The Cameroonian government has taken decisive action by banning all media outlets from discussing the health of President Paul Biya, Africa’s second-longest-serving leader, following widespread rumors regarding his condition. The move comes after growing speculation that the 91-year-old leader, who has not been seen in public since early September, may be critically ill. A government document, dated October 9 and signed by Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji, underlined the importance of national security in justifying the ban, stating that the health of the president is a “matter of national security.” As such, all media discussions on the subject are now officially prohibited.
Marked as “highly urgent,” the document further warns that anyone found violating the directive will face legal consequences. In an effort to enforce the order, regional governors have been instructed to establish monitoring units specifically tasked with overseeing content from private media and social networks to ensure that the directive is strictly followed.
Biya, who has ruled Cameroon for over 41 years, is Africa’s second-longest-serving president, trailing only Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. The veteran leader last appeared publicly during the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in Beijing in September, but he did not attend several key events since, including the United Nations General Assembly and the Francophone summit in Paris.
In response to the mounting rumors, the presidency released a statement, assuring the public that President Biya remains in “excellent health” and denouncing the circulating rumors as “disinformation.” The statement confirmed that Biya is currently working from Geneva and is expected to return to Cameroon in the near future.
In recent years, President Biya’s public appearances have become increasingly rare, with most limited to pre-recorded addresses and family photographs featuring his wife, Chantal Biya.
