The Cameroonian presidency has dismissed rumors circulating about the death of the country’s 91-year-old president, Paul Biya.
Speculation regarding Biya’s health had been growing for nearly a month, fueled by his absence from key international events, including the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) summit, and the Sustainable Development Forum in Hamburg.
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The rumors intensified when ABS Africa TV announced his alleged death on Tuesday, sparking widespread concern.
Biya has not made any public appearances since departing Beijing on September 8, where he attended the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
He was expected to return to Cameroon in mid-September, but his return was delayed on the advice of his medical team, leading to further speculation.
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Reports from the Cameroon Intelligence Report suggested that the president had been battling heart problems, memory loss, and prostate cancer, which had allegedly worsened and led to his death over the weekend in a hospital in either Paris or Geneva. Biya has frequently sought medical care and rest in Switzerland over the years.
However, the Cameroonian government quickly debunked these claims.
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Samuel Ayolo, Director of the Presidency’s Civil Cabinet, issued a statement assuring the public that Biya is alive and well.
He dismissed the death rumors as the work of “malicious people” spreading falsehoods on social media.
“For some time now, certain malicious individuals on social networks have tried to make people believe that the President of the Republic is seriously ill or has passed away,” Ayolo stated.
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“The Civil Cabinet of the Presidency wishes to reassure all compatriots and the international community that the Head of State is in excellent health and is conducting his duties from Geneva.”
Ayolo also condemned the misuse of freedom of expression to stir unrest, asserting that Biya has remained in Geneva since returning from China and is continuing to work.
Paul Biya has been a central figure in Cameroonian politics since 1982, making him one of the world’s longest-serving leaders and the oldest head of state in Africa.
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His rule, spanning over four decades, has been marked by accusations of electoral fraud and allegations of authoritarianism.
Despite these criticisms, Biya has been re-elected six times, maintaining his grip on power.
In 2023, Biya reshuffled his defense ministry amid growing concerns over instability in neighboring countries, particularly the coups occurring across the Sahel region.
