Cameroon’s presidential election campaign opened Saturday with uncertainty surrounding the country’s longtime leader, Paul Biya, who has been absent from public view since leaving for a private trip abroad.
The 92-year-old president, the world’s oldest sitting head of state, is seeking an eighth term in the October 12 vote after more than four decades in power. His office confirmed his departure last Sunday but gave no details on his destination or expected return.
Diplomatic sources say Biya is in Geneva, a city he frequently visits. Protesters gathered near the United Nations headquarters there on Friday, denouncing his absence and his continued hold on power.
The timing of his trip has raised questions among Cameroonians, particularly after his daughter, Brenda Biya, briefly urged voters on social media not to support him before retracting the statement. The incident highlighted rare signs of dissent close to the presidency.
As campaigning begins, attention is focused less on party programs and more on whether Biya is capable of leading amid growing political, economic, and security challenges. With no clarity on his return, the election season starts under a cloud of doubt over the future of his decades-long rule.