Biya off to Europe days before launch of campaigns!.

He was seen off at the Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport by three personalities. 

The first to bid the President and wife safe skies was the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute. He was followed by the Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, and the Minister, Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo.

The nation was informed of the President’s journey, through a release which Mvondo Ayolo released, dated September 21, 2025.

The statement indicated that Biya is in the company of his wife, Chantal; the Chief of State Protocol, Simon Pierre Bikele; the Special Adviser at the Presidency, Vice Admiral Fouda Joseph and Minister Mvondo Ayolo.

Before the official release confirming the president’s journey, Pan-African news magazine, Jeune Afrique, had reported about the journey, adding other details which citizens are not privy to. 

The news magazine had also indicated that Biya is headed for Switzerland which has remained his choice destination, especially for private stays in Europe, in the last four decades.

It added that Biya is going to convalesce and better prepare for the October 12 presidential election campaigns which will rumble off on September 27. Biya is among 12 candidates in the race for the nation’s top job. 

Already 43 years as Head of State, Biya 92 is seeking to succeed himself. His supporters had in the last three years been on a begging spree for him to seek another mandate. 

Since he confirmed he is seeking re-election, those who believe in his leadership prowess have been multiplying fundraisers to power him to victory.

One rare, unexpected journey

Yesterday’s journey has been described as one that is rare and was unexpected. In the last couple of years, Biya has increasingly divorced with the skies, mostly spending his time within the country while his collaborators represent him at key international gatherings. 

He was the only Head of State of absent when Presidents of member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC, met for their 16th extraordinary summit in Bangui, Central African Republic, CAR, weeks ago.

Bookmakers say the President has taken almost everyone off guard with the timing of his current European sojourn. In the last 11 months, the President, though within the country, stayed true to his phenomenal discrete way of leadership, making only rare public appearances. 

Even in the wake of the Presidential election heat, Biya has only been spotted on television Cameras granting audiences to foreign envoys. The most recent of them have been: the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, His Grace Joseph Avelino Benttencourt; Outgone French Ambassador to Cameroon, Thierry Marchand and the Commander of United States military operations in Africa, AFRICOM, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson.

Last journey birthed unpleasant rumours 

Biya’s last journey outside Cameroon left rumour mongers talking. He had quit Yaounde on September 2, 2024 and arrived Beijing, China two days later. Then, he actively took part in the 4th Forum on China Africa Cooperation, FOCAC that ended on September 6, 2024. 

Biya later granted audiences to some Chinese investors who had expressed interest in Cameroon’s potentials. Within that period, the last the nation head of him was when he left Beijing on September 8, 2024 to an unannounced destination. 

With no official communication on where he left China to, tongues started twitching. In response, the Minister, Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Republic, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, announced in an October 8, 2024, statement that Biya was in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Ayolo had also insisted then that Biya was running the country from Geneva, assuring Cameroonians that there was no need to fear.

The clarification came after some went as far as claiming the President was in bad shape and was no longer in command. Some event claimed Biya had joint his ancestors.

Despite the assurance then, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, issued a statement on October 9, 2024, proscribing all debates about Biya’s Health. 

He had also instructed Governors to create surveillance units nationwide.  As Head of State, Atanga Nji had argued that Biya is the first institution of the country and such issues relating to his health remain State security.

After the 49-day stay out of the country, Biya and wife returned to Cameroon at exactly 5 P.M. on October 21, 2024, putting his critics to shame.  On that occasion, he was treated to a rapturous reception from the Nsimalen International Airport to the Unity Palace.

But with the Presidential election just weeks away, many are upbeat Biya will be back within days to join his supporters in canvasing votes for another mandate.

 This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3572 of Monday September 22, 2025