, to put an end to these dangerous speculations which are getting worse,” she wrote in her press release.

The day before, it was the Cameroonian lawyer based in France, and declared candidate in the October 2025 presidential election, Christian Ntimbane Bomo, who chose an open letter to express himself.

In his missive addressed to Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, the director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic, Mr. Ntimbane declares: “The people have the right to know if the President of the Republic is still capable of assuming his heavy and delicate assignment “.

The Cameroonian lawyer continues: “Mr. Minister, issue a simple press release… If he has taken leave, say so. It is his most absolute right to take annual leave like any public official, which he is. If he is unwell, say it also, a President of the Republic can fall ill, and has the right to care, or even medical evacuation abroad, like many public officials.”

The opponent Cabral Libii, for his part, believes that there is nothing really to be alarmed about. According to him, “absence and silence” are precisely his management style. “He’s a president who makes two speeches a year,” scoffs the unsuccessful presidential candidate.

In a press release made public Tuesday evening, the Minister of Communications reacted on behalf of the government.

Réné Emmanuel Sadi declared that “the Head of State is doing well and will join Cameroon in the coming days”

The minister explains “that following the China-Africa Summit in which he took an active part, the Head of State granted himself a brief private stay in Europe. However, he remains, as usual, and where that he finds himself attentive to the evolution of national life.

Inviting Cameroonians and the country’s partners not to be distracted by “disinformation maneuvers”.

At the beginning of the evening, the civil cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic which manages the private affairs of the Head of State, also reacted in a press release, affirming that it wanted to reassure Cameroonians about “the excellent state of health of the Head of State. ‘State”.