In his july 20 editorial aired on Radio Tiémeni Siantou (90.5 FM in Yaoundé and Bafang), political analyst Eric Boniface Tchouakeu raises concerns over President Paul Biya’s extended private trip to Europe.
Here is the full editorial:
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya left the country on June 7, 2026, officially for a ‘short private stay’ in Europe, according to a statement from his Cabinet Director, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo.
Reports from the panafrican outlet Jeune Afrique have confirmed that the Cameroonian head of state is indeed in Geneva, Switzerland — a city he frequents since assuming power on November 6, 1982.
Initially described as a ‘short stay,’ this prolonged absence has fueled widespread speculation about the 93-year-old leader’s health, despite repeated reassurances from authorities. Some observers even suggest the possibility of a power vacuum in Cameroon.
At this stage, it’s worth noting that, contrary to a common misconception, a power vacuum in Cameroon cannot be determined or confirmed based solely on the number of days a president spends abroad. The constitution does not impose any limit on such trips.
Under the current legal framework, a power vacuum can only be declared in three specific scenarios: the president’s death, resignation, or definitive incapacity to perform duties.
However, neither the constitution nor any other law provides a clear definition of what constitutes ‘definitive incapacity,’ leaving room for interpretation.
Therefore, concerns about a power vacuum cannot legitimately arise solely from the president’s extended stay abroad.
It’s legally permissible for the president to reside abroad and remotely govern Cameroon throughout his term without violating any laws. The real issue here revolves around political ethics and morality.
The delayed formation of the government after the October 12, 2025 presidential election, coupled with the rushed reintroduction of the Vice-President position, may explain why some observers are now obsessively tracking the number of days Paul Biya has spent outside Cameroon since June 7, 2026.
In over 43 years of uninterrupted leadership, the president has never signed or issued any major decree from abroad.
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