Paul Biya remains absent from Cameroon for over two months

Paul Biya Cameroon presidency political leadership government absence African politics

Cameroonian President Paul Biya, the world's oldest sitting head of state, has been absent from the country for over two months. He departed on June 7 for what his office described as a ‘brief private stay in Europe,’ marking his longest uninterrupted absence from Cameroon in recent years.

Government spokesperson René Emmanuel Sadi informed RFI that Biya is currently in Geneva, Switzerland, and clarified that the president is not hospitalized. However, no further details regarding his specific location or condition were provided.

The prolonged absence has intensified speculation regarding Biya's health and the stability of the country's leadership. Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982 and was recently re-elected to an eighth term, is rarely seen in public. In 2024, the government classified media discussions concerning his health as a matter of national security.

Entities

Cameroon · Geneva · Paul Biya · René Emmanuel Sadi · Switzerland

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] The President's office announced his departure on June 7 for a ‘brief private stay in Europe’. www.focus.de · www.haberaktuel.com · www.adomonline.com · www.lifo.gr · www.cnn.gr
[● 5 SOURCES] Paul Biya has been absent from Cameroon for over two months. www.focus.de · www.haberaktuel.com · www.adomonline.com · www.lifo.gr · www.cnn.gr
[DISPUTED] Government spokesperson René Emmanuel Sadi stated that President Paul Biya is in Geneva, Switzerland, and is not in a hospital. www.focus.de · www.haberaktuel.com · www.adomonline.com · www.lifo.gr · www.cnn.gr
[● 5 SOURCES] The Cameroonian government banned media reports regarding the President's health in 2024, citing national security. www.focus.de · www.haberaktuel.com · www.adomonline.com · www.lifo.gr · www.cnn.gr
[● 5 SOURCES] Biya won an eighth term in the previous year following a disputed election. www.focus.de · www.haberaktuel.com · www.adomonline.com · www.lifo.gr · www.cnn.gr
[● 5 SOURCES] Paul Biya is 93 years old. www.focus.de · www.haberaktuel.com · www.adomonline.com · www.lifo.gr · www.cnn.gr

Sources

Ο γηραιότερος πρόεδρος στον κόσμο έφυγε για λίγο – Έχουν περάσει δύο μήνες και δεν έχει επιστρέψει [www.tromaktiko.gr]

28 days ago

Dünyanın En Yaşlı Lideri İki Aydır Dönmedi [www.haberaktuel.com]

28 days ago

„Kurzbesuch“: Kameruns Präsident (93) fehlt seit 2 Monaten [www.focus.de]

28 days ago

Μυστήριο με τον πρόεδρο του Καμερούν: Πήγε στην Ευρώπη και δεν… επέστρεψε [www.politis.com.cy]

27 days ago

Καμερούν: Ο 93χρονος πρόεδρος λείπει δύο μήνες και τα ερωτήματα πληθαίνουν | LiFO [www.lifo.gr]

28 days ago

The world’s oldest president left for a ‘brief stay’ in Europe. He hasn’t returned in two months - Adomonline. com [www.adomonline.com]

28 days ago

Ο μακροβιότερος πρόεδρος του κόσμου λείπει από την χώρα του και κανείς δεν ξέρει το γιατί [www.cnn.gr]

28 days ago