A record 53-day absence by the world’s oldest head of state, Cameroon’s 93-year-old President Paul Biya, has intensified speculation within the country about his health and whereabouts, even as discussing such matters is legally restricted.

Biya, who has been in power since 1982, departed for Switzerland on June 7 for what officials termed a "brief private stay" with his wife, Chantal. Nearly two months later, neither has made a public appearance or addressed the nation, raising concerns among Cameroonians.

Recent years have seen Biya take increasingly extended breaks from Cameroon, often staying at the InterContinental hotel in Geneva. The latest trip's duration is indefinite, with no official return date announced. This has led to reliance on a series of contradictory statements from government officials.

The minister of communication, René Emmanuel Sadi, asserted that the president is in good health and "working from Geneva." He dismissed contrary reports as "pure fantasy and malicious manipulation." However, other officials have offered different explanations, contributing to the confusion.

Jacques Fame Ndongo, a senior official and minister of higher education, stated that Biya has been "meticulously following the files submitted to him by his aides... wherever he is." This suggests continued engagement with presidential duties despite his location.

In contrast, the labour minister, Grégoire Owona, likened Biya's absence to regular annual leave, emphasizing his right to rest. "Paul Biya, elected by the Cameroonian people and paid by them, is a worker who has the right to annual leave," Owona commented, adding that the president had informed authorities before his departure and would do so upon his return.

Biya's long tenure and frequent international absences have become a recurring feature of Cameroonian politics. His prolonged stays abroad, particularly in Geneva, have previously drawn criticism and fueled similar debates about his fitness to govern. The lack of transparency surrounding his current situation exacerbates these concerns.

Despite official assurances, the extended absence and conflicting statements leave many questions unanswered for the Cameroonian public regarding their leader's status and capacity to govern effectively from afar.