Cameroon's President Paul Biya, who has not appeared publicly for nearly two months, has initiated a significant reshuffle of the country's military leadership. The 93-year-old leader made several key appointments and promoted five colonels to brigadier general.
Among the promotions, Raymond Jean Charles Beko'o Abondo was reaffirmed as commander of the elite presidential guard, a role he has held since 2013. This unit is tasked with the president’s protection.
Military reshuffles under Biya are not uncommon, often coinciding with periods of political tension or perceived vulnerability. Notably, after a coup in neighbouring Gabon three years ago and during his bid for an eighth presidential term last year, Biya overhauled top military positions.
The latest changes were enacted via presidential decrees issued from Geneva, Switzerland, where Biya has been since early June for what his office described as a brief private visit. His extended stay abroad has raised speculation about his health and the state of governance back home.
Despite rumours, the government denies Biya is hospitalized. Communication Minister René Emmanuel Sadi has assured the public that the president remains alive, working remotely, and plans to return soon.
However, opposition voices express concern over the lack of transparency and the absence of a vice-president, a post created earlier this year but still vacant. Mamadou Mota, vice-president of the opposition CRM party, warned that the country faces an "institutional vacuum" with critical issues left unaddressed during Biya’s absence.
During his time abroad, Biya has continued to sign decrees, including those authorizing loan agreements with international financial bodies, underscoring his ongoing involvement in state affairs despite physical absence.
