Cameroonian President Returns After Disappearance

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 20.04

 

Cameroon President Paul Biya has returned to his homeland after being missing for 73 days. The photo is from 2024. Archive photo. Photo: Christophe Simon/AP/TT

Cameroon President Paul Biya has been missing without a trace for 73 days.

Residents wondered if the 93-year-old Biya was dead – and who was really running the country.

But on Thursday, Biya returned to Yaounde airport, on a flight from Geneva. The president's office told wondering subjects that Biya had been on a "short private visit" to Switzerland.

Biya has led Cameroon since 1982 and is currently the oldest sitting head of state in the world. He was welcomed home by supporters, many wearing T-shirts with his portrait on them.

Rumors of a hospital stay have been denied.

But the opposition was mildly amused:

“It makes no difference whether he is here or over there. He doesn’t do anything when he is here,” said opposition leader Prosper Nkou Mvondo.