Biya in Europe for private stay.

The nonagenarian, who is repeatedly criticised by opposition politicians as governing through proxy and high instructions, left Yaounde for an undisclosed location in Europe, in the company of his wide, Chantal Biya. 

As reported by the State broadcaster, CRTV, the Presidential convoy arrived the Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport at 12:47p.m. under heavy rains. 

Present at the airport to bid the Presidential Couple safe flight was the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Dr Chief Joseph Dion Ngute; and the Minister of State, Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh.

Also present at the departure of the Presidential Couple was the Deputy Director of Civil Cabinet at the Presidency, Oswald Baboke. 

After giving last minute instructions to his collaborators, the Head of State and his delegation, boarded the Presidential aircraft, Airbus A319, and left Yaounde at about 1:15p.m. The weather at departure, was bright, unlike when his convoy arrived the airport under heavy downpour. 

Small delegation accompanying Biya abroad 

The nation was informed of the Head of State’s journey abroad, through a communique issued by the Minister, Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo. 

The release detailed that President Biya, 93, is accompanied by his wife, Chantal Biya; the Special Adviser at the Presidency, Vice Admiral Fouda Joseph; the Chief of State Protocol, Simon Pierre Bikele; and the Minister, Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo.

Though the release doesn’t mention where exactly in Europe the Head of State is headed, it is widely believed that Biya’s final destination is Switzerland.

The European nation has remained his preferred destination for private stays in Europe in his 44 years and counting at the helm of the State. 

Early last month, rumours went viral that the Head of State was programmed to leave the country for a brief visit abroad. 

Many news site had reported that Biya would make a brief stay abroad before the 54th National Day celebration on May 20. This never happened as was predicted by many news organs. 

Before leaving the country yesterday, Biya was last seen in public when he chaired the National Day celebration at the May 20 Boulevard and later same day at the Unity Palace during the reception reserved for his guests. 

President Biya last travelled out of the country on September 21, 2025. He returned after a 10-day stay in Europe. The September trip was made after 11 months without him leaving the country.

Biya to use private visit to prepare new gov’t?

In his end-of-year address on December 31, 2025, Biya promised he was going to reshuffle the cabinet in the “coming days”. 

Shortly after that, he again promised engage sweeping reforms to inject youth and women in the management of especially State corporations. 

Over 200 days into his new mandate, the nation has remained anxious, with all ears and eyes fixed at the Presidency, for the fresh changes Biya might bring on board. 

Speculations are now rife that the Head of State may use the brief stay abroad to finalise work on the highly awaited new government.

With the enactment of the amended Constitution reintroducing the post of Vice President, the hopes of many is for Biya to appoint the occupant of the office and form a new government to deliver on his campaign and swearing-in promises. 

After parting ways with the late Niat Njifenji Marcel at the Senate, and the late Cavaye Yeguie Djribril at the National Assembly, many believe Biya will use his brief stay abroad to review the State apparatus and see how to weed out other deadwoods in his bloated government and unproductive General Managers, some of whom have been at the helm of State corporations for plus three decades. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3811 of Monday June 08, 2026