The Long Shadow of Paul Biya: What Absence Reveals About Cameroon’s Future

The return of President Paul Biya to Yaoundé after a 73-day absence has brought both relief and unease to Cameroon, where speculation about his health and the country’s governance has been intense. This is not the first time Biya has left the country for an extended period, but its duration and timing have highlighted deep-seated concerns over his leadership and the institution he represents.

During Biya’s prolonged stays abroad, questions arise about who is really running Cameroon. James Fame Ndongo, a senior ruling party figure, downplayed these concerns by insisting that the president continued to oversee state affairs from afar. However, this narrative increasingly clashes with reality on the ground. For many Cameroonians, Biya’s repeated absences have become a source of growing frustration as they feel the country is being held hostage by an institution prioritizing its own power over addressing pressing needs.

The opposition has been vocal in condemning what they term an “institutional vacuum” and a country operating on autopilot during Biya’s absence. While some dismiss these concerns, pointing to the lack of significant disruptions, others see it as a symptom of a larger problem: leadership out of touch with everyday life in Cameroon. The country’s youth, comprising over 70 percent of its population, are particularly disillusioned with Biya’s rule, having grown up with promises that have yet to materialize.

Biya’s re-election to an eighth term in 2025 was met with widespread protests brutally suppressed by the authorities. In their aftermath, a surge in jockeying among potential successors has begun as they seek to capitalize on Biya’s eventual departure from power. However, this shift highlights the very real concern that Cameroon may not be ready for the transition inevitable with Biya’s aging leadership.

Without a clear plan for succession and a more transparent governance structure, the country risks stumbling into chaos as it navigates its post-Biya future. As Cameroon looks to rebuild its institutions and address pressing needs, it will need to confront the very real challenges that have held it back for so long. Biya’s return from his stay abroad serves as a stark reminder of the work still needed to build a more just and equitable society for all Cameroonians.

Biya’s nearly half-century in power has yet to address deep-seated issues holding the country back, including armed insurgencies, economic stagnation, and growing disillusionment among young people. As Cameroon looks ahead, it is clear that Biya’s departure from power will not solve these problems but rather serve as a necessary step towards a more profound reckoning with its past and present.

The appointment of a new government and vice-president has been pending for months, but this development may prove to be little more than a temporary palliative. As Cameroon rebuilds its institutions and addresses pressing needs, it will need to confront the fundamental challenges that have held it back for so long.