Cameroon’s 91-year-old President, Paul Biya, has publicly reemerged for the first time in six weeks, dispelling rampant speculation regarding his health.
His absence from the public eye had ignited unfounded reports of his death, but on Monday, state television aired footage of his return to the capital, Yaoundé, following a private visit to Switzerland.
The video captured Biya, who has been in office since 1982, arriving at the airport in his signature conservative suit, looking noticeably healthy and robust. His last public engagement was on September 8, when he attended the China-Africa summit in Beijing.
During his absence, the government faced escalating pressure to clarify rumors about Biya’s wellbeing. While officials consistently refuted claims of his death, they confirmed that the president was in good health and enjoying a private stay in Geneva, a city he frequently visits.
The government had labeled any discussion of Biya’s health as a matter of national security, prohibiting the media from covering the issue. Nonetheless, speculation about his death has been a recurring theme for the past two decades.
Biya’s return was warmly welcomed by government officials and members of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM). The presence of crowds in some streets of Yaoundé further indicated the government’s intent to dispel any lingering doubts about the president’s condition.
His reappearance is likely to reignite discussions within the CPDM about Biya running for another seven-year term in next year’s election. Although the president, affectionately dubbed the “Lion Man” by his supporters, has yet to publicly announce his candidacy, critics interpret recent political maneuvers as a sign of his desire to maintain a tight grip on power.
