Paul Biya, the 93-year-old leader of Cameroon and the world's oldest serving president, has returned home after residing in Europe for more than two months amid growing concerns about his health and the country's political stability.
On 21 August 2026, Paul Biya, the 93-year-old President of Cameroon, arrived back in Yaoundé after spending over two months abroad. He flew back from Geneva, Switzerland, and waved to supporters from the back seat of his car as the motorcade left the airport.
President Biya left Cameroon on 7 June 2026. At the time, the presidential office described the trip as a short private visit to Europe, but it ultimately became his longest absence since coming to power. The government later confirmed he had been staying in Geneva.
Biya's prolonged absence from the country raised concerns about the health of the 93-year-old leader and triggered questions about a possible power vacuum in Cameroon. The president often spends extended periods in Europe, particularly in France and Switzerland.
Biya, the world's oldest sitting president, has ruled Cameroon since 1982 and began his eighth term in November 2025 after winning the October presidential election amid disputes over the election’s transparency.