The Cameroonian government has firmly denied rumors circulating on social media that President Paul Biya, the country’s 91-year-old leader, has passed away. For over a month, there has been growing speculation about the president’s health, further fueled by his absence from several international events.
President Biya, who has led Cameroon since 1982, did not attend key gatherings such as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) summit, and the Sustainable Development Forum in Hamburg, Germany. His prolonged absence from public events led to widespread rumors about his health. These speculations reached a peak on October 8, 2024, when ABS Africa TV broadcasted false news claiming Biya had died.
The last time the president was seen in public was on September 8, 2024, when he left Beijing after attending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). His return to Cameroon was initially planned for mid-September, but preparations for his arrival were canceled after his medical team recommended he stay in Switzerland for continued treatment. The president is known to frequently visit Switzerland for medical care and periods of rest.
Adding to the rumors, the Cameroon Intelligence Report, an online media platform, reported that Biya had been suffering from heart problems, memory loss, and prostate cancer. They claimed his health deteriorated significantly, leading to his death at an undisclosed location, either in Paris or Geneva. These unverified reports quickly spread, intensifying speculation about the president’s condition.
However, in a swift response, Samuel Ayolo, the director of the civil cabinet of the presidency, issued a statement to dispel the rumors. Ayolo reassured the public and the international community that the president is alive and in good health. He explained, “For some time now, some malicious people through social networks have tried to make people believe that the President of the Republic is seriously ill, or even passed away.”
He further emphasized that Biya has been working from Geneva since his return from Beijing and condemned those spreading misinformation. “The Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic strongly condemns behaviors that abuse freedom of expression to try to disturb national and international opinion.”
President Biya is Africa’s longest-serving head of state and one of the oldest leaders in the world, having been in power for more than four decades. Despite his lengthy rule, he has often faced accusations of electoral fraud and political corruption.
In 2023, he reshuffled the Ministry of Defense as coups were on the rise in neighboring countries in the Sahel region. Analysts have voiced concerns that if President Biya were to pass away without a clear succession plan in place, Cameroon could experience political instability, potentially triggering a coup.
