Supporters of President Paul Biya celebrated his 42 years in power in Cameroon on Wednesday, with rallies, broadcasts, and calls for an eighth term. The 91-year-old leader recently returned to Cameroon after a six-week absence that spurred speculation about his health. Jean Nkuete, Secretary General of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC), urged party members to unite in support of Biya for the nation’s “stability and progress,” praising his record and dismissing concerns about his health as “malicious speculation.”
Many party branches responded with enthusiasm. In the west, supporters signed a motion inviting all Cameroonians to join in backing Biya’s potential re-election bid next October. In Ebolowa, Higher Education Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo praised Biya as a “great statesman” and urged him to run again.
Biya, known for his silence on succession plans, has not commented on the calls for his candidacy. His recent absence, after leaving Beijing in early September, stirred health rumors, which the government attempted to dispel with a statement on October 8 saying he was working from Switzerland. Biya returned to Cameroon on October 21 to a warm welcome, and since then, he has issued several decrees and appointments, reaffirming his control according to his supporters. Photos released by the presidency last week show him meeting Gabon’s high commissioner, and his party’s deputy secretary emphasized his dedication to Cameroon’s welfare on state television.
Reflecting on Biya’s enduring rule, CRTV chief Charles Ndongo credited his “absence, distance, and silence” as the keys to his longevity, portraying him as a resilient figure in Cameroonian politics.
