Is the President of Cameroon on Leave or on a working visit?

Ministers have been giving contradictory versions of President Paul Biya’s activities during his ‘brief private’ stay in Europe, as announced to Cameroonians.

The ministers have been struggling to justify that the President is waxing strong and still carrying on his duties after some worried Cameroonians are asking the constitutional council to establish a vacancy at the presidency after 50 days of the President’s stay abroad.

Minister Rene Sadi came out strongly against a publication by Jeune Afrique that spread rumours that the President was in hospital in Geneva. The Minister of Communication and spokesman for the government then stated that the President was fine in Geneva, following up government action and could seize the opportunity to get medical treatment in an official communication.

His comrade, Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo, appeared with a write-up on social media still justifying that the president was going about his duties. Painting a picture of a head of state carrying out his duties as usual.

As days passed by, other Ministers came up with the version that Paul Biya is working normally as if he is in Yaounde. A version contradicted by Gregoire Owona, who says on his Facebook page that the President is on leave and that after 51 days out of the country he still has 29 days left.

Another government official, Minister Mvondo Ayolo, responding to questions from Jeune Afrique, insisted, following rumours of the president’s poor health conditions, that President Paul Biya was fine and on leave like any other Cameroonian.

These outings seem not to have cleared the worries in many Cameroonians, just like in 2024 when the President spent 42 days out of the country.

Is the President of Cameroon on Leave or on a working visit?