YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has returned home after spending 73 days abroad, an absence that raised concerns about his health.

The 93-year-old president arrived in Yaoundé on Thursday, August 20, on a flight from Geneva, Switzerland.

Biya left Cameroon on June 7 for what his office described as a brief private trip to Europe. He remained abroad for more than 10 weeks, making it the longest absence of his presidency since he took office in 1982.

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His absence drew attention because there was little public information about him during the period. Opposition figures also questioned how the country was being run while he was away.

Biya waved to supporters from his vehicle when he arrived at the airport. Government officials and close associates were there to receive him, but he did not speak to the press.

The president’s health has been a subject of speculation for years, partly because of his frequent stays in France and Switzerland. No details about his health were released following his return.

Biya began his eighth term in November 2025 after winning the October presidential election, a result disputed by the opposition. He has remained in power since 1982, and a 2008 constitutional amendment removed presidential term limits.

The question of who would take over if Biya left office has also drawn attention. Cameroon did not have a vice president during his absence. Parliament restored the position in April 2026, but opposition figures criticised the move because Biya has the power to appoint and dismiss the vice president and determine the office’s responsibilities.

Cameroon has faced several security challenges under Biya’s leadership, including attacks by Boko Haram in the north and an armed separatist conflict in the country’s English-speaking regions. Economic difficulties have also added to public frustration.

More than 70 per cent of Cameroon’s population is under 35, meaning most citizens were born after Biya became president. His return has brought the question of succession back into focus, although he has not announced any plans to leave office.