Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, aged 93, has made significant changes to the country’s military leadership during a nearly two-month absence from the public eye. Since leaving Cameroon on 7 June for what was described as a brief private visit to Geneva, Biya has issued decrees appointing key army officials and promoting five colonels to brigadier generals.

Among the promotions, Raymond Jean Charles Beko’o Abondo retains his role as commander of the elite presidential guard, a post he has held since 2013, responsible for the president’s security.

Military reshuffles under Biya are not new, often coinciding with periods of political pressure or uncertainty. Notably, after a 2021 coup in neighboring Gabon and during Biya’s contested eighth-term election last year, the president reorganized top military ranks. Earlier this year, further promotions in defence and security forces were also recorded.

Concerns Over Biya’s Prolonged Absence

Biya’s extended stay in Switzerland has stirred debate across Cameroon, especially on social media, due to limited information about his health and the length of his trip. The government insists he remains active in his duties, signing decrees remotely, including authorizations for loan agreements with international financial institutions.

Despite persistent rumors about his health, officials have refuted claims that he is hospitalized. The Communication Minister René Emmanuel Sadi reaffirmed Biya’s wellbeing and imminent return in an interview with Radio France Internationale, dismissing opposition claims that the president’s absence creates a leadership vacuum.

Political Implications

  • The vice-presidency position created in April remains vacant.
  • After last year’s election, Biya promised a new cabinet, which has yet to be announced.
  • The opposition voices concern over the lack of clear governance during Biya’s absence, describing it as an institutional void.

Opposition CRM party vice-president Mamadou Mota criticized the situation, stating that executive power cannot be effectively exercised from abroad and calling for clarity on the leadership status.