Cameroon President Paul Biya’s reported latest trip to Europe has renewed attention around the 93-year-old leader’s frequent foreign stays, weeks after he returned to Yaoundé following a 73-day absence from the country.
Biya returned to Cameroon on August 20 after spending 73 days in Geneva, Switzerland. His previous stay abroad, which began on June 7, was described by the presidency as a private visit and became the longest recorded absence of his presidency.
Key Highlights
- Paul Biya returned to Cameroon on August 20 after 73 days abroad.
- The president’s previous stay was spent largely in Geneva, Switzerland.
- His prolonged absence generated questions about government operations and leadership continuity.
- Biya, 93, has governed Cameroon since 1982.
- Reports of another European trip have renewed attention on his overseas stays.
- Current reporting reviewed for this article has not independently confirmed a new departure from Cameroon after his August return.
Biya’s 73-Day Stay Abroad
Biya left Cameroon on June 7 for what the presidency described as a “brief private stay in Europe”. He eventually returned to Yaoundé on August 20 after spending 73 days abroad.
The president arrived at Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport from Geneva, Switzerland, accompanied by his wife, Chantal Biya.
His prolonged absence attracted significant public attention, particularly because of his age and his long tenure in office. Reuters reported that the 73-day stay was his longest recorded absence since he came to power more than four decades ago.
Fresh Attention Over Reported Europe Trip
Reports of another trip to Europe, coming only weeks after Biya’s return, have generated renewed interest in the president’s movements and the duration of his overseas stays.
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However, the latest available reporting reviewed for this story does not independently confirm that Biya has departed Cameroon again following his August 20 return. Any report of a new European trip should therefore be attributed to the specific source reporting it until independently confirmed.
Biya’s Long Rule
Biya has governed Cameroon since 1982 and began another presidential term in November 2025 following the country’s presidential election.
His extended stays outside Cameroon have previously attracted criticism from opposition figures and prompted discussions about government continuity and the country’s political future. These concerns have become more prominent following his 73-day absence earlier this year.
The president’s frequent stays in Europe, particularly Geneva, have also remained a subject of public discussion in Cameroon.
Focus on Government Continuity
Cameroon continues to face security challenges in parts of the country alongside economic and political pressures.
Biya’s long periods abroad have consequently raised questions among opposition figures and other critics about the extent to which government affairs are managed when the president is outside the country.
The latest reports are expected to keep attention focused on Biya’s whereabouts, the duration of any foreign trip and his schedule for returning to Yaoundé.
Note: This report should be updated once an official statement from the Cameroonian presidency or another reliable source confirms the reported latest departure.
