Cameroon President Paul Biya's 45‑day absence prompts rare ruling‑party meeting

Cameroon’s 93‑year‑old President Paul Biya has been abroad for 45 consecutive days, the longest period he has spent outside the country since taking office in 1982. He left on 7 June for a "brief private stay in Europe" and has not returned, with officials providing no timeline for his return.

Amid growing criticism, the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) convened a rare meeting of senior leaders on 23 July, described only as an “important working session.” Opposition parties, including the Cameroon Democratic Union, have called for clarification on the continuity of the state and have urged the Constitutional Court to declare the presidency vacant. The government continues to deny any health issues and maintains that Biya can govern from abroad. Legislative reforms re‑introduced the vice‑president post, which would be first in line for succession, but the position remains unfilled, and a new government has not been appointed since Biya’s re‑election last October.