Cameroon’s President Paul Biya Returns Home After Month-Long Absence, Ending Speculation Over Health
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has returned home after a month-long absence that sparked widespread rumors and speculation about his health. The 91-year-old politician’s prolonged stay abroad had fueled concerns about his well-being, prompting the government to issue statements assuring the public of his good health. However, the government eventually banned any further public discussion on the topic.
Biya’s chartered airplane touched down at Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport on Monday afternoon, bringing an end to the speculation surrounding his health. A Cameroonian news presenter welcomed the president’s return, saying, “Today the president is on his way and this will put an end to all the speculation.”
The president’s televised arrival showed him greeting officials, although he did not make a public address. Instead, Biya and his wife Chantal were driven to the presidential palace, a 22-kilometer (14-mile) stretch lined with supporters wearing outfits adorned with his image and carrying banners welcoming his return.
The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement Party dismissed media reports suggesting that civilians were either hired or intimidated to turn out en masse to welcome Biya. Fru Jonathan, a party member, described these claims as unfounded. Billboards along the route also bore messages welcoming the president’s return and wishing him well, with one reading, “Welcome home, Mr. President of the Republic,” according to Agence France Presse.
Biya’s return comes after the government announced earlier this month that he would be back in Cameroon within days. During his absence, the president missed the United Nations General Assembly in New York and a summit for French-speaking nations in Paris.
The president’s prolonged absence had sparked concerns about the country’s leadership and stability. However, with Biya’s return, the government is likely to breathe a sigh of relief, and the president is expected to resume his duties as the head of state.
