Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, Africa’s second-longest-serving leader, has returned to his country amid growing speculation about his health. State-run television station CRTV showed the 91-year-old president arriving at Yaoundé airport, where he was seen shaking hands with officials alongside his wife Chantal, surrounded by cheering supporters.
The televised appearance aimed to dispel rumors about Biya’s health, with a CRTV presenter emphasizing, “Finally, this is not a phantom, it is President Paul Biya having a lengthy discussion with government officials.” The broadcast follows weeks of public absence that had fueled intense speculation about the president’s condition.
Questions about Biya’s health intensified after his last public appearance at the China-Africa summit in Beijing a month ago. His subsequent absence from high-profile international events, including the United Nations General Assembly and the International Organization of La Francophonie summit in France, further fueled concerns about his well-being.
Biya, who has ruled Cameroon since 1982, is the country’s second president since its independence in 1960. Known for his frequent travels to Europe, he has acknowledged health issues, though specific details have never been publicly disclosed.
His prolonged leadership has shaped modern Cameroon, making him the only leader many citizens have ever known. However, his government faces significant challenges, including a violent secessionist movement in the country’s English-speaking provinces and ongoing threats from Boko Haram extremists operating from neighboring Nigeria.
