Cameroon’s Biya, Unseen for 58 Days, Reshuffles Military Leadership Amid Succession Fears

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state at 93, has reshuffled senior military staff after spending 58 days out of the public eye, fueling widespread speculation about his health, whereabouts, and ability to govern.

Biya left Cameroon on June 7 for what his office described as a “brief private stay in Europe,” but has not returned. The reshuffle was announced via three presidential decrees signed on Monday from Geneva, where he has been staying since leaving the country.

The military changes include the promotion of the head of the Presidential Guard from colonel to brigadier general, the replacement of commanders in four of the country’s five joint military regions, and the promotion of five colonels to the rank of brigadier general. Major General Ebaka Hippolyte was promoted to Major General of the Armed Forces General Staff, and a new commander was appointed for the Rapid Intervention Brigade.

This is not the first time Biya has reshuffled the military during periods of public scrutiny. Similar shake-ups occurred after the 2023 coup in neighbouring Gabon, during his controversial re-election campaign last year, and as recently as June this year.

Biya’s prolonged absence has sparked growing unease within the country. His ruling party called a rare meeting of senior leaders last month as criticism mounted. The opposition has described the situation as a “glaring institutional vacuum,” with CRM party vice-president Mamadou Mota stating that “a country cannot be governed by remote control while critical socio-economic challenges go unaddressed.”

Government spokesperson Rene Emmanuel Sadi has attempted to allay fears, telling French broadcaster RFI that “the president is alive” and will soon return. However, Biya’s failure to name a new cabinet after last year’s election and the unfilled post of vice-president, created in April, have only deepened concerns about governance.

Biya, who has ruled the oil- and cocoa-producing nation since 1982, often spends extended periods abroad. However, his advanced age and this current absence, one of his longest yet, have fueled persistent speculation about his health. Press freedom groups have previously condemned a ban on media reporting on Biya’s health.

About The Author

West Africa Weekly

author

See author's posts