Shock as Paul Biya Vanishes Days After His Own Daughter Told Voters to Reject Him

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Shock as Paul Biya Vanishes Days After His Own Daughter Told Voters to Reject Him

Cameroonians are once again asking where President Paul Biya is after he left the country on a “private trip to Europe,” according to his office. The 92-year-old leader who has been in power since 1982 left on Sunday with no details on the purpose of his visit.

Sources close to the diplomatic corps said Biya is in Geneva, Switzerland for an unofficial meeting. His absence comes at a delicate time, a week after his daughter Brenda Biya publicly told Cameroonians not to re-elect him in the upcoming elections.

Although she later deleted her TikTok post and distanced herself from politics, the statement has fuelled speculation about her father’s hold on power.

Observers say Biya’s prolonged absences only add to the growing concerns about his fitness to lead. “The more he stays out of the public eye, the more he maintains the illusion that he is mentally and physically fit for the job,” said David Kiwuwa, head of the School of International Studies at the University of Nottingham’s China campus.

This is not the first time Biya’s silence has caused controversy. In September, rumors of his death spread like wildfire after he went missing for a week. The speculation intensified when he skipped the UN General Assembly in New York and sent his foreign minister instead.

Biya who is the world’s oldest serving head of state has been in power for 43 years. His leadership has been characterised by long periods abroad, especially in Europe which critics say shows his detachment from everyday Cameroonian realities.

As the election approaches, his continued absences and his daughter’s unprecedented public criticism have raised questions about whether the veteran leader can still rally support for another term.

Shock as Paul Biya Vanishes Days After His Own Daughter Told Voters to Reject Him