Where Is Biya? Inconsistent Government Statements Leave Cameroonians in the Dark

On Tuesday, October 8, two government offices issued statements regarding President Paul Biya’s whereabouts and his prolonged absence from public view. However, their messages were not aligned, leading to further confusion among Cameroonians. Speculation had been rampant that Biya, 91, who has held power for nearly 42 years. An AI-generated video on an Ambazonia separatist network fuelled rumours that he may have died. This was in the context of the fact that he was last seen on September 7 after departing Beijing following the China-Africa Summit, which he reportedly attended actively.

Minister Dismisses Death Rumors

In the evening, Communication Minister and government spokesperson René Emmanuel Sadi addressed the rumours, labelling them as “pure fantasy.” He suggested that certain television channels were behind the speculation in an effort to gain “a degree of public recognition,” asserting that such claims had “no reference to the realities on the ground.”

“The Government of the Republic unequivocally affirms that these rumours are pure fantasy and imagination on the part of their authors and hereby wishes to formally debunk such rumours,” Sadi said. Notably, while refuting the speculation, he avoided using the term “death.” Instead, he mentioned that following the summit in China, Biya “granted himself a brief private stay in Europe,” adding that the president remains “attentive to the development of national life” wherever he may be.

Contradicting Statements from the Civil Cabinet

While Sadi emphasised that “Biya remains, as usual, and wherever he may be,” Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, the Director of the Civil Cabinet, provided a different narrative, asserting that Biya is currently in Geneva, Switzerland. While Sadi described the president’s time in Europe as a private stay, Ayolo stated that Biya “continues to exercise His duties in Geneva and has never departed the city following His visit to Beijing.”

Although Sadi refrained from mentioning “death,” Ayolo countered that “mischievous individuals have spread rumours about the supposed poor health and eventual death of the President,” affirming that Biya is in “his excellent state of health.” While Mvondo Ayolo, who is typically by Biya’s side, offered no insight into the president’s imminent return, Sadi suggested that “the head of state will be returning to Cameroon in the next few days.”

Absence from La Francophonie Summit Raises Questions

Despite the government’s efforts to clarify Biya’s status, questions remain unanswered. President Biya did not attend the La Francophonie Summit in Paris, France, on October 4-5, and no explanation accompanied his absence. His absence from Paris and the lack of sightings since he left Beijing intensified speculation. Neither Sadi nor Ayolo addressed the reasons for Biya’s inability to attend the meeting.

Is the Civil Cabinet with Biya?

Another point of confusion arises regarding the whereabouts of Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, who is typically present during both official and private engagements of the president. In a press statement intended to reassure Cameroonians about Biya’s well-being, Ayolo issued the document from Yaoundé, the capital. The statement includes the location followed by the date of issue, implying that he signed the document while in Yaoundé.

This raises the question: Is Mvondo Ayolo actually in Yaoundé and not with Biya in Geneva? The lack of clear communication from the government leaves many uncertainties regarding the president’s condition and the circumstances surrounding his absence.

Mimi Mefo Info