Omanghana
Cameroon’s 93-year-old President Paul Biya has announced a major military reshuffle from Geneva, Switzerland, amid growing concern over his prolonged absence from the country.
Biya, described as the world’s oldest serving head of state, left Cameroon on June 7, 2026, for what the presidency initially called a “brief private stay in Europe.” As of August 4, he had reportedly spent 58 days outside the country without making a public appearance.
His extended stay abroad has attracted criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, which accuse the president of governing Cameroon remotely and creating what they describe as a serious institutional vacuum.
The military decrees were signed from Geneva and broadcast on Cameroon’s national radio on Monday, August 3. They introduced significant leadership changes across several branches of the country’s security establishment.
Among the most notable appointments was the promotion of Raymond Jean Charles Beko’o Abondo from colonel to brigadier general. He was subsequently reappointed to lead the Presidential Guard, the elite unit responsible for protecting the head of state.
Beko’o Abondo has reportedly overseen Biya’s personal security since 2013, making him one of the president’s most trusted military officers.
The decrees also replaced commanders in four of Cameroon’s five joint military regions and appointed a new leader for the Rapid Intervention Brigade, a high-readiness force involved in major national security operations.
Additional changes affected the leadership of several motorized infantry brigades, representing one of the most extensive reorganizations of Cameroon’s military command in recent years.
The reshuffle comes at a politically sensitive time, with questions intensifying about Biya’s health, location and ability to perform his duties after nearly two months outside the country.
Concerns have been heightened by the absence of a clearly designated official empowered to manage state affairs in the president’s absence. Although Cameroon amended its governing arrangements in April 2026 to create the position of vice president, the office remains vacant.
The ruling party has reportedly convened a rare emergency meeting of senior officials as it faces mounting political pressure and public anxiety over the situation.
Opposition figures argue that major decisions affecting the country’s military and security institutions should not be made indefinitely from abroad without a clear explanation of the president’s condition.
Communication Minister René Emmanuel Sadi has rejected claims that Biya is physically incapacitated. He maintains that the president continues to perform his official duties from Geneva and will return to Cameroon soon.
The government has not announced a specific date for Biya’s return. His continued absence and the sweeping military changes are expected to fuel further debate over succession, constitutional authority and political stability in Cameroon.
Source: Omanghana
