– YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon
President Paul Biya returned to Cameroon on Thursday, August 20, 2026, ending the longest absence of his presidency, which spans nearly 44 years. The 93-year-old leader, the world's oldest sitting head of state arrived at Nsimalen International Airport in Yaoundé from Geneva, Switzerland, around 4:45 p.m. local time. He had left the country on June 7 for what authorities described as a brief private stay in Europe; the trip ultimately extended beyond 10 weeks approximately 73–74 days.
This prolonged stay abroad sparked widespread speculation regarding the president's health and his ability to govern. Cameroonian authorities repeatedly denied reports of a possible hospitalization, insisting that Biya remained active and was issuing decrees from Switzerland. However, opposition figures decried an institutional vacuum and criticized the lack of clear interim leadership, noting that no vice president has been appointed despite the recent restoration of that office.
Upon his arrival, Biya was received by senior government officials and supporters of the ruling party, the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement. Accompanied by First Lady Chantal Biya, he waved to well-wishers from his vehicle as the official motorcade headed to the Unity Palace in Etoudi. Crowds gathered in the capital's streets to welcome the president back after his extended absence.
Biya's frequent and often lengthy stays in Europe particularly in Switzerland have long been subject to public scrutiny and have fueled recurring doubts about his fitness for office. This latest absence, the longest on record, intensified concerns regarding the day-to-day management of the government and succession planning within a political system heavily centered on the presidency.
His return marks a significant moment following Biya's controversial re-election to an eighth term in late 2025. With the president back in the capital, attention now shifts to pending administrative matters and leadership stability in the coming months.