YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon (ABS News) — Cameroon is facing a deepening leadership crisis as President Paul Biya remains absent from public view, fueling growing uncertainty about who is actually running the country. Thursday marks more than two months since the 93‑year‑old leader — one of the world’s longest‑serving heads of state — was last seen, with no official explanation from the presidency and no indication of when he might return.
Government officials have offered no updates since mid‑July, when sources close to Biya’s family told local media he had undergone eye and knee surgery abroad. Those reports suggested he was unable to walk or travel, but no photographs, statements, or medical bulletins have been released since. The prolonged silence has intensified speculation that Biya is incapacitated or otherwise unable to perform his duties.
The absence comes at a sensitive moment. A constitutional amendment passed in April created the office of vice president, intended to ensure continuity of power. But Biya has not appointed anyone to the role, leaving the country without a clear succession plan.
Meanwhile, a series of decrees allegedly signed by Biya have sparked controversy. One document naming a vice president was quietly withdrawn after senior officials questioned its authenticity. Another decree retiring Army General Hector Tchemo was publicly challenged by the general himself, who demanded proof that Biya had signed it. A third decree promoting several officers has also drawn scrutiny, with many Cameroonians pointing to Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the powerful secretary‑general at the presidency, as the likely author.
With no verified communication from Biya and no confirmation of who is issuing presidential orders, analysts say Cameroon is effectively operating without a head of state. If Biya does not reappear soon, political observers warn the country could be headed toward a succession showdown.
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