{"id":2758,"date":"2026-08-20T19:08:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:08:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2758"},"modified":"2026-08-20T19:08:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:08:57","slug":"cameroons-president-biya-returns-after-a-long-stay-abroad-raises-health-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2758","title":{"rendered":"Cameroon\u2019s President Biya returns after a long stay abroad raises health concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"
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YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) \u2014 President Paul Biya returned Thursday to Cameroon<\/span> after staying abroad for more than two months<\/span>, which had raised concerns about the 93-year-old leader\u2019s health and a possible power vacuum in the Central African country.<\/p>\n

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Biya arrived at the international airport in the capital, Yaound\u00e9, aboard a flight from Geneva, Switzerland, after more than 10 weeks away. <\/p>\n

The world\u2019s oldest president, who has led Cameroon since 1982, began his eighth term in office<\/span> in November after winning a widely disputed election<\/span> in October.<\/p>\n

Biya had left the country on June 7 for what his office described as \u201ca brief private stay in Europe,\u201d but it became the longest recorded absence of his presidency. <\/p>\n

The health of the president<\/span> has long been a topic of speculation as he spends significant time in Europe, including France and Switzerland, where he often spends weeks while leaving governance to key party officials and family members.<\/p>\n

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Cameroon\u2019s constitution does not specifically prohibit a president from leaving the country for months. But without a vice president<\/span>, an appointment Biya has full control over, the opposition has described the country as being run on \u201cautopilot.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Biya\u2019s close collaborators were at the airport on Thursday, but he was not shown descending from the plane and held no briefings. He was seen waving to supporters from his vehicle.<\/p>\n

The results of Biya\u2019s nearly half-century in power have been mixed. Armed insurgencies by Boko Haram in the north<\/span> and separatists in the west<\/span>, along with a stagnant economy, have left many young people disillusioned with the leader.<\/p>\n

The president\u2019s reelection last year sparked widespread protests that left at least 16 people dead, according to government figures, signaling significant tensions between the mostly young population and its aging leader.<\/p>\n

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After a 2008 constitutional amendment abolished term limits, Biya has now led Cameroon longer than most of its citizens have been alive: More than 70% of the country\u2019s population of nearly 30 million people is below the age of 35.<\/p>\n

In April, Cameroon\u2019s parliament reinstated the vice president\u2019s post, a move criticized by the opposition as a power grab because Biya can appoint and dismiss the deputy at will and determine which powers the office can exercise.<\/p>\n

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President Paul Biya has returned to Cameroon after spending over two months abroad, raising concerns about his health and a potential power vacuum. The 93-year-old leader arrived in Yaound\u00e9 from Geneva on Thursday. Biya, the world’s oldest president, has led Cameroon since 1982 and began his eighth term in November. His absence, the longest recorded, started June 7. The president often spends time in Europe, leaving governance to party officials and family members. Cameroon\u2019s constitution doesn\u2019t prohibit long absences, but the opposition describes the country as being run on \u201cautopilot.\u201d Biya\u2019s nearly half-century rule has faced mixed results, with ongoing insurgencies and a stagnant economy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"yoast_head":"\nCameroon\u2019s President Biya returns after a long stay abroad raises health concerns - Top Moving Pros<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2758\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cameroon\u2019s President Biya returns after a long stay abroad raises health concerns - Top Moving Pros\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"President Paul Biya has returned to Cameroon after spending over two months abroad, raising concerns about his health and a potential power vacuum. 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