President Paul Biya’s continued absence has intensified the debate surrounding a potential power vacuum in Cameroon’s leadership. Joshua Osih, a key figure in the Social Democratic Front (SDF), argues that the nation is currently operating on ‘autopilot’.

President Biya departed on June 7 for what was described as a “short private stay in Europe.” Yet, more than 40 days later, he has not yet returned to Yaoundé. This extended absence has fueled renewed speculation about a possible leadership void at the pinnacle of the Cameroonian state.

During a press conference held on Thursday, July 23, SDF President and Member of Parliament, Joshua Osih, expressed strong disapproval of the current political climate, which he believes has plunged the country into uncertainty. “A Head of State absent for over six weeks. A vacant vice-presidency. A Cameroon on autopilot, and we cannot rely on autopilot when facing a storm,” the elected official declared.

Osih further stated that his party, the SDF, is not merely highlighting the problem but actively seeking solutions. “We have come with water to extinguish the fire,” he affirmed. The opposition leader urged a return to the foundational principles of the rule of law in Cameroon. His remarks echo similar demands from other opposition leaders and civil society figures, including Jean-Michel Nintcheu, who previously called upon the Constitutional Council to declare a power vacuum at Etoudi.

Conversely, the ruling party firmly rejects any notion of a power vacuum. Jacques Fame Ndongo, Minister of State and National Secretary for Communication of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC), asserted, “There is no power vacuum at the summit of the state.“