Cameroon's 93-year-old President Paul Biya returns after months-long stay abroad

What the report says

Cameroonian President Paul Biya returned to Yaoundé on Thursday after a 73-day stay abroad, ending a long absence that had drawn fresh attention to his health and to questions about who is handling day-to-day government business. France 24 reported that the 93-year-old leader arrived from Geneva, where local media said he had been staying with family members and close aides since June 7. Biya has led Cameroon since 1982 and is widely described as the world’s oldest serving head of state.

According to the report, the opposition sharply criticised the president’s time away, accusing the government of operating in an “institutional vacuum” and saying the country had been left on autopilot. Supporters gathered at the airport to welcome Biya, who left with first lady Chantal Biya before heading toward the presidential palace. A senior ruling party official rejected claims that the state was leaderless, saying the president remained in charge of affairs.

The article places Biya’s return in the context of broader political unease in Cameroon, where repeated absences have fueled speculation about succession and governance. It notes that appointments for a new government and vice-president have been pending, and that in the event of a vacuum the senate president is next in line until a new presidential election can be organised. France 24 also cited ongoing security and economic strains, including conflict in the north and west and frustration among younger citizens.