In his Monday political editorial, broadcast on Radio Tiémeni Siantou (90.5 FM in Yaoundé and Bafang), commentator Eric Boniface Tchouakeu examines the prolonged private stay of Cameroon’s head of state in Europe.

President Paul Biya left Cameroon on June 7, 2026, officially for a ‘short private stay’ in Europe, according to a statement released by his Cabinet Director, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo.

International media including Jeune Afrique has confirmed the President is currently in Geneva, Switzerland—a location he frequently visits since taking office on November 6, 1982.

The initially described stay has now stretched far beyond expectations, sparking widespread speculation. Concerns about the 93-year-old leader’s health persist, despite repeated reassurances from authorities. Some observers even suggest the possibility of a vacancy of power in Cameroon.

However, it’s essential to clarify that under Cameroon’s constitution, a vacancy of power cannot be determined simply by counting the days a president spends abroad. The fundamental law imposes no such limit on the head of state’s travel.

A vacancy of power can only be declared in three specific cases: death, resignation, or permanent incapacity of the sitting president. Yet, neither the constitution nor any other law defines what constitutes ‘permanent incapacity’, leaving this interpretation open to debate.

Therefore, the prolonged stay abroad of a president does not, in itself, justify claims of a power vacuum.

The President could legally reside abroad and govern Cameroon remotely throughout his term without violating any legal provisions—though this raises questions of political ethics and morality.

The prolonged delay in forming a government after the October 12, 2025 presidential election, coupled with the rushed reintroduction of the Vice-President position—often criticized for its speed—may explain why some are now meticulously tracking each day Paul Biya spends outside the country since June 7, 2026.

Remarkably, in over 43 uninterrupted years in power, the President has never signed or published a significant decree while abroad.