Cameroon’s government has imposed a ban on media discussions regarding the health of President Paul Biya, Africa’s second-longest-ruling leader, amid widespread rumors about the 91-year-old’s grave condition.
This order, dated October 9 and signed by Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji, reflects growing concerns over Biya’s absence from public appearances since early September.
The directive emphasizes that the president’s health is a matter of national security, stating, “The head of state is the principal institution of the republic, and discussions on his condition are a matter of national security.”
It warns that any media outlet discussing Biya’s health could face legal consequences and instructs regional governors to establish monitoring units to oversee media content, including social media. The document, marked “highly urgent,” explicitly bans all media discussion about the president’s condition.
Biya, currently the world’s oldest serving leader, has ruled Cameroon for over 41 years. His recent absence from public view, particularly missing events like the United Nations General Assembly and a summit of French-speaking countries in Paris, has fueled speculation about his health. His last public appearance was at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing in September.
In response to the rumors, the president’s office released a statement on Tuesday asserting that Biya is in “excellent health” and dismissing speculation as “disinformation.” The statement further noted that the president is currently working from Geneva and would return to Cameroon “in the coming days.”
Despite these reassurances, concerns persist due to Biya’s increasingly rare public appearances in recent years, which have mostly been limited to pre-recorded speeches and occasional family photos or videos with his wife, Chantal Biya.
The ban on media discussions about Biya’s health highlights the fragile political landscape in Cameroon, where he has maintained a tight grip on power since 1982.
His lengthy tenure is second only to that of Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, who has ruled for 45 years.
