Cameroon’s President Paul Biya appears in public amid health speculation

Cameroon’s 91-year-old President, Paul Biya, has been seen in public for the first time in six weeks, following widespread speculation about his health.

Biya’s prolonged absence from the public eye had fueled rumors of his death, but on Monday afternoon, state television aired footage of him arriving at the airport in Yaoundé, the capital, after a flight from Switzerland. The footage showed the president being greeted by officials and supporters.

The Cameroonian government had previously banned the media from discussing Biya’s health, deeming it a matter of national security. Rumors about his death have circulated intermittently for the past two decades.

Monday’s broadcast depicted Biya dressed in his signature neat, conservative suit and appearing visibly strong. His last public appearance was on September 8, when he attended the China-Africa Summit in Beijing. Since then, the government has faced mounting pressure to confirm his well-being.

Officials eventually denied the claims of his death, asserting that Biya was in good health and on a private visit to Geneva, a city he frequently visits.

Upon his return, Biya was warmly welcomed by state officials and members of the ruling party, the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM). The unusual mobilization of people on some streets in the capital seemed to indicate the government’s clear intent to dispel the rumors surrounding his health.

Biya’s reappearance may spark discussions within the CPDM about him running for another seven-year term in next year’s election. While the president, known as the “Lion Man” by his supporters, has yet to confirm whether he will seek re-election, critics suggest his recent political maneuvers signal a desire to maintain the party’s grip on power.

Credit: BBC