By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, PAV – The Minister of Communication and government spokesperson René Emmanuel Sadi has dismissed speculation over President Paul Biya’s prolonged absence from the country, insisting that the Head of State is alive, remains in office and will return to Cameroon “very soon.”
Minister René Emmanuel Sadi asserted in an exclusive interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI), while responding to reports that the 92-year-old president was ill and receiving treatment at a clinic in Geneva, Switzerland.
Sadi rejected the reports and said there was no constitutional basis for calls for a vacancy in the presidency. “The question of a vacancy in the office of Head of State should not even arise,” Sadi told RFI.
“President Paul Biya is alive. President Paul Biya has not resigned – that must be stated clearly. President Paul Biya will soon return to Cameroon; therefore, at this stage, there are no grounds to speak of a vacancy in the leadership of the State,” he insisted.
According to Emmanuel Sadi, a presidential vacancy is clearly regulated by Cameroon’s Constitution and should not be a source of concern for the population. To him, a vacancy can only arise under constitutionally defined circumstances, including the death, resignation or permanent incapacity of the Head of State.
He stressed that such a situation would have to be formally established by the Constitutional Council. “In short, the Constitutional Council has not declared a vacancy in the office of Head of State,” Sadi said.
The MINCOM boss, however, did not provide a specific date for Biya’s return. “I cannot tell you exactly when President Paul Biya is returning. And even if I knew, it is not my place to announce it here. I can at least tell you that he is coming back very soon,” he told RFI.
Biya’s whereabouts remain unclear.
President Biya is reported to be in Geneva, but Sadi did not confirm whether the president was staying at a hotel or receiving medical treatment at a health facility.
Roger Justin Noah, First Deputy Secretary-General and Acting National Secretary for Communication of the opposition Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), said the uncertainty surrounding Biya’s stay abroad amounted to a lack of transparency towards the population.
“If he is indeed facing health issues, the Cameroonian people have a right to know; there is no reason to maintain ambiguity regarding the President of the Republic’s state of health,” Noah told RFI.
The opposition has also questioned whether the prolonged absence should trigger constitutional procedures concerning a possible vacancy. The government, however, maintains that such demands have no legal basis because none of the constitutional conditions for a vacancy has been formally established.
While acknowledging that Cameroonians may naturally be concerned about the President, Sadi sought to reassure the public that the functioning of the state has not been disrupted by Biya’s absence. “Even in the absence of the President of the Republic, our country’s institutions are functioning normally,” he said.
The government spokesperson pointed to the continued activities of senior administrative officials as evidence that state institutions remain operational. “Key administrative officials are going about their duties, which is proof that our country is stable,” he added.
Sadi also suggested that Biya’s stay abroad could have been extended for reasons beyond his control. “He may be away for reasons sometimes beyond his control. He might extend his stay due to force majeure, while ensuring that the family continues to function properly,” he said.
President Paul Biya, who has governed Cameroon since 1982, was re-elected in October last year for an eighth presidential term. The seven-year mandate is expected to run until 2032, by which time the veteran leader would be approaching 100.
The 2025 presidential election was accompanied by allegations of irregularities and deadly protests, with the opposition challenging the credibility of the electoral process. Biya has nevertheless remained in power throughout successive presidential elections and has never been defeated at the polls. Presidential term limits were removed from the Constitution in 2008, allowing him to seek further mandates.
