93-year-old President of Cameroon has not appeared in the country for over two months

The world’s oldest head of state, 93-year-old Cameroonian President Paul Biya, has not appeared in his country for over two months. His prolonged absence has raised questions about his health and drawn criticism from the opposition, reports Associated Press.

Biya left Cameroon on June 7 for a “short private visit to Europe”, but the trip turned out to be one of the longest during his entire rule. In his absence, the opposition claims there is a de facto power vacuum and the state is being run on “autopilot”.

The president’s trip occurred at a time when Cameroon is torn by armed conflicts: the terrorist group “Boko Haram” is active in the north of the country, a separatist conflict continues in the west, and the economy of the Central African nation is in stagnation. Experts state that Paul Biya’s long stay abroad only exacerbates social tension and public discontent.

Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982. In the autumn of 2025, he was re-elected for an eighth term. The president often travels to France or Switzerland, where he spends weeks. He hands over the governance of the state to party officials and members of his family. If Biya serves his entire new term, he will leave office at nearly 100 years old.