Cameroon’s 93-year-old President Paul Biya returned to Yaoundé on Thursday after spending 74 days outside the country. His arrival came without prior official announcement from the presidency, but his return had been widely anticipated amid growing speculation over his health.
Paul Biya landed in the Cameroonian capital late Thursday afternoon on a flight from Geneva, Switzerland.
Although the presidency had not officially announced his arrival, supporters of the ruling CPDM (RDPC) were mobilised to welcome him. After leaving Yaoundé airport, Biya briefly waved to the crowd from his presidential vehicle through a slightly open window.
Cameroon’s public broadcaster CRTV deployed a large team of nearly 200 journalists and technicians to cover the president’s return and his journey to the presidential palace.
However, viewers saw relatively little of the 93-year-old leader. The broadcast showed a brief wave from inside his limousine, followed later by slightly delayed images of Paul and Chantal Biya greeting officials, including the Prime Minister and the Secretary-General of the Presidency, on the airport tarmac.
What comes next for Paul Biya?
The limited images of the president quickly triggered reactions on social media, with some questioning the lack of footage while others welcomed the fact that he had finally returned to Cameroon.
Biya’s arrival brings an end to a period of 74 days abroad, during which he made no public appearance or major public statement. His prolonged absence had fuelled persistent speculation about his health, particularly given his age and his frequent stays in Switzerland.
Paul Biya was re-elected in 2025 for his eighth term as president.
His return now opens a new chapter, with attention turning to his immediate schedule and the extent to which he will resume his public and constitutional duties.
For the coming days, the president’s agenda is likely to be closely watched, after more than two months of uncertainty surrounding his prolonged absence from the country.
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