Cameroon's 93-year-old President Paul Biya returns after two-month stay in Switzerland

Cameroon's President Paul Biya, widely regarded as the world's oldest serving head of state, returned to Yaoundé on Thursday after more than two months away in Switzerland. The 93-year-old leader, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, arrived from Geneva at around 1600 GMT. His office had described the trip as a short private stay, though local media reported he had been in Geneva with family members and close aides.

Dozens of supporters from the ruling party gathered at the airport to welcome him, some dressed in clothing bearing his image. Biya left the airport with first lady Chantal Biya, waving to onlookers as their car headed toward the presidential palace.

Health rumors persist

Questions about Biya's health have circulated for years, often tied to his frequent trips to Geneva. In mid-June, the communication minister denied reports that the president had been hospitalized at a clinic there.

The unusually long absence drew sharp criticism from opposition figures, who spoke of an institutional void, noting that the appointment of a new government and a vice-president had been pending for months. Some residents said the president's absence made little practical difference to daily governance, while opposition voices expressed frustration, arguing his presence changes nothing either way.

Decades in power

Biya's nearly 44 years in office have produced mixed results, with ongoing Boko Haram attacks in the north, separatist violence in the west, and a stagnant economy leaving many young people disillusioned. More than 70 percent of Cameroon's roughly 30 million people are under 35.

His re-election to an eighth term in October 2025 sparked protests that were violently suppressed, with authorities acknowledging several dozen deaths. The prolonged absence has intensified speculation over potential successors — with no vice-president in place, senate president Aboubakary Abdoulaye would be next in line should a power vacuum arise.