President Paul Biya’s two-month absence from Cameroon, occurring just eight months into his eighth consecutive term, marks an unprecedented period of public uncertainty. This extended departure has fueled widespread questions and concerns across the nation.

Despite the unusual length, Benoit Ndong Soumeth, a minister at the Presidency, maintains that the absence is entirely legal. He stated, “A population, out of affection, might feel the need to know what is happening to its leader. The Minister Director of the Civil Cabinet has confirmed that all is well. His response is the most valid to reassure everyone. There is no problem. We are not in an exceptional or urgent situation.”

However, this official reassurance does not satisfy everyone. Roger Justin Noah, the first deputy secretary-general and interim national communication secretary for Maurice Kamto’s opposition party, the MRC, views the lack of transparency surrounding the president’s European stay as a profound disrespect towards the Cameroonian people.

“The Cameroonian people have a right to be informed”

Noah questioned the rationale behind the situation, asking, “Why rig the electoral process only to spend weeks and weeks outside our country? If he is experiencing health issues, the Cameroonian people have a right to be informed. There is no reason to maintain ambiguity regarding the health status of the President of the Republic.”

Conversely, Cabral Libii, who secured third place in the October presidential election, dismisses the ongoing controversy as unproductive. For Libii, the true focus should be on the political landscape leading up to the first quarter of 2027. He stated, “I am among those who believe there is no significant difference between his stay abroad and his stay in Cameroon. Regardless of how one views it, from a legal standpoint, Cameroon currently faces a legal vacuum. I urge everyone: as we approach the legislative and municipal elections, let us vote massively against this regime.”

The PCRN deputy expresses hope for a shift in the parliamentary majority, which could then lead to amendments in the legal framework governing presidential stays outside the country.