Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has returned to the capital, Yaoundé, after several weeks abroad, quelling persistent rumors regarding his health. The 91-year-old leader arrived at the international airport on Monday, as shown by the state broadcaster CRTV.
Upon landing, Biya appeared on television, greeting officials alongside his wife, Chantal, while a jubilant crowd awaited his arrival. Supporters, adorned in outfits featuring his portrait, chanted and celebrated as his motorcade departed for the presidential palace.
Speculation about Biya’s health intensified after he vanished from public view following his departure from Beijing at the beginning of September, where he attended a China-Africa cooperation summit. A CRTV presenter remarked, “Today the president is on his way, and this will put an end to all the speculation.”
Flight tracking data indicated that a Boeing with the registration CMR001, previously used for transporting Biya, departed Geneva late Monday morning, where he had reportedly been residing for several weeks.
In the capital, large welcome posters were displayed, including one that read, “Welcome home, Mr President of the Republic.” Biya has ruled Cameroon unchallenged for over four decades.
Amid ongoing rumors about his health, the government had previously stated that he would return in a few days and formally banned local media from discussing his health status. Notably, Biya did not attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York or a summit for French-speaking countries in Paris during his absence.