Cameroon President Paul Biya prolongs Switzerland stay as health and power tussle unfold

Cameroon’s long‑time president Paul Biya has remained in Geneva since 7 June, officially lodged at the InterContinental Hotel but reportedly receiving medical care at a local clinic. The presidential civil cabinet denies any special treatment and says Biya continues to manage state affairs from Switzerland, while Secretary‑General Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh runs daily operations in Yaoundé.

On 12 June a forged decree purporting to appoint a vice‑president and reshuffle the cabinet was delivered to state broadcaster CRTV. After the director verified its falsity, Cameroonian gendarmes arrested the individual who brought the document, launching a judicial inquiry.

At the same time, Biya’s son Franck Biya travelled through France and Monaco, positioning himself near the G7 summit in Évian and being discussed as a leading candidate for the vice‑presidency. U.S. security advisers had warned that the president’s absence could be exploited by factions seeking to influence the succession. The episode highlights growing political uncertainty in Cameroon amid the president’s health concerns.