Cameroon faces scrutiny over prolonged absence of president
Forty-five days after President Paul Biya left Cameroon for a private visit to Europe, the ruling Rassemblement démocratique du peuple camerounais (RDPC) convened an urgent meeting of its top officials. The gathering comes as no official update has been issued regarding a potential return date for the 93-year-old leader, raising fresh concerns about the continuity of governance.
The RDPC leadership insists that state institutions continue to function normally despite the prolonged absence. Meanwhile, opposition figures are pressing for transparency regarding presidential powers and contingency measures in the event of an extended vacancy. The party’s secretary-general, Jean Nkuete, called the meeting under the banner of an “important working session,” though no agenda or rationale was disclosed in the official statement.
Paul Biya departed Cameroon on June 7, with the presidential civil cabinet initially describing the trip as a “brief private stay” in Europe. Since then, no government communication has confirmed a return schedule, fueling persistent speculation. The RDPC has sought to counter these narratives, with party propagandist Christophe Mien Zok publishing an editorial in L’Action on July 15, asserting that “power is not vacant” and that the president remains in charge despite his absence. Official channels have continued to release statements attributed to Biya, including greetings sent to foreign leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron on Bastille Day and the president of Montenegro.
Opposition calls for constitutional clarity
Criticism has intensified from political opponents demanding answers about the exercise of presidential duties. Deputy Jean-Michel Nintcheu has urged the Constitutional Council to declare a vacancy in the presidency. Meanwhile, the Union démocratique du Cameroun (UDC) has stopped short of speculating on Biya’s personal situation but stressed that governance cannot rely on silence or assumptions. In a July 18 statement, the party acknowledged that a prolonged absence abroad does not automatically constitute a power vacuum but emphasized the need to clarify how presidential responsibilities are fulfilled during such periods and what protocols apply in cases of temporary incapacitation.
Legal gaps in handling presidential absences
Cameroon’s constitution provides no clear timeframe for how long a president may remain outside the country without triggering institutional review. Analysts argue this ambiguity warrants legislative attention, yet no legal mechanism specifies when the Constitutional Council should intervene. The UDC has also pointed to another unresolved issue: the vice-presidency, reintroduced during a constitutional amendment in April, remains unfilled. The party advocates for legal reforms to define procedures for prolonged presidential absences, including the conditions under which power may be temporarily transferred.
President Biya, in office since 1982, has made regular trips to Europe throughout his tenure. His current absence, now the longest since assuming power, has unfolded without any official indication of his return, leaving both domestic and international observers questioning the stability of Cameroon’s leadership.